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Right from the offset of the Force Unleashed demo, players are dropped into a sandbox scenario where they are given total control of their Sith apprentice. You have the option to use crates, barrel drums, people, and even tie-fighters to kill those who stand in your way. I squealed with glee as I ripped a tie-fighter from its docking bay and proceeded to chuck it at a gaggle of troopers; watching their dead limp bodies fly fifty yards into the distance and impact on the hangar bay walls. It’s also a nice visual treat that the programmers have implemented a sense of personality to all the people you are murdering. You will see them whining and trying desperately to escape certain doom by grabbing onto crates and anything close as you rip them from the ground with a simple force choke/lift. And this is just your first taste of what The Force Unleashed offers.

Judging from the demo there will be plenty of combinations to unlock over the course of the campaign; allowing players to get creative in their killing. Besides the hilarious environmental deaths you can perform, you can also impale foes, force push them, or just straight up bludgeon them to death with your saber. It’s everything you would expect from a dark lord of the Sith, all while being pulled off fantastically with easy controls and fluid animations. The demo also lets you experience The Force Unleashed’s leveling system by being able to upgrade your “force push” technique to devastating effects. Apparently this Sith apprentice channels his best Dragon Ball Z maneuver and forms a ball of energy to unleash. It’s an awesome display to say the least.

The only downside to the demo is its length. I was so wrapped up in the experience that when it ended I was disappointed. I wanted to keep going. It’s one of the only demos I loaded right back up after an initial play-through. I even had a better handle on my plethora of moves and techniques, making me look like more of a badass; at least as badass as you can look playing a Star Wars video game.

Consider me sold on Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Lucasarts seems to have struck gold and will be delivering a true next-gen Star Wars experience to players. The only question mark that remains is the actual narrative to The Force Unleashed. With it being the first Star Wars video game to be considered “canon” with the films; it has some big shoes to fill. But if the story provides the epic coupled with the fun of the game-play, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed should be a must buy during this year’s blockbuster season of gaming.