TWiG 2008-09-14: The Force Unveiled

LucasArts’ Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

There always seems to be equal amounts of trepidation and anticipation when a new Star Wars game comes out. On one hand, there’s the chance to play as part of a universe that was an integral part of many gamers’ childhood fantasies. On the other, it’s been proven time and again that any new entry into the lore of that universe is woefully deficient to the content of the three movies that built it. As such, it’s with some caution that I’m looking at The Force Unleashed this week above all of the week’s other releases.

The Wii version, for its part, features light sabre action, which Wii owners have been fantasizing about since motion controls were even a suggestion. It’s nice to be able to finally realize that dream, though the fact that the upcoming Motion Plus controls aren’t involved sort of indicates that it’s not quite going to live up to expectations. Still, there’s still some buzz behind the game, and even with the possible light sabre goodness aside, there’s a buzz behind this game that I haven’t seen for a Star Wars game in a long time. At the very least, the demo’s worth a shot — it’s a blast, actually.

Ubisoft’s Armored Core: For Answer

Elsewhere, interesting material comes from some strange places. The prize for Most Awkward Title this week is Armored Core: For Answer, in a landslide victory. Despite the rather strange subtitle, I’m a sucker for anything that has big giant mechs running around and blowing stuff up, so maybe it’s at least worth a rental. Armored Core is an awfully long-running series regardless, and its devotees would certainly be wise to give it a look.

If you’ve got the power (and the original game), Crysis Warhead is another one that’ll probably be worth a purchase. Lost in the hubbub about its system specs and the nasty computer you need to actually get something out of it, Crysis turned out to be a pretty impressive, if somewhat run-of-the-mill, shooter. As it turns out, Warhead even has some optimizations that will allow it to run better on the machines that can handle it, so hey, maybe you can push your machine past that 8 frames-per-second max that you were getting out of the original.

Electronic Arts’ Crysis Warhead

Of course, it’s entirely possible that I’ll ignore all of my own advice and just go buy Dragon Quest IV, given that I never met a JRPG remake that I didn’t like.

What are you playing this week? Is anybody out there buying Zoo Hospital for the Wii? Does anybody else have a better idea than I do of what “For Answer” means? Are you too busy playing Rock Band 2 to leave the house? Let us know in the comments, and enjoy the Star Wars action in the trailer after the break.

PSP:

B-Boy (16 September)

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (16 September)

Yggdra Union (16 September)

Wii:

Super Pick Ups (15 September)

Kidz Sports: Crazy Golf (16 September)

Rebel Raiders: Operation Nighthawk (16 September)

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (16 September)

TNA iMPACT! (16 September)

Zoo Hospital (16 September)

PS3:

Armored Core: For Answer (16 September)

Pure (16 September)

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (16 September)

Red Baron Arcade (18 September)

Xbox 360:

Armored Core: For Answer (16 September)

Battle Fantasia (16 September)

Pure (16 September)

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (16 September)

PS2:

Dance Dance Revolution X (16 September)

Speed Racer (16 September)

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (16 September)

Namco Classic Fighter Collection (17 September)

Naruto Ultimate Collection (17 September)

Pac-Man Power Pack (17 September)

DS:

Drawn to Life: SpongeBob Squarepants Edition (15 September)

Animal Paradise (16 September)

Bratz Ponyz 2 (16 September)

Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen (16 September)

Line Rider 2: Unbound (16 September)

My Secret World by Imagine (16 September)

Red Bull BC One (16 September)

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (16 September)

Unsolved Crimes (16 September)

PC:

Cabela’s Big Game Hunter 09: Legendary Adventures (15 September)

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky (15 September)

WWII: GC (15 September)

Crysis Warhead (16 September)

Enchanted Unicorn (16 September)

Everlight (16 September)

Hell’s Kitchen (16 September)

Igor (16 September)

Line Rider 2: Unbound (16 September)

Mount & Blade (16 September)

OPERATION Mania (16 September)

Pure (16 September)

The Price is Right (16 September)

Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (16 September)