I got pretty excited when I first heard of Star Wars: Force Unleashed and downloaded the PlayStation 3 version of the demo. I liked what I saw and thought the gameplay introduced some unique elements, but the game had a big problem - it has no multiplayer component, other than a duel mode on this Wii version. Single player games have limited replay value, especially one like this which can be finished in a week. For that reason, I wasn't about to drop $50 on it.

Although I own both a Nintendo Wii and a Sony PS3, I decided to get the Wii version of the game because the gameplay seemed better suited to the Wii's motion controls. A big part of this game involves picking up objects with the Force, and that seemed perfect for the Wii. I also liked the fact that I found this game brand new at Toys-r-Us for just $19.99. I think the PS3 version has been marked down to $29.99, too. If you've been holding out to buy this game because of the price, now is the time to act.

The game starts out with you playing Darth Vader and you go through a pretty basic level with a boss at the end. From there, you meet a boy who eventually becomes your apprentice, and then you play as a grown up version of that boy. Your mission is to go around killing Jedi, so you start out as a bad guy, but things do change. I thought the story aspect of this game was excellent, and there's actually a supporting book and graphic novel based on this game.

Each level consists of you fighting your way through various ships and bases, then there is a boss of some type at the end. There isn't much in the way of puzzles, but rather just you having to kill off enough enemy soldiers to continue past certain areas. The boss battles are a little on the easy side, and you just need to use the right rhythm of attack and defend to beat them. I got past most of the bosses on the first or second try.

The controls, which are the best feature of this Wii version, are really good. You need both the Wii Remote and the Nunchuck, and together they give you lots of options that are easy to learn quickly. To attack with your lightsaber, you just swing the Remote around and it comes on. You use the Nunchuck and thumbstick to pick up objects and throw them, and both controllers together let you pull off all kinds of special Force attacks and more. The Wii's motion-sensing capabilities really add to the interaction of the game and makes it more fun that just pressing buttons on a controller.

I thought the graphics were really good for a Wii game, though in some of the cutscenes the giant spaceships seemed a little cartoonish. The character models are all well done and so are their faces, and the animation is excellent. This is a very busy game with stuff flying through the air and lots of explosions, and I never once experienced a slow-down on the Wii. The only graphical issue I encountered was with the camera sometimes forcing me into a corner where I couldn't see what I was doing. Other than that, the look of this game blends perfectly with the Star Wars universe.

Star Wars games always have really good sound effects and music, and this one is no different. I love hearing that familiar lightsaber sound as I swing it around at enemies. Blaster fire all sounds familiar and the orchestral soundtrack is right out of the movies. The sound design of this game blends right into the Star Wars franchise, which is very important.

When Star Wars: Force Unleashed first came out last year, I think it was a bit overpriced for the amount of content that it offered. Now that the price has gone down, I think it is well worth checking out. Star Wars fans will enjoy watching the story unfold, and the gameplay is truly innovative and fun, although a little too easy. I would recommend the Wii version over another system, because it wasn't quite as much fun on the PS3.

Recommended: Yes