Review - Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels

• Game: Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels
• Format: Wii
• Other Formats: None
• Developer: Krome Studios
• Publisher: LucasArts
• Genre: Fighting

When Nintendo first announced that they were making a console powered by waving a TV remote around like an idiot, there was one game that everyone wanted to see. The very concept of the Wii seems perfect for a lightsaber game, right down to the remote speaker for making "vom vomvomvom vom vom vom BZZZT!" noises. Well, two years on, LucasArts have finally remembered that they like money, with the release of Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels: Attack of the Colons, but can it possibly live up to the dream?

The basic set up is pretty much what you would expect. Two characters from a selection of ten Clone Wars characters go into an arena and proceed to kill each other with lightsabers and Force powers. For solo players there is a story mode featuring clips from the series, and a challenge mode in which you need to win whilst fulfilling certain objectives (usually use all the combos or finish in under three minutes), but it never really departs much from the main concept.

The most important thing about this game is probably the control system. Sadly, any hopes for full one-to-one movement of your blade are quickly dashed, instead lightsaber attacks are limited to slashes in four directions and a forwards stabbing motion. This does at least mean that the controls are much more reliable than many Wii games; even when making multiple moves in quick succession the game can pick up exactly what each swing is supposed to be and act accordingly, so you'll never end up losing the game just because the game confused your Ultimate Sith-Killer Combo for the "decapitate self with own lightsaber" command.

There are a few more complications to the fighting system, such as each character having their own Force power and super move, using the Force to throw debris into your opponent's face, and the ability to parry attacks by holding block and swinging in the opposite direction to your opponent, but overall there is nowhere near as much depth to the combat as something like Soul Calibur.

One feature that comes up a lot is the saber lock system where at seemingly random points in the battle the two combatants will lock blades, trade insults and then set off one of three mini games... or just go straight back into the fight leaving the players wondering what all that was about. The mini games are quite fun actually, but it would be nice if it didn't feel like the game was deciding whether or not to give you one on the basis of a coin flip.

"Wait, why are we doing this again?"

The cast of characters contains most of the lightsaber-wielding stars of the Clone Wars series, with the surprising omission of Yoda who I can only assume was left out to avoid having to deal with the height difference. This unfortunately, includes Ahsoka Tano, the irritating teenager who has quickly become my most hated Star Wars character ever since Darths & Droids made Jar Jar Binks awesome. It's also a shame that there are no characters from outside of the Clone Wars time period; OK I understand that Qui-Gon Jinn fighting Darth Vader in the story mode would make no sense whatsoever, but a few original trilogy and Episode I characters as unlockable multiplayer characters wouldn't have hurt.

The actual choice of character to play as makes disappointingly little difference to the actual gameplay, with the main changes being a slightly different combo list and Force power. The real difference is in the voice clips played as the fight goes on. In a nice touch, the speech changes depending on your opponent, so for example Obi-Wan will accuse Count Dooku of betraying the Jedi Order and vow to bring an end to this insignificant rebellion, whereas Obi-Wan versus Anakin sounds more like a friendly sparring match. This helps to give the fights a more cinematic feel and make the sound clips actually make sense in context, but the downside is that by limiting the number of possible lines the chances of repetition inevitably increases.

Lightsaber proliferation reaches dangerous levels - coming in 2010: Star Wars Episode VII: Invasion of the Octopus People

The arenas are a nicely varied bunch, all with their own hazards. Clone troopers and battledroids fight it out around you (and get stabbed to death if they get in your way), electric discharges and blasts of flame can incinerate careless players, and one level takes place above a Sarlacc which reaches up to eat the tasty Jedi above. The arenas also have a tendency to change between rounds, such as a platform on the edge of a space-station that gets detached at the beginning of round two and spends the rest of the battle in freefall.

Overall, The Clone Wars is not the lightsaber game you imagined when you first saw the Wii remote, and in all likelihood it was never trying to be. Instead, what we have is a fun, technically competent, but ultimately insubstantial beat-em-up. Star Wars fans will likely get a kick out of it for a while, but after a few days they'll be back to Smash Bros. Brawl. Now, if LucasArts were to make a sequel using the MotionPlus add-on the idea could finally live up to its potential.

Score:
5/10

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Review - Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

A Guest Review by Falco

• Game: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
• Version Reviewed: Xbox 360
• Other Formats: PS2, PS3, Wii
  
• Developer: LucasArts
• Publisher: LucasArts
• Genre: 3rd person action/adventure
  

The Force has been Unleashed. LucasArts' latest game from the Star Wars franchise comes in the form of the Force-powered hack and slash The Force Unleashed. The key point about The Force Unleashed is the story, as TFU fills in the blanks in the saga between Episodes 3 and 4 and essentially links the whole package together. TFU centres on Darth Vader's secret apprentice, 'Starkiller', one of the most powerful Force users ever. Starkiller is a great character, and as the story moves on he becomes more and more likeable. The cut-scenes in the game really show off how cool he is; I mean on the scale of Star Wars cool, he's probably about as cool as Han Solo.

Gameplay is simple, you use your lightsaber and Force abilities to destroy everything in your path. The way the Force and the more martial talents go hand in hand is really quite something. One combo of particular note (X, X, X, hold B) slashes your opponent then slams them down with the Force, throwing them in the air allowing you to carry on the barrage with a couple more hits or a Soulcalibur like two button grapple (e.g. the X and A buttons). TFU is quite tough at times, so to prevail, despite playing as a Sith, you need to use the calm swiftness of a Jedi to get through. The bosses are merciless and are more a test of your newest ability than anything. They are like classic bosses of retro games, as each has a pattern and a weak spot you have to take advantage of. The sub-bosses, such as the AT-ST's, have you playing button combo mini-games to finish them off, a la God of War and the like, and it even though it looks fantastic, it can get quite repetitive.

"These are not the droids you are looking for."
"These are not the droids we're AAARGH!"

The Force powers are well implemented, especially the 'Grip' power, which allows you to fling the objects that litter the environments at your enemies. The way the environment and your enemies react is amazing. When you pick up a Stormtrooper they frantically try to grab hold of something, whether that be a comrade or part of the environment. Then when you throw them through things they bend, break and warp as you'd imagine them to; wood splinters, glass smashes and huge metal doors are bent apart. It really is incredibly satisfying.

The graphics scream next-generation at you, and even though the frame-rate can stutter a little, it never really drops too low. The fact the apprentice was in Soulcalibur IV means he doesn't look quite as cool as he can but even so, he still looks awesome. The graphical standard carries on throughout the game - the environments, enemies everything. Sound is incredibly important in a Star Wars game and it gets practically everything spot-on, especially the grand theme at the title screen, which is dark and inspiring in equal measure. The effects of the TIE Fighter's engines, blasters going off and the memorable hum of a lightsaber as it deflects everything the galaxy can throw at it are present and correct. The voice work is very, very good, especially for the main crew and Darth Vader. The fact the established characters from the movies sound so convincing just improves the experience.

If you're a Star Wars fan this is such a definitive purchase. There are many nods and winks to the main saga, and the story has many twists and turns before you finish this epic journey.

Score:
9/10

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