Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

How does one fit a colossal project like The Force Unleashed into a handheld console like the Nintendo DS? This question has been plaguing my mind ever since I heard about the project being worked on by N-Space, the guys who delivered Call of Duty IV on the DS.

The console version of the game boasts a unique combination of three major physics engines to deliver a feeling of "force" like you've never experienced. You can literally destroy everything that blocks your path on a mere whim, or use storm troopers as bowling pins by launching gigantic crates at them. How can anyone fit something like that into a DS? N-Space answered that by doing away with all the frills while retaining those parts that make the game fun.

The storyline of the DS game is exactly the same as the console version's. You play as "Starkiller", the ridiculously named (but powerful) Sith apprentice of Darth Vader. Since you're a Sith, the good part is that you get to play for the cooler part of the Star War universe for a change, instead of the usual rogue Jedi routine.

As Starkiller (he must have had a tough childhood with a name like that), you'll be given different missions, but all of them primarily involve going through a bunch of underwhelming enemies till you face off against a boss. As monotonous as it sounds, you'll enjoy every bit of it. Besides the regular force powers and laightsaber action, the levels are filled with traps that you can lure your enemies to, only to crush them by using a force action and the surrounding environment to your advantage. It's pretty entertaining till you get to the mid-level boss or the main boss at the end of level.

Mini-games come up during other parts of the levels as well, say for the times when you need to get a huge obstruction (like a ship) out of your way. There's also a lightsaber clash minigame that pops up during every lightsaber duel.