OTHER TECH

NEXT-GEN ENEMIES

In 1999, Lucas won the development rights to 15 acres of the Presidio, an ex-military installation near the Golden Gate Bridge. After construction on the Letterman Digital Arts Center was done, it became the new home to both Lucas's special-effects powerhouse Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and to LucasArts.

The Force Unleashed is the first project to exploit the synergy of having these companies under one roof. The close cooperation allowed the Unleashed team to create a new set of programming tools on top of ILM's existing technologies. For instance, actors' likenesses were captured using ILM's "clone cam," resulting in ultra-realistic-looking characters.

The processing horsepower of PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 also allowed two new technologies to complete the next-gen experience. Pixelux's Digital Molecular Matter (DMM) helps create more convincing gameplay by making objects react realistically to the forces being exerted on them, based on the objects' shape, weight, and size. Glass shatters, wood splinters, stone crumbles, and steel bends, but realistically and differently every time. This was evident when watching plants move on Felucia depending on what level of Force was applied to them - or when watching the Apprentice repeatedly hurl Stormtroopers into a steel door until it became dented and then bent, ultimately collapsing under the onslaught.

NaturalMotion's Euphoria gives characters "biomechanical artificial intelligence" - a virtual central nervous system that controls the characters' muscles. Enemies have a sense of survival and use the environment to seek cover or hold onto objects to keep from being Force-pushed into oblivion. This produces more realistic, unscripted responses and death "animations," making each encounter unique. Enemies will also team up to fight together, creating a greater challenge for the Apprentice, especially as the difficulty ramps up in the Sith Lord and Sith Master settings.

CHOOSE YOUR DESTINY - AND YOUR PLATFORM

The Force is being unleashed simultaneously on all major gaming platforms - PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, PSP, and DS - so you can enjoy it regardless of your allegiance. While the story is similar on each system, gameplay has been tweaked to take advantage of the strengths of the various platforms. For example, only the PS3 and Xbox 360 use DMM and Euphoria. Wii owners wield the Wii Remote as a lightsaber while using the Nunchuk attachment to unleash Force powers. "Wii players really will feel unleashed because of the control scheme," Blackman said. "It feels like you're actually connected to this Apprentice character through all the motions you're doing." The Wii version also features a Duel mode where players fight each other as a variety of characters, using settings from both the classic and expanded Star Wars universe.

The PSP version includes a Lucasfilm-approved Historical Mission mode that lets players relive classic moments from the six movies. Encounters like Vader vs. Luke from The Empire Strikes Back and Obi-Wan vs. Anakin from Revenge of the Sith are reinvented with over-the-top, Unleashed Force powers.

You'll encounter more than 100 characters (and 50 enemy types), including familiar figures like Princess Leia and Senator Bail Organa. But as Blackman noted, "[Lucas] wanted us to focus on creating new characters, including a love interest and a comic sidekick." Key among these is Jedi general Rahm Kota, the crazed Kazdan Paratus, and the dual tonfa-saber-wielding Maris Brood. You'll also explore many cool environments, from a TIE Fighter factory to Cloud City to the galaxy's garbage dump, Raxus Prime.

Consistent with the Star Wars films, The Force Unleashed's overall theme is redemption. Ultimately, only you can decide your fate and that of the galaxy, and how you play will have an impact on the world around you and determine the game's outcome. (No pressure.)

Gaming in high-def transforms Star Wars from a passive, watch-from-the-sidelines event, into an adrenaline filled, multi-sensory overload by transporting you into the action. Jack your game console into your home theater and grab your controller to take your theater to the next level. May the Force be with you!