Consider this: would you rather execute a Force Push with B (XBox360) or Triangle (PS3) or would you rather just literally push your enemy? That’s exactly what the Wii version empowers you to do. And if that’s what gets your Star Wars fantasies excited, the Wii version is for you. I just got my copy of TFU for the Wii from Play-Asia, and it plays great!
If you’ve long been dreaming about wielding a lightsaber in your own hands and vanquishing foes with it, this will probably be the closest experience you’ll have short of getting Jedi Training in an asylum somewhere (at least for now, we’ll see if Star Wars: Clone Wars has anything to say when it comes out). This game is exactly like what we saw in the Wii Producer Walkthrough video that we showed in one of our recent posts, only hands-on it gets so much better. In a nutshell, you get a Wiisaber and Forcechuk with the game. So as previously mentioned, Force Push is executed by quite literally performing a “push” (you push forward on your Forcechuck) and enemies go flying! Here are some more Forcechuk moves:
Force Grip: Grip your enemy (by gripping on the Z button)
Throw Enemies or (objects at enemies): Force Grip them, move them around (using the Forcechuk analog stick), then release your grip (by releasing the Z button).
Force Pummel: Grip your enemy, and wave your other hand to send objects hurtling toward your force-gripped opponent.
Force Choke: Grip your enemy, then turn your Forcechuk upside down (similar to how you would turn your hand ala Vader-style)
etc.
Now isn’t that intuitive?
Wiisaber moves aren’t any less spectacular either. You swing your Wiisaber right, left, up, down, or thrust to perform the same moves. The game has a tutorial mode to get you quickly up to speed. You’ll be taught by Proxy, your droid, and none other than Vader’s hand demonstrations themselves! Pardon the screenshots, I don’t have a capture card, just a camera. And yes, you can see my reflection from the TV.
Edit: It’s pretty standard for games to vibrate during gameplay, but did I mention that the Wiisaber also emits lightsaber sounds as well? Yup! Not from your TV, from the Wii mote itself with its built-in speakers whenever you activate it or it hits something like another lightsaber. Can’t believe I forgot to mention this.
Krome Studios did an excellent job with designing the controls. The point here is to maximize, not use for the sake of using. Imagine if you ran by “jogging” both controllers. Thankfully, Krome was SMART enough not to fall down that dark path and just used the nunchuck analog stick for movement.
Sadly, the Wii version does not have Euphoria or DMM, or even an attempt to mimic these technologies. That’s not to say there aren’t a lot of objects flying around, getting thrown, or getting destroyed. The second level boss fight with Jedi Master Gen. Rahm Kota is particularly beautiful (see the video below); it takes place in a TIE-Fighter Construction Facility control room. As the intense battle of two powerful wielders of the force ensues, you’ll have to sometimes stop and marvel (at the risk of your own demise) the surroundings, especially the large glass window that cracks and sends out shards of glass as one of you gets slammed into it. The battle ends in a climactic finish with a large and dazzling display of the destructive power of the force as wielded by the Secret Apprentice.
The Wii game also sports a Duel Mode where you get to fight with another player. At the start, you’ll only have access to the Secret Apprentice, Darth Vader (!), and Rahm Kota. But as you play the Story mode, you’ll be able to unlock other characters, including Ep. 3 Anakin, Darth Maul (no dual-saber though), Obi-Wan, Qui-gon Jinn, as well as the Secret Apprentice with different costumes. Although, cheating might be rampant as in the following example dialog:
Player 1: Damn it! Why the heck did you push me for?!
Player 2: That was a force push.
As BlendGames points out, Krome “will be focusing the game mechanics around motion control.” In essence, there will be 5 versions of the game (as was covered in our last post’s video): Xbox360/PS3 versions (with DMM and Euphoria), Wii (Duel-mode, motion control), PS2 (Jedi Trials), PSP (play historic missions), and DS (made by N-Gage. No news on this one). So which version do you get? According to LucasArts, you’ll have a different, unleashed experience on all platforms. The first mission on Kashyyyk, for example, is a night-time raid on the Wii version (Here’s a video of Vader fighting the Rogue Jedi in the attack) while it’s day-time in the PS3 version. The Wii will have 5 more levels, and the level design will also be different. Even the Junk Titan seems different in design (PS3: Here Wii: Here).
Basically, if you prefer trees that splinter, metal that bends, and storm-troopers that panic, get the amped-up graphics of the XBox360/PS3 version. But if you like to really get unleashed wielding force powers, as well as playing head-to-head against another player, get the Wii version. If you’re an on-the-go type, get one of the handheld versions. And since most of you probably have a PS2 as well, be sure to pick it up as well. I would. Right now, I’m tempted to buy an XBox360 just to see DMM and Euphoria in action.
I highly recommend that you get the Wii version. If you’re local retailer doesn’t have it yet, you can get one from Play-Asia and say no to piracy. Mine arrived around a week after I ordered it. For now, I’ll leave you with these two videos: The first one is a gameplay video on the Wii, all the way up to a spectacular boss battle at the end. The second video is a compilation of clips from the PS3 version of the game. Enjoy! I’ve got more foes to send flying in the air.
Wii Version Gameplay
PS3 Video Clips
I have to buy the latest star wars theme on my Tom Tom GPS. Looks like It’s fantastic!