Kotaku
The Force Unleashed hits the U.S. on Sept. 16, Southeast Asia and Australia on Sept. 17 and Europe on Sept 19., LucasArts announced today.
The game will have you playing as Darth Vader's secret apprentice and takes place in the era between Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. The game will have players assisting Vader in his quest to rid the universe of Jedi.
"Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is one of the most ambitious projects LucasArts has ever launched. The combination of a great new Star Wars story with revolutionary new technology and game play means more fun than you've ever had in the Star Wars universe," said Peter Hirschmann, Vice-President of Product Development, LucasArts. "We can't wait until gamers get their hands on it this September."
LucasArts teamed up with Spike TV to air segments about the upcoming game during the channel's upcoming showing of all six Star Wars movies this weekend. The channel will be airing six different segments about the game "each with an exclusive announcement or new game play footage."
Hit the jump for the segment times, more box art shots and some details on the game.
• April 6 at 7:58 p.m. ET/PT - between the premiere of Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
• April 11 at 10:52 p.m. ET/PT - At the end of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
• April 12 at 12:00 a.m. ET/PT - throughout an episode of GameTrailers TV with Geoff Keighley filmed at LucasArts' headquarters in San Francisco
• April 12 at 5:06 p.m. ET/PT - before Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
• April 13 at 5:06 p.m. ET/PT - before Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back
More About Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is the first next-generation game developed internally at LucasArts, and will be available on the Xbox®360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system.
As its name implies, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed completely re-imagines the scope and scale of the Force by taking full advantage of newly developed technologies that will be seen and experienced for the first time together: Digital Molecular Matter, by Pixelux Entertainment, and euphoria by NaturalMotion Ltd.
LucasArts and developer Krome Studios are creating an equally enthralling version of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed on the Wii™ home videogame system from Nintendo, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, and n-Space, Inc., is developing a version for Nintendo DS™. All will feature the same storyline, with opportunities to unleash the Force in devastating new ways.
Working with Lucas Licensing, LucasArts is preparing an unprecedented promotional effort around the launch of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, encompassing a full line of toys and game-based action figures from Hasbro, as well as a full publishing program from Dark Horse, Del Rey, Prima Games, and Palace Press.
More information about the game can be found at the official website, www.theforceunleashed.com, which will continue to release details throughout the year.
Comments
Can't wait! Hope it turns out to be a good game and not just a tech demo.
And the toys are everywhere already....
Right before my birthday etc.
@Slint: Even if it is, dude. It's Star Wars. Star Wars nextgen. I'm hyped. I love Star Wars games. More than the movies even!
If only it wouldn't be so far away, damnit. At least this date seems final.
That's... not very long after the Spore release.
I've never actually seen any of the Star Wars movies, but this actually interests me.
@Kyle81: Yes, because it's a new Star Wars brand that features toys, games, and comic books. I mean really, Star Wars toys? Did you not see that coming?
Great! Generic bald marine no.264 Takes me back to the films!
Seriously though... why not Darth Vader? Are they saving him for a special occasion?
Awesome! Preorder commencing NOW.
Game looks fun, and I like the box art.
Even the PS2 gets it!?
So its coming out for every console but NOT PC!! Good fucking hell, let me guess if we PC guys ever get it they will wait a year (or more) and it will be a half ass shitty port.
Demo Please!!!!!!!
@Candlejack:
I think you mean "far, far away".
@Thanatos-: Well then I would recommend you take the money you were planning on upgrading your PC with and use it to buy a 360 pr PS3. Money well spent...
I cant stand Star Wars, but I want this game so bad!
I have high hopes that it will be a real game and not just something to showcase the fact they got the engines working together.
what a great time to be a pc gamer!
@Agies: The actual game and storyline is not coming out till September. They've been selling Force Unleashed toys now for almost 2 months. Kinda hard to sell toys of stuff which no one has a clue what it belongs too.
@phicaluk: Yes, many many lightyears. In the past, but somehow, in the future. Um, something like that :P I should polish my SW knowledge up a little and watch the films another time actually.
What is up with game titles always sounding like they could double as the title to a porn film?
I don't think there's ever been a really great Star Wars videogame. The closest one would be the Factor 5 Rogue Squadron games. KOTOR just doesn't do it for me either. Maybe this will all change with The Force Unleashed, but I highly doubt it.
@Lanhoj: Agreed.
Seriously, give me Kyle Katarn any day. At least he's willing to swing his lightsaber around on PC.
i already read the release but i'm still excited about this!
i actually marked sept. 16 off in my calendar.
So what games are going to be draining my wallet in Sept: Spore, Little Big Planet, and now The Force Unleashed. Better start preparing!
If you are a PS3 fan and say there isn't anything to play in Fall then you deserve to get hit with a cantelope.
Star Wars,Little Big Planet,Socom,Resistance 2,Killzone 2,etc.
Just not sure which copy I'll get yet. 360 or PS3.Depends on the Home setup I guess.
@oldboy313: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, Rogue Squadron games, and I loved Episode One Racer.
lol, Why do I see "David Beckham" on the game case picture?
OK, does anyone know why the box shows Vader's apprentice killing Imperial Stormtroopers instead of rascally Rebels? If I recall the demo video was the same...
Sweet. I always went for the dark side in KOTOR - this should be right up my alley!
@Majorasblaze likes to dance dance dance yeah: Yeah dude, the Jedi Knight games were AWESOME. I still play through Knight II and Jedi Academy every couple of months.
@PhysicalEd: Storm Troopers are the Nazis of Star Wars.
Because of Lucas Arts last Star Wars Action game Episode III Revenge of the Sith I have zero anticipation of this game. But I loved Travelers Tales Lego Star Wars games.
PS's are called Computer Entertainment Systems and Xbox 360 is called Video Game System and Wii is called Home Videogame System? Why?
I wish they'd make a starwars game with dismemberment...
@KingDavid73: The old Jedi Knight PC games let you cut off arms
I'm guessing there are different versions because I don't see how they could get all this new tech running on a DS, PSP, PS2 or even a Wii.
Box art's rubbish, right? And plus, why aren't they releasing this for my Sega Genesis?
What, my money not good enough?
@KingDavid73: Like Jedi Knight had you mean?
I'd like a Guybrush Threepwood toy.
Come to think of it, this game could be way better with an M rating. I mean, every SW game was potentially better with it (eg. the very violent Jedi Knight series). Except the awesome RPGs.
@Kinburn: Star Wars games based on the movies dont tend to have any real entertainment value.
These expanded universe titles (based on the Star Wars universe and story, but has little to nothing to do with the movies other then back story) generally are way better then the movie based games, and usually have something more to prove. It also depends on the studio that develops it. The Jedi Knights series was really fun, the Knights of the Old Republic games were some of my fav games. So, just basing your opinion on the movie titles is usually wrong when compared to the other titles.
So, all I am saying is give it a chance. By your own admission the Lego series was fun, so there is hope for the Star Wars name to have a good game.
The only thing that makes me NOT interested in this game is the fact that it is on any and ALL platforms. Usually games that span across to handhelds, PCs, and PS3/360 AND Wii do not live upto the hype. But I wont count this game out. If done right, the different games could be split to different teams of developers, and be uniquely different per platform... Just I am not holding my breath.
Why so much ill reception?
Do you all not realize that this game will have amazing LIVE and PSN multiplayer where we can all push, pull and fry each other into oblivion forevermore?
When is September? Is it tomorrow? Checking calendar......gaaaah.
To quote Lord Vader, "Nooooooooooooo..."
While the box art isn't bad... it looks like it wants to say:
Dark Forces V: Jedi Knight IV: Jedi Academy II: The Force Unleashed I
And it will end up revealing that Kyle Katarn is the son of the apprentice and the female pilot.
That being said I still look forward to this game since it looks really good, and it sounds like they've really put a lot of work into patching the story together as well as the gameplay. But then again, I'm holding out for reviews to hit the street... it's no preorder title for me (but then extremely few games are).
I hope it's as good as Jedi Outcast. I played that for two years on PC. So much fun deflecting rockets, force choking people, using Jedi Mind Trick / see through walls for CTF.
Ashame that Jedi Academy turned it into a bland class affair.
"Darth Vader's secret apprentice" Wow, that's so convenient!
Wouldn't it be fun if all of the Star Wars licensed games were named continually as sequels?
What would be this one? Star Wars 27?
@Justcrim: It's being developed by different teams. LucasArts is doing the PS3 and 360 versions. Krome Studios is doing the PS2, Wii, and PSP versions. n-Space is doing the DS version. Universomo is doing the n-gage version (why the hell are they doing an n-gage version!?).
So it sounds like it'll be just fine for all platforms. I'm a secret admirer of n-space, so I have faith in the DS version. Krome Studios, I'm not familiar with the games they've made (well, familiar, sure, but I've never played any of them). But LucasArts are very capable, so the PS3 and 360 versions will be awesome, I'm sure, especially since they're only focusing on those two platforms.
@squex: he does look alot like him
@Justcrim: I agree. Knights of the Old Republic proved that the Expanded Universe was in fact more than just random wannabe jedis playing in the SW universe. The huge marketing push can be really good, as with Knights, or really bad, as with Rebel Assault II (who remembers that?) or *gasp* Shadows of the Empire.
Ultimately, I have faith that this game will prove to be a good story and I'm excited to see the outcome. I have friends who buy systems only when there is a kickass Star Wars game (and sometimes just a mediocre one).
For some reason the way the logo is reminds me of "The Abyss". Don't know why.
I don't really dig the box art. The front is overly blatant with conveying the idea of EXTREME FORCE POWERS!
It would have been cooler to see the main character lurking in the shadow of Darth Vader since he is the secret apprentice.
Also, the spine of the game is bright yellow, why? It's gonna look horrendous on my shelf.
@arepeegee: This is why I am SERIOUSLY considering shopping together my own cover art (with fully featured back and ESRB info) for games that I own but hate the covers.
Some games just have that WIN look to them, and others.... Lets just be glad the contents of the box make up for the rest.
It's too bad it got pushed back to September - it's missing out on all its cross-promotional goodness. That's why all the toys and advertisement (like the SpikeTV thing and the Gametrailers.com countdown) is going on right now. The game was supposed to come out in April. But it's a very ambitious game, tech-wise, so I'm not surprised it's delayed and I'm glad they've decided to take the time they need to polish it rather than just shovel it out the door to make the most of the marketing tie-ins.
I'm very psyched about this game. Even if the story sucks, I'm just looking to tear some shit apart with the Force, which after all the videos, looks like it will be serious fun.
@Kyle81: And heads. You can basically slice & dice people (with a cg_dismemberment 1 on in console or whatever the command was).
Jedi Outcast & Jedi Academy ON THE PC has the greatest sword-fighting/ melee combat system on any game to date bar none. It's a disgrace that Raven's shining example has seemingly slipped by unnoticed & we're still stuck in the button bashing world of PoP et al.
@oldboy313: Not true. Jedi Knight II (Dark forces) was awesome. Both X-Wing and TIE Fighter were awesome (although TIE Fighter was definitely awesome-er)
You'll also find a lot of people to stand up for the KOTOR series (although they aren't my all-time favorite or anything). And the Lego Star Wars games are lots of fun and loaded with charm.
However there has definitely been more mediocre or bad SW games than great ones, no question.
@oldboy313: X-Wing, Jedi Knight, Rogue Squadron, KOTOR, Super Star wars (snes), and the early cabinet star wars fighter games would like to have a word with you sir. Granted dont get me wrong the bad star wars games were really really really bad, but the good ones were really really good so it kind of evens out.
What's with the inverted NDS cover?
weee! i was hoping for summer but I'll live
360 and PS3 cross-platform games - sure why not.
But 360 all the way down to Wii and PS2? DO NOT WANT!
the realese date makes sense, why try to compete for the summer blockbuster? the summer will be own by Snake. anywho, im off to reserve this for ps3. peace.
Fuck yeah... can't wait.