Wishmaker

I am a big Star Wars fan. I saw all 6 episodes 20 times and still can't get enough. I discovered a while back, by accident, the KOTOR games and since then I became a Star Wars game fanatic. When I heard what plans they have for KOTOR 3 I was a bit dissapointed but then I saw the trailer for this. They finally released it on pc and I played non stop since yesterday. Having said that, my first impression of the game :

1. INSTALLATION

I have the system in my signature and it took quite some time to install. I had to install 14 GB so I was expecting some time but not 10-12 minutes. Installation is fairy simple, slip in DVD1, then slip in DVD2 when the wizard asks. It installs Direct X 9.0c at the end, creates a desktop shortcut and automatically launches the game.


2. LAUNCHER

The launcher has a few options for customization. In the controls section it supports mouse, keyboard or the 360 Controller. The graphics section contains all the available resolutions but, and I must stress this, no advanced graphic controls . You cannot set the level of detail, you cannot set V-SYNC or AA, or anything. You expect it to be in the game, right? Well I did too ... Long story short, this is how it looks :





3. MENU

The game starts with a lovely LucasArts animation. From this you expect some hardcore force powers.





The menu seems easy at start but it does not have the easy navigation one would expect. There is no mouse and to advance from one screen to the next you need to use '[ and ] '. [-being back and ] being next. This is annoying and takes time getting used too.





I am afraid, tweakers like me will be dissapointed. Video options are basic, a few brightness options other than that nothing worth mentioning. Audio options similar, no way of selecting Dolby or Surround. Something worth mentioning about the game is the Costume Menu, Force Upgrades, Training Room. These allow you to modify your character at any time. The Force Upgrades allows you to master many skills, be it force grip, lightning, sith lightsabre techniques. The Costume menu allows you to add costumes to your character. You have a few to choose from, including Luke Skywalker, Vader's first apprentice, something similar to Darth Revan's costume but in black.






4. Game Graphics and Gameplay

I have some mixed feelings for this part. I think mainly because I am not sure that the game runs at its full potential on my CFX setup. I always have the thought.... does this look the way it should or it could look better? I have a feeling this is simple a console port to the pc. Fraps records 30 FPS all the time except in menus and cut scenes where it goes higher. Not to mention that since I started playing, my ATI driver stops responding. I have more than 10 games on my PC and I've never had this issue. With this one, however, the ATI driver stops responding, the game freezes, the driver recovers and then I resume playing. This happens 2, 3 times during a 3 hour gaming period. I am using the latest Catalyst and this happens in both single and CFX mode.

With graphics out of the way, lets move onto gameplay and action. If you love moving objects and smashing stormtroopers to the wall you will enjoy the force grip ability. You can do so many things with this. You have the possibility of using the environment against your enemies. HOWEVER, the controls are puzling. Using w, a,s,d, e, r, q, space can be considered standard. But the combo combinations take this to a weird level. Just like in Prototype, you end up pushing 4-5 keys at the same time with one of the mouse buttons. For example, when you have to kill some Rancors you have to press q+e+space+mouse 1 to jump on them, then press Q, then press again q+e+space+mouse 1, then press E, etc. This is very annoying because sometimes you miss the third combination and you have to start all over. For example, when you beat the jedi on the plant planet things get complicated. From q+e+space+mouse 1, you end up using q+f+ whatever, can't remember exactly and you have to do this 3, 4 times. When all these combinations work out the moves are lovely. Hardcore sith-jedi action but still ... sometimes it is push 5 buttons and pray.


Then we move onto jumps. You need a special combination here as well. I spent 45 minutes in one stage because I could not do a jump. space+space so he jumps higher + shift so he flies like superman+w to twist in the air .


I haven't finished the game yet so I will continue this as soon as I advance and discover something new.

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CoreXE

I thought I'll be able to play the game, but they were too lazy to make a normal PC version and the console port lacks of graphic settings, so my crappy PC can't run the game on playable FPS. I'm fan of SW, so I'm very sad I can't play this game.

Will you upload some videos about the gameplay?

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Outcasst

The game is locked to 30fps.

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"Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrugde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a tatol meses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe."

Pao

Wow, game looks good, I am more excited for it now. I'm playing through KotOR II right now.

Towik

it's the force unleashed or the force unleashed dark side? or something?

so this is the first SW TFU from console just ported cannot wait for the new one

about kotor 2 i think my best was 30 lvl from 3 days ago. i still need to play male char never did it

kotor 2 have many bugs in game .i wish they could update it but only 2 updates available

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Build LOG

pcnuttie

This game is released? Why Steam or Direct2Download don't have it?! O.o

Outcasst

It's not released. It gets released Nov 11.

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"Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrugde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a tatol meses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe."

kinubic

wasnt this game released for the ps3 awhile baack? i played it then and was fun! the beginning is fun when u play as darth vader!

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BlakHart

Thanks for this review, you have convinced me not to purchase this for the PC...

I owned and completed it on the PS3 and thought to myself...This game is just missing some things. Well it was and none of it seems to be in the PC version accept the extra mission which is something I can live without. It's a shame, I would easily pay $50 for it again if it was perfected. Now I'm not even sure if I'd buy it in a bargain bin for $10.

I am a big fan like you OP, I just wish Lucas could put some talent and effort in their game development.

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jbobb

They have it at my local Best Buy on the shelf. You can also get it from Newegg, so looks like it is released.

Newegg

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