New Force Unleashed Trailer

Havok · Post by **Havok** » 2008-07-11 03:32am

Link

I know this is over in G&C, but those nerds are just talking about game play and not having a PC port. I figure, us nerds can talk about the story, characters and impact on the over all franchise.

It looks like it may give us more insight into the relationship between Palpatine and Vader at this point and in the way Bane's Sith interact.

Obviously, it will expand on Vader, and hopefully Palpatine, as individuals as well.

Also curious about the Secret Apprentice. I know that the main characters in games become canon, but will his power level do so as well? Does it bump up what Vader and Palpatine can do, or is it just written off to game mechanics?

Thoughts. Or, you know just lock 'er up.

P.S. Hand to hand with an AT-ST is pretty dope.

Darth Hoth · Post by **Darth Hoth** » 2008-07-11 03:54am

The Wookiees in the beginning are from the original Battle of Kashyyyk, right? And the Death Star II in the end? So the game stretches over the entire OT timeframe, with George Lucas being part of the creative process?

I am sensing a great disturbance in the continuity, as if millions of lesser Expanded Universe works cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible is about to happen.

Oh, and why cannot female captains wear their uniform as per regulations? Catering to the fanboys, are they?

Havok · Post by **Havok** » 2008-07-11 03:59am

I think that is the DSI, and I don't think the Wookies are from that battle as this is firmly established as well after that.

The story doesn't intrude into ANH at all, although that does look an awful lot like Leia walking around with Bail, but she would be the completely wrong age.

As for the Captain's (is she a captain?) boobie uniform.... yes, catering to the fanboys. It is a video game after all.

VT-16 · Post by **VT-16** » 2008-07-11 04:52am

It's only a few years before Yavin. You can see Garm Bel Iblis and Mon Mothma in an earlier trailer as well.

Connor MacLeod · Post by **Connor MacLeod** » 2008-07-11 05:07am

I finally steeled myself to skim some more of LOTF, and from what I understand, Jacen was already shrugging off TL blasts and moving around massive starships, so maybe in terms of wank the apprentice isn't that unusual.

Mind you, I can think of some other pretty over-the-top examples. Black Fleet Crisis had a pretty over-the-top Luke Skywalker (Rebuilding Vader's fortress on Coruscant using the Force), and then there is Dark Empire luke (Deflecting Walker Fire powerful enough to damage said Walker badly, then knocking over said walker.) and DE Wankatine....

I won't even mention Clone Wars era jedi (mace windu and yoda, ,anyone?)

The capabilities of the Jedi depend quite often on the author our source.

Mind, there's also the "multi-thousand" gee Padawan anakin calcs from AOTC.. thoser are pretty over the top.

Post by **Vympel** » 2008-07-11 06:08am

It's really just a gameplay decision. In the first level, you play as Darth Vader, killing Starkiller's (the name of the Secret Apprentice) guardian/parent? and taking him away to train him. He has all the powers that Starkiller has, as do all the other force users in the game.

The story doesn't intrude into ANH at all, although that does look an awful lot like Leia walking around with Bail, but she would be the completely wrong age.

Hm? The game is set when Leia is a young adult, not a girl. When Vader finds Starkiller (on Kashyyyk) he's little more than a toddler. He then grows up- It's set a few years before ANH, and possibly continues into 0 ABY*.

*There's a Force Unleashed action figure of Darth Vader - which I own - battle damaged from some sort of Rebel attack on the first Death Star - it's apparently the closest he's come to defeat since fighting Obi-Wan on Mustafar. Looking at him, it's a miracle Vader's alive, half his mask is blown off, same story with chest, one of his cybernetic leg implants is completely exposed, etc.

Darth Hoth · Post by **Darth Hoth** » 2008-07-11 07:26am

havokeff wrote:I think that is the DSI, and I don't think the Wookies are from that battle as this is firmly established as well after that.

The story doesn't intrude into ANH at all, although that does look an awful lot like Leia walking around with Bail, but she would be the completely wrong age.

As for the Captain's (is she a captain?) boobie uniform.... yes, catering to the fanboys. It is a video game after all.

My mistake; I was scared when I heard George Lucas was involved and did not follow the run-up to the release till now.

I do not think there is any actual rank established for her as yet, and the image from Gamespot apparently had a rank badge that is difficult to identify, so I suppose we cannot yet scale from that, either.

Post by **NecronLord** » 2008-07-11 11:28am

havokeff wrote:As for the Captain's (is she a captain?) boobie uniform.... yes, catering to the fanboys. It is a video game after all.

To be fair, she's the love interest. Maybe she's meant to have been primping for Darth Vader's Apprentice's benefit?

And, looks like a captain, yes, though I think she's only meant to be a glorified shuttle pilot, so perhaps she's in the starfighter branch, if one exists.

Havok · Post by **Havok** » 2008-07-11 01:17pm

Vympel wrote:
The story doesn't intrude into ANH at all, although that does look an awful lot like Leia walking around with Bail, but she would be the completely wrong age.
Hm? The game is set when Leia is a young adult, not a girl. When Vader finds Starkiller (on Kashyyyk) he's little more than a toddler. He then grows up- It's set a few years before ANH, and possibly continues into 0 ABY*.

The character of Leia just looked too old to me, but yeah, now I see her sitting with Bail in another scene and she doesn't look as bad.

Darth Ruinus · Post by **Darth Ruinus** » 2008-07-11 05:57pm

I thought Shaak Ti died somewhere?

Ender · Post by **Ender** » 2008-07-11 07:06pm

I'm sure Tits McGee there will be portrayed as a real character with normal motivations and reactions rather then some fapping material like Aayla Secura was.

Oh who am I kidding.

Darth Raptor · Post by **Darth Raptor** » 2008-07-11 07:23pm

Seriously. My eyes rolled out of my head and I sighed so hard my lungs collapsed after that glimpse of Captain Cleavage.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2008-07-11 08:21pm

Ender wrote:I'm sure Tits McGee there will be portrayed as a real character with normal motivations and reactions rather then some fapping material like Aayla Secura was.

Oh who am I kidding.

This is an upgrade from Aayla Secura, who was even endorsed by Lucas and the films and was ALSO a Jedi. At least neither the films nor the game have descended to the depths of wank embodied by DH Legacy, where Aayla's fan service wankery is combined with Darth Maul wankery to produce SEXYSITHOMG who-gives-a-damn Darth Wannabe Whatever.

Checking her article on Wookie, she is portrayed much more realistically and professionally and less ridiculous and fan servicey as Aayla and Darth Dipshit, for certainly. I'm more concerned by the devs idiotic "feature seen stuff" impulses in having his base of operations be the unfinished HIMS Executor (contradicting standing canon and rolling back it construction time, its probably going to turn into a joke like HIMS Eclipse). Vader has Bast Castle and his palace in Imperial City (maybe a second one on Coruscant too), not to mention probable hideaways like the Works and such that Palpatine had. Or bringing the Death Star into it. They'll probably portray it as half finished a decade before ANH or something, further screwing with set canon and dragging out the effective construction time. And for what? To link their game with film sites obsessively, regardless of whether it fits for the plot.

Post by **Vympel** » 2008-07-12 12:42am

When did Executor commence construction according to continuity as it stands now? Given the time period of the game (late pre-ABY0) it doesn't seem contradictory on the face of it.

One problem I have with the game is the screenshots all display lightsabres that are quite oversized - look at Vader's one, for example. I suppose they wanted to show off the detail or some such.

VT-16 · Post by **VT-16** » 2008-07-12 07:18am

Well, the Executor was shown in some pre-ANH sources before (X-wing etc.) and was at the time considered a non-canon event. Now that it's quite clearly used as a base of operations for Vader, even before being completed, this is somewhat validated again. I also notice the engines are running in the preview of the comic adaption, which means the ship is operational, for what it's worth.

Darth Hoth · Post by **Darth Hoth** » 2008-07-12 08:05am

Is it at all possible that continuity management might decide that there were multiple Executors? That would appear to be the best way of salvaging it.

Dooey Jo · Post by **Dooey Jo** » 2008-07-12 08:20am

Starwars.com's video player is a piece of shit, so I watched this on Youtube. Just FYI.

So what we have here is basically:
- "I dub thee... Sir Sith!"
Uhm... yeah. That was only the lamest thing I've ever seen, and that's two seconds into the trailer.

- AT-ST with... minigun and buckler?
wat

- AT-ST getting crushed like a tin can.
"You know what would be so cool..."

- Woman with tits, and altered uniform to show them off.
"Let's throw in some boobs here, that'll appease our target demographic." And when did Shaak Ti stop using clothes? God, I hate the industry.

This might well turn out to be the dumbest and most clichéd game ever. Who thinks of stuff like that? Did they hire KJA to do the game design, and a horny teenager to do the art direction?

Crazedwraith · Post by **Crazedwraith** » 2008-07-12 08:51am

In the end I think they're trying to hard on this game. Why do we need Bail acting all dramatic?

Obviously Vader recruits this guy, then he falls for hot chick and start having doubts, oh yes and Palpatine also discovers him so he has to choose between Vader/Boobies/The Emperor.

Ultimately this should have be nothing more than a fun hack'n'slash. Plonk lots of stormies/rebels between you and you're objective and let mow them to bits.

When you have lightsabre dismembering people. You don't need an great story.

Darth Hoth · Post by **Darth Hoth** » 2008-07-12 09:51am

Heh... looked around on YouTube for old trailers. Pulling down Star Destroyers, is he? The Apprentice appears poised to relieve Darth Revan as the King of Wank. (Well, Palpatine remains its Emperor...)

Crazedwraith wrote:Obviously Vader recruits this guy, then he falls for hot chick and start having doubts, oh yes and Palpatine also discovers him so he has to choose between Vader/Boobies/The Emperor.

Boobs with British Accent wrote:You're still loyal to Vader... After he branded me a traitor?

In other words, Good Imperial is Redeemed by Good-Looking Girlfriend. Cliché indeed (it was already when they did it with Kyle Katarn). There should be a SW-specific Evil Overlord List out there somewhere...

Dooey Jo · Post by **Dooey Jo** » 2008-07-12 10:22am

Thanks a lot, now I was reminded that this was the game that had the gaffer-taped girl with the lightsabre tonfas. Oh, and here's a picture of Shaak Ti as we remember her from the films, with the bikini and the loin cloth. I guess female Jedi choose stripping as their new profession when they go into hiding. I wonder if they're even going to try to explain why she forgot her clothes.

The only way this could be more cliché, is if the Emperor's Theme starts playing every time you use "Dark Side" Force powers, and the Imperial March plays more than twice.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2008-07-12 11:09am

Vympel wrote:When did Executor commence construction according to continuity as it stands now? Given the time period of the game (late pre-ABY0) it doesn't seem contradictory on the face of it.

The Executor's construction was supposed to not be commenced until after the Battle of Yavin. Which was nice, because it dropped the time-from-start-to-completion to a couple months max.

Jesus, Shaak Ti?

The game industry blows. Are game nerds so pathetic this stuff actually makes a difference? And the backwards saber grip? UGH. Everything is now "OMG this would be TEH KEWL." Of course, I'm not adverse to the power he shows as a Force magus, because for them to matter so much they really should be ubermenschen. Otherwise why would anyone care about them? Why would they be so influential?

Desdinova · Post by **Desdinova** » 2008-07-12 06:55pm

Yet, according to Wookiepedia's blurb on this guy, he's supposedly one of the most powerful EVARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! Which, of course, totally explains why he's never been mentioned in any other source thus far. Yup. Completely low-key, under-the-radar type of guy.

I've said this for years about Revan, the Exile, Katarn and every other Jedi in games: Look, if you're going to beef up the way the Force is portrayed via game mechanics, fine--but, for the love of Carlin, don't try to justify it in-universe.

Darth Culator · Post by **Darth Culator** » 2008-07-12 08:28pm

Desdinova wrote:Yet, according to Wookiepedia's blurb on this guy, he's supposedly one of the most powerful EVARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Let me tell you a little secret about Wookieepedia. Unless an article is featured (has a little blue star in the corner), you should probably not quote it. Anyone can edit a wiki, and it's a small minority that doesn't +alk lIK Th1S @LL t3h t1m3.

That being said, That's exactly how the trailers/interviews/magazine articles all depict this guy. You have to remember rule number one of modern continuity: There is no continuity outside the author's own sphere of influence. Look at anything written by Drew Karpyshyn or Karen Traviss. When we do get continuity-compatible material, it's usually dumb luck or the work of one of the few authors who care.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2008-07-12 08:33pm

Except there's an EU canon policy. Whoops.

Even though the game is deliberately over-the-top, people are still going to try to fit the events into the timeline, purists like me will laugh and ignore the story events, and Publius will embarrass everyone by synthesizing it into something reasonable and well-supported.

Darth Raptor · Post by **Darth Raptor** » 2008-07-12 08:38pm

I can't decide if I envy Publius or pity him.

Dooey Jo wrote:- AT-ST with... minigun and buckler?
wat

Oh you just know that one day we're going to have Jedi starfighters that transform into humanoid walkers with giant lightsabers.

At least then this Starkiller would be easy on the eyes and not look like he crawled out of a hovertrailer park.