How to use the Wii remote in The Force Unleashed duel mode
by Ross Miller 
{ May 5th 2008 at 4:25PM }
Oh boy, we're really worried now about the plethora of Wii-itis and other Wii-injuries stories coming in September. We've already written about our hands-on time with Star Wars: The Force Unleashed for Wii, specifically the duel mode, but G4TV has a video of LucasArts producer Dan Wasson showing X-Play's Morgan Webb how to use the control scheme in duel mode.
To summarize: the game recognizes five different directions -- left, right, up, down and "stab" -- for different lightsaber strikes, while force powers are done with the nunchuk and can be combined for combos. We could easily see how this might get out of hand (literally) in heated multiplayer matches, what with someone getting strangled with the nunchuk wire and another hapless Wii remote sent through a big-screen TV. Help us, Wiimote Glove Kenobi, you're our only hope.
To summarize: the game recognizes five different directions -- left, right, up, down and "stab" -- for different lightsaber strikes, while force powers are done with the nunchuk and can be combined for combos. We could easily see how this might get out of hand (literally) in heated multiplayer matches, what with someone getting strangled with the nunchuk wire and another hapless Wii remote sent through a big-screen TV. Help us, Wiimote Glove Kenobi, you're our only hope.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
D_Average @ May 5th 2008 4:28PM
No 1 to 1, no thanks.
WiNG [Life in a Game] @ May 5th 2008 4:46PM
1 to 1 is not physically possible for several reasons.
Anyone demanding it doesn't understand that it's not possible for a wiimote to provide antigravitational resistance against your hand when you collide with something.
In other words, no.
D_Average @ May 5th 2008 4:55PM
Uh...ever heard of rumble?
D_Average @ May 5th 2008 4:57PM
Uh....ever heard of rumble?
mr mobius @ May 5th 2008 4:58PM
Unless rumble can physically hold your wiimote back, stopping it from moving forwards through a light saber that can't be moved through, then there would be some reality - game glitches.
D_Average @ May 5th 2008 5:05PM
Its actually quite simple. If you feel the wiimote rumble, you stop. Or if need be, Lucas Arts could create a limited edition version that shocks you.
Rob Accomando @ May 5th 2008 6:30PM
1 to 1 also wouldn't work because you could just swing your wiimote around like a maniac and win easily.
busydoingnothing @ May 5th 2008 6:34PM
That's still not 1 to 1. Don't the current sword fighting games rumble when you strike the opponent anyhow?
Noshino @ May 5th 2008 9:34PM
Rob
"1 to 1 also wouldn't work because you could just swing your wiimote around like a maniac and win easily"
err.. not really, 1 to 1 also means that you can't swing it like a maniac because it would kill you...
1 to 1 is IN A WAY possible, but it would have to be well calibrated which is quite a pain in the ass, and there are too many things required to make it work...remember that this is in a way a port of the PS3/360 version so I doubt they would put too much resources on achieving something like that.
D_Average @ May 5th 2008 11:43PM
Dang, starting to feel like the Bush Administration around here. Those comments were entirely relevant to the article.
The fact is, having "one to one" light saber action was every Wii owners dream when this console arrived. Given the fact that it has not yet been achieved its indicative of the Wii's limitations, and making the argument stronger that it just can't deliver the immersive experiences Nintendo promised at E3 2006.
skidawg @ May 5th 2008 4:38PM
Wii-mote? don't care much. Morgan webb on the other hand....
E.J. @ May 5th 2008 7:28PM
Sweaty pits and manjaws FTL.
Matt B @ May 5th 2008 8:39PM
Wow EJ, those are some Seinfeld-esque hang ups right there.
Martez @ May 5th 2008 4:39PM
It's nice to know Morgan Webb is still pretty hot.
Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ May 5th 2008 5:01PM
If I recall correctly, last time she was mentioned in an article on Joystiq I posted something similar.
And then a bunch of morons came out of the woodwork to post that she wasn't hot.
But yes, it is nice to know...
Co @ May 5th 2008 10:22PM
She's really not though....
Now, Layla Keighly & Olivia Munn is another story...
slickestjg @ May 5th 2008 4:41PM
Its going to be fun to trash talk to your online friends across the world while you slash them with your light saber.
Eh @ May 5th 2008 5:05PM
Except for the fact that theres no way to talk with people online since Nintendo thinks "communication" is last-gen.
Bassir @ May 5th 2008 4:42PM
The Wii version will be "online", correct?
DazzPFR @ May 5th 2008 7:15PM
Morgan Webb...very nice! Although i like Olivia from Attack of the Show more.
Shogan @ May 5th 2008 4:50PM
The graphics look horrible. I honestly don't remember Gamecube fighters looking THAT bad, SC II looked way better. Duel Mode might be interesting, but it looks clunky here. It'll be a rental, but I'm keeping expectations very, very, very, low.
joeyg @ May 5th 2008 4:53PM
i'll take next gen graphics on my 360 over waggle...thx
ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ May 6th 2008 2:01AM
Cut it some slack dude, since the Duel Mode is included with the actual Star Wars game: it can't dedicate as many resources as Soul Calibur could on the Gamecube, the latter being a full-fledged game of its own.
Graphics may look ghetto, but I think it looks like a lot of fun.
Shogan @ May 6th 2008 3:36AM
It could be, but like I said below, I'd rather have a fleshed out Duel Mode and just scrap the story mode. I'll give the game a shot, regardless.
Eh @ May 5th 2008 5:08PM
Graphics are bad, physics are bad, whats the point? Judging by the massive amount of shovelware for the Wii the wii-controls clearly cant save games. They shouldnt be wasting money releasing this on the Wii, the whole appeal of the game is physics system.
Chris @ May 5th 2008 5:15PM
By that video, I'll call meh and go for the 360 version. You never can really know until you try it though.
StrangeBum @ May 5th 2008 5:31PM
This is going to be one game where I may need to pick up multiple versions. I definitely want one on the 360 for the physics and prettiness factor (why the hell not?) and possibly one here on the Wii. It really depends on whether or not the waggle controls work well enough.
I really do hope that it works well though, could make for quite an amazing experience if so.
Dravean @ May 5th 2008 5:34PM
waiting for a review...
D_Average @ May 5th 2008 6:14PM
I predict a Metascore of 62
Shogan @ May 5th 2008 5:55PM
I'll add this. I'm a Nintendo fan, I have a Wii and a 360. A Star Wars game on the Wii with Lightsabers is about the coolest thing I can imagine. This... sucks.
Making a game for the PS3 and 360, and trying to give a similar experience to the Wii IS NOT GOING TO WORK! What they should have done is focus their efforts into making the best possible Light Saber Dueling game for the Wii, and make Force unleashed for the big systems.
What we're getting here is a lame ass version of Force Unleashed, with a tacked-on fighting game. This is one of the reasons developers fail with the Wii. It just can't DO the things the big systems do, and it's pointless to bother trying. Focus on the systems strengths.
The flip side of that is the PS2 ports. The Wii is capable of more than the PS2, and making games for both systems, and god forbid the PSS as well, makes the Wii titles look like hell.
I guess it's true. Being the middle kid sucks.
Mr Khan @ May 5th 2008 5:56PM
I like what i see, personally. They found the perfect balance of Wii controls, not too much nor too little
I said it before, what's the good of Euphoria and DMM (Wii version has Havok, right?) if you're activating them with a button tap?
Sabi @ May 5th 2008 6:06PM
they should add Nightmare and Taki or some other Soul calibur Chars. as secret chars lol...
Trulz @ May 5th 2008 8:04PM
Who edited that video, and why did they feel the need to include so much awkward dialogue.
FSK405K @ May 5th 2008 10:48PM
1. If the wiimote moves the light saber and the nunchuk activates force powers, how do you move, as in left right front back?
2. Do the next-gen systems get the battle mode too?
Mr Khan @ May 6th 2008 8:56AM
1. Basic commands are executed in a traditional manner, moving, jumping, etc are mapped to analogue/buttons
2. No, it's part of their effort to insure that each version gets something special. PS2 gets an exclusive side-story or something, Wii gets duel mode, and i forget what PSP gets and what DS gets
Derek @ May 5th 2008 11:52PM
Funny how everyone can imagine how sweet this idea would be if it were done right... *drools*
ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ May 6th 2008 2:04AM
There's still somewhere inside of me which wants the PC version which will never come.
GTA IV on the other hand, I'm still counting on it. ;P
Highlar @ May 6th 2008 11:37AM
Actually, I don't think the graphics look bad on the Wii. Sure, its not "teh shinee" that you'll find on the bigger powerhouse systems, but for the Wii it looks pretty good. The Wii has its own physics processor, and while it as a system may not be capable of everything the other systems are, it should still work pretty well with this game, I think. This IS the same, full fledged story as in the other two systems as well, plus extra bonus stages. If anything, I'd prefer the Wii version for a longer game experience. From everything I've heard about the Wii's version of The Force Unleashed, so far from previews and people trying out the game, everyone seems to have a lot of fun playing it. The combo system with powers in one hand and saber in the other seem to work out nicely. The controls sound pretty smooth. I personally can't wait for this, and will be interested in the reviews, to see if it follows what seems to be a trend in Wii game reviews (earlier ones especially): scores all over the map, with people either loving or hating the controls. Wii games seem to be games that people either love or hate, with not very much middle ground between in review scores sometimes. I'm always interested in reading down a games reviews on Metacritic and seeing how they cover the spectrum from like to dislike, and how the controls are marvelous for one person, and absolute ass to another.
Iridium @ May 6th 2008 12:30PM
Hopefully you can just turn the force powers off. There wasn't really and real saber dueling in that whole video. The only good way to play Jedi Knight II was with force powers turned off.
I like the idea of duel mode but I just don't think the execution will be there and with the horrible online setup through the Wii there just is too much holding this game back. Plus the graphics look like Masters of Therras kai (however you spell it) on the PS1.
Exodus @ May 6th 2008 4:43PM
Morgan Webb is freaking hot...hot enough to be featured in "Maxim." So will you people who think she really isn't all that hot realize that you are stupid and obviously deserve to rot in the lower pits of hell.