Starkiller’s latest adventure is less than two weeks away, with Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II set to hit stores. You can check out a demo of it now on Xbox Live, but for those of you who didn’t get a chance to experience it yet, we’ve got a thorough hands-on report that’ll leave you slobbering all over yourself – like Admiral Ackbar. (“It’s a trap!”) The demo is actually a pretty lengthy one, taking place across a stage similar to the clone processing station in Star Wars Episode II. That would make sense, since Starkiller isn’t the same character from the original Force Unleashed. He’s a clone, being taught by Darth Vader to grasp the Dark Side of the Force. But when he’s unable to kill his female compatriot Juno – or in this case, a robotic look-alike – Vader is compelled to finish him off. However, it’s at this point Starkiller plots his escape, and a whole Imperial melee follows suit, complete with Stormtroopers, flak cannons, and two – yes, two – AT-ST’s.
We don’t know if it’s just us or not, but the controls in The Force Unleashed II feel a lot tighter than the original. There were less accidents using Force dashes both on the ground and in mid-air; combat was much smoother using the twin lightsabers, the lightning strikes and the Force blasts; and the scenarios were much more exciting, from outrunning a trigger-happy freighter to free-falling past a slew of oncoming TIE Fighters. And keep in mind, this was just in the demo. The relentless action made us want to play more. The combat is nicely handled, with enemies both big and small. For instance, we ran across an enemy droid carrying a shield, but using force grip, we were able to turn it into a projectile, launching it at his head before rushing in to finish the job. You can also unleash Force Fury, a temporary super power that lets you swing your lightsabers like spinning blade, beheading any Stormtroopers they touch. It’s a marvelous sight, though it might be a slight bit grisly for younger players. (The game is rated T for Teen after all.)
Perhaps the biggest thing you’ll notice is how much better the game looks. While the original Force Unleashed was no slouch in the visual department, Force Unleashed II has better stage design. One of our particular favorite parts of the battleground we fought through involved laser-grid walls, which shut down as you proceeded, introducing new enemies who were waiting on the other side. All this while dodging mounted cannons, which indicated they were ready to fire with light-up red icons. Really, just download the demo and see for yourself. You’ll like how much better the sequel looks, even from this brief taste. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II is now just days away from release, and we’ll bring you the full review once it arrives. From what we’ve played so far, though, the Force is definitely strong with this one.
