Embrace the competitive spirit of the world's most prestigious sporting event and represent your country and bring home the gold

Appearing on next gen consoles for the first time, Beijing 2008 delivers an entertaining and immersive Olympic experience. The superior graphics capture the fine emotional detail of each event where a fraction of a second means the difference between winning and losing. The Innovative game mechanics challenge a player's time, speed and co-ordination. Compete for glory with up to seven friends online; strive to break records as you lead your country to victory. This summer show your patriotism and bring home the gold!

38 Official Events: Across ten Olympic disciplines, represent the country of your choice and compete for honour in Track and Field, Aquatics, Gymnastics, Cycling, Judo, Table tennis, Kayaking and many more.

In depth Career and Competition modes: Organise your daily schedule and customize your chosen team with agility, power, stamina and speed for competition in over 38 events. Or in competition mode participate with up to three friends in either a single or multi-event challenge.

Innovative Gameplay Mechanics: Use a variety of controls across all the events including a time based system where timing, power and angle are essential, rhythm based play that requires skill of increasing and maintaining speed, and a targeting system to assist in aiming.

Global Online Competition: Choose your country and become a member of the Olympic team and face challenges from across all nations. A multitude of online features such as exhibition events, ghost times and leader boards will allow players to prove themselves before the world.

Capturing the Olympic Spirit: The official video game of the Beijing Olympics 2008 offers full branding, realistic recreations of the official Olympic stadiums. The game offers you a chance to soak up the atmosphere of this prestigious worldwide and bring home the gold!

Tagline: One World, One Dream, One Game

Not good enough to medal..., 25 Aug 2008
What is really disappointing about this game is that it has not moved on. Yes, graphics are a big improvement, but pretty pictures do not make a good game. It is just a modern day version of the old Decathlon Arcade Classic. And this is where it falls down.
Gamers should expect more than button bashing. If you want co-ordination games get Guitar Hero. If you want a sport game get one of the countless boxing / football / golf sims. This is none of them.
If you want an endless stream of second rate playablilty boredom, get this.
Good for 10 minutes, with a group of mates.
Rent it - don't buy it.

Brilliant Graphics, Poor Gameplay., 22 Aug 2008
I bought this game thinking that it would be a straight forward button tapping gameplay. I was wrong, the only event which requires basic button tapping is the running. The rest are too complicated to understand. It gives you brief tutorials on how to play each event but when I say brief I mean brief. Most of the events require you to build up power with the analogue and then release it with L2 or R2 but most of the time the buttons are unresponsive causing a foul. I have tried 3 different controllers and the same happens with all. If you are thinking about buying this game think again because for the money you could get something a lot better. It's a shame though because the graphics are brilliant.

Good but the running races are really difficult, 22 Aug 2008
Really good game, great fun. Took me a while to get used to the controls but now I no them most of the events are easier. But I just can't get the hang of the running no matter how much I toggle the analogue sticks or mash x and o the runner won't go any faster and I always come in last place. Anyone got any tips on how to go faster??

But overall a very fun game glad I bought it.

ps3! what happened to ps2, 18 Aug 2008
i would like this game but i only have a ps2 and this game if only available in ps3 or xbox360 i think they should do it for more consoles like ps2 to make it available to people with not so good models of gaming devices

A big disappointment , 14 Aug 2008
Having brought this game paying £40 for it in the shops I was expecting a good quality and developed game. Unfortunatley I was to be disappointed by a general all round low standard.

First, to accentuate the positives - and they are there - the graphics are impressive and are a clear step forward over Athens 2004 - PS3's technology working nicely.

Now onto the negatives.

There are 205 countries individually competing in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. On the game you can choose from...32. This is a very, very serious flaw as you could choose from more in Athens.

There are events missing - such as some of the longer distance races, longer distance swimming events, and more in the way of weightlifting. There is no badminton and no tennis.

The national anthems are a nice touch - and would be even better if they were played in their entirety instead of skimping on large chunks of the longer anthems. If this was supposed to be an accurate and realistic recreation I'm afraid for me it has fallen flat on it's face. The whole thing smacks of lacking attention to detail.

And that's before we even get to the gameplay. I am aware that these sorts of games are renowned for being "button bashers", and Athens was quite bad in that regard. Compared to Beijing 2008 however, it is a doddle.

Games are not meant to be easy - they are also not meant to be hard off the scale. The controls are easy enough but managing and co-ordinating them is a task in itself. For anyone who does not normally "button bash", this is a no-brainer.


Sadly I cannot give this game a good rating because the negatives are far more evident than the positives. This had the potential to be an outstanding tribute to the most outstanding sports event on the planet, and yet again it's been a let down overall. I only hope that 2012 will be better.

The Star Wars saga will continue in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, a videogame developed by LucasArts, which casts players as Darth Vader's "Secret Apprentice" and promises to unveil new revelations about the Star Wars galaxy. The expansive story, created under direction from George Lucas, is set during the largely unexplored era between Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. In it, players will assist the iconic villain in his quest to rid the universe of Jedi - and face decisions that could change the course of their destiny.

Join the Dark Side

You are Darth Vader's Secret Apprentice View larger.

Use The Force to disable your enemies View larger.

Artwork of the Jedi "Maris" View larger.

As its name implies, The Force Unleashed completely re-imagines the scope and scale of the Force by taking full advantage of newly developed technologies that will be seen and experienced for the first time: Digital Molecular Matter (DMM), by Pixelux Entertainment, and euphoria by NaturalMotion Ltd. Paired with the powerful Havok Physics™ system, these new technologies create gameplay only possible on the new generation of consoles. DMM incorporates the physical properties of anything in the environment so that everything reacts exactly like it should - wood breaks like wood, glass shatters like glass, plants on the planet Felucia bend like plants on the planet Felucia would, and more. Meanwhile, as a revolutionary behavioural-simulation engine, euphoria enables interactive characters to move, act and even think like actual human beings, adapting their behaviour on the fly and resulting in a different payoff every single time.


Game Features:

• During the period between Episodes III and IV, players hunt Jedi in the role of Darth Vader's Secret Apprentice.
• Unleash and upgrade the Secret Apprentice's four core Force powers - Force push, grip, repulse and lightning - throughout the course of the game, and combine them for ultra-destructive, never-before-seen combos.
• Examples of unleashing the Force in ways never thought possible:
  • The Secret Apprentice won't just Force push enemies into walls - he'll Force push enemies through walls.
  • The Secret Apprentice won't just Force grip foes to throw them aside - he'll Force grip them in midair, zap them with lightning, then drop them to the ground to explode like a bomb.
• In addition to new adversaries created just for the game, such as fugitive Jedi and Force-sensitive Felucians, players will also confront and associate with familiar faces from the Star Wars films, including Darth Vader.
• Visit locations such as Episode III's Wookiee home world Kashyyyk and the floral Felucia, the junk planet Raxus Prime, plus an Imperial TIE fighter construction facility.
• The Force Unleashed is LucasArts' first internally developed title for next-generation consoles, and it represents the first in-game collaboration of talents and technology between LucasArts and Industrial Light & Magic, two companies now finally under one roof at the new Letterman Digital Arts Center in San Francisco's Presidio district.
• The Force Unleashed debuts Digital Molecular Matter from Pixelux and euphoria behavioural simulation from NaturalMotion Ltd.
• LucasArts is preparing an unprecedented promotional effort around the launch of The Force Unleashed, encompassing a full line of toys and game-based action figures from Hasbro, as well as a full publishing program from Dark Horse, Del Rey and Palace Press.

Meet the Cast
The Star Wars Saga will continue in 2008 with LucasArts' biggest-ever video game event. Set during the "dark times" between Episodes III and IV, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed portrays the previously untold story of Darth Vader's Secret Apprentice -- and now you can put a face to that mysterious character as well as the major supporting cast members as LucasArts unveils the actors set to star in The Force Unleashed.

The New Technology of The Force Unleashed
With The Force Unleashed, LucasArts not only introduces a new chapter in the Star Wars saga, but also two completely new and innovative technologies -- Digital Molecular Matter by Pixelux Entertainment and euphoria by NaturalMotion Ltd. These groundbreaking technologies combine with Havoc physics to create true next-gen gameplay and the Force like it's never been seen or experienced before.

Not good enough to medal..., 25 Aug 2008
What is really disappointing about this game is that it has not moved on. Yes, graphics are a big improvement, but pretty pictures do not make a good game. It is just a modern day version of the old Decathlon Arcade Classic. And this is where it falls down.
Gamers should expect more than button bashing. If you want co-ordination games get Guitar Hero. If you want a sport game get one of the countless boxing / football / golf sims. This is none of them.
If you want an endless stream of second rate playablilty boredom, get this.
Good for 10 minutes, with a group of mates.
Rent it - don't buy it.

Brilliant Graphics, Poor Gameplay., 22 Aug 2008
I bought this game thinking that it would be a straight forward button tapping gameplay. I was wrong, the only event which requires basic button tapping is the running. The rest are too complicated to understand. It gives you brief tutorials on how to play each event but when I say brief I mean brief. Most of the events require you to build up power with the analogue and then release it with L2 or R2 but most of the time the buttons are unresponsive causing a foul. I have tried 3 different controllers and the same happens with all. If you are thinking about buying this game think again because for the money you could get something a lot better. It's a shame though because the graphics are brilliant.

Good but the running races are really difficult, 22 Aug 2008
Really good game, great fun. Took me a while to get used to the controls but now I no them most of the events are easier. But I just can't get the hang of the running no matter how much I toggle the analogue sticks or mash x and o the runner won't go any faster and I always come in last place. Anyone got any tips on how to go faster??

But overall a very fun game glad I bought it.

ps3! what happened to ps2, 18 Aug 2008
i would like this game but i only have a ps2 and this game if only available in ps3 or xbox360 i think they should do it for more consoles like ps2 to make it available to people with not so good models of gaming devices

A big disappointment , 14 Aug 2008
Having brought this game paying £40 for it in the shops I was expecting a good quality and developed game. Unfortunatley I was to be disappointed by a general all round low standard.

First, to accentuate the positives - and they are there - the graphics are impressive and are a clear step forward over Athens 2004 - PS3's technology working nicely.

Now onto the negatives.

There are 205 countries individually competing in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. On the game you can choose from...32. This is a very, very serious flaw as you could choose from more in Athens.

There are events missing - such as some of the longer distance races, longer distance swimming events, and more in the way of weightlifting. There is no badminton and no tennis.

The national anthems are a nice touch - and would be even better if they were played in their entirety instead of skimping on large chunks of the longer anthems. If this was supposed to be an accurate and realistic recreation I'm afraid for me it has fallen flat on it's face. The whole thing smacks of lacking attention to detail.

And that's before we even get to the gameplay. I am aware that these sorts of games are renowned for being "button bashers", and Athens was quite bad in that regard. Compared to Beijing 2008 however, it is a doddle.

Games are not meant to be easy - they are also not meant to be hard off the scale. The controls are easy enough but managing and co-ordinating them is a task in itself. For anyone who does not normally "button bash", this is a no-brainer.


Sadly I cannot give this game a good rating because the negatives are far more evident than the positives. This had the potential to be an outstanding tribute to the most outstanding sports event on the planet, and yet again it's been a let down overall. I only hope that 2012 will be better.



DEMO REVIEW, 28 Aug 2008
I would like to point out that I am an avid SW fan which means that I feel the disappointment of this all the more potently.
It feels like Lucasarts is beyond caring for their fan base, since the terrible Phantom Menace I have struggled to find anything from LucasFilm/Arts that comes close to recreating the incredible aura of the original trilogy.

The Force Unleashed is yet another example of the complete tat that Lucasarts seems to be churning out these days. The graphics are simplistic, the draw distance is laughable, it looks like a PS2 game and I am truly surprised anyone could give this more than 2 stars. I mean the corpses of dead stormtroopers disappear after 3 seconds! there is none of the 'used future' look that George Lucas wanted for his original trilogy, everything is pristine and shiny and boring. Even the molten scars the lightsaber leaves behind on the metal work disappear. Basically this game is for kids and completely ignores the more mature and numerous PS3 market.

I'm sorry to rant it's just that I look SO forward to Starwars and since 2000 all offerings have consistently disappointed. (Ok Tiefighter and X-Wing and X-wing alliance were great) REMAKE THEM FOR PS3....LUCASARTS Hear this when I say respect your audience and make a PROPER good fun Original Trilogy Starwars game.

Love it!!, 28 Aug 2008
Just played the demo through from PSN for the second time, I never do this, game play graphics and the thrill of throwing Stormtroopers around like rag dolls just far too much fun for a Thursday afternoon when I should be at work :)

Wow a great Lucasarts game, 27 Aug 2008
I'm always a bit sceptical when it comes to games based on the Star Wars franchise. For every Knights of the Old Republic there is a Bounty Hunter that ruins it. I'm a big Star Wars fan and even the terrible games I enjoy for their story. Star Wars has had a pretty easy ride recently with the succesfull KOTOR, Battlefront and Lego games. Which is why I was a bit worried about the development of The Force Unleashed. The game seemed to have a large amount of amibition with the new physics systems and bridging story.

Upon starting the game the menus seemed very basic. But once the game kicked off I was very surprised. The way it makes you feel like a powerful sith is impressive. Combining force powers opens up lots of options to defeat your foes. The first I tried was lifting someone, then shocking them and throwing them back at their allies so he can shock all of them too. The controls are very simple and easy to pick up. You will feel like a powerful Jedi very quickly. Therewas a quick time event at the end of the level where you can cut an AT-ST in half and split it in 2 using force push.

The graphics were vey good and very authentic. Star Wars has always been recognised by its atistic style and this doesnt dissapoint.

One thing I should mention is how inferior the Xbox 360 version is to the PS3 version. The PS3 version has much better details, colours, framerate, resolution, particle effects, cinema videos and sound. The sound is in DTS on the PS3 version. If you have a home cinema system the sound of the lightsaber and explosions sound fantastic. The bass is rich and the music score fits right in. The Xbox 360 version sounds weak. Its almost as of a wasp is humming in your room rather then the deep buzz in the PS3 version. The Xbox 360 version also suffers from screen tear (v sync). This is where the top half of the picture is out of sync with the bottom and a line appears half way down the screen. Its very off putting. There is also a slight pause between animations on the Xbox 360 which can be off putting when doing combos. The PS3 version flows perfectly while the Xbox 360 version seems jerky. I am well aware that a few Xbox 360 fanboys will dispute this but I own every system and I am unbiased.

Overall I would rate each version in this order: PS3, Wii, Xbox 360, PSP, PS2, Nintendo DS. If you have more than 1 system feel free to use this as a way to decide which version to get.

NOOOOO!!, 26 Aug 2008
OK. So I know that the fun rating and the overall rating are very different, which is weird, but nobody can dispute that running around telekinetically dislodging things from walls and chucking them at people is fun. That's why it has a good fun rating. However...if I wanted to do that, I'd by psi-ops or second sight. The reason it has such a poor overall rating, based on the demo, admittedly, is because I'm not playing second sight. I'm playing star wars, and I want to see more use of the lightsaber. Yes, I know that you can mash square and you'll beat them to death, but it's so obvious that that's not what you're supposed to do. Graphics are very mediocre. Someone here equated them to Resistance, but I wouldn't even go that far. The area where you can bend the support bars with the force and make the airships crash looked not dissimilar to something out of red faction.
I do like the way your force powers are presented, though, graphically. Particularly the force push, and I sincerely hope that this becomes stronger as the game progresses, because all it manages now is to throw a few people around and do minimal damage. I like combining powers (i.e. levitating someone and then blasting them with a force push), but again, this could all be done on second sight.
Things I hate with a passion that knows no bounds: The button-pressing sequence when fighting the bosses. I know it's all the rage now since resi 4 and heavenly sword, but Jesus. Not only is it really hard because you're mashing square and then suddenly it tells you to press X, but by then, of course, it's too late. I'm probably just not very good at the game, but I won't be buying it. I'll eagerly await the arrival of KOTOR III on my doorstep, if it's ever made, because they were properly good games.


DEMO REVIEW - Oh dear the force is not strong in this one, 24 Aug 2008
I've watched the progress of Lucas Art's latest Star Wars title with moderate interest. So the Demo of, can I say, one of this years most anticipated releases dropped into the PS store a few days back and obviously I had to get it downloaded...

Lucas Arts promise much and I can understand exactly what is happening here. The marketing campaign is solid but the game is no better/or worse than what we've come to expect of next gen titles. Few games nowadays exceed expectations and Force Unleashed is no different...which is unfortunate indeed as it could of been so much more. Yes it is a demo but with release day around the corner there cant be much more to add into the game - of course the core gameplay is as follow. . . cutscene, hack and slash/with force powers and boss fight. Thats it folks.

Maybe its all about appealing to the new generation, what with Clone wars in cinemas now too? And George Lucas himself has penned the story so I will, despite my initial impressions, be purchasing this title. After all I do love Star Wars.

Knights of the old republic has been the best use of the Star Wars license and I dare say that one day a Star Wars title will come along and blow us all away. But force unleashed will dissapoint more people than please them due to hype. The prime example of this is the AI in game. Its quite shocking once you look close enough. Nice marketing campaign though. Lucas will still get my money and I hope that I get more out of this title once the full game is here. Fingers crossed.

May the force be with you all.

Not good enough to medal..., 25 Aug 2008
What is really disappointing about this game is that it has not moved on. Yes, graphics are a big improvement, but pretty pictures do not make a good game. It is just a modern day version of the old Decathlon Arcade Classic. And this is where it falls down.
Gamers should expect more than button bashing. If you want co-ordination games get Guitar Hero. If you want a sport game get one of the countless boxing / football / golf sims. This is none of them.
If you want an endless stream of second rate playablilty boredom, get this.
Good for 10 minutes, with a group of mates.
Rent it - don't buy it.

Brilliant Graphics, Poor Gameplay., 22 Aug 2008
I bought this game thinking that it would be a straight forward button tapping gameplay. I was wrong, the only event which requires basic button tapping is the running. The rest are too complicated to understand. It gives you brief tutorials on how to play each event but when I say brief I mean brief. Most of the events require you to build up power with the analogue and then release it with L2 or R2 but most of the time the buttons are unresponsive causing a foul. I have tried 3 different controllers and the same happens with all. If you are thinking about buying this game think again because for the money you could get something a lot better. It's a shame though because the graphics are brilliant.

Good but the running races are really difficult, 22 Aug 2008
Really good game, great fun. Took me a while to get used to the controls but now I no them most of the events are easier. But I just can't get the hang of the running no matter how much I toggle the analogue sticks or mash x and o the runner won't go any faster and I always come in last place. Anyone got any tips on how to go faster??

But overall a very fun game glad I bought it.

ps3! what happened to ps2, 18 Aug 2008
i would like this game but i only have a ps2 and this game if only available in ps3 or xbox360 i think they should do it for more consoles like ps2 to make it available to people with not so good models of gaming devices

A big disappointment , 14 Aug 2008
Having brought this game paying £40 for it in the shops I was expecting a good quality and developed game. Unfortunatley I was to be disappointed by a general all round low standard.

First, to accentuate the positives - and they are there - the graphics are impressive and are a clear step forward over Athens 2004 - PS3's technology working nicely.

Now onto the negatives.

There are 205 countries individually competing in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. On the game you can choose from...32. This is a very, very serious flaw as you could choose from more in Athens.

There are events missing - such as some of the longer distance races, longer distance swimming events, and more in the way of weightlifting. There is no badminton and no tennis.

The national anthems are a nice touch - and would be even better if they were played in their entirety instead of skimping on large chunks of the longer anthems. If this was supposed to be an accurate and realistic recreation I'm afraid for me it has fallen flat on it's face. The whole thing smacks of lacking attention to detail.

And that's before we even get to the gameplay. I am aware that these sorts of games are renowned for being "button bashers", and Athens was quite bad in that regard. Compared to Beijing 2008 however, it is a doddle.

Games are not meant to be easy - they are also not meant to be hard off the scale. The controls are easy enough but managing and co-ordinating them is a task in itself. For anyone who does not normally "button bash", this is a no-brainer.


Sadly I cannot give this game a good rating because the negatives are far more evident than the positives. This had the potential to be an outstanding tribute to the most outstanding sports event on the planet, and yet again it's been a let down overall. I only hope that 2012 will be better.



DEMO REVIEW, 28 Aug 2008
I would like to point out that I am an avid SW fan which means that I feel the disappointment of this all the more potently.
It feels like Lucasarts is beyond caring for their fan base, since the terrible Phantom Menace I have struggled to find anything from LucasFilm/Arts that comes close to recreating the incredible aura of the original trilogy.

The Force Unleashed is yet another example of the complete tat that Lucasarts seems to be churning out these days. The graphics are simplistic, the draw distance is laughable, it looks like a PS2 game and I am truly surprised anyone could give this more than 2 stars. I mean the corpses of dead stormtroopers disappear after 3 seconds! there is none of the 'used future' look that George Lucas wanted for his original trilogy, everything is pristine and shiny and boring. Even the molten scars the lightsaber leaves behind on the metal work disappear. Basically this game is for kids and completely ignores the more mature and numerous PS3 market.

I'm sorry to rant it's just that I look SO forward to Starwars and since 2000 all offerings have consistently disappointed. (Ok Tiefighter and X-Wing and X-wing alliance were great) REMAKE THEM FOR PS3....LUCASARTS Hear this when I say respect your audience and make a PROPER good fun Original Trilogy Starwars game.

Love it!!, 28 Aug 2008
Just played the demo through from PSN for the second time, I never do this, game play graphics and the thrill of throwing Stormtroopers around like rag dolls just far too much fun for a Thursday afternoon when I should be at work :)

Wow a great Lucasarts game, 27 Aug 2008
I'm always a bit sceptical when it comes to games based on the Star Wars franchise. For every Knights of the Old Republic there is a Bounty Hunter that ruins it. I'm a big Star Wars fan and even the terrible games I enjoy for their story. Star Wars has had a pretty easy ride recently with the succesfull KOTOR, Battlefront and Lego games. Which is why I was a bit worried about the development of The Force Unleashed. The game seemed to have a large amount of amibition with the new physics systems and bridging story.

Upon starting the game the menus seemed very basic. But once the game kicked off I was very surprised. The way it makes you feel like a powerful sith is impressive. Combining force powers opens up lots of options to defeat your foes. The first I tried was lifting someone, then shocking them and throwing them back at their allies so he can shock all of them too. The controls are very simple and easy to pick up. You will feel like a powerful Jedi very quickly. Therewas a quick time event at the end of the level where you can cut an AT-ST in half and split it in 2 using force push.

The graphics were vey good and very authentic. Star Wars has always been recognised by its atistic style and this doesnt dissapoint.

One thing I should mention is how inferior the Xbox 360 version is to the PS3 version. The PS3 version has much better details, colours, framerate, resolution, particle effects, cinema videos and sound. The sound is in DTS on the PS3 version. If you have a home cinema system the sound of the lightsaber and explosions sound fantastic. The bass is rich and the music score fits right in. The Xbox 360 version sounds weak. Its almost as of a wasp is humming in your room rather then the deep buzz in the PS3 version. The Xbox 360 version also suffers from screen tear (v sync). This is where the top half of the picture is out of sync with the bottom and a line appears half way down the screen. Its very off putting. There is also a slight pause between animations on the Xbox 360 which can be off putting when doing combos. The PS3 version flows perfectly while the Xbox 360 version seems jerky. I am well aware that a few Xbox 360 fanboys will dispute this but I own every system and I am unbiased.

Overall I would rate each version in this order: PS3, Wii, Xbox 360, PSP, PS2, Nintendo DS. If you have more than 1 system feel free to use this as a way to decide which version to get.

NOOOOO!!, 26 Aug 2008
OK. So I know that the fun rating and the overall rating are very different, which is weird, but nobody can dispute that running around telekinetically dislodging things from walls and chucking them at people is fun. That's why it has a good fun rating. However...if I wanted to do that, I'd by psi-ops or second sight. The reason it has such a poor overall rating, based on the demo, admittedly, is because I'm not playing second sight. I'm playing star wars, and I want to see more use of the lightsaber. Yes, I know that you can mash square and you'll beat them to death, but it's so obvious that that's not what you're supposed to do. Graphics are very mediocre. Someone here equated them to Resistance, but I wouldn't even go that far. The area where you can bend the support bars with the force and make the airships crash looked not dissimilar to something out of red faction.
I do like the way your force powers are presented, though, graphically. Particularly the force push, and I sincerely hope that this becomes stronger as the game progresses, because all it manages now is to throw a few people around and do minimal damage. I like combining powers (i.e. levitating someone and then blasting them with a force push), but again, this could all be done on second sight.
Things I hate with a passion that knows no bounds: The button-pressing sequence when fighting the bosses. I know it's all the rage now since resi 4 and heavenly sword, but Jesus. Not only is it really hard because you're mashing square and then suddenly it tells you to press X, but by then, of course, it's too late. I'm probably just not very good at the game, but I won't be buying it. I'll eagerly await the arrival of KOTOR III on my doorstep, if it's ever made, because they were properly good games.


DEMO REVIEW - Oh dear the force is not strong in this one, 24 Aug 2008
I've watched the progress of Lucas Art's latest Star Wars title with moderate interest. So the Demo of, can I say, one of this years most anticipated releases dropped into the PS store a few days back and obviously I had to get it downloaded...

Lucas Arts promise much and I can understand exactly what is happening here. The marketing campaign is solid but the game is no better/or worse than what we've come to expect of next gen titles. Few games nowadays exceed expectations and Force Unleashed is no different...which is unfortunate indeed as it could of been so much more. Yes it is a demo but with release day around the corner there cant be much more to add into the game - of course the core gameplay is as follow. . . cutscene, hack and slash/with force powers and boss fight. Thats it folks.

Maybe its all about appealing to the new generation, what with Clone wars in cinemas now too? And George Lucas himself has penned the story so I will, despite my initial impressions, be purchasing this title. After all I do love Star Wars.

Knights of the old republic has been the best use of the Star Wars license and I dare say that one day a Star Wars title will come along and blow us all away. But force unleashed will dissapoint more people than please them due to hype. The prime example of this is the AI in game. Its quite shocking once you look close enough. Nice marketing campaign though. Lucas will still get my money and I hope that I get more out of this title once the full game is here. Fingers crossed.

May the force be with you all.



Amazing Game!, 18 Aug 2008
This game is ammazing. The best fighter on PS3? No. Best Fighter On XBOX 360? No. Best Fighter ever? Yes!!! I like the fact that you can create your own character and battle with them online. Very challenging and very fun! A must have for PS3!

Boring, 15 Aug 2008
This may just be its not my type opf game, but from the off i found this game boring and a waste of my money. The story mode, although different for each character lasts all of 45 mins, if that. Perhaps the gaming may have improved if i'd invested 7hrs into learning every combo that my chosen palyer could perform, but lets be honest, how different would one combo be from the next, not very from the time i played. And the critical finsihes?? What a load of rubbish they are. Mortal kombat mortality wanna be's, and thats the rare time they actually work. So get this if you like unfullfillingly wasting your time, but i for one have learnt my mistake.

W0W!, 10 Aug 2008
I think it is good that the game is exactly the same on both the Xbox360 and PS3, the only differents is you get yoda on the 360 and darth vader on the PS3. Also the graphics are exactly the same on both consoles, so there won't be another console graphics war, because neither side can win. But anyway i loved this game and i give it 4.5/5

alright but not amazing, 10 Aug 2008
total normal fighting game once youve played vadar which is the only reason to play you get bored. if it had trophies it would have been better. buy it second hand when its about a tenner your missing nothing

Soul Calibur 4, 09 Aug 2008
This game could of been a lot better they should made story mode hard cos hard mode is just too easy SoulCalibur III (PS2) was better overall i give soul calibur 4 a 7/10 buy it if youn are a big fan.

Not good enough to medal..., 25 Aug 2008
What is really disappointing about this game is that it has not moved on. Yes, graphics are a big improvement, but pretty pictures do not make a good game. It is just a modern day version of the old Decathlon Arcade Classic. And this is where it falls down.
Gamers should expect more than button bashing. If you want co-ordination games get Guitar Hero. If you want a sport game get one of the countless boxing / football / golf sims. This is none of them.
If you want an endless stream of second rate playablilty boredom, get this.
Good for 10 minutes, with a group of mates.
Rent it - don't buy it.

Brilliant Graphics, Poor Gameplay., 22 Aug 2008
I bought this game thinking that it would be a straight forward button tapping gameplay. I was wrong, the only event which requires basic button tapping is the running. The rest are too complicated to understand. It gives you brief tutorials on how to play each event but when I say brief I mean brief. Most of the events require you to build up power with the analogue and then release it with L2 or R2 but most of the time the buttons are unresponsive causing a foul. I have tried 3 different controllers and the same happens with all. If you are thinking about buying this game think again because for the money you could get something a lot better. It's a shame though because the graphics are brilliant.

Good but the running races are really difficult, 22 Aug 2008
Really good game, great fun. Took me a while to get used to the controls but now I no them most of the events are easier. But I just can't get the hang of the running no matter how much I toggle the analogue sticks or mash x and o the runner won't go any faster and I always come in last place. Anyone got any tips on how to go faster??

But overall a very fun game glad I bought it.

ps3! what happened to ps2, 18 Aug 2008
i would like this game but i only have a ps2 and this game if only available in ps3 or xbox360 i think they should do it for more consoles like ps2 to make it available to people with not so good models of gaming devices

A big disappointment , 14 Aug 2008
Having brought this game paying £40 for it in the shops I was expecting a good quality and developed game. Unfortunatley I was to be disappointed by a general all round low standard.

First, to accentuate the positives - and they are there - the graphics are impressive and are a clear step forward over Athens 2004 - PS3's technology working nicely.

Now onto the negatives.

There are 205 countries individually competing in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. On the game you can choose from...32. This is a very, very serious flaw as you could choose from more in Athens.

There are events missing - such as some of the longer distance races, longer distance swimming events, and more in the way of weightlifting. There is no badminton and no tennis.

The national anthems are a nice touch - and would be even better if they were played in their entirety instead of skimping on large chunks of the longer anthems. If this was supposed to be an accurate and realistic recreation I'm afraid for me it has fallen flat on it's face. The whole thing smacks of lacking attention to detail.

And that's before we even get to the gameplay. I am aware that these sorts of games are renowned for being "button bashers", and Athens was quite bad in that regard. Compared to Beijing 2008 however, it is a doddle.

Games are not meant to be easy - they are also not meant to be hard off the scale. The controls are easy enough but managing and co-ordinating them is a task in itself. For anyone who does not normally "button bash", this is a no-brainer.


Sadly I cannot give this game a good rating because the negatives are far more evident than the positives. This had the potential to be an outstanding tribute to the most outstanding sports event on the planet, and yet again it's been a let down overall. I only hope that 2012 will be better.



DEMO REVIEW, 28 Aug 2008
I would like to point out that I am an avid SW fan which means that I feel the disappointment of this all the more potently.
It feels like Lucasarts is beyond caring for their fan base, since the terrible Phantom Menace I have struggled to find anything from LucasFilm/Arts that comes close to recreating the incredible aura of the original trilogy.

The Force Unleashed is yet another example of the complete tat that Lucasarts seems to be churning out these days. The graphics are simplistic, the draw distance is laughable, it looks like a PS2 game and I am truly surprised anyone could give this more than 2 stars. I mean the corpses of dead stormtroopers disappear after 3 seconds! there is none of the 'used future' look that George Lucas wanted for his original trilogy, everything is pristine and shiny and boring. Even the molten scars the lightsaber leaves behind on the metal work disappear. Basically this game is for kids and completely ignores the more mature and numerous PS3 market.

I'm sorry to rant it's just that I look SO forward to Starwars and since 2000 all offerings have consistently disappointed. (Ok Tiefighter and X-Wing and X-wing alliance were great) REMAKE THEM FOR PS3....LUCASARTS Hear this when I say respect your audience and make a PROPER good fun Original Trilogy Starwars game.

Love it!!, 28 Aug 2008
Just played the demo through from PSN for the second time, I never do this, game play graphics and the thrill of throwing Stormtroopers around like rag dolls just far too much fun for a Thursday afternoon when I should be at work :)

Wow a great Lucasarts game, 27 Aug 2008
I'm always a bit sceptical when it comes to games based on the Star Wars franchise. For every Knights of the Old Republic there is a Bounty Hunter that ruins it. I'm a big Star Wars fan and even the terrible games I enjoy for their story. Star Wars has had a pretty easy ride recently with the succesfull KOTOR, Battlefront and Lego games. Which is why I was a bit worried about the development of The Force Unleashed. The game seemed to have a large amount of amibition with the new physics systems and bridging story.

Upon starting the game the menus seemed very basic. But once the game kicked off I was very surprised. The way it makes you feel like a powerful sith is impressive. Combining force powers opens up lots of options to defeat your foes. The first I tried was lifting someone, then shocking them and throwing them back at their allies so he can shock all of them too. The controls are very simple and easy to pick up. You will feel like a powerful Jedi very quickly. Therewas a quick time event at the end of the level where you can cut an AT-ST in half and split it in 2 using force push.

The graphics were vey good and very authentic. Star Wars has always been recognised by its atistic style and this doesnt dissapoint.

One thing I should mention is how inferior the Xbox 360 version is to the PS3 version. The PS3 version has much better details, colours, framerate, resolution, particle effects, cinema videos and sound. The sound is in DTS on the PS3 version. If you have a home cinema system the sound of the lightsaber and explosions sound fantastic. The bass is rich and the music score fits right in. The Xbox 360 version sounds weak. Its almost as of a wasp is humming in your room rather then the deep buzz in the PS3 version. The Xbox 360 version also suffers from screen tear (v sync). This is where the top half of the picture is out of sync with the bottom and a line appears half way down the screen. Its very off putting. There is also a slight pause between animations on the Xbox 360 which can be off putting when doing combos. The PS3 version flows perfectly while the Xbox 360 version seems jerky. I am well aware that a few Xbox 360 fanboys will dispute this but I own every system and I am unbiased.

Overall I would rate each version in this order: PS3, Wii, Xbox 360, PSP, PS2, Nintendo DS. If you have more than 1 system feel free to use this as a way to decide which version to get.

NOOOOO!!, 26 Aug 2008
OK. So I know that the fun rating and the overall rating are very different, which is weird, but nobody can dispute that running around telekinetically dislodging things from walls and chucking them at people is fun. That's why it has a good fun rating. However...if I wanted to do that, I'd by psi-ops or second sight. The reason it has such a poor overall rating, based on the demo, admittedly, is because I'm not playing second sight. I'm playing star wars, and I want to see more use of the lightsaber. Yes, I know that you can mash square and you'll beat them to death, but it's so obvious that that's not what you're supposed to do. Graphics are very mediocre. Someone here equated them to Resistance, but I wouldn't even go that far. The area where you can bend the support bars with the force and make the airships crash looked not dissimilar to something out of red faction.
I do like the way your force powers are presented, though, graphically. Particularly the force push, and I sincerely hope that this becomes stronger as the game progresses, because all it manages now is to throw a few people around and do minimal damage. I like combining powers (i.e. levitating someone and then blasting them with a force push), but again, this could all be done on second sight.
Things I hate with a passion that knows no bounds: The button-pressing sequence when fighting the bosses. I know it's all the rage now since resi 4 and heavenly sword, but Jesus. Not only is it really hard because you're mashing square and then suddenly it tells you to press X, but by then, of course, it's too late. I'm probably just not very good at the game, but I won't be buying it. I'll eagerly await the arrival of KOTOR III on my doorstep, if it's ever made, because they were properly good games.


DEMO REVIEW - Oh dear the force is not strong in this one, 24 Aug 2008
I've watched the progress of Lucas Art's latest Star Wars title with moderate interest. So the Demo of, can I say, one of this years most anticipated releases dropped into the PS store a few days back and obviously I had to get it downloaded...

Lucas Arts promise much and I can understand exactly what is happening here. The marketing campaign is solid but the game is no better/or worse than what we've come to expect of next gen titles. Few games nowadays exceed expectations and Force Unleashed is no different...which is unfortunate indeed as it could of been so much more. Yes it is a demo but with release day around the corner there cant be much more to add into the game - of course the core gameplay is as follow. . . cutscene, hack and slash/with force powers and boss fight. Thats it folks.

Maybe its all about appealing to the new generation, what with Clone wars in cinemas now too? And George Lucas himself has penned the story so I will, despite my initial impressions, be purchasing this title. After all I do love Star Wars.

Knights of the old republic has been the best use of the Star Wars license and I dare say that one day a Star Wars title will come along and blow us all away. But force unleashed will dissapoint more people than please them due to hype. The prime example of this is the AI in game. Its quite shocking once you look close enough. Nice marketing campaign though. Lucas will still get my money and I hope that I get more out of this title once the full game is here. Fingers crossed.

May the force be with you all.



Amazing Game!, 18 Aug 2008
This game is ammazing. The best fighter on PS3? No. Best Fighter On XBOX 360? No. Best Fighter ever? Yes!!! I like the fact that you can create your own character and battle with them online. Very challenging and very fun! A must have for PS3!

Boring, 15 Aug 2008
This may just be its not my type opf game, but from the off i found this game boring and a waste of my money. The story mode, although different for each character lasts all of 45 mins, if that. Perhaps the gaming may have improved if i'd invested 7hrs into learning every combo that my chosen palyer could perform, but lets be honest, how different would one combo be from the next, not very from the time i played. And the critical finsihes?? What a load of rubbish they are. Mortal kombat mortality wanna be's, and thats the rare time they actually work. So get this if you like unfullfillingly wasting your time, but i for one have learnt my mistake.

W0W!, 10 Aug 2008
I think it is good that the game is exactly the same on both the Xbox360 and PS3, the only differents is you get yoda on the 360 and darth vader on the PS3. Also the graphics are exactly the same on both consoles, so there won't be another console graphics war, because neither side can win. But anyway i loved this game and i give it 4.5/5

alright but not amazing, 10 Aug 2008
total normal fighting game once youve played vadar which is the only reason to play you get bored. if it had trophies it would have been better. buy it second hand when its about a tenner your missing nothing

Soul Calibur 4, 09 Aug 2008
This game could of been a lot better they should made story mode hard cos hard mode is just too easy SoulCalibur III (PS2) was better overall i give soul calibur 4 a 7/10 buy it if youn are a big fan.

good but short, 26 Aug 2008
this games graphics is amazing..everything is amazing apar from the fact that i finshed the story mode in around 4 hours....it is extremely short

BEST SHOOTING GAME EVER!!!, 21 Aug 2008
I wasn't sure If I wanted this game (since i rarely play FPS games) but after much persuading from my friend i bought this game and it is the best shooter ever. i can see why this was the game of the year. The single player is quite good and a decent length. The online mode is the best ever. It is so well organised an put together. I would advise people to get the game for just online because it is an amazing experience. 10 out of 10.

The best game ever made...?, 14 Aug 2008
This really is the best game ever made. I cant fault it in any way at all. I enjoyed the offline play, it is a little short perhaps but apart from that it was thoroughly enjoyable. The online play however....absolutely perfect!! Its really easy to use, as long as your online on the ps3 you will have no trouble just jumping straight into a game and getting on with it. There were quite a few problems with the servers when I first started playing the game, this left me a little annoyed have spent 50 pounds on it but once the problems got sorted out I was basically addicted!! I played day and night and simply never got bored. There are so many options to choose from as far as game style goes, the gun selection is great and the guns are especially realistic. The graphics are great, I was using a fairly cheap 37" HD tv and it looked amazing so I can only imagine what it would look like on a top end TV. If you are to buy the game I recommend you buy the add on pack, the newer levels add something extra to the game, with some great sniping and close range gameplay that was lacking in the original maps. The scoring system is great and you find yourself absolutely hooked on your stats. My personal favorite was my kill death ratio and I would play simply to increase my ratio. The challenges are also great fun, if you get bored of simply killing as many people as possible it gives a great alternative when you know you have to knife people or kill them by blowing up cars or if you have to play a different style of game to complete all your challenges. All in all this is just a brilliant game with so much breadth its unbelievable, the modern warfare style is a great change from the historical stuff were used to and I think its a huge mistake to take COD 5 back into historical warfare.

Good graphics, 07 Aug 2008
This game has good graphics and fast action. Almost the action is to quick with little to think about other than follow instructions and shoot the gun. Hopefully there will be more intelligence needed for the next version as this is not worth the money especially playing as a single player.

Awesome Game, 30 Jul 2008
What a game! I've just bought my PS3 and got this as my first game, and what a game it is. The detail is amazing and it's like watching a war movie at times, and this is just on a normal tele. I know I'm going to be blown away when my new television arrives in the next few days. Go buy it is my only advice, it's fantastic.

Not good enough to medal..., 25 Aug 2008
What is really disappointing about this game is that it has not moved on. Yes, graphics are a big improvement, but pretty pictures do not make a good game. It is just a modern day version of the old Decathlon Arcade Classic. And this is where it falls down.
Gamers should expect more than button bashing. If you want co-ordination games get Guitar Hero. If you want a sport game get one of the countless boxing / football / golf sims. This is none of them.
If you want an endless stream of second rate playablilty boredom, get this.
Good for 10 minutes, with a group of mates.
Rent it - don't buy it.

Brilliant Graphics, Poor Gameplay., 22 Aug 2008
I bought this game thinking that it would be a straight forward button tapping gameplay. I was wrong, the only event which requires basic button tapping is the running. The rest are too complicated to understand. It gives you brief tutorials on how to play each event but when I say brief I mean brief. Most of the events require you to build up power with the analogue and then release it with L2 or R2 but most of the time the buttons are unresponsive causing a foul. I have tried 3 different controllers and the same happens with all. If you are thinking about buying this game think again because for the money you could get something a lot better. It's a shame though because the graphics are brilliant.

Good but the running races are really difficult, 22 Aug 2008
Really good game, great fun. Took me a while to get used to the controls but now I no them most of the events are easier. But I just can't get the hang of the running no matter how much I toggle the analogue sticks or mash x and o the runner won't go any faster and I always come in last place. Anyone got any tips on how to go faster??

But overall a very fun game glad I bought it.

ps3! what happened to ps2, 18 Aug 2008
i would like this game but i only have a ps2 and this game if only available in ps3 or xbox360 i think they should do it for more consoles like ps2 to make it available to people with not so good models of gaming devices

A big disappointment , 14 Aug 2008
Having brought this game paying £40 for it in the shops I was expecting a good quality and developed game. Unfortunatley I was to be disappointed by a general all round low standard.

First, to accentuate the positives - and they are there - the graphics are impressive and are a clear step forward over Athens 2004 - PS3's technology working nicely.

Now onto the negatives.

There are 205 countries individually competing in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. On the game you can choose from...32. This is a very, very serious flaw as you could choose from more in Athens.

There are events missing - such as some of the longer distance races, longer distance swimming events, and more in the way of weightlifting. There is no badminton and no tennis.

The national anthems are a nice touch - and would be even better if they were played in their entirety instead of skimping on large chunks of the longer anthems. If this was supposed to be an accurate and realistic recreation I'm afraid for me it has fallen flat on it's face. The whole thing smacks of lacking attention to detail.

And that's before we even get to the gameplay. I am aware that these sorts of games are renowned for being "button bashers", and Athens was quite bad in that regard. Compared to Beijing 2008 however, it is a doddle.

Games are not meant to be easy - they are also not meant to be hard off the scale. The controls are easy enough but managing and co-ordinating them is a task in itself. For anyone who does not normally "button bash", this is a no-brainer.


Sadly I cannot give this game a good rating because the negatives are far more evident than the positives. This had the potential to be an outstanding tribute to the most outstanding sports event on the planet, and yet again it's been a let down overall. I only hope that 2012 will be better.



DEMO REVIEW, 28 Aug 2008
I would like to point out that I am an avid SW fan which means that I feel the disappointment of this all the more potently.
It feels like Lucasarts is beyond caring for their fan base, since the terrible Phantom Menace I have struggled to find anything from LucasFilm/Arts that comes close to recreating the incredible aura of the original trilogy.

The Force Unleashed is yet another example of the complete tat that Lucasarts seems to be churning out these days. The graphics are simplistic, the draw distance is laughable, it looks like a PS2 game and I am truly surprised anyone could give this more than 2 stars. I mean the corpses of dead stormtroopers disappear after 3 seconds! there is none of the 'used future' look that George Lucas wanted for his original trilogy, everything is pristine and shiny and boring. Even the molten scars the lightsaber leaves behind on the metal work disappear. Basically this game is for kids and completely ignores the more mature and numerous PS3 market.

I'm sorry to rant it's just that I look SO forward to Starwars and since 2000 all offerings have consistently disappointed. (Ok Tiefighter and X-Wing and X-wing alliance were great) REMAKE THEM FOR PS3....LUCASARTS Hear this when I say respect your audience and make a PROPER good fun Original Trilogy Starwars game.

Love it!!, 28 Aug 2008
Just played the demo through from PSN for the second time, I never do this, game play graphics and the thrill of throwing Stormtroopers around like rag dolls just far too much fun for a Thursday afternoon when I should be at work :)

Wow a great Lucasarts game, 27 Aug 2008
I'm always a bit sceptical when it comes to games based on the Star Wars franchise. For every Knights of the Old Republic there is a Bounty Hunter that ruins it. I'm a big Star Wars fan and even the terrible games I enjoy for their story. Star Wars has had a pretty easy ride recently with the succesfull KOTOR, Battlefront and Lego games. Which is why I was a bit worried about the development of The Force Unleashed. The game seemed to have a large amount of amibition with the new physics systems and bridging story.

Upon starting the game the menus seemed very basic. But once the game kicked off I was very surprised. The way it makes you feel like a powerful sith is impressive. Combining force powers opens up lots of options to defeat your foes. The first I tried was lifting someone, then shocking them and throwing them back at their allies so he can shock all of them too. The controls are very simple and easy to pick up. You will feel like a powerful Jedi very quickly. Therewas a quick time event at the end of the level where you can cut an AT-ST in half and split it in 2 using force push.

The graphics were vey good and very authentic. Star Wars has always been recognised by its atistic style and this doesnt dissapoint.

One thing I should mention is how inferior the Xbox 360 version is to the PS3 version. The PS3 version has much better details, colours, framerate, resolution, particle effects, cinema videos and sound. The sound is in DTS on the PS3 version. If you have a home cinema system the sound of the lightsaber and explosions sound fantastic. The bass is rich and the music score fits right in. The Xbox 360 version sounds weak. Its almost as of a wasp is humming in your room rather then the deep buzz in the PS3 version. The Xbox 360 version also suffers from screen tear (v sync). This is where the top half of the picture is out of sync with the bottom and a line appears half way down the screen. Its very off putting. There is also a slight pause between animations on the Xbox 360 which can be off putting when doing combos. The PS3 version flows perfectly while the Xbox 360 version seems jerky. I am well aware that a few Xbox 360 fanboys will dispute this but I own every system and I am unbiased.

Overall I would rate each version in this order: PS3, Wii, Xbox 360, PSP, PS2, Nintendo DS. If you have more than 1 system feel free to use this as a way to decide which version to get.

NOOOOO!!, 26 Aug 2008
OK. So I know that the fun rating and the overall rating are very different, which is weird, but nobody can dispute that running around telekinetically dislodging things from walls and chucking them at people is fun. That's why it has a good fun rating. However...if I wanted to do that, I'd by psi-ops or second sight. The reason it has such a poor overall rating, based on the demo, admittedly, is because I'm not playing second sight. I'm playing star wars, and I want to see more use of the lightsaber. Yes, I know that you can mash square and you'll beat them to death, but it's so obvious that that's not what you're supposed to do. Graphics are very mediocre. Someone here equated them to Resistance, but I wouldn't even go that far. The area where you can bend the support bars with the force and make the airships crash looked not dissimilar to something out of red faction.
I do like the way your force powers are presented, though, graphically. Particularly the force push, and I sincerely hope that this becomes stronger as the game progresses, because all it manages now is to throw a few people around and do minimal damage. I like combining powers (i.e. levitating someone and then blasting them with a force push), but again, this could all be done on second sight.
Things I hate with a passion that knows no bounds: The button-pressing sequence when fighting the bosses. I know it's all the rage now since resi 4 and heavenly sword, but Jesus. Not only is it really hard because you're mashing square and then suddenly it tells you to press X, but by then, of course, it's too late. I'm probably just not very good at the game, but I won't be buying it. I'll eagerly await the arrival of KOTOR III on my doorstep, if it's ever made, because they were properly good games.


DEMO REVIEW - Oh dear the force is not strong in this one, 24 Aug 2008
I've watched the progress of Lucas Art's latest Star Wars title with moderate interest. So the Demo of, can I say, one of this years most anticipated releases dropped into the PS store a few days back and obviously I had to get it downloaded...

Lucas Arts promise much and I can understand exactly what is happening here. The marketing campaign is solid but the game is no better/or worse than what we've come to expect of next gen titles. Few games nowadays exceed expectations and Force Unleashed is no different...which is unfortunate indeed as it could of been so much more. Yes it is a demo but with release day around the corner there cant be much more to add into the game - of course the core gameplay is as follow. . . cutscene, hack and slash/with force powers and boss fight. Thats it folks.

Maybe its all about appealing to the new generation, what with Clone wars in cinemas now too? And George Lucas himself has penned the story so I will, despite my initial impressions, be purchasing this title. After all I do love Star Wars.

Knights of the old republic has been the best use of the Star Wars license and I dare say that one day a Star Wars title will come along and blow us all away. But force unleashed will dissapoint more people than please them due to hype. The prime example of this is the AI in game. Its quite shocking once you look close enough. Nice marketing campaign though. Lucas will still get my money and I hope that I get more out of this title once the full game is here. Fingers crossed.

May the force be with you all.



Amazing Game!, 18 Aug 2008
This game is ammazing. The best fighter on PS3? No. Best Fighter On XBOX 360? No. Best Fighter ever? Yes!!! I like the fact that you can create your own character and battle with them online. Very challenging and very fun! A must have for PS3!

Boring, 15 Aug 2008
This may just be its not my type opf game, but from the off i found this game boring and a waste of my money. The story mode, although different for each character lasts all of 45 mins, if that. Perhaps the gaming may have improved if i'd invested 7hrs into learning every combo that my chosen palyer could perform, but lets be honest, how different would one combo be from the next, not very from the time i played. And the critical finsihes?? What a load of rubbish they are. Mortal kombat mortality wanna be's, and thats the rare time they actually work. So get this if you like unfullfillingly wasting your time, but i for one have learnt my mistake.

W0W!, 10 Aug 2008
I think it is good that the game is exactly the same on both the Xbox360 and PS3, the only differents is you get yoda on the 360 and darth vader on the PS3. Also the graphics are exactly the same on both consoles, so there won't be another console graphics war, because neither side can win. But anyway i loved this game and i give it 4.5/5

alright but not amazing, 10 Aug 2008
total normal fighting game once youve played vadar which is the only reason to play you get bored. if it had trophies it would have been better. buy it second hand when its about a tenner your missing nothing

Soul Calibur 4, 09 Aug 2008
This game could of been a lot better they should made story mode hard cos hard mode is just too easy SoulCalibur III (PS2) was better overall i give soul calibur 4 a 7/10 buy it if youn are a big fan.

good but short, 26 Aug 2008
this games graphics is amazing..everything is amazing apar from the fact that i finshed the story mode in around 4 hours....it is extremely short

BEST SHOOTING GAME EVER!!!, 21 Aug 2008
I wasn't sure If I wanted this game (since i rarely play FPS games) but after much persuading from my friend i bought this game and it is the best shooter ever. i can see why this was the game of the year. The single player is quite good and a decent length. The online mode is the best ever. It is so well organised an put together. I would advise people to get the game for just online because it is an amazing experience. 10 out of 10.

The best game ever made...?, 14 Aug 2008
This really is the best game ever made. I cant fault it in any way at all. I enjoyed the offline play, it is a little short perhaps but apart from that it was thoroughly enjoyable. The online play however....absolutely perfect!! Its really easy to use, as long as your online on the ps3 you will have no trouble just jumping straight into a game and getting on with it. There were quite a few problems with the servers when I first started playing the game, this left me a little annoyed have spent 50 pounds on it but once the problems got sorted out I was basically addicted!! I played day and night and simply never got bored. There are so many options to choose from as far as game style goes, the gun selection is great and the guns are especially realistic. The graphics are great, I was using a fairly cheap 37" HD tv and it looked amazing so I can only imagine what it would look like on a top end TV. If you are to buy the game I recommend you buy the add on pack, the newer levels add something extra to the game, with some great sniping and close range gameplay that was lacking in the original maps. The scoring system is great and you find yourself absolutely hooked on your stats. My personal favorite was my kill death ratio and I would play simply to increase my ratio. The challenges are also great fun, if you get bored of simply killing as many people as possible it gives a great alternative when you know you have to knife people or kill them by blowing up cars or if you have to play a different style of game to complete all your challenges. All in all this is just a brilliant game with so much breadth its unbelievable, the modern warfare style is a great change from the historical stuff were used to and I think its a huge mistake to take COD 5 back into historical warfare.

Good graphics, 07 Aug 2008
This game has good graphics and fast action. Almost the action is to quick with little to think about other than follow instructions and shoot the gun. Hopefully there will be more intelligence needed for the next version as this is not worth the money especially playing as a single player.

Awesome Game, 30 Jul 2008
What a game! I've just bought my PS3 and got this as my first game, and what a game it is. The detail is amazing and it's like watching a war movie at times, and this is just on a normal tele. I know I'm going to be blown away when my new television arrives in the next few days. Go buy it is my only advice, it's fantastic.

im not writing this before playing it, but...., 17 Aug 2008
see now i havnt played this yet, butttt as rob seems to be talking it down im mad, ye iv had madden since 02, and iv had fifa since 2000, both are the games that lead there sports, dont tell me how ur gna compare them because u cant!! times u want to play one kind of football, and then the other, so dont talk a game down u havnt played, and ye madden 09 is good, but im having faith so is this one, so tbh, im buying both!!!! xxx

Ive played it!!!, 20 Jul 2008
Lucky enough for me I was invited by my uncle who works for EA, to come to head office and try the game, absolutely quality game leaves fifa 08 for dead, pro is not even in the same universe! Its a must buy for anyone who wants to use the full potential of their hd gaming console. It really does feel like your on the pitch with Ronaldo, Kaka and Ronaldinho. The new improved gameplay enhancements mean you get realistic tackles, headers and improved first time shooting. The best feature is the physical attributes of players are taken into account, so if defoe goes in for a 50/50 with vidic, 9/10 times vidic will come out with the ball. Crouch will rarely be beaten in the air as height is now taken into account when jumping for a header. Its got to be pre-ordered!

Not good enough to medal..., 25 Aug 2008
What is really disappointing about this game is that it has not moved on. Yes, graphics are a big improvement, but pretty pictures do not make a good game. It is just a modern day version of the old Decathlon Arcade Classic. And this is where it falls down.
Gamers should expect more than button bashing. If you want co-ordination games get Guitar Hero. If you want a sport game get one of the countless boxing / football / golf sims. This is none of them.
If you want an endless stream of second rate playablilty boredom, get this.
Good for 10 minutes, with a group of mates.
Rent it - don't buy it.

Brilliant Graphics, Poor Gameplay., 22 Aug 2008
I bought this game thinking that it would be a straight forward button tapping gameplay. I was wrong, the only event which requires basic button tapping is the running. The rest are too complicated to understand. It gives you brief tutorials on how to play each event but when I say brief I mean brief. Most of the events require you to build up power with the analogue and then release it with L2 or R2 but most of the time the buttons are unresponsive causing a foul. I have tried 3 different controllers and the same happens with all. If you are thinking about buying this game think again because for the money you could get something a lot better. It's a shame though because the graphics are brilliant.

Good but the running races are really difficult, 22 Aug 2008
Really good game, great fun. Took me a while to get used to the controls but now I no them most of the events are easier. But I just can't get the hang of the running no matter how much I toggle the analogue sticks or mash x and o the runner won't go any faster and I always come in last place. Anyone got any tips on how to go faster??

But overall a very fun game glad I bought it.

ps3! what happened to ps2, 18 Aug 2008
i would like this game but i only have a ps2 and this game if only available in ps3 or xbox360 i think they should do it for more consoles like ps2 to make it available to people with not so good models of gaming devices

A big disappointment , 14 Aug 2008
Having brought this game paying £40 for it in the shops I was expecting a good quality and developed game. Unfortunatley I was to be disappointed by a general all round low standard.

First, to accentuate the positives - and they are there - the graphics are impressive and are a clear step forward over Athens 2004 - PS3's technology working nicely.

Now onto the negatives.

There are 205 countries individually competing in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. On the game you can choose from...32. This is a very, very serious flaw as you could choose from more in Athens.

There are events missing - such as some of the longer distance races, longer distance swimming events, and more in the way of weightlifting. There is no badminton and no tennis.

The national anthems are a nice touch - and would be even better if they were played in their entirety instead of skimping on large chunks of the longer anthems. If this was supposed to be an accurate and realistic recreation I'm afraid for me it has fallen flat on it's face. The whole thing smacks of lacking attention to detail.

And that's before we even get to the gameplay. I am aware that these sorts of games are renowned for being "button bashers", and Athens was quite bad in that regard. Compared to Beijing 2008 however, it is a doddle.

Games are not meant to be easy - they are also not meant to be hard off the scale. The controls are easy enough but managing and co-ordinating them is a task in itself. For anyone who does not normally "button bash", this is a no-brainer.


Sadly I cannot give this game a good rating because the negatives are far more evident than the positives. This had the potential to be an outstanding tribute to the most outstanding sports event on the planet, and yet again it's been a let down overall. I only hope that 2012 will be better.



DEMO REVIEW, 28 Aug 2008
I would like to point out that I am an avid SW fan which means that I feel the disappointment of this all the more potently.
It feels like Lucasarts is beyond caring for their fan base, since the terrible Phantom Menace I have struggled to find anything from LucasFilm/Arts that comes close to recreating the incredible aura of the original trilogy.

The Force Unleashed is yet another example of the complete tat that Lucasarts seems to be churning out these days. The graphics are simplistic, the draw distance is laughable, it looks like a PS2 game and I am truly surprised anyone could give this more than 2 stars. I mean the corpses of dead stormtroopers disappear after 3 seconds! there is none of the 'used future' look that George Lucas wanted for his original trilogy, everything is pristine and shiny and boring. Even the molten scars the lightsaber leaves behind on the metal work disappear. Basically this game is for kids and completely ignores the more mature and numerous PS3 market.

I'm sorry to rant it's just that I look SO forward to Starwars and since 2000 all offerings have consistently disappointed. (Ok Tiefighter and X-Wing and X-wing alliance were great) REMAKE THEM FOR PS3....LUCASARTS Hear this when I say respect your audience and make a PROPER good fun Original Trilogy Starwars game.

Love it!!, 28 Aug 2008
Just played the demo through from PSN for the second time, I never do this, game play graphics and the thrill of throwing Stormtroopers around like rag dolls just far too much fun for a Thursday afternoon when I should be at work :)

Wow a great Lucasarts game, 27 Aug 2008
I'm always a bit sceptical when it comes to games based on the Star Wars franchise. For every Knights of the Old Republic there is a Bounty Hunter that ruins it. I'm a big Star Wars fan and even the terrible games I enjoy for their story. Star Wars has had a pretty easy ride recently with the succesfull KOTOR, Battlefront and Lego games. Which is why I was a bit worried about the development of The Force Unleashed. The game seemed to have a large amount of amibition with the new physics systems and bridging story.

Upon starting the game the menus seemed very basic. But once the game kicked off I was very surprised. The way it makes you feel like a powerful sith is impressive. Combining force powers opens up lots of options to defeat your foes. The first I tried was lifting someone, then shocking them and throwing them back at their allies so he can shock all of them too. The controls are very simple and easy to pick up. You will feel like a powerful Jedi very quickly. Therewas a quick time event at the end of the level where you can cut an AT-ST in half and split it in 2 using force push.

The graphics were vey good and very authentic. Star Wars has always been recognised by its atistic style and this doesnt dissapoint.

One thing I should mention is how inferior the Xbox 360 version is to the PS3 version. The PS3 version has much better details, colours, framerate, resolution, particle effects, cinema videos and sound. The sound is in DTS on the PS3 version. If you have a home cinema system the sound of the lightsaber and explosions sound fantastic. The bass is rich and the music score fits right in. The Xbox 360 version sounds weak. Its almost as of a wasp is humming in your room rather then the deep buzz in the PS3 version. The Xbox 360 version also suffers from screen tear (v sync). This is where the top half of the picture is out of sync with the bottom and a line appears half way down the screen. Its very off putting. There is also a slight pause between animations on the Xbox 360 which can be off putting when doing combos. The PS3 version flows perfectly while the Xbox 360 version seems jerky. I am well aware that a few Xbox 360 fanboys will dispute this but I own every system and I am unbiased.

Overall I would rate each version in this order: PS3, Wii, Xbox 360, PSP, PS2, Nintendo DS. If you have more than 1 system feel free to use this as a way to decide which version to get.

NOOOOO!!, 26 Aug 2008
OK. So I know that the fun rating and the overall rating are very different, which is weird, but nobody can dispute that running around telekinetically dislodging things from walls and chucking them at people is fun. That's why it has a good fun rating. However...if I wanted to do that, I'd by psi-ops or second sight. The reason it has such a poor overall rating, based on the demo, admittedly, is because I'm not playing second sight. I'm playing star wars, and I want to see more use of the lightsaber. Yes, I know that you can mash square and you'll beat them to death, but it's so obvious that that's not what you're supposed to do. Graphics are very mediocre. Someone here equated them to Resistance, but I wouldn't even go that far. The area where you can bend the support bars with the force and make the airships crash looked not dissimilar to something out of red faction.
I do like the way your force powers are presented, though, graphically. Particularly the force push, and I sincerely hope that this becomes stronger as the game progresses, because all it manages now is to throw a few people around and do minimal damage. I like combining powers (i.e. levitating someone and then blasting them with a force push), but again, this could all be done on second sight.
Things I hate with a passion that knows no bounds: The button-pressing sequence when fighting the bosses. I know it's all the rage now since resi 4 and heavenly sword, but Jesus. Not only is it really hard because you're mashing square and then suddenly it tells you to press X, but by then, of course, it's too late. I'm probably just not very good at the game, but I won't be buying it. I'll eagerly await the arrival of KOTOR III on my doorstep, if it's ever made, because they were properly good games.


DEMO REVIEW - Oh dear the force is not strong in this one, 24 Aug 2008
I've watched the progress of Lucas Art's latest Star Wars title with moderate interest. So the Demo of, can I say, one of this years most anticipated releases dropped into the PS store a few days back and obviously I had to get it downloaded...

Lucas Arts promise much and I can understand exactly what is happening here. The marketing campaign is solid but the game is no better/or worse than what we've come to expect of next gen titles. Few games nowadays exceed expectations and Force Unleashed is no different...which is unfortunate indeed as it could of been so much more. Yes it is a demo but with release day around the corner there cant be much more to add into the game - of course the core gameplay is as follow. . . cutscene, hack and slash/with force powers and boss fight. Thats it folks.

Maybe its all about appealing to the new generation, what with Clone wars in cinemas now too? And George Lucas himself has penned the story so I will, despite my initial impressions, be purchasing this title. After all I do love Star Wars.

Knights of the old republic has been the best use of the Star Wars license and I dare say that one day a Star Wars title will come along and blow us all away. But force unleashed will dissapoint more people than please them due to hype. The prime example of this is the AI in game. Its quite shocking once you look close enough. Nice marketing campaign though. Lucas will still get my money and I hope that I get more out of this title once the full game is here. Fingers crossed.

May the force be with you all.



Amazing Game!, 18 Aug 2008
This game is ammazing. The best fighter on PS3? No. Best Fighter On XBOX 360? No. Best Fighter ever? Yes!!! I like the fact that you can create your own character and battle with them online. Very challenging and very fun! A must have for PS3!

Boring, 15 Aug 2008
This may just be its not my type opf game, but from the off i found this game boring and a waste of my money. The story mode, although different for each character lasts all of 45 mins, if that. Perhaps the gaming may have improved if i'd invested 7hrs into learning every combo that my chosen palyer could perform, but lets be honest, how different would one combo be from the next, not very from the time i played. And the critical finsihes?? What a load of rubbish they are. Mortal kombat mortality wanna be's, and thats the rare time they actually work. So get this if you like unfullfillingly wasting your time, but i for one have learnt my mistake.

W0W!, 10 Aug 2008
I think it is good that the game is exactly the same on both the Xbox360 and PS3, the only differents is you get yoda on the 360 and darth vader on the PS3. Also the graphics are exactly the same on both consoles, so there won't be another console graphics war, because neither side can win. But anyway i loved this game and i give it 4.5/5

alright but not amazing, 10 Aug 2008
total normal fighting game once youve played vadar which is the only reason to play you get bored. if it had trophies it would have been better. buy it second hand when its about a tenner your missing nothing

Soul Calibur 4, 09 Aug 2008
This game could of been a lot better they should made story mode hard cos hard mode is just too easy SoulCalibur III (PS2) was better overall i give soul calibur 4 a 7/10 buy it if youn are a big fan.

good but short, 26 Aug 2008
this games graphics is amazing..everything is amazing apar from the fact that i finshed the story mode in around 4 hours....it is extremely short

BEST SHOOTING GAME EVER!!!, 21 Aug 2008
I wasn't sure If I wanted this game (since i rarely play FPS games) but after much persuading from my friend i bought this game and it is the best shooter ever. i can see why this was the game of the year. The single player is quite good and a decent length. The online mode is the best ever. It is so well organised an put together. I would advise people to get the game for just online because it is an amazing experience. 10 out of 10.

The best game ever made...?, 14 Aug 2008
This really is the best game ever made. I cant fault it in any way at all. I enjoyed the offline play, it is a little short perhaps but apart from that it was thoroughly enjoyable. The online play however....absolutely perfect!! Its really easy to use, as long as your online on the ps3 you will have no trouble just jumping straight into a game and getting on with it. There were quite a few problems with the servers when I first started playing the game, this left me a little annoyed have spent 50 pounds on it but once the problems got sorted out I was basically addicted!! I played day and night and simply never got bored. There are so many options to choose from as far as game style goes, the gun selection is great and the guns are especially realistic. The graphics are great, I was using a fairly cheap 37" HD tv and it looked amazing so I can only imagine what it would look like on a top end TV. If you are to buy the game I recommend you buy the add on pack, the newer levels add something extra to the game, with some great sniping and close range gameplay that was lacking in the original maps. The scoring system is great and you find yourself absolutely hooked on your stats. My personal favorite was my kill death ratio and I would play simply to increase my ratio. The challenges are also great fun, if you get bored of simply killing as many people as possible it gives a great alternative when you know you have to knife people or kill them by blowing up cars or if you have to play a different style of game to complete all your challenges. All in all this is just a brilliant game with so much breadth its unbelievable, the modern warfare style is a great change from the historical stuff were used to and I think its a huge mistake to take COD 5 back into historical warfare.

Good graphics, 07 Aug 2008
This game has good graphics and fast action. Almost the action is to quick with little to think about other than follow instructions and shoot the gun. Hopefully there will be more intelligence needed for the next version as this is not worth the money especially playing as a single player.

Awesome Game, 30 Jul 2008
What a game! I've just bought my PS3 and got this as my first game, and what a game it is. The detail is amazing and it's like watching a war movie at times, and this is just on a normal tele. I know I'm going to be blown away when my new television arrives in the next few days. Go buy it is my only advice, it's fantastic.

im not writing this before playing it, but...., 17 Aug 2008
see now i havnt played this yet, butttt as rob seems to be talking it down im mad, ye iv had madden since 02, and iv had fifa since 2000, both are the games that lead there sports, dont tell me how ur gna compare them because u cant!! times u want to play one kind of football, and then the other, so dont talk a game down u havnt played, and ye madden 09 is good, but im having faith so is this one, so tbh, im buying both!!!! xxx

Ive played it!!!, 20 Jul 2008
Lucky enough for me I was invited by my uncle who works for EA, to come to head office and try the game, absolutely quality game leaves fifa 08 for dead, pro is not even in the same universe! Its a must buy for anyone who wants to use the full potential of their hd gaming console. It really does feel like your on the pitch with Ronaldo, Kaka and Ronaldinho. The new improved gameplay enhancements mean you get realistic tackles, headers and improved first time shooting. The best feature is the physical attributes of players are taken into account, so if defoe goes in for a 50/50 with vidic, 9/10 times vidic will come out with the ball. Crouch will rarely be beaten in the air as height is now taken into account when jumping for a header. Its got to be pre-ordered!

Driftomundo, 14 Aug 2008
What a game - the best on line game i've played yet - single player is good - arcadey but it sure feels real enough when your driving at 260mph down the Mulsan Straight.

If you have a PS3 and like driving games this is a MUST

More of the same please!, 16 Jul 2008
If you like your racing fast and furious buy this...if you are feed up of starting off in wreck or a small hatch back car in games buy this...

Finally a game that ticks all the right boxes, fast ready to go cars from the start, persistent and control affecting damage and visuals so good that screen shots could be hung on your walls as works of art.

GRID has so much going for it I hope that a sequal is planned...

Complete disappointment, 13 Jul 2008
Firstly, it looks good. Secondly, that's it. If you're serious about driving sims then try something else. This game will only end up disappointing you if you use a force feedback wheel. The calibration in- game is dreadful, and completely unrealistic. By the time you've mastered cornering or even steering in a straight line no matter what "tweaks" you apply, you'll always end up in the barrier. Unlike most other sims a slight touch of the wheel should be enough to correct any alignment withe the car at high speed. With this, you have to make a noticeable effort to turn and correct by which time you've probably overcooked it and find yourself counter-steering to correct, and then it's all over. I ain't no rookie in driving sims and I've been driving karts for real for years, but this is truly horrendous as a gaming experience. Don't waste your money.

Best Racer on the PS3, 07 Jul 2008
Wow, Codemasters have done it again, Dirt was brilliant, but it wasn't racing.

Grid is awesome, fantastic right out of the box, the sense of speed is spot on, the handling is the right side of the arcade, and real damage, bumpers fall off in front of you, you narrowly avoid a car in front that spins out of control!

And I haven't even tried the online part yet, this is going to be the cause of many a late night swearing at the PS3.

Brilliant, the news that Codemaster have got the next F1 game is great news! These guys no how to make a racing game!

Takes Some Getting Used To, 05 Jul 2008
Grid is a difficult one, because I don't really know who to recommend this to. It's about as far removed from Gran Turismo as a racing game can get and still be on 4 wheels. But that's not to say GT fans can't enjoy Grid.

The Good. Grid is a better 'racing' game. Which i think has always been the point right from the first Toca games. The opponent A.I is way better than anything GT5P had to offer and the aggressive driving isn't just reserved for you like some racers. The best feature is the instant replay and i hope its something that starts to appear more in racers. You miss a turn, crash, whatever. Hit select and you can watch the events leading up to the incident and pick the point where you want to rejoin the race at. If like me you broke a few controllers playing GT5P ("COLLISION PENALTY!") then you'll see the benefit of this, you only get so many a race depending on the difficulty.

The bad. Car handling. It takes a while to get to grips with and is slightly odd to say the least. The car never really feels out of control but keeping it in a straight tidy line coming out of a corner can be a bit tricky. The game could also use a highlighted racing line and breaking markers, you get a tiny light on the minimap indicating when to break but it's not much use if you have to keep glancing at it. While you're racing it feels like you have to drive constantly on the edge, at least coming from a Gran Tusismo background it did. If you try to ease off you end up loosing way too much time a lap.

Summing it all up. Grid is a great from a racing standpoint, close and exciting bumper to bumper stuff. The car handling lets it down a little but if you're prepared to make some adjustments to yo