Star Wars to the EXTREME!

Three years after the last official and perfectly acceptable Star Wars theatrical film and the franchise is still going strong.    There's certainly been no shortage of mentions of the world that George Lucas created a long time ago in a galaxy far away (Hollywood?) and if the man has anything to do say about it, that's unlikely to change.  Character exclusives helped propel Soul Calibur 4 to stellar sales, there's a new animated Clone Wars in theaters (and soon to be itty bitty on the small-screen), and let's not forget the upcoming multiple-console release The Force Unleashed getting ready to use its sinister death grip in September.  Don't call it a comeback!

Its precisely the upcoming Lucasarts product that's got our attention, as the upcoming game will bridge the exploits between Episode 3 and Episode 4 via the new entity (and overly cheap mid-boss in said Soul Calibur 4) The Secret Apprentice.  Although I guess he's hardly a secret anymore, and the cat will certainly be outta the bag come August 21st - that's a Thursday for you social types - as the official demo hits both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles.  One level with an idea on education, the demo will also feature a tutorial on the how-to's of proper Force Grip usage and proper dining etiquette.  Actually just kidding about that second half, but as we all know by now an early demo release is generally a good sign that the game itself isn't crap.

Proper press blurbs below, and get ready Star Wars fans, because it looks like your weekend is planned and waiting!

On August 21st, PLAYSTATION®3 and Xbox®360 owners will be able to unleash the Force in the comfort of their own homes by downloading the demo of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed from Xbox Live or the PlayStation Network. The demo gives players a taste of one of the early levels in the game: the TIE Fighter Construction Facility, under siege by a Jedi General named Rahm Kota. The Secret Apprentice has been sent by Darth Vader to hunt down and destroy the General, but is also told that, in order to remain a secret, he is to leave no witnesses.

Also included in the demo is a tutorial intended to teach players how to use their Force Grip power.

An entirely new chapter in the Star Wars Saga, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed casts players as Darth Vader's "Secret Apprentice" and promises to unveil new revelations about the Star Wars galaxy. The game's expansive story is set during the largely unexplored era between Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. In it, players will assist Vader in his quest to rid the universe of Jedi - and face decisions that could change the course of their destiny.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is the first next-generation game developed internally at LucasArts, and will be available on the Xbox®360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system.

As its name implies, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed completely re-imagines the scope and scale of the Force by taking full advantage of newly developed technologies that will be seen and experienced for the first time together: Digital Molecular Matter, by Pixelux Entertainment, and euphoria by NaturalMotion Ltd.

More information about the game can be found at the official website, www.theforceunleashed.com.