Of all the games that Nintendo could’ve announced at its latest Direct, few expected that a Switch port ofStar Wars: The Force Unleashedwould be among them. Nevertheless, Lucasfilm and Aspyr are indeed collaborating on a remaster of the 2008Star Warstitle.Star Wars: The Force Unleashedmade its debut whenStar Warswas experiencing something of a renaissance, thanks to the prequel trilogy, and it seems likely that the Wii version’s remaster is motivated by a similar renaissance that’s going on thanks to Disney’s wave ofStar Warscontent, as well as a variety of otherStar Warsgames that have released recently or are currently in development.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashedhas plenty of peers to join in the game industry right now, but it’s hard to say if that’s a good thing or not.Force Unleashedwas a well-loved gamefor a lot of reasons, including its explosive use of Force powers and strong narrative, but it had its shortcomings too. For instance,Force Unleashedmade extensive use of quick time events, which not everybody was fond of, even if these particular events had their strengths. The reception of core elements like quick time events may defineForce Unleashed’s reputation among the currentStar Warsfan base, which could consequently impact any potential revival of the franchise as a whole.
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The Force Unleashed’s Quick Time Events
InStar Wars: The Force Unleashed,players take on quick time events pretty often because they’re used as finishers for most of the game’s bosses. Whether Starkiller is taking down an AT-ST or a Rancor in the middle of a level, or whether he’s finishing off a Jedi Master, quick time events are key. A lot ofThe Force Unleashed’s quick time events had some significant narrative value. Starkiller’s QTE takedowns onvarious powerful Force userscreated a strong sense of intimacy in the final moments of each duel while showcasing his extraordinary skill and strength. Even takedowns on smaller bosses were excellent displays of Starkiller’s unstoppable nature.
Still, not everyForce Unleashedplayer was fond of quick time events wrapping up each boss fight. For many video game fans, defeating a boss is far more satisfying when it’s done personally, rather than as a part of a cutscene. Quick time events robbed players of the opportunity to defeat powerful enemies in their own way, forcing them tosettle for Starkiller’s scripted maneuvers.Force Unleashedreceived some criticism for its highly linear play, and the prevalence of quick time events in the game’s biggest battles certainly didn’t help it avoid being linear.
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The Force Unleashed’s Legacy
Controversial features ofStar Wars: The Force Unleashedmatter today because they’ll define the franchise’s reputation. For a long time now, someStar Warsfans have held out hope thatForce Unleashed3will release some day. PortingForce Unleashedto the Switch suggests that Lucasfilm actually is interested in returning to the series, but it first wants to giveStar Wars' modern audience a look at the franchise roots. If players old and new respond negatively to core design principles ofForce Unleashed, including its frequent quick time events, then Lucasfilm may decide to letForce Unleashedlie dormant after all.
It seems unlikely that Aspyr will remove QTEs fromStar Wars: The Force Unleashedwholesale, turning the events themselves into simple cutscenes. After all, it’s merely meant to be a remaster, not a remake.Force Unleashed’s Switch version is bound to be as true to the Wii version as possible. It’ll be interesting to see how wellForce Unleashedholds up to the modernStar Warsgame standard that’s been set by the likes ofStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, thanks to features like extensive QTEs that indicate the eraForce Unleashedcame from, as well as its overall age. Favorable or unfavorable comparisons to itsStar Warspeers will likely decide the future of theForce UnleashedIP.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashedreleases April 20 for Nintendo Switch.
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