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On September 16, LucasArts will release Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, the latest addition to George Lucas' science fiction universe. Set between the events of episodes III and IV, the videogame promises to fill the gaps between the two film trilogies, a time period that saw the Empire cement its hold over the galaxy.
image: Courtesy of LucasArts
In The Force Unleashed, players take on the role of Darth Vader's secret apprentice, Starkiller. Found as a child by Vader on the Wookiee home world Kashyyyk, Starkiller is trained to aid Vader in his quest to destroy the Jedi Order, and together with Vader supplant Emperor Palpatine. The game is set in the nether region between the trilogies and features many entirely new characters, so the game designers had some freedom to establish new events in the Star Wars timeline. But the major events had to be cleared with Star Wars creator George Lucas, and every detail had to be vetted by the Lucas Licensing department of Lucasfilm to ensure that it fits into the continuity.
image: Courtesy of LucasArts
The Secret Apprentice's appearance is crucial to the character's ethos. He wields the signature red lightsaber of the dark side, and his gaunt, sinister look—complete with tattered clothing, scars—shows that Darth Vader wasn't a particularly nurturing father figure. The character is voiced by the actor Sam Witwer, who bears an uncanny resemblance to his in-game alter ego.
image: Courtesy of LucasArts
As a Jedi, you'll be equipped with a lightsaber and a growing knowledge of Jedi powers. To put it bluntly, Unleashed is all about the ancient, primal art of kicking ass with the Force. Restrained feelings and a code of honor are fine and dandy for Jedi following the light side of the Force, but Dark Jedi get to have a bit more fun. As the title suggests, Starkiller's strength comes from reveling in bad vibes and unleashing energy with very little restraint. The end result? The glorious obliteration of your enemies.
image: Courtesy of LucasArts
Rather than relying on prescripted sequences and events, The Force Unleashed utilizes technologies that create on-the-fly reactions from characters and materials. Something called Euphoria grants characters biomechanical AI, allowing them to react to changes in their surroundings: Force Push a pack of Stormtroopers, and they'll stumble, or attempt to grab a railing or each other for support. Another technology, Digital Molecular Matter, applies that idea to inanimate objects: Force Throw a Wookiee against an object and it will deform or break in a lifelike manner, whether it's a tree, a hunk of metal, or a pane of glass.
image: Courtesy of LucasArts
You are Darth Vader's secret apprentice: And that means leaving no witnesses. Whether that's a sign of Vader's paranoia or a handy way to introduce a previously unknown character, this means that you'll be eliminating Imperial troops in addition to Jedi. Not a bad way to maintain continuity?and amp up the body count to God of War levels, giving players a chance to try out a range of increasingly powerful Force attacks. Killing everyone guarantees that the secret apprentice Starkiller maintains a low profile. It also explains why he wasn't invited to the Life Day celebration in the Star Wars Holiday Special.
image: Courtesy of LucasArts
New characters abound: Serving as a sidekick and a bit of comic relief is the droid Proxy, designed to accompany and train the Secret Apprentice. Proxy is equipped with advanced hologram technology and a body that can change shape—taking on the form of enemies, other Jedi, and even Vader himself.
photo: Jeff Minton
The kid's room at the Lucas Licensing department is jam-packed with merchandise offered by Lucasfilm. ?It's every parent's worst nightmare,? jokes Leland Chee, continuity database administrator in the licensing department, who is also known as the Keeper of the Holocron. A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, there existed a Jedi device called the Holocron: a Force-powered hard drive capable of storing vast quantities of information. In our own time, that Holocron exists as a FileMaker database with more than 30,000 entries, and Leland Chee of Lucas Licensing is its Keeper. His job is to ensure that additions to the Star Wars canon adhere strictly to the continuity established by works that have come before it. Unleashed will be joining a book, a graphic novel, and several lines of toys when it arrives, and the licensing department is tasked with adding all of the new lore to the growing compendium of Star Wars knowledge and ensuring that it all fits.
image: Courtesy of LucasArts
In keeping with the Star Wars saga, The Force Unleashed is ultimately a tale of redemption. Under Order 66 at the end of Episode III, Emperor Palpatine orders the extermination of all Jedi officers in the Grand Army of the Republic. The Secret Apprentice must carry out assassinations, and he eventually encounters General Rahm Kota, a cold, honorable Jedi Master dedicated to the Force. Having survived the Jedi Purge (several Jedi have slipped through the cracks), Kota stirs up trouble by relentlessly attacking Imperial facilities. Their meeting will play an important role in the ultimate formation of the Rebellion.
image: Courtesy of LucasArts
In Episode IV, Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine are alive and on amicable terms. There's also no mention of Starkiller or a Secret Apprentice among the Rebels or the Imperials, so how does a Jedi this powerful go unnoticed? The Force Unleashed will be released on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 2, DS, and PSP, so no matter your console of choice, you'll be able to figure that one out for yourself.
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