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Home - Reviews - Video Games - Review of Force Unleashed II (2010)
Review of "Force Unleashed II (2010)" part 1
By: Jason Bruton
Release Date: Oct 26, 2010
Developers: LucasArts (Xbox 360 and PS3), Aspyr {PC}, Red Fly Studio {Wii}
Publisher: Lucas Arts
Genre: Sci Fi/Action
Review Rating: 9/10
The Force Unleashed II is more of a devolution of the StarWars story than an evolution of the game, albeit not much of one. The primary focus of the overall plot and the intricacies involved seem to take more precedent than the improvements to the gameplay itself. This is not unheard of in the "StarWars Universe" as many StarWars game titles have suffered the same fate. However the Force Unleashed II is afforded some leniency from the success of its predecessor The Force Unleashed. The Force Unleashed was a revolution in gameplay in the StarWars universe. Never before had any StarWars game so adeptly captured the vision of playing as a Jedi than The Force Unleashed, but so as it goes the ability for any sequel to capture the success of an original so well received is a daunting task, a task was a challenge to say the least. The game itself has a Large number of improvements, upgrades and unfortunately a few features that are no longer available.
The improvements to the gameplay are to be lauded. Among the many new lightsaber combinations that have been added, there is a new force power that cannot be overlooked. In the Force Unleashed II you can earn the Force power ability of the Mind Trick. This new Force power will seem of little use initially but its value becomes greater as you progress through the game. This new Force Power is unlike any others in the first game. When Maximized the Mind Trick power can be a "Powerful Ally" turning entire squadrons against each other. Additionally the improvements made to familiar force powers like Force Repulse and Lightsaber throw are significant, but again their true power is not realized until you have fully upgraded those abilities.
Just as the first game, your experience with The Force Unleashed II will depend on the way you choose to upgrade your abilities, however for anyone who is familiar with the first game, the methodology and the order of available upgrades will force you to think differently about your approach. The producers took a good long look at which force powers in the original game were the most used and made adjustments as to how Starkiller would be granted these powers in The Force Unleashed II.
Outside the gameplay, the improvements to the artwork of the levels will be the first thing that strikes you, and it is in this that this chapter in StarWars lore first become apparent. For anyone familiar with the stringent standards of the StarWars universe, you will understand that the storyline of the first game the Force Unleashed,rode a very thin line on possible available scenarios given its place in the StarWars timeline. The most unsettling part of this game was its plot in that storyline. A storyline that holds fantastic ramifications in the StarWars story….. (To Be Continued…)
http://www.lucasarts.com/games/theforceunleashed2/
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