Author Topic: The Force Unleashed: The Multimedia EU Event of '08 (and beyond?)
Earthknight  3633 posts
Registered: Oct '02
46344_Rex (CC-7567) (3161)
Date Posted: 9/20/07 7:45pm Subject: RE: The Force Unleashed: The Multimedia EU Event of '08
This game is going to be epic. I am so buying this when it comes out. The characters sound like they are going to be on par with KOTOR. But can the SA beat Revan in cool factor?

 

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Kaje  1800 posts
Registered: May '05
42004_Darth Krayt
Date Posted: 9/20/07 8:44pm Subject: RE: The Force Unleashed: The Multimedia EU Event of '08 - Date Edited: 9/20/07 8:44pm (1 edits total) Edited By: Kaje
Considering the SA will actually have its own personality, I'd say that's a definite "maybe."

 

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Zorrixor  4359 posts
Registered: Sep '04
42757_Prince Xizor
Date Posted: 9/21/07 5:56am Subject: RE: The Force Unleashed: The Multimedia EU Event of '08 - Date Edited: 9/21/07 6:01am (2 edits total) Edited By: Zorrixor
I think it will all depend on how the cutscenes work. I've just played Heavenly Sword and it's a good example of next gen technology used properly to truly bring characters to life.

The documentaries make it look as if FU is going to be using a similar type of motion capture technology to get the facial expressions right so, hopefully, it has the potential to bring the characters to life as well as was achieved in Heavenly Sword.

It's really just going to be down to whether the script makes them interesting people or not and how the level structure works. If it's "30 seconds of cutscene - level - 30 seconds of cutscene - level" it might not work that well, as that's quite dated these days and really doesn't bring the characters to life properly. Hopefully it'll be more interactive than that and not feel quite so... blocky.

My fear, though, is that Star Wars games almost always feel very clunky because they try to get as many planets and locales in as possible that they always end up just doing a very basic "level" based approach, which is hard to make flow, so might make the story a bit less immersive. That's what killed Jedi Academy for me as it was just a series of totally disconnected levels on different worlds.

It's a difficult trade I suppose. They're pressured to provide players with different options to enhance replay value but likewise are pressured to make the story good which isn't easy if you have a varying level structure, etc. Personally, as it will have multi player potential for replay value, I'd like to think the single player story will be relatively linear and will really try to make the SA into a cool character. I really hope they avoid a JA level style.

Fortunately we'll at least have the novel to fall back on if the game turns out to not be too worried about the story as opposed to the gameplay.

 

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Darth_Shpydar  1061 posts
Registered: Oct '06
40102_Anakin
Date Posted: 9/21/07 9:14am Subject: RE: The Force Unleashed: The Multimedia EU Event of '08
Zorrixor posted:
My fear, though, is that Star Wars games almost always feel very clunky because they try to get as many planets and locales in as possible that they always end up just doing a very basic "level" based approach, which is hard to make flow, so might make the story a bit less immersive. That's what killed Jedi Academy for me as it was just a series of totally disconnected levels on different worlds.


I loved JA, but i understand what you mean. It was an old-school way of action-game design (level-scene-level-scene, etc), in part due to limitations imposed by the hardware.

Since TFU will be the first truly "next-gen" (when does it finally become "current gen"? Heh, maybe when the PS2 stops outselling the PS3 tongue ), i'd expect a more modern approach of intra-level cutscenes, or in-level/in-engine story progression (where the story progression/dialogue occurs during actual gameplay). You're right, the old way doesn't lend itself well (any more) to story/character-immersion. But I'll enjoy it even if they do it the old-school way, as my gamerdom was born in a time when the Ms. Pac-Man "cutscenes" were almost revolutionary. tongue peace

 

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Jango_Fettish  1029 posts
Registered: Aug '02
22349_Jango Fett
Date Posted: 9/21/07 10:57am Subject: RE: The Force Unleashed: The Multimedia EU Event of '08
I was thinking about the whole theme of redemption thing... and really, I think it as the potential to make this a very tragic story.

Look at it this way. The SA has been tortured and mentally abused by Vader for a long time. He becomes a killing machine. He runs into General Kota, and starts to see the light. So if this story is of redemption, he is going to have to face Vader, right? So it is possible that the poor kid gets hacked to pieces by Vader himself. I know that would ruin the chance of a sequel, but it really would be cool - after Vader ruins the kids life, he goes and finishes him off and washes his hands clean of the whole thing. I know it has been speculated from the beginning as a possible ending, it just seems so much more powerful with the new details of his training under Vader being shown in the new video.

 

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Darth_Shpydar  1061 posts
Registered: Oct '06
40102_Anakin
Date Posted: 9/21/07 12:21pm Subject: RE: The Force Unleashed: The Multimedia EU Event of '08
Jango_Fettish posted:
Look at it this way. The SA has been tortured and mentally abused by Vader for a long time. He becomes a killing machine. He runs into General Kota, and starts to see the light. So if this story is of redemption, he is going to have to face Vader, right? So it is possible that the poor kid gets hacked to pieces by Vader himself. I know that would ruin the chance of a sequel, but it really would be cool - after Vader ruins the kids life, he goes and finishes him off and washes his hands clean of the whole thing. I know it has been speculated from the beginning as a possible ending, it just seems so much more powerful with the new details of his training under Vader being shown in the new video.


I think that would be great as the canon ending. Particularly if the final SA vs Vader showdown is, for example, a sacrifce by the SA to buy time for Juno to esacape the Empire or some similar selfless sacrifce.

 

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Charlemagne19  26816 posts
Registered: Jul '00
6408_Jedi Outcast
Date Posted: 9/21/07 12:34pm Subject: RE: The Force Unleashed: The Multimedia EU Event of '08 - Date Edited: 9/21/07 12:34pm (1 edits total) Edited By: Charlemagne19
Darth_Shpydar posted:


I think that would be great as the canon ending. Particularly if the final SA vs Vader showdown is, for example, a sacrifce by the SA to buy time for Juno to esacape the Empire or some similar selfless sacrifce.


I don't know. I'd find that singularly unsatisfying.

For example, I *HATED* the ending to the Call of Cthulhu game.

 

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Zorrixor  4359 posts
Registered: Sep '04
42757_Prince Xizor
Date Posted: 9/21/07 2:43pm Subject: RE: The Force Unleashed: The Multimedia EU Event of '08 - Date Edited: 9/21/07 2:44pm (1 edits total) Edited By: Zorrixor
I'd be torn on a tragic ending. I'd love it for the novel, not so sure about the game. There's something about a video game that makes me always dislike the sad endings. For pure story based value in the book? It'd be great.

Although, having said that, I'm not sure if any ending in the game will feel like an "achievement" because at the end of the day the SA can't accomplish anything monumental within the closed period he exists in. He can't kill Vader, he can't overthrow the Emperor, so I suppose if he's going to have to fail his mission perhaps a tragic ending would be good rather than having him just escape from Vader's clutches and run away to become another random member of the Rebellion or whatever.

 

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Jedi Ben  9355 posts
Registered: Jul '99
23785_James Bond Jedi
Date Posted: 9/21/07 4:01pm Subject: RE: The Force Unleashed: The Multimedia EU Event of '08
Just saw the vid recently, have to say pulling a Star Destroyer down is taking TK way too far but that aside...Potentially good.

Of note is a news story that suggests a Wii version, with the remote acting as a lightsaber!

JB

 

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NeoStar9  2068 posts
Registered: Mar '02
7735_Callista and Luke
Date Posted: 9/21/07 4:14pm Subject: RE: The Force Unleashed: The Multimedia EU Event of '08
Don't think it was suggesting there would be one but more so confirming that there would be one. happy

I saw the recent video as well and I have to say I'm really interested in this whole project now. More so since there is going to be a Wii version since I don't have a PS3 or 360. I had always been curious as to what kind of Master Vader would have been like if he was serious about training someone. For as powerful as Anakin was he felt he was being held back or was limited by the rules of the Jedi. Without that, and being able to encourage someone else to go further and even further then he himself would have been allowed, I think the way they are showing the force powers could be an end result to a degree depending how powerful the person learning is though of course. I hope they at least go into how he kept all of this away from Palps or if he even knew himself but was interested in seeing what happen.

I thought the idea of describing the SA as a Dark Luke, in that possibly he is what Luke might have become if he had accepted Vader's offer in Empires Strikes Back, was pretty interesting.

I know there is going to be a comic adaption but will the novel be telling the same story as the game as well or will it be focusing on other things going on at the time?

 

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Corusca_One  641 posts
Registered: Oct '05
48803_11 - Rebel Dawn
Date Posted: 9/21/07 7:37pm Subject: RE: The Force Unleashed: The Multimedia EU Event of '08 - Date Edited: 9/21/07 7:38pm (1 edits total) Edited By: Corusca_One
Zorrixor posted:

My fear, though, is that Star Wars games almost always feel very clunky because they try to get as many planets and locales in as possible that they always end up just doing a very basic "level" based approach, which is hard to make flow, so might make the story a bit less immersive. That's what killed Jedi Academy for me as it was just a series of totally disconnected levels on different worlds.


Well you forget that Jedi Academy was almost nothing more than an glorified expansion pack to Jedi Outcast. Sure it changed a lot, but I always felt they used it for experimentation. Outcast had much more of a linear story and flowed a lot more smoothly between chapters. Plus it had Lando which is always a big point in anythings favour.

While i'd love to see the JK series return (By Katarn's beard how I love for it to return!), this could potentially fill the void, all depends on how much care is spent on the gameplay - to make it a unique and satisfying experience that dosn't try to copy a load of other games poorly.

Now an impressive game would be one that succesfully mixes JK/JO with KotOR. Still this has great potential...

 

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Ris_jSarek  2555 posts
Registered: Feb '05
18187_Z-95 Headhunter
Date Posted: 9/21/07 9:21pm Subject: RE: The Force Unleashed: The Multimedia EU Event of '08
Charlemagne19 posted:
For example, I *HATED* the ending to the Call of Cthulhu game.


Wait, you played a Call of Cthulhu game and didn't 100% KNOW that only madness, suffering, and/or death awaited the protagonist at the end before you ever picked up a controller?

 

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Zorrixor  4359 posts
Registered: Sep '04
42757_Prince Xizor
Date Posted: 9/22/07 5:42am Subject: RE: The Force Unleashed: The Multimedia EU Event of '08 - Date Edited: 9/22/07 5:42am (1 edits total) Edited By: Zorrixor
Jedi Ben posted:
Just saw the vid recently, have to say pulling a Star Destroyer down is taking TK way too far but that aside...Potentially good.

Of note is a news story that suggests a Wii version, with the remote acting as a lightsaber!

JB

The Wii announcement has pleased me as it means the chances of an eventual PC port are more likely. I'm expecting the typical "Console exclusive! Go buy it! Not for PC!" hype for the first six months then the usual "We've decided to do a PC port after all!"

My one hope for the Wii version, like all Wii ports so far, is that they try to make the most of the controls. Most ports so far have been a bit lacking in that area.

 

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SephyCloneNo15  6880 posts
Registered: Apr '05
8068_R5-D4
Date Posted: 9/22/07 12:01pm Subject: RE: The Force Unleashed: The Multimedia EU Event of '08
Jango_Fettish posted:
Look at it this way. The SA has been tortured and mentally abused by Vader for a long time. He becomes a killing machine. He runs into General Kota, and starts to see the light. So if this story is of redemption, he is going to have to face Vader, right? So it is possible that the poor kid gets hacked to pieces by Vader himself. I know that would ruin the chance of a sequel, but it really would be cool - after Vader ruins the kids life, he goes and finishes him off and washes his hands clean of the whole thing. I know it has been speculated from the beginning as a possible ending, it just seems so much more powerful with the new details of his training under Vader being shown in the new video.


For some odd reason I just had a vision of a severed hand and the SA making an ESB-style escape from Vader....

 

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Charlemagne19  26816 posts
Registered: Jul '00
6408_Jedi Outcast
Date Posted: 9/22/07 12:24pm Subject: RE: The Force Unleashed: The Multimedia EU Event of '08
Zorrixor posted:
I'd be torn on a tragic ending. I'd love it for the novel, not so sure about the game. There's something about a video game that makes me always dislike the sad endings. For pure story based value in the book? It'd be great.

Although, having said that, I'm not sure if any ending in the game will feel like an "achievement" because at the end of the day the SA can't accomplish anything monumental within the closed period he exists in. He can't kill Vader, he can't overthrow the Emperor, so I suppose if he's going to have to fail his mission perhaps a tragic ending would be good rather than having him just escape from Vader's clutches and run away to become another random member of the Rebellion or whatever.


I don't know, they seem to be indicating that they're going to have the Secret Apprentice play some role in Vader's redemption by the way they say they tie it into the main fiction. Apparently, we're supposed to think Vader is thinking of SA when he throws Luke down the Reactor shaft.

 

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