Darth Vader playable in Force Unleashed

by Richard Mitchell { Apr 8th 2008 at 12:30PM }

Is making Darth Vader a playable character even a bonus anymore? Regardless, we're sure Star Wars fanboys out there will be happy to know that Darth Vader is indeed playable in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Darth is playable in the first level of the game, in which he travels to Kashyyyk and locates the boy that will become his secret apprentice. For those of you keeping score, said secret apprentice is the actual star of the game. Darth Vader comes complete with the Force powers you'd expect, most notably Force choke, which he uses to ... um ... choke people. Check out the video above for the first gameplay footage of the Sith Lord in action.

[Via Joystiq]

Tags: force-unleashed, lucasarts, star-wars

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

itsburnsie @ Apr 8th 2008 12:34PM

Achievement unlocked: Animal Cruelty

Description: Force choke 100 wookies as Darth Vader in the opening level of the game.

hunter2223 @ Apr 8th 2008 12:40PM

I've been playing Star Wars games for as long as I've been a gamer (That'd be about 25 years now) Starting on the Atari.

I've pretty much played them all and I can't remember a single game in a first/third person mode allowed you to play Vader.

If I'm wrong and my addled old man memory is failing me, let me know, but playing Vader in an action game is a pretty big deal as it's never been done before.

Magic Whiskey @ Apr 8th 2008 12:46PM

I'd only be cool to play as Vader if they get that damn cloth physic down. If we see a moving gumdrop, it won't be cool. If we see Vader with another tiny foof-foof napkin around his neck like we did with Batman in the 'Batman Begins' game, it won't be cool either. No see-through cloth either, LucasArts...keep that for Padme and Leia.

Richard Mitchell @ Apr 8th 2008 12:51PM

Darth Vader has been in a few games, though you may be right that this is the first strictly action game appearance. He's playable in Battlefront II, Masters of Teras Kasi, and Star Wars Episode III (maybe others, I didn't look too deep). Oh, and we mustn't forget LEGO Star Wars :)

I've only played Battlefront II though.

Jer @ Apr 8th 2008 12:54PM

Battlefront 2 had playable heroes and villains, Vader included. One of my favorite games.

Darkharmony @ Apr 9th 2008 2:44PM

Minor as it may be what about lego star wars? I had some fun there and even though it may not of been as traditional you could still play vader in it I think. But that said this game looks pretty impressive but then again don't most trailers?

Magic Whiskey @ Apr 8th 2008 12:43PM

So Vadey travels to Kashyyyk to find his Sith apprentice.. What, is it a shaved Wookiee?

I can see it now; a tattooed Maul, a bearded Tyranus, a mechanical Vader and a shaved Wookiee named Darth Razorburns. The saga is complete.

My Lunch @ Apr 8th 2008 12:52PM

Star wars III: Revenge of the sith. How could you forget that one? Your memory is failing, either that or im just dumb and made it up, just as easily possible.

D dogg @ Apr 8th 2008 12:56PM

The shit looks awesome; can't wait to play it. This is my most anticipated Star Wars game since Rogue Squadron by far and it looks DAMN impressive.

And I agree with hunter2223, I don't think there has been a single Star Wars game (non-FIGHTING / RTS game that is) where you got to play as Darth Vader and kick ass.

I think this game will live up to the hype as long as people keep their expectations in line with reality... remember, they're going a leap forward towards realistic objects / AI behavior, not replicating all real life behaviors.

Yuccadude @ Apr 8th 2008 1:11PM

Like Richard says above, you can play him in Battlefront II if you are Empire and you get a certain amount of points, you'll be offered to play as Vader on Hoth, Coruscant, or even just pick him on Dark Side if you're doing hero battles(you can also be Dark Anakin). Haven't played Teras Kasi, but that was for Playstation 1 I believe, and it let you play as Vader.

D dogg @ Apr 8th 2008 1:40PM

Battlefront I wasn't aware of but the PS1 game (Tersa) is a fighting game and that's why I said non-fighting / RTS games. Vader will also be in Soul Calibur IV for PS3 but that is a FIGHTING game as well.

Non of these games (except Battlefront) do you get to take on the ROLE of Vader. Playing as him is one thing but taking on the role of Vader is completely different, wouldn't you agree?

Rufus @ Apr 8th 2008 1:05PM

Dudes, I totally submitted this as a tip yesterday, before Joystiq even posted the article today.

Pff... you try and make X3F look all cool with the know and they ignore you and bow to the 'Joystiq' ;)

I jest (about the bowing, not the tipping).

Kabapu @ Apr 8th 2008 8:59PM

"If you want a lightsaber to cut people in half and spew all kinds of blood, I suggest "No More Heroes" for the Wii. :)"

Totally! My roommate just rented that. If there were ever a game that would entice me to buy a Wii (if I didn't already have access to one) it's that game. It's so over-the-top ridiculous.

E-Rock @ Apr 8th 2008 1:14PM

This is same thing most RP games do now. First level you get to play a character with all the powers you will get to acquire during the game, then you either switch to your no skill having character, have an accident, memory loss or get demoted.

That you get to do it with Darth is nice, but this intro to your skills, then we snatch them back stuff is kinda tired.

Jeremy @ Apr 8th 2008 1:21PM

Maybe this is a stupid question, coming from a non-star wars fan:

Why does the light saber never actually cut anyone apart? I thought that was what makes the sword so sweet. All the clips look good, but it seems like they are just attacking with a lit up regular sword.

hunter2223 @ Apr 8th 2008 1:38PM

Rated T for Teen would be the reason a Lightsaber doesn't cut people clean in half, or dismember people.

Lucas will not allow a Star Wars game to be rated higher then T

In some of the Dev blogs for TFU they were talking about how they had a sequence where the apprentice gets swallowed by a Rancor and uses the force to bust his way out. Lucas inc said "No" because it was an instant M rating.

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Darth Vader playable in Force Unleashed