Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

About

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - Ultimate Sith Edition is an expanded version of the original game, offering a deeper look into the dark side of the Force. Players take on the role of Darth Vader's "Secret Apprentice," utilizing unparalleled Force powers while experiencing new revelations about the Star Wars galaxy. This edition includes all original missions, bonus content, and an exclusive new level, providing a comprehensive and thrilling Star Wars experience.

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Star Wars: The Force Unleashed screenshot

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,288 reviews

story969 positive mentions

stability292 negative mentions

Engaging story that expands the Star Wars lore, featuring Starkiller as Darth Vader's secret apprentice.
Satisfying combat mechanics that allow players to unleash powerful Force abilities and perform dynamic lightsaber combos.
Nostalgic experience for fans, with memorable characters and iconic moments, such as pulling down a Star Destroyer.

Poorly executed PC port with numerous technical issues, including a 30 FPS cap, audio glitches, and unresponsive controls.
Frustrating boss fights and level design that can lead to tedious gameplay, particularly during the Star Destroyer mission.
Repetitive combat mechanics that can feel clunky and unbalanced, especially against certain enemy types.

story
2,405 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
53%
7%
The story of "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed" is generally regarded as engaging and compelling, providing a unique perspective on the events between Episodes III and IV, particularly through the character of Starkiller, Darth Vader's secret apprentice. While many players appreciate the narrative's exploration of themes like betrayal and redemption, some criticize it for being predictable and filled with clichés, as well as for its disjointed presentation and lack of depth in character development. Overall, the story is seen as a highlight of the game, especially for fans of the Star Wars universe, despite the gameplay and technical issues that detract from the experience.
- “The story is compelling, and certainly interesting for Star Wars fans, but it also introduces some awkward subjects.”
- “The story is a classic Star Wars story of good versus evil, overcoming insurmountable odds, and has some twists and turns that might catch you off guard with endearing characters sporting individual personalities that you quickly come to care for.”
- “The force unleashed is a game from that edgy 2010s era, it's a non-canon Star Wars game that shows the story of a secret apprentice Vader had in the time between episodes 3-4.”
- “The story is just your B-tier movie level jank.”
- “The story is decent in principle, but the way it's told makes it feel like there are bits missing.”
- “The story is mediocre, with much of it being too predictable.”
gameplay
1,001 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
52%
16%
The gameplay of "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed" is a mixed bag, with many players praising its innovative use of force powers and lightsaber mechanics that create a satisfying power fantasy. However, numerous criticisms highlight issues such as clunky controls, repetitive combat, frustrating boss fights, and technical problems, particularly in the PC port. While some find the gameplay enjoyable and nostalgic, others feel it has not aged well and suffers from significant design flaws that detract from the overall experience.
- “The gameplay is where this game really shines, every boss fight and mini boss fight are full of these awesome choreographed cinematic fight scenes that you'll never see in the movies or any other Star Wars game.”
- “The gameplay is fun and engaging and easy to lose yourself in.”
- “The highlight of the Force Unleashed lies in its unique gameplay mechanics centered around the force powers.”
- “The story is okay but gameplay is shitty; you can get stun locked by some enemies.”
- “It's bullshit and as much as some people try to defend it, the gameplay loop is also repetitive and pretty boring.”
- “The gameplay is frustrating and you do nothing more than using fancy force powers and hitting guys with your saber.”
graphics
687 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
58%
12%
The graphics of "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed" have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they were impressive for their time, they have aged poorly by modern standards. Some users appreciate the nostalgic charm and detail of the visuals, especially in cutscenes, while others criticize the lack of graphical options, low frame rates, and various glitches that detract from the experience. Overall, the game is seen as visually decent for a title released in 2008, but it struggles with optimization and technical issues in its PC port.
- “The graphics are good for an old game.”
- “The graphics hold up really well, especially at 4K.”
- “The graphics and sound design of this game were good.”
- “The graphics are very of their time, for better or for worse.”
- “The graphics have aged poorly, and the image quality shows its age.”
- “The graphics are locked to 30 fps by default, only way to circumvent this is by googling for a fix.”
stability
296 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
99%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting a plethora of bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. Many describe it as a "buggy mess," particularly in the PC port, which is often deemed poorly optimized and riddled with issues such as unresponsive controls, audio problems, and erratic physics. While some players find enjoyment in the game despite these flaws, the overall consensus is that the technical problems detract from the experience, making it difficult to recommend without significant patches or fixes.
- “Still holds up now and even runs great on the Steam Deck.”
- “Runs great on the Deck.”
- “Runs great on my laptop.”
- “Game is a pure buggy mess where barely anything makes sense!”
- “Great story but this might be the worst PC port of all time, janky and annoying and filled with glitches and bugs that straight up make the game unplayable in certain levels.”
- “This game is a buggy mess.”
music
186 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
70%
4%
The music in the game is a mix of iconic Star Wars themes and original compositions, generally praised for its quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience. However, numerous reviews highlight significant audio issues, including music cutting out, poor audio balancing, and sound effects failing to play, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. While the soundtrack is often described as fantastic, the technical problems associated with it have led to frustration among players.
- “The music captures perfectly the Star Wars world.”
- “The soundtrack is an amalgamation of musical scores from the original Star Wars saga and original compositions from Mark Griskey and Jesse Harlin.”
- “Overall - there is little in the way of storyline to keep you going it was ok the cutscenes were great, music spot on, graphics were good for the age of the game, QTE was a little annoying with little time to react to some.”
- “Sounds and soundtrack come and go whenever; audio balancing is a joke. Even when you try to adjust the volume, the game changes it up during cutscenes.”
- “The music may be the classic Star Wars themes, but they are of poor quality and are lazily added in (if they even play at all).”
- “The biggest clear porting flaw is the fact that the music in the last two stages cuts out occasionally, which is easily fixable.”
optimization
113 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
42%
37%
The optimization of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, particularly for the PC version, which is criticized for being a poorly executed console port. Players report frequent crashes, performance issues, and a lack of support for mouse and keyboard controls, with the game often capped at 30 fps and lacking visual options. While some users suggest using emulators or mods to improve performance, the general consensus is that the game is not well-optimized for PC gaming.
- “I liked the optimization of the game and the fact that I could play with a controller.”
- “I've experienced almost no major bugs or performance issues in my time playing it, on a Windows 10 x64 system.”
- “This game is still one of my favorites of all time, and it's optimized far better than the sequel.”
- “The game is poorly optimized and feels like it was rushed for PC.”
- “This game is so terribly optimized on PC that it is a pain to play.”
- “I tried a bunch of different fixes but the game is so poorly optimized I could not stand it.”
replayability
77 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
62%
14%
The game offers a mixed bag of replayability, with some players appreciating the multiple endings, unlockable costumes, and collectibles that encourage revisits. However, many reviewers note that the linear story and repetitive gameplay diminish its long-term appeal, leading to a consensus that while there are elements that promote replayability, they may not be enough to sustain interest after the initial playthrough. Overall, the replay value is seen as decent but not exceptional, with some players finding it enjoyable to return to for challenges and collectibles, while others feel it lacks depth for repeated plays.
- “The game offers significant replay value, thanks to its multiple difficulty levels and the ability to unlock new abilities and costumes.”
- “Overall, though, it is a fantastic game with hours of replay value trying to collect all of the holocrons and attempting to beat the game on harder difficulties.”
- “In terms of gameplay, however, the game is extremely entertaining, and thanks to the game's commendable difficulty curve, from apprentice to sith master, the game sports an absolute ton of replayability, from alternative endings, to new lightsaber colors, to new unlockable costumes and entirely new characters.”
- “Right now I'd say the replay value isn't high once you've been through as the story stays the same and it's only getting more difficult to get through all the enemies.”
- “On a first playthrough, this isn’t that much of a problem, but it really affects the game’s replayability if you have to sit through the same cutscenes every single time.”
- “The replay value is nil; the game does in fact have two different endings, but both of them are equally dissatisfying.”
grinding
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
16%
80%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and frustrating, with many players noting that combat becomes monotonous and boss battles feel overly drawn out. Repetitive enemy encounters, uninspired level design, and clunky mechanics contribute to a sense of chore-like gameplay, particularly on higher difficulty settings. Overall, while some moments are enjoyable, the grinding experience often detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The boss battles are particularly tedious, and happen in an awkward mostly-fixed perspective instead of the 3rd person follow view of the rest of the game.”
- “The centerpiece of the game, what should make you feel like the ultimate badass force-user, bringing down the star destroyer on Raxus Prime, is the most tedious and frustrating event in the game, which is just a straight-up shame!”
- “The combat, which should be the selling point, is clunky where the transition between enemies or groups of enemies becomes tedious with the bad auto-targeting system and no way to change your target other than sway the camera in hope to get locked on the right one.”
humor
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is often described as charming and entertaining, with players enjoying the comedic elements of the physics engine and the absurdity of certain gameplay mechanics, such as throwing enemies around and witnessing their ragdoll physics. Many reviews highlight the unintentional hilarity found in glitches and awkward moments, contributing to a lighthearted experience despite the game's flaws. Overall, while the humor may not elevate the game to a must-play status, it adds a layer of enjoyment that resonates with players.
- “The physics engine seems to have a wicked sense of humor, sending enemies flying off cliffs or getting impaled on conveniently placed spikes.”
- “Pushing stormtroopers around the map with their ragdoll physique is hilarious!”
- “Hilarious thing you can do to your foes, from dropping an ugnaught into an active carbonite bath, to slowly pressing a jawa against a laser fence, to throwing a stormtrooper through a window and into a stream of flaming railgun exhaust.”
atmosphere
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
45%
9%
Overall, the atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its strong connection to the Star Wars universe, enhanced by improved graphics, sound, and level design that create immersive environments. While some levels are noted for their creativity and atmospheric depth, others are criticized for being repetitive or lacking engagement. Despite mixed opinions on gameplay and technical issues, many players find the atmosphere to be a standout feature that captures the essence of Star Wars.
- “I think the game creates a really strong Star Wars atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere, the sounds, and the music put me right into it.”
- “This is one of those games where it's the atmosphere that wins it for me.”
- “The game felt lifeless, the atmosphere was bland, and the combat was lackluster.”
- “Not to mention the sound problems this game has, sometimes music for a level will outright disappear, creating this awkward atmosphere of you just beating people with your glowing stick while they shoot at you; if not drown out character dialogue in gameplay, and miss out on important moments.”
- “The game failed to summon the Star Wars atmosphere, which I really love.”
emotional
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
13%
The emotional aspect of the game is highly polarized among players, with some praising its heartfelt story and character connections, while others criticize it for lacking depth and nuance. Many players experienced frustration due to gameplay mechanics that detracted from the emotional experience, leading to feelings of anger and disappointment. Overall, while the narrative attempts to evoke strong emotions, the execution often falls short, leaving players divided on its impact.
- “Truly an emotional story full of betrayal and heartbreak that really connects you with the characters.”
- “Backed up by great art and music, you can easily feel what the characters feel and get emotionally involved in the story.”
- “The emotional spectrum while playing ranges from 'WTF are you serious?' to 'Bravo, can I get a curtain call?'”
- “The story was boring, the voice acting was terrible, and the graphics felt dated even for its release time.”
- “The emotional impact was completely lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “I expected a deep narrative, but it fell flat and left me feeling indifferent.”
character development
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising the depth of Starkiller's journey and the engaging storytelling, while others criticize the lack of substantial character growth and the reduction of dialogue for key characters. While the character design and aesthetics receive high marks, many feel that the gameplay mechanics related to character development feel superficial and disconnected from the narrative. Overall, the game offers intriguing lore and visuals, but falls short in delivering a cohesive and impactful character development experience.
- “The character development is noteworthy, and I found myself genuinely invested in Starkiller's journey.”
- “The story is also a masterclass on character development, interpersonal dynamics, writing, and voice acting.”
- “Great game for any Star Wars fans to experience with interesting character developments, important background stories that are linked to the movie series, and an overall fun game for non-Star Wars fans.”
- “There’s almost no character development; most of the game is just fighting enemies, with just a few cutscenes setting the background for the tasks to be done.”
- “A significant portion of all character development (however minor it was) has been cut too. For example, when you meet Kazdan Paratus in the earlier version, he made it clear why he was there, his declining mental state, and had much more to say, while in this version his dialogue was reduced to maybe three lines, making him little more than another faceless nothing to kill.”
- “Unfortunately, it's really low on character development; you can tell everything you need to know about a character simply from looking at them.”
monetization
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
38%
38%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players criticizing the prevalence of microtransactions that significantly impact gameplay, while others appreciate the absence of such practices, favoring unlockable cosmetic customization instead. Many users express concerns that the game feels like a cash grab, particularly in its ported version, leading to frustration over in-game purchases that can be financially draining. Overall, the sentiment leans towards dissatisfaction with monetization strategies that detract from the gaming experience.
- “Microtransactions that do not interfere with gameplay.”
- “Nice outfits and cosmetic customization that are unlocked, not purchased via microtransactions.”
- “No microtransactions, thank you!”
- “Microtransactions over gameplay!”
- “Microtransactions that significantly affect the gameplay.”
- “Maybe it's just a bad port, but I don't remember the original console release getting a lot of bad reviews, so I'm going to assume it's just a quick port for a cash grab.”