I tackled this Xbox 360 game this weekend – from start to finish in about 7 hours. The Force Unleashed is LucasArts’ latest Star Wars game, promising to deliver new heights to the Jedi’s powers. The game is an immersive experience with solid controls and sharp graphics.

I’ve wanted to play this game for a long time – but multiple delays and over-the-top hype have raised the bar of expectation to unrealistic heights. Load times are unacceptable and there’s screen tear in some levels. Several of the cinemas feel almost repeated, and James Earl Jones really should have done the voice of Vader. Still though, it is a GREAT game, lots of fun to play and for a Star Wars fan, a no-brainer. Because you can literally run through many of the levels from start to finish (if you get stuck just run to a checkpoint ahead) this might be a renter for many that want the experience and not the limited replayability. It was a blast, while it lasted. A-

JG