"Curiously, only the Wii version of the game – which was very different from its PS3 and Xbox 360 counterparts – has been ported over, and it’s been ported over to the Switch exclusively. Both those things collectively mean that this feels like a somewhat throttled experience- but at its core, this remains a very enjoyable game."

Before Star Wars changed ownership, 2008’s The Force Unleashed was one of the last new games in the series that tried something along those lines. LucasArts’ action-adventure title was very much a “B tier” game, in as much as it was a focused, linear experience that wasn’t exactly hyper-polished and wasn’t averse to messing with Star Wars’ lore in some funky ways. Those who played it, however, agreed almost unanimously that it was also a hell of a lot of fun. Putting you in a Sith apprentice’s shoes and asking you to let loose with lightsaber swings, Force lightning, Force chokes, and what have you, The Force Unleashed was a mindless, endlessly enjoyable power fantasy that Star Wars fans just couldn’t resist.

Now, it’s back. As Star Wars moves into a new direction with its games, Aspyr Media has been keeping the series’ past alive with a number of ports and re-releases of older fan-favourite games in the series, and the latest one to get that treatment is The Force Unleashed. Curiously, only the Wii version of the game – which was very different from its PS3 and Xbox 360 counterparts – has been ported over, and it’s been ported over to the Switch exclusively. Both those things collectively mean that this feels like a somewhat throttled experience- but at its core, this remains a very enjoyable game.

You play as Starkiller, the secret apprentice of Darth Vader, who killed your Jedi father when you were just a child and decided to train you in the ways of the Dark Side. The Force Unleashed’s story has a special place in the hearts of many Star Wars fans, thanks to the bizarre balance it strikes between being true to the series’ larger lore and sticking to its framework, and carving out its own path and doing some truly over-the-top things. The Force Unleashed is full of moments like these, flitting between fan service and surprising turns at a regular clip. It’s not high art by any means, and the story can fall apart even under the slightest scrutiny, but if you’re looking for entertainment, you will find plenty of it here. Adding choice-based elements to the story and charting your own path for Starkiller adds a neat layer to the experience.

"It’s not high art by any means, and the story can fall apart even under the slightest scrutiny, but if you’re looking for entertainment, you will find plenty of it here."

Where combat is concerned, The Force Unleashed is very much a product of its time. Coming out at a time when the old God of War games were at the peak of their powers and were influencing what felt like every new action game, The Force Unleashed takes players through linear levels, with the majority of the gameplay focused on hack-and-slash gameplay mixed with using your Force abilities, as well as some light exploration and some very light puzzle solving. It’s as straightforward as it comes, a nostalgic reminder of how simple and fun hack-and-slash action games can be, and on a very fundamental level, it’s hard not to have fun when you’re unleashing absolute chaos on waves of enemies with your lightsaber and your Force powers. The Force Unleashed truly makes you feel like a destructive Sith lord.

It’s far from perfect though. For starters, things can get repetitive quickly and often, the level design feels extremely linear and quickly gets boring, and the game’s quick time events are an absolute nuisance, especially if you’re playing with the motion controls- which brings me to the bigger issue here. The Force Unleashed’s Switch version brings over its Wii counterpart’s motion controls, and while swinging your Joy-Con around like a lightsaber is plenty of fun, it’s often far from accurate. The Switch’s motion controls are, of course, inherently less accurate than the Wii’s thanks to how they work, and that is an issue that affects the game. You don’t have to use motion controls, thankfully, so if things ever get too annoying, you can always play with traditional button inputs.

Where visuals and technical aspects are concerned, The Force Unleashed’s Switch version is a disappointingly conservative port. Even in 2008, this version of the game was clearly the inferior one, with the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions very much being billed as the flagship ones. Visually, the Wii version was always lagging behind, and it doesn’t help that on the Switch, it hasn’t seen an awful lot of upgrades. The frame rate is solid enough, but from ugly textures and character models to the occasional audio issue, The Force Unleashed feels like a very superficial and conservative upgrade.

"The frame rate is solid enough, but from ugly textures and character models to the occasional audio issue, The Force Unleashed feels like a very superficial and conservative upgrade."

Whether or not this is worth a purchase depends on how big of a Star Wars fans you are- or perhaps even how big of a The Force Unleashed fan you are. If you have a hankering for a single player hack-and-slash title where you can rip through enemies as a bulldozing Sith lord, there’s plenty of fun to be had here, and the base experience, combined with its collectibles and the Duel Mode, make the $20 price tag feel pretty reasonable. If, however, you’re looking for a more ambitious upgrade, or if you’re looking for a more fleshed-out game with more thought put into its combat and level design, The Force Unleashed will probably leave you disappointed. Purely on a personal level, it’s a solid if unremarkable port of a game I have a lot of nostalgia for.

This game was reviewed on the Nintendo Switch.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (Switch)

As a remaster of the Nintendo Wii version, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed tells the story of Galen Marek aka Starkiller. Raised in secret by Darth Vader and serving as his apprentice, he embarks on missions to hunt down any rogue Jedi and kill anyone that gets in his way. While titles like Jedi Knight emphasized more grounded lightsaber combat, The Force Unleashed embraced hack and slash style combos and the power fantasy of hurling TIE Fighters at enemies. While it’s unknown if the Switch version will have motion controls or multiplayer duels like the Wii, it should be a fun way to revisit the franchise when it releases on April 20^th.

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

Of course for those who want to experience everything Star Wars-related from a LEGO veneer, there’s LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. It packs all nine mainline films, from the prequels and original trilogy to the new trilogy, into one massive game with over 300 playable characters, 45 story missions and tons of side content. Venture to Tatooine and engage in quizzes to find out who shot first; roam space and get into a dogfight with Star Destroyers; or enter Freeplay mode and control whoever you like. It’s out on April 1^st for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch.

The Serpent Rogue

The premise of Sengi Games’ action adventure is fairly straightforward – the Serpent Rogue is spreading its evil from Mount Morbus. Play as an alchemist known as The Warden and venture forth to defeat it. As you explore the dark fantasy world, you’ll gather ingredients, craft potions, pursue quests and even shapeshift to grow stronger. Be careful though since certain actions have serious repercussions, like ghouls being attracted to unburied corpses. The Serpent Rogue releases on April 26^th for Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

The House of the Dead: Remake

The 1997 arcade rail-shooter is making a comeback, courtesy of Forever Entertainment. Along with remade visuals which give new life to the grotesque zombies of old, it also sports modern controls, local two-player multiplayer and multiple endings. A new game mode where players gun down hordes of the undead has also been added along with Photo Mode, Achievements, an armory with “unlockable” weapons and a gallery to better inspect all of the enemies and bosses. The House of the Dead: Remake launches on April 7^th for Nintendo Switch.

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim (Switch)

Releasing on April 14^th for Nintendo Switch, Vanillaware’s 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is part visual novel/adventure and part real-time strategy with pause, teeming with mechs, time travel and much more. As the Kaiju invade Tokyo, it’s up to the 13 different characters piloting their Sentinels to stop them. Of course, there’s much more to the story than that as players unravel multiple perspectives and piece them together into a cohesive whole.

MotoGP 22

If you need a break from the Forzas and Gran Turismos of the world, then Milestone’s MotoGP 22 may be worth a look. Releasing on April 21^st, it offers 120 riders and more than 20 circuits. Delve into the 2009 Grand Prix in over 17 chapters with legendary riders like Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa, or enter the Academy to undertake training and challenges. You can also create a team and manage everything, from customizing the bikes to hiring staff, or engage in some split-screen racing. MotoGP 22 will be available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch.

Hologram

For a relatively unknown developer like Enlighteneer, Hologram looks intriguing. Set in the future, you play as Woner who must rely on the power of time manipulation to push back against the “evil horde.” Along with third person shooting, there’s mountain climbing, flying – which can be used to travel the length of planets – and “story-driven gameplay.” Despite some scuffness, it should be interesting to see how the full game is when it releases on April 26^th for PC.

TIC-TAC: Twelve o’clock

Unfortunately, this isn’t a game about calmly playing Tic-Tac-Toe at bright and sunny noon. Instead, you’re exploring Bluebird Middle School, which has somehow become a hotspot for scary creatures and dark forces. Along with puzzle solving and checking your shelter, there are random events that will test your resolve. Survive enough nights and eventually, you’ll find out what’s really going on. TIC-TAC: Twelve o’clock releases on April 29^th for PC.

Holomento

A curse has been wrought upon the land, caused by the strange book known as the Holomento. As a Traveler, you’ll take the book and venture through Eventide Hollow, restoring the region to its former glory. Fight off a variety of enemies (with weapons ranging from swords to grenade launchers, don’t ask) and explore the world for secrets, relics and other resources. Upgrade the Hollow for new stores and shops but beware – dying means starting over as a new Traveler (though you have multiple different classes to choose from). Holomento enters Steam Early Access on April 22^nd.

MLB The Show 22

Sony San Diego’s vaunted MLB The Show series returns, releasing for Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S along with PS4 and PS5 on April 5^th. Featuring Shohei Ohtani as its cover star, it also includes a dynamic Stadium Creator for current-gen platforms, online co-op, and a new commentary team with Jon Sciambi and Chris Singleton. This in addition to the classic gameplay that fans know and love along with crossplay, cross saves and cross-progression.

Chernobylite (Xbox Series X/S and PS5)

If you’re seeking that classic S.T.A.L.K.E.R. feel, then Chernobylite may be worth checking out. Set in the Exclusion Zone, you play as Igor and search desperately for a loved one. That’s easier said than done though with mutants, stalkers and other foes prowling the area, not to mention the dangers of radiation. Recruit companions and assign tasks to them; build your base and craft weapons; and take a variety of approaches when playing through the story. The Xbox Series X/S and PS5 versions are out on April 7^th, and will include two graphics modes – 4K/30 FPS and 1080/60 FPS – along with ray tracing support. This is along with the Enhanced Edition PC, which is free for current owners.

Slipstream

A retro-style arcade racer in the vein of Sega’s OutRun series, ansdor’s Slipstream features gorgeous sprite-scaling and a pulsing soundtrack. It comes with five cars, 20 tracks, and four cups in Grand Prix Mode coupled with five additional modes like Time Trial, Battle Royale, Cannonball and more (along with online leaderboards). Though currently available on PC, Slipstream launches on April 7^th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.

Chinatown Detective Agency

Pixel art and gorgeous character portraits coincide with cybernoir and shady streets in this point and click adventure from General Interactive Co. Releasing on April 7^th for Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch, it focuses on new PI Amira Darma who travels across the globe to solve cases. Puzzles and a reliance on real-world trivia are necessary for success, reflecting its Carmen Sandiego inspirations, but there’s a rich narrative to discover as well. Manage your resources accordingly though or bankruptcy will come calling.

tERRORbane

Meta gaming (no, not that one) is fairly niche but it’s produced some good games from ICEY to There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension. BitNine’s tERRORbane is the latest to join the pack, starting out as a fantasy RPG that quickly falls apart due to The Developer. Venture through the world and seek out different bugs, oppose The Developer at every turn, and exploit everything in the faulty code to progress. tERRORbane is out on April 1^st for Nintendo Switch and PC.

Ed-0: Zombie Uprising

A zombie horde slayer from D3 Publisher is hardly news but Ed-0: Zombie Uprising takes a roguelike survival approach to the proceedings. Set in Edo era Japan (hence the name), players choose from one of three characters – the Samurai, Sumo Wrestler and Ninja – and embark on randomly generated runs. Launching into Steam Early Access on April 4^th, Ed-0 will have two playable characters to start with, three main quests and bosses (along with five sub-quests), multiple difficulty options and over 100 skills and items.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed on the Switch is a port of the game’s Wii version, featuring heavy use of motion controls for slashing enemies with a Lightsaber. The Duel mode also makes a return in this version, allowing friends to duel with each other in splitscreen multiplayer. Pre-orders for the game are live now (listed for $19.99).

While textures, resolution, and the frame-rate seem to have been somewhat cleaned up, fans should note this is not a remaster, but just a simple port- so it’s best to keep expectations in check. Developer Krome Studios will also be helping out with the porting process, as revealed by the studio’s official Twitter.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed finally releases for Switch on April 20, 2022. In addition to this, Nintendo also showcased a new trailer for Kirby and the Forgotten Land, alongside a release window for Splatoon 3 and the announcement of Xenoblade Chronicles 3.

Krome is helping unleash this game on the Nintendo Switch™️! https://t.co/TIBu5MOPUT

— Krome Studios (@kromestudios) February 9, 2022

CONTROL

Remedy’s Control adheres to the “new weird” aesthetic from beginning to end, and that, of course, manifests in gameplay as well. From force pushes to being able to levitate, from picking up and flinging objects using telekinesis to controlling enemies’ minds, from ground slams to creating shields out of things in the environment, Control lets you use some truly incredible powers.