Star Wars : The Force Unleashed

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed arrived on PSP in September 2008, published by LucasArts and developed for the handheld by Krome Studios. It is a third-person action adventure built around lightsaber combat and exaggerated Force abilities, adapting the game’s Sith-era story for Sony’s portable system.

Set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, the campaign follows Galen Marek, Darth Vader’s secret apprentice, better known by his codename Starkiller. Vader trains him in secrecy and sends him after Jedi who survived the purge, but the mission gradually pulls Starkiller into the events that help unite opponents of the Empire.

Combat combines close-range lightsaber strings with Force Push, Grip, Lightning, and other offensive techniques. Enemies can be launched, stunned, pulled into reach, or finished with saber attacks, letting players mix powers and melee rather than rely on a single approach.

Progression rewards combat with experience that can be spent improving Starkiller’s Force abilities and personal attributes. Collectibles and upgrades encourage experimentation, while the story’s major encounters frame the apprentice’s growing strength against Jedi, Imperial troops, creatures, and rival Force users.

The PSP release follows the same broad storyline as the PlayStation 2 and Wii editions, rather than being a direct portable version of the PS3 and Xbox 360 release. Its smaller-scale presentation omits the high-definition versions’ advanced simulation technology, but retains the action-focused structure and includes its own handheld extras.

Its separate Force Unleashed mode offers challenges outside the campaign. Force Duel pits selected characters against Force-using opponents, Order 66 centers on fighting large groups of ordinary enemies, and Historic Missions recreate pivotal film-era scenarios with different Star Wars characters.

Historic Missions are a defining PSP addition, letting players revisit scenes inspired by the saga rather than only Starkiller’s main adventure. The handheld version also supports local Ad Hoc multiplayer for two to four players, with Force Frenzy deathmatches, Rule the Galaxy king-of-the-hill battles, and Force Out matches focused on knocking rivals beyond the arena.