“The Force Unleashed” is only a few hours away and we’ve already received reviews, interviews, as well as live chat information for one of the cast.

Let’s start off with the reviews: Wired Game Blog, IGN, and TF.N. We will have a spoiler-free review up tomorrow, followed by a full, spoiler plenty review for the weekend.  Please be aware: These reviews do contain spoilers and no matter the final judgment — good, bad, or indifferent– it’s up to YOU to play and see for yourself.

Our good friend Aaron tipped us off to an interview that Ain’t it Cool News recently posted with the Secret Apprentice himself, Sam Wiwter. They touch on a lot of stuff, including plot, so if you want to remain totally spoiler-free until tomorrow wait and then check out the interview here.

Lastly, courtesy of Sara, we’d like to let you know that WebChats.tv will be holding a live webchat session on Friday, September  19 at  14.30 BST and talking to TFU actress Nathalie Cox who portrayed Captain Juno Eclipse. For more information check out the chat page, where you will be able to ask questions live, here.

Gamestop stores will be hosting midnight launch parties for the upcoming “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed” on September 15 starting at 10 PM. Gamestop, as announced by Hasbro by way of press release, will be giving away a “Stormtrooper Commander” to those who have pre-ordered and also who buy the game, while supplies last, that night and presumably until the store runs out. You can read the PDF file of the Gamestop stores participating in the midnight madness here.

Source: Gamestop.com

According to Star Wars.com,

” Eager to experience over-the-top Force powers and a brand-new Star Wars storyline that bridges the events between the two movie trilogies, fans downloaded the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed demo more than 1 million times in just eight days, topping the previous record by an entire day.”

How great is that!? You can find the entire article about it here. Remember, only five days until “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed!”

The Official Site released another walk through for “TFU” today, hosted by Producer Cameron Suey. This time around its for one of the first levels of the Wii version of the game. You can view it below; Enjoy! Remember, only a week until the Force is forever unleashed!

Related Article(s):

• PS2 & PSP Walkthroughts for “The Force Unleashed”

Lucasarts today announced a launch part for the upcoming “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed” liked they had for Battlefront: Renegade Squadron last year. Here’s an excerpt from the press release:

“SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Sept. 5, 2008 — LucasArts, Sony Computer Entertainment America and Best Buy will commemorate the release of the upcoming videogame Star Wars: The Force Unleashed with an exclusive launch party, offering eager gamers a chance to celebrate the Saga and get their hands on the first copies of the game. The party, which will be held at the Best Buy store at 1717 Harrison St. in San Francisco on Monday, Sept. 15, will run from 7pm until midnight and will feature appearances by several very special guests, including:

• Sam Witwer, who plays Darth Vader’s Secret Apprentice in the game and who also joined the cast of The CW’s “Smallville” this season; Adrienne Wilkinson, who plays Maris Brood, a dark and mysterious Jed; and Cully Fredrickson, who plays Jedi Master Rahm Kota, a militant General who is the target of one of the Secret Apprentice’s early missions
• Executive Producer Haden Blackman, Art Director Matt Omernick, Lead Engineer Cedrick Collomb, Lead Content Designer John Stafford, Lead Systems Designer Rich Davis, and dozens of other members of The Force Unleashed development team at LucasArts

In addition, attendees will get a chance to play the full version of the game in advance and be able to get their photo taken with some of their favorite Star Wars characters.”

You can find more information and the entire Press Release here. If you get a chance to attend on the 15, please feel free to send us images and tidbits to mailbag@eucantina.net/

Our good friend Zee Zee once again let us know that the UK version of the Official Xbox Magazine has a six page review of the Xbox 360 version of the upcoming “Force Unleashed.” Here’s what he says:

Hi guys,

On the new technology:
“Euphoria [...] doesn’t work quite as convincingly in The Force Unleashed [as
compared to Grand Theft Auto IV].”

Best SW game in five years!? Oh, boy– we’re in for a treat.

The release of the “Force Unleashed” is growing ever closer, and with that popular video game sites IGN as well as Game Spot have both opened “Launch Centers” for the release of the game. The IGN Launch Center can be found here and features, news, videos and more. The Game Spot Launch Center can be found here, and features news, videos, pictures, and on Friday, September 5 they will host a live marathon of gameplay starting at 11 AM PT. Be sure to check them both out for exclusive content, and twelve more days until the force is forever unleashed!

The Official Site recently placed online a commercial for the upcoming “Force Unleashed” entitled “Reverse.” It can be viewed below, and we’ll probably start seeing it soon on TV. Enjoy!

UPDATE:

Another commercial below:

Our friend Gareth from Skewed and Review let us know of an interview that he recently conducted with “The Force Unleashed” Lead Haden Blackman. Here’s an except:

“GVK: What are some of the locales gamers will see in the game?
HB: We have several locations, which represent a wide range of Star Wars environments that should feel both familiar and new. We haven’t revealed all of them yet, but you’ll visit a TIE Fighter Construction Facility, the fungal world Felucia (see briefly in Episode III), a planet made completely of junk called Raxus Prime, and several other locations throughout the game. You’ll also be able to return to some of the worlds to see how the Empire’s influence – and your actions – have changed them.

GVK: What are some of the weapons we will see?

HB: The Force is your ultimate weapon in the game. We really focused on redefining the Force, and creating new applications for the Force. You’ll have a really powerful Force Push that can be upgraded to take out multiple enemies, and can be used to blast through doors. Force Grip allows you to manipulate nearly anything in the environment, turning things like crates or even enemies into weapons. Force Lightning shocks enemies silly and leaves them stunned. Every Force power can be upgraded over time, giving you a number of options in every combat situation. We also treated the lightsaber as a Force power: it has its own set of combos, and can be upgraded over time with new crystals. You can also combine your lightsaber attacks with Force power use, charging up the blade with lightning for added effect, for example.

GVK: How will vehicles be used in game and what will players be able to ride in?

HB: To traverse environments, we really focused on making the Apprentice feel like a Sith warrior, with agile movements, a rapid dash, and the ability to leap huge distances. Darth Vader does provide the Apprentice with starship called the Rogue Shadow, which he uses to reach the various locations throughout the game.”

You can find the entire interesting interview here. In the coming days we’re sure there will be many TFU interviews, so please feel free to send us links to some you might come across to mailbag@eucantina.net.

The Official Site has released two video walkthroughs of the first level of TFU by producer Dan Wasson for the PS2 and PSP versions of “The Force Unleashed,” which hits our galaxy in just twelve days. For your viewing pleasure, both videos can be seen below. Enjoy!

PS2 Walk through:

PSP Walk Through:

Update:

Our friend Autobon pointed us towards this gameplay video on the PSP for the Force Unleashed as well as sent in this image from the video which shows us the name of enemy The Secert Apprentice is facing…Interesting it is.  Enjoy both!