Recently I watched a pre-release video for the PC port of the expansion set to the Star Wars Force Unleashed re release; Ultimate Sith Addition *mouthful*. This video showcased a mission taking place on Hoth during the events of the Rebs vs. Emps skirmish circa Episode #5, over the course of the video were additionally showcased;

• Multicoloured sabre crystal customisation toggles.
• Adjusted and/or rebalanced attacks.
• An extremely extensive library of alternate player skins.

The skins library could even be altered live during play at any time the player wished to do a quick wardrobe change. Naturally due to this abundance of flexibility the demonstrator playing the game quickly jumped through the customisation menus to emerge with a picture perfect C3PO HD skin flaunting a hot pink light sabre.

The gameplay looked basic; like an add-on traditionally would look, with the gameplay demonstrator perishing some five to six times consecutively on a cheap-ass platform jumping challenge, while fighting off a seemingly endless flow of Wampa beasts (Which looked fluffier and cuddlier than ever, pushing home yet another good reason for the monster’s appearances to remain cameo at best, just as it was in the original cut of Empire). Somewhere a few minutes into the demo I felt overwhelming waves of underwhelm ..er ment.. washing over me, I thought about all the starwars canon videogames both good and bad until eventually my thoughts parked at the praise and awe surrounding the initial release of Unleashed. Then I wept at said praise and awe which will soon trickle away with this; an updated expansion pack version that ballyhoos even further stretching of an already perishing semi-official canon with the added bonus of live player skin customization.

This brings me back to the earlier topic of butch C3PO galloping about with his pink saber, there’s a webcomic that summarizes the general feeling toward this sort of open plan player customization, though to echo the point it makes; Do we really need another Star Wars franchise title that allows for unlimited customization? Back when Roddenberry was still kicking he had the flexibility of Star Trek cannon expansion nailed down by the tip of its penis; budding sci-fi writers had to undergo a rigorous training debacle before they were allowed to write anything officially associated with the fiction and even after that fact the work could be rejected by Rberry.

George Lucas has sincerely sprung his masterwork from its retirement home, smeared some lipstick on and proceeded to pimp its ass repeatedly for more cash. This isn’t news though, we’re all aware of the sad state of affairs concerning Star Wars though the part of all this that I’m having the most trouble with is the part specifically regarding the label of ‘Official Starwars cannon’: when the initial Force Unleashed title was up and coming, several puritanical types were up in arms about its boasted secret sith apprentice, secretly carrying out secret wet work for Vader in, around and during the events of half the original trilogy, but in secrecy. Folks were impressed with its visual, historical and narrative relevant accuracy upon the release of Force Unleashed and many of these initial concerns were put to bed. Concerns stemmed from a fear that Lucas was potentially about to re-realise his retirement home bound masterwork yet again, potentially for the worse yet again again. So then, why don’t we raise the same flags of concern when these expansions come along? This expansion pack allows the player to force jump through the Hoth base as Jedi C3P0 with a giant pink dildo, doing battle with an army of Wampa Saint Bernards. How much do we care about the cannon now? And more importantly, when do I get my Star trek game with speedo suit skin variable and rainbow umbrella melee weapon for Spock?