2008s The Force Unleashed was the biggest selling Star Wars game yet, despite mixed reviews.
Can its sequel improve on its predecessor?
The following containsspoilersfor the first Force Unleashed if you havent completed the game.
So, its no surprise that LucasArts has wasted no time in concocting a sequel.
Narrative-wise, it kicks off with a slightly odd twist.
The primary ending forForce Unleashedsaw Starkiller sacrificing himself for the good of the nascent Rebel Alliance.
So, we left the preview event a little confused.
Cold at the immediate gameplay, yet intrigued by the plot.
It seems that providing performances for videogames is quite a profitable sideline for actors nowadays.
How do you approach it?
Is it just another job?
I actually see it as exactly the same.
The process is no different than, say, shooting a green screen shoot.
If the script is good, then you have a real launching point to do something special.
And second, the other actors.
If the other actors are on point and talented, then you have something to work off of.
AndForce Unleashed IIhas both.
It has a wonderful script and wonderful actors.
And I couldnt be happier than I am with how its all gone, especially with the story.
The firstForce Unleashedused motion capture, which some people see as being the most convincing approach.
Whereas some still have voice actors recording individually in sound booths.
Do you think its important to have the actors together, bouncing off each other?
Its absolutely crucial, as far as Im concerned, to do that.
If you really want to feel like these people are talking to each other.
This time, we did not employ visual motion capture like we did on the first one.
And I could get upset with that.
You really, really get this wonderful sense of the characters.
That theyre responding to each other, and thats absolutely crucial to get those human performances.
And the reason for that, I believe, is because its a new thing.
The technology was very simple.
Nor was the technology available.
Then, when we became 16, videogames were for 16 year olds.
So, not only has the technology aged, but the requirement of the audience for storytelling ages too.
For example, Australia has a very strict legislation on video ame ratings, right?
And people are afraid of violent videogames and this and that.
So, the sophistication of storytelling in videogames will only grow as the audience for videogames grows.
Youre speaking here like you have a lot of personal investment.
Are you a gamer, then?
Oh, its kids stuff, I never play videogames… No!
Absolutely, Im a huge videogame player.
I got into it with Atari 2600, moved up to Commodore 64, Amiga, and so forth.
You name it, man, Ive kind of done it all.
In terms of current generation, Im a huge PC gamer.
Theyre a bit of a dying breed nowadays…
Yeah, right, weve gotta keep it together!
The thing is that there are still games that I feel are superior on a PC.
And I dont think Im wrong about that.
Its extremely well-suited to the Xbox.
But, on the other hand… Shooters, theyre just better on the PC.
Im sorry, they absolutely are.
Certain games, they just translate across platforms differently.
Thats not to say that one platform is better than the other, its simply different types of games.
So, what was it like once you had the opportunity to be in a game, withForce Unleashed?
I didnt know what to do with myself.
I was on a three week long high once I landed that role.
And the way that I got the role, its absolute luck.
Who has what now?
Same haircut, same everything.
It must have been a dream come true, but there must have been a lot of pressure.
Hows that worked out withForce Unleashed II?
The story is extremely satisfying.
With the first game we were extremely worried.
In fact, I lost sleep over creating thisStar Warsprotagonist.
Because you dont want to get it wrong.
And the fun about the second story is that, by now, the fans have embraced him.
So, what more can we do with this guy, where can we push the character?
In what new direction can we take him that we havent seen before?
So, there was a lot more enthusiasm than apprehension this time.
Thanks for reminding me.
Now I have the apprehension all over again!
No, youre absolutely right, and what I like about this story is that it is absolutely straightforward.
The first game had a lot of twists and turns, and the plot was a little complicated.
In a good way.
And so, the plot is simple, the psychology is complex, which I love.
How do they spin it, though, considering Starkiller died at the end of the first game?
Thats a very valid point.
I loved that character.
I would say no, I would definitely turn it down.
Im like, Cool, lets do this.
So, myStar Warsenthusiasm kind of took over.
But then, of course, I ask the same question everyone else is asking.
What are we doing?
What does the script look like?
How are you bringing him back and why?
Hes an incredible writer.
He created a story that not only made sense, but is absolutely worth telling.
Sam Witwer, thank you for your time!
