Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Star Wars. The saga lives on in video game form and Lucas Arts is up to the task of making some fun games for the heroes, (and villains) of the Star Wars universe. This review is for the PS2 version of the game.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is a different kind of Star Wars game. Yes, it's a action game like many, but in this game you play as the bad guy. The main character here has some qualms about being bad, but if I were to tell you here why that is, I would be ruining the story for you, and I'd rather you find out all the gory details on your own. Our main 'hero' in this game is sent on missions by the Dark Lord himself, Darth Vader, and you must complete these missions in order to be found as competent by Vader himself, and the Emperor. The game has many levels, across different planets, and the coolest thing about this action game is the force powers at your disposal. There are so many force powers to use at any time in this game. I will not list them all because there are so many. This is probably what makes this game so much fun to play. And, really, who doesn't like a fun game? Just to mention a few; you can throw your lightsaber out to impale enemies, you can use objects in your surroundings to pummel your enemies to death, or even use Vader's famous 'choke hold' and squeeze the life out of your foes. All of these force powers are easy to use, and fun to watch on screen, it reminds me of a great fighting game with lots of special moves to memorize, and use for the right situation. Your enemies may be lumbering AT-AT's, or Wookies, or storm troopers, but at the end of the day, they are all just thing to throw, choke, and swing around in your force-controlled universe. The gameplay here is top-notch for an action game--simply move your character in the direction you want to go with the analog stick, and control moving objects and enemies in your grasp with the right stick. Yes, there are some funny gameplay glitches, such as being able to stand on structures you shouldn't be able to, or enemies going through solid objects, but it never once ruins the game. So, it's almost a moot point to even mention. Truly, the highlight of this game is using the force powers in combat, and that's what you be doing most of the time. However, if you just want to swing your lightsaber around like a Jedi, you can do that whilst your 'Force Energy Bar' recharges. I would mention to seasoned action gamers, that, it would be repetitive doing the same things level after level, but since it's all so much fun to play, it's really not bad at all.

The graphics are certainly in a league all of their own, and this game is no slouch in the prettiness department. SWtFU really uses the PS2's particle effects to their utmost, and you can really see it in the sparks and fire, and other things the console is good at doing. Yeah, this is a later PS2 release, and yeah, it will look much better on the bigger brother consoles, but Lucas Arts managed to do a fantastic job with Sony's younger sibling, and the results are breathtaking, at times. There is no slowdown present in this game, and I don't care what anyone says, I've been playing it for hours, and I haven't seen it slow down once. This game is really a must see for PS2 owners.The only thing that hurts this game is the presentation. It seems ugly and tacked on, and the menus are also very simple looking.

The story is simply amazing, and it can be summed up in one word: unpredictable. When I was expecting the normal plot points to come out, and the main character do some simple story actions like take revenge, it never happened quite like I expected. Needless to say, it kept me playing. This is a fantastic story in the Star Wars universe. I like how movie characters were here in this game.

Music and sound are very good, Star Wars movie quality, and will not disappoint. The voice actors for the game do a terrific job. Playing this game with surround sound will only strengthen your involvement.

Closing Thoughts:

I tend to be hard on Star Wars games. I'm not sure why, but the series has been around for so long, and it's so easy to make some cheap game with Star Wars music and sounds in it, and place the 'Star War's logo on it, and call it finished. But, Lucas Arts and Krome didn't settle for some cash-in, and it shows when you play this game. You will be involved right from the start, and be surprised at the end. Star Wars fans need to take a look. Terrific job, Lucas Arts. Keep up the good work. I can't wait to see more.



Graphics- 10 out of 10 (Some of the best I've seen on PS2! Keep making games for this system, developers!!!)
Sound and Music- 10 out of 10
Gameplay- 9.1 out of 10
Presentation- 6.4 out of 10

Overall- 9.1 out of 10

The Getaway

This game really, truly, blew me away. First thing I noticed while playing is the extremely realistic graphics. And yes, I know that PS2 can only show realism so much, but this game really pushes the system to the max to make sure that the game looks like the real thing. The fact that the developers recreated almost all of London's streets really impresses me, and it shows when you're playing. Everything is integrated into the missions and game-play very well. Sadly, the controls are not very good. It's kind of difficult moving your character around the city on foot, however, when in a car, it's pretty easy to drive. The game is kind of short, clocking it at about 8 or more hours of game-play, depending on how fast you can beat the missions. The story is very, very good, and much better than the story in the sequel, The Getaway: Black Monday. One aspect of the game I must point out, is there is no on-screen help at all in the game. I mean, there is no health meter, and there is no map or directions. When you are in a car, the blinkers will go off letting you know where to turn and when. When you are shot by someone in the game, you character will weaken, and to regain health, you must lean against a wall for a limited time. This really just makes the game seem more realistic.

I won't ruin the story for you. Just play the game. If you enjoy playing through a game that feels real and looks real, and makes you feel like you're playing through a well-scripted movie, then you need this game. In my opinion, this game is a PlayStation 2 classic. Play it, you will love it.

Graphics- 8.1 out of 10
Sound and Music- 8.0 out of 10
Gameplay- 5 out of 10
Presentation- 9.9 out of 10

Overall- 7 out of 10

Contra: Shattered Soldier

Contra Shattered Soldier is a fun PS2 game. There are no doubts there. The action is very straight forward, and the objective is clear--shoot everything in site!

Only available on the PS2, Contra: Shattered Soldier tells a strange story about two guys trying to save the world. But the story is not what this game is about. This
game is about ACTION. LOTS OF ACTION. And that is what you get with CSS. You can play with up to two players, just like the NES Contra, and all of the awesome shooting action of that game is here, only bigger and much better looking. You might see a gigantic eyeball up ahead that wants to kill you, but then it gets squashed by an even bigger monstrosity. The game is extremely difficult. I can't get this point across enough. Even if you memorize all of the patterns of the enemies and bosses, you will still have to have quicks wits and quicker reflexes to stop them. The game is also very fast-paced. You must think fast or you will die. It's not too bad on easy mode because you get a lot of lives. You could probably beat the game on easy mode. I still haven't.

Graphics- 8.0 out of 10
Sound and Music- 8.0 out of 10
Gameplay- 9.0 out of 10
Presentation- 9.9 out of 10

Overall- 8.9 out of 10

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is the fourth game in the series, and it's yet another fun one from Rockstar. I have been a fan of Grand Theft Auto ever since Grand Theft Auto 3 came out on the PS2. Vice City is not much different, except for the fact that the main character talks now, and the city is much larger than in
GTA 3. The graphics also look much better. I will be reviewing the PS2 version.

You would think that being a gangster is easy. Stealing cars, money, or drugs is simple, right? Wrong. Not in this game. There are multiple ways to complete each mission,but the easiest way is not always clear. You have to shoot, drive, and fly you way to victory, and sometimes, with rival gangs and all-around thugs trying to stop you, things can get a bit messy. If you're familiar with GTA 3 at all, then the core gameplay is still the same. Rockstar has been kind enough to add helicopters, motorcycles, and even scooters to the mix of available autos to steal, and you will be glad they did. The motorcycles are much faster than a car, and can fit down a tight alleyway much easier than a truck. In GTA: Vice City, people in the city give you jobs to do. The jobs might be stealing some drugs from some Haitians on a boat, or flying into a forbidden area in a chopper to get a picture of a seedy lowlife congressman. The jobs are all varied, and the game is full of them. There are so many ways to complete each mission, you could do each of them different every single time you play. The radio is also much better this time around, and since this game is set in the 80's all of the music comes from that era, and it's a great soundtrack. Michael Jackson, Blondie, and even Phil Collins are all here, just switch to a station you want to hear, and go catch some bad guys. I like the story in this game much better than in GTA 3, and it helps out a lot that the main character actually talks this time around! Ever since I got this game, I have always considered it a PS2 classic, and since I can pop the game in my PS2 today and still have fun playing it, that really says something to me. Check it out, and see for yourself.

Graphics- 8.5 out of 10
Sound and Music- 9.2 out of 10
Gameplay- 10 out of 10
Presentation- 8.7 out of 10

Overall- 9.6 out of 10