Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

 PlayStation 2
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 72 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 72
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 72
  3. Negative: 6 out of 72
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  1. homer4president
    Mar 28, 2015
    7
    I beat the game in approximately 8 hours (not non-stop). I was hoping for something that I could continue to play for hours, explore some fun worlds, and then finally win. The game play was fun, electrocuting your enemies is always enjoyable, and tossing them off the death star was pretty much just awesome. But the boss battles were infinitely annoying. The use of the specific buttons toI beat the game in approximately 8 hours (not non-stop). I was hoping for something that I could continue to play for hours, explore some fun worlds, and then finally win. The game play was fun, electrocuting your enemies is always enjoyable, and tossing them off the death star was pretty much just awesome. But the boss battles were infinitely annoying. The use of the specific buttons to finally finish the dang things, instead of just wailing on the boss until he died was frustrating.… Expand
  2. thejonez
    Oct 1, 2011
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is only for those who are a big Star Wars fanatic. As a game, the level design is really repetitive. It doesn't require any intelligence whatsoever. Instead, you just power up special moves so that you can beat the hoard of enemies and the boss. The graphics are great, all except the cutscenes. What happened there! The cutscenes are rightfully named; cut up scenes. However, if you happen to be a Star Wars fan, you will find yourself going, "Hey! I remember that!" It does not really hold your interest, but it is cool to bring down the AT-ST! The Emperor (the final boss) takes a millennium to take down. Overall fun game to pick up if you love Star Wars.… Expand
  3. aa
    Oct 2, 2008
    8
    It's fun while it lasts. The only thing that sucks is that I thought it would last longer. It would have been better, because just as I started upgrading my force powers to 75% and 100% max, the game ended. I didn't get to finish with full force :(

    **WARNING! THE FOLLOWING MAY BE CONSIDERED A SPOILER** It ends right after you defeat someone. I thought you would have to    It's fun while it lasts. The only thing that sucks is that I thought it would last longer. It would have been better, because just as I started upgrading my force powers to 75% and 100% max, the game ended. I didn't get to finish with full force :(

    **WARNING! THE FOLLOWING MAY BE CONSIDERED A SPOILER**
    It ends right after you defeat someone. I thought you would have to defeat someone else more powerful after defeating the first guy, but no. The freaking credits come up.

    I'm thinking about reselling this game for $30 because there's no use to keeping it, since there's no multiplayer.

    On the bright side, after you win, you can start a new campaign with all of your abilities earned from the previous campaign.    … Expand
  4. AlJimenez
    Nov 10, 2008
    8
    This is a very good SW title that shouldn't be missed (Especially if your a fan of the movies). While the graphics aren't on par with the PS3's or the 360, it still looks great and everything else about it (Sounds, controls, etc) are good also. This is one of those SW games that should/needs to be made into a movie as it's story line is fantastic. And cause it onlyThis is a very good SW title that shouldn't be missed (Especially if your a fan of the movies). While the graphics aren't on par with the PS3's or the 360, it still looks great and everything else about it (Sounds, controls, etc) are good also. This is one of those SW games that should/needs to be made into a movie as it's story line is fantastic. And cause it only costs $39.99 on the PS2, you'll save $20 and still get a great game (Sans the achievments from the 360 version).… Expand
  5. Kydos
    Dec 20, 2012
    5
    This is a really fun game for anyone interested in Star Wars. The gameplay is just awesome really, it does a good job of making you feel powerful and by the end of the game I still wasn't tired of picking dudes up and throwing them across the room. However it's a very short game. I got this at 75% off on Steam and honestly I would have been pretty annoyed if I bought this at full price.This is a really fun game for anyone interested in Star Wars. The gameplay is just awesome really, it does a good job of making you feel powerful and by the end of the game I still wasn't tired of picking dudes up and throwing them across the room. However it's a very short game. I got this at 75% off on Steam and honestly I would have been pretty annoyed if I bought this at full price. In terms of story there's nothing really. I didn't mind just running around destroying whatever fell in front of me but I think the developers should have cut their losses and not tried to throw in a little bit of a story right at the close but then it turned out that they used that little tiny bit of plot to drive the entire sequel. Fun game but again, absolutely not worth full retail price and I've taken that price into consideration for my mark, if it cost everyone what it cost me then I'd probably give it 7 or 8.… Expand
  6. SuperkenGaming
    Jan 30, 2017
    7
    Star Wars The Force Unleashed
    More Like Star of Wars
    This game is basically God of War set in the star wars world but with none of the variety… You start the Game as Darth Vader and its perfect.. You’re walking slowly just destroying everyone and everything in sight… It’s a great way to introduce the fighting mechanics and I didn’t want it to end... honestly if all 6 and a half hours    Star Wars The Force Unleashed
    More Like Star of Wars
    This game is basically God of War set in the star wars world but with none of the variety…
    You start the Game as Darth Vader and its perfect..
    You’re walking slowly just destroying everyone and everything in sight…
    It’s a great way to introduce the fighting mechanics and I didn’t want it to end...
    honestly if all 6 and a half hours of this game was the prologue… it would be pretty close to a 10/10 experience…
    unfortunately it isn’t..
    Sadly you play the game as Darth Vader’s Apprentice after something happens that I’m not gonna say... I don’t want to spoil it…
    The Story here is actually really enjoyable, easy to follow along with and I wanted to see it to its end…
    But you play through the 9 missions in total killing the Jedi among other characters…
    And again this is god of war with light sabers…
    As you progress through the levels slicing enemies and finding new light sabers so you aren’t stuck with sith red... you’re leveling up for skill points to spend in the 3 different skill trees…
    You’re completing tasks in these linear levels using the force where you have to pull items out of their sockets for the most part or zap them with lightning… using the force to grab and pull doesn’t really feel all too intuitive or responsive though…
    many frustrating moments trying to bend doors and grab onto items to fling them through the air…
    And at the end of each mission you take on a boss…
    Every boss is really about jumping out of the way and slashing them more times than they slash you.. And they all end in a god of war style quick time event….
    it’s cool meeting all of these star wars characters and visiting the different worlds…
    But beyond the prologue... the game feels generic…
    You visit no place interesting..
    so level progressing trying to build yourself up to the Vader status you started as is just no fun…
    you feel more like running through to the end rather than spending the time fighting enemies wanting to get stronger because it is so boringly designed…
    You never truly reach the god status the games beginning teases you with either which was so satisfying and fun even at the slow pace Vader was moving at…
    This games graphics are insane though considering it came out in 2008…
    Usually early ps3 and 360 games are hard on my eyes…
    But this game could easily be passed off as a late gen ps3 game or a downloadable game on the ps4..
    I was genuinely impressed...
    I just wish they put these graphics towards making interesting levels and environments to explore…
    Overall Star Wars The Force Unleashed is a decently fun game with an interesting story…
    Just not varied enough with its gameplay or level design to call it a must play for anyone not already a star wars fan..
    But if you are a fan even a little and you do play... you won’t be disappointed.. at least not extremely disappointed...
    I give Star Wars The Force Unleashed
    a 7/10    … Expand
  7. SponsoredbyCOV
    Feb 8, 2020
    5
    The setting is great and it's look aged well but the bossfights are boring, basically all normal melee units are so tanky that it interrupts the flow of the game and the camera is sometimes horrible. (i am looking at you Darth Phobos)
  8. The_D4RknesS
    Aug 13, 2023
    6
    I'm not a Star Wars fan and I don't like the designer of the world of this franchise either, but this game is even fun to play with

Awards & Rankings

29
#29 Best PS2 Game of 2008
19
#19 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2008
7
#7 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
    80
    If you haven't upgraded to a PS3, the action, story, and exclusive levels here won't disappoint. [Oct 2008, p.76]
  2. IGN
    72
    Uninspired level design and some tedious enemy battles mar an experience that gives you power over the Force like we've never really seen before. While it's far from perfect, Star Wars fans will find that it's worth playing through simply for its story and the ability to use the Force in fairly awesome ways.
    Read full review
  3. GameDaily
    70
    The fancy technology powering the experience is impressive, as is the performance by actors who lent their voices and likenesses to the game's pivotal characters. That's mixed with rote game mechanics -- hack, slash, fight big boss, level ends -- that can easily grow tiresome, and a leveling up system that's more distraction than a way to create a customized character.
    Read full review
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