Review:
The Force Unleashed II (Wii)

If the original Force Unleashed proved anything, it was that good, creative, immersive storytelling can trump occasionally dodgy gameplay and make players continue on to the very end. Unfortunately, the original title was a closed story, meaning that to make a direct sequel to it would be complete suicide and nobody would be silly enough to… oh dear.

Despite the fact that Starkiller, Darth Vader’s first secret apprentice, went rogue, created the Rebel Alliance and had to be killed, Vader still seems to believe that the project is worth continuing. However, after managing to clone another version of Starkiller, the young apprentice suffers painful memory flashbacks and rebels against his master, managing to escape the cloning facility. He must now unite the fractured elements of the Alliance, but the real question remains – is he actually a clone? Does his life matter?

Don’t expect to find out the answers to either of those questions – The Force Unleashed II is merely a ‘bridge’ chapter, like Episode V, only without the emotional content or continued sense of discovery. The story is strictly neutered in order to maximise profit on this newest cash cow franchise and nothing is resolved. This time Starkiller immediately rejects his training and runs away from his purpose, constantly moaning to himself that he is a clone and that he can’t be a real human.

The level design is bland and uninspiring, with boring backgrounds and linear paths mixing it up with platform sections and a camera that will do anything in its power to get you killed. Worse still, there are only five levels and the game can be breezed through in an afternoon. Biggest offender on the list is the atrocious level set on Dagobah – no lightsabers, no force powers, just lots of platforming in a boring, endless grey vista of depression. Thanks, LucasArts.

As if to prove that developers Red Fly Studios don’t give a monkeys about the Wii or its audience, both motion controls and the Motion Plus are completely ignored. This is a lightsaber game where you press the A button to swing the sword.Waving the remote unleashes one of the devastating lightsaber combos, which all feel impressive, but you’ll never quite get over the fact that this is a massive let-down.