Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II

"Betrayed by Vader for the last time, a new journey begins with something worth fighting for... someone worth dying for... and I will not stop... I will not rest... Vader can't stop me now! [...] Vader can't stop me now... Nothing can."

- Starkiller escapes the Kamino facility

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II is the follow up to Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, and was announced at the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards on December 12, 2009. The story still takes place between Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, six months after the first Force Unleashed video game.

Escape From Kamino
The story starts with Darth Vader's TIE Fighter approaching Kamino. Vader enters a large room, with a large, round cell set into the floor. A young man is inside, and is informed that he has been left alone for thirteen days, as an endurance test. The clone is suffering from visions, including a forest burning, and a woman's voice in his head. Vader informs him that they are but memories of a dead man, and that they would fade in time. Telling him that his objective is to kill Starkiller's old Jedi mentor, Vader presents him with two identical red-bladed lightsabers, and instructs him to cut down several training droids, which assume the identities of rebel soldiers and a mysterious woman. Starkiller cuts down all the soldiers, yet realizes that the woman is none other than Juno Eclipse, his old pilot and love interest. He is unable to kill her, prompting Vader to step in. Cutting the last droid down, Vader tells Starkiller that the accelerated cloning process used to create Starkiller is imperfect. All previous clones had gone mad within months. Vader states that he had expected this Starkiller to be the first success, but it seemed that this clone was going to suffer the same fate. After questioning what Vader was going to do with him, Starkiller sees another vision - Vader stabbing his past self in front of the Emperor.

Blasting Vader with Force lightning, Starkiller destroys a portion of the wall, allowing him to escape. However, he is faced with a huge drop, which is filled with perils such as lighting towers, platforms and TIE fighters. Blasting all of them out of his way, Starkiller crashes through a glass roof to another part of the facility. He begins to carve his way through various Imperial troops: Riot troopers, Stormtroopers, two Carbonite War droids and Jump Troopers. After avoiding an Imperial Dropship, Starkiller comes to a large tower, which he knocks down by throwing several TIE fighters at it. The tower crushed one of three AT-STs guarding his master's starfighter. Destroying the remaining two, Starkiller managed to steal the fighter, just as Vader blasted his way to the landing platform. Vader watches as the fighter soars away into space.

Cato Neimoidia and Rahm Kota
"By the Force... I knew you were alive..."

- Rahm Kota

Meanwhile, on Cato Neimoidia, a Massiff prepares to charge at a competitor in an arena. As it charges, it is cut down mid-leap by the competitor, who is revealed to be Rahm Kota. After striking down a Feeorin Gladiator, Kota shouts up to an observation canopy, informing a 'Baron' that he was 'running out of executioners'. The Baron requests that they 'try the Corellian slice hounds'. He is informed by one of his Neimoidian aides that Vader's ship was approaching. Tarko, under the impression that Vader himself was coming, requests a squad of stormtroopers to be assembled in the hangar.

However, it was not Vader that had arrived, but Starkiller. Tarko, immediately suspicious of the young man, asks him for the sector's security codes. After Starkiller fails to give the codes, Tarko orders the troopers to attack him. Starkiller easily kills the troopers, yet Tarko flees back to the immediate safety of the city. Starkiller proceeds to enter the city after destroying an AT-MP and two Imperial Sith Acolytes. Starkiller kills many more Imperial forces on the way, but he is attacked by Tarko's gunship, the Nemesis, which promptly destroys a bridge, killing Imperials and destroying buildings relentlessly. Starkiller evades the ship, but it would not be the last time he would face the ship. After entering a gambling hall, filled with many game machines, he came across several Carbonite War Droids in the lower levels, which had seemingly frozen many unfortunate Neimoidian citizens. After going through another, smaller room with three game machines, the Nemesis attacks yet again, destroying the bridge Starkiller was standing on. Starkiller manages to reach a cargo tram, and utilizes it as a passage to the Eastern Arch. He is forced to destroy many TIE Fighters in order to save the tram, but the Nemesis catches up, firing a gattling gun, and several missiles. While unable to deflect the laser blasts, Starkiller manages to redirect the missiles back at the ship, eventually forcing it to flee. The tram had suffered too much damage, however, and it plunged off its power supply line, with Starkiller only just managing to leap off it to reach a platform.

After destroying several more Imperials, Starkiller finally reached his goal; the Arena. Before he could enter it, however, the bridge he was standing on was partially destroyed: The Nemesis was back. Starkiller manages to crush its engines, finally destroying it. He uses it to leap across to the other side of the destroyed bridge, and into the arena's entrance. He uses a lift to access a gateway into the arena. He enters, finds Kota, and tells him that he 'can sit this one out'. Kota is overjoyed to find Starkiller seemingly alive. Tarko, on the other hand, is enraged, and tells his aide to 'send out the Gorog. His aide panics, informing Tarko that the restraints of the arena had not been properly tested. Tarko insisted that the Gorog gate be opened. A Rancor enters the arena. Starkiller ignites one of his lightsabers, and looks smugly at the Rancor. Just before the Rancor could attack, however, an immense hand emerges from the floor, crushes the rancor, and pulls it below. Then, the same arm emerges, pulling with it an immense creature: The Gorog.

Starkiller was forced to damage the creature's manacles, and push them into chains hanging on the walls. Once this was done, he gripped the creature's neck chain, and managed to pull it towards the floor, slamming it down twice. This seemed to be the only way of greatly damaging the beast. The Gorog pulled its hands free, and Starkiller had to repeat the process again. He then leaped at the Gorog, slicing off a metal plate on its forehead. He stabbed at a gash that has hidden behind the plate. The Gorog, now fully enraged, pulled its wrist free, completely shattering the manacle. It flung Starkiller on to the arena's side wall, pulled its other wrist free, and proceeded to climb the arena. Kota, who had gone after Tarko, suggested damaging the arena's restraints. Starkiller realized this would bring down the whole structure, but did it anyway. Just before the arena gave way, he proceeded towards Tarko's observation box. Kota was already dueling Tarko and three stormtroopers. The Gorog punched its way into the box, still seeking to kill Starkiller. Tarko was promptly eaten, yet Kota was trapped in the beast's grip. He was pulled down with it when the arena gave way. As Kota was the only one who knew where Juno was, Starkiller dived after him, dodging debris on his way down. Unable to kill the Gorog, or at least harm it in such as way that it would relent its grip on the suffocating Kota, Starkiller used the Force to charge towards the Gorog at an insurmountable speed, punching a hole through the Gorog's chest with his own body. The Gorog finally let Kota go. Kota chided Starkiller's lack of an escape, yet he showed he had his own escape; A ship plummeted towards the two men, rescuing them, just as the Gorog and the rest of the arena fell to the bottom of the chasm.

Starkiller, assuming Eclipse to be at the helm, barged into the bridge, yet discovered that she was not there. Kota then revealed that Eclipse's ship was out of his reach, and they had lost contact. He then suggested that Starkiller create a major diversion in order to rally the troops. Starkiller interjected, revealing that he was a clone, grown in a vat to take Marek's place. Kota laughed at this, stating that it was impossible to clone Jedi. When Starkiller revealed that he had come from Kamino, Kota requested information on the cloning facilities for a major strike. Starkiller refused, and said that he needed a place to meditate. Kota snapped at him, yet inadvertently inspired Starkiller to visit Dagobah. After dropping Kota off at Malastare, Starkiller traveled to Dagobah.

Deal With a Bounty Hunter
"He has a healthy head start."

- Boba Fett

Meanwhile, on Kamino, Boba Fett was examining the damage caused by Starkiller in his escape. Vader, who is also in the room, orders Fett to find 'the woman' (Juno Eclipse), and to bring her to him, hoping that Starkiller would follow her. Fett requested a squadron of Stormtroopers from Vader, stating they would not be coming back. Vader instead offered him some Terror Troopers, and an Terror Walker. Fett looked at them, then stated that they would 'do'.

The Cave
"You know what I'm looking for?"

- Starkiller

Meanwhile, on Dagobah, Starkiller found a small, green being outside the entrance to a cave. Starkiller thought this being to be a guardian, yet the being revealed himself to be nothing more than a watcher. He suggested that Starkiller was looking for something lost, 'a part of [himself], perhaps'. After being told that the thing he had lost was inside the cave, Starkiller entered, his TIE Fighter garb changing to more traditional Jedi robes as he did so. Inside, he encountered several clones of himself, entangled in vines. A little way on, Starkiller saw Juno standing in a fog, which turned into a bridge of a ship. Starkiller saw Juno get attacked, and called out to her. She limped towards him, but then faded, as did the rest of the vision.

The Salvation
"Stay on guard. A powerful glimpse of the future like you experienced it rarely wrong. And if it comes to pass, you'll be glad you picked me up on Malastare."

- Rahm Kota

Starkiller collected Kota from Malastare, and Kota revealed that the types of glimpses into the future that Starkiller experienced were hardly ever wrong. After finding and boarding the Salvation, Kota and Starkiller made their way towards the bridge. Along the way, Starkiller was informed by Kota that it didn't matter whether he was a clone or not. Starkiller then gave Kota an encrypted code cylinder, with the co-ordinates for Kamino, and schematics of the secret cloning facilities. Just at that moment, the Salvation came under attack. Kota and Starkiller entered the bridge, where they find a battered, yet still functional, PROXY, who is missing a photoreceptor and an arm. Starkiller tells Kota to order the attack, and just before he heads off, PROXY warns him of Boba Fett being on board.

Starkiller encounters several small spider-like robots and Terror Troopers on his way towards a scientific room, where he finds Juno unconscious. His way through barred, Starkiller tries to find another way through, encountering yet more Terror Droids and Troopers. He accesses the scientific room, only to find that Boba Fett is taking Juno away. Just before she exits the room, Juno sees Starkiller. He blasts his way through, and after fighting yet more droids, he sees an entire corridor 'melted' by an unseen creature. The damage appeared too great to be done by the small Terror Droids, and similar damage was throughout the ship. It served as an excellent guide for Starkiller, and he was able to access the engine room, where he encountered a large, terror-trooper like droid, which he easily defeated. It was after this that he accessed the hangar, where he witnessed Boba Fett's Slave I leave, taking Juno with it. He threatened leaving Kota behind if he didn't order the attack, but Kota had already ordered the attack. They agreed that Vader probably wasn't expecting the entire Rebel fleet converging on Kamino.

Starkiller then noticed the source of the tremendous 'melting' damage - the enormous Terror Walker. He pursues it, and manages to offline its shields by causing an energy burst from a nearby reactor. The walker manages to offline the reactor, powering its shields once more. Starkiller managed to bring the reactor back online, off-lining the shields again. After causing more damage, Starkiller leaps atop the machine's 'head', and goads it into the reactor. His plan works, and the walker is fried - its body serving as a step to get him out of the reactor room and back towards the hangar.

Assault on Kamino
"Head to the Rogue Shadow. I'm pretty sure those shields can't take a direct hit from a cruiser."

- Starkiller

The Salvation arrives outside Kamino, where it becomes apparent that the Imperial fleet was expecting them - the Rebellion has suffered major casualties. Five boarding pods hinder the progress of Starkiller, and he kills the invading Imperials, which included two AT-STs and three AT-MPs. After clearing the hangar of the boarding pods, several Y-Wings are able to leave, which they do. Starkiller progresses back the way he has come, going through the drive core, clearing Imperials out of the engine room, and accessing the gunning area. A lucky shot from a nearby Imperial I-class Star Destroyer renders the Salvation's main gun offline, yet Starkiller powers it using the force, cleaving the Star Destroying in half with one shot. He then goes to the bridge, where Kota is pressurizing his men to keep up the assault. After informing Starkiller that Kamino's Planetary shield is preventing any ground assault, Kota is told by him that the shield would not survive a direct hit from a cruiser, and is advised to get to the Rogue Shadow. Kota leaves Starkiller, but not before broadcasting a message to abandon ship. Starkiller uses the force to clear the way for the ship's descent. Before the ship hits Timira City, Starkiller bails out, and watches the ship hit the city.

Plunging into the city, Starkiller comes across Imperial walkers, and several Incinerator War Droids, which he had also encountered aboard the Salvation. He aids Kota several times, who in turn aids Starkiller by capturing the security center and deactivating security screens. A bombing run takes out a nearby bridge, but Kota and Starkiller are able to reform it, allowing the two Jedi to meet up. Kota says that the upper levels had been sealed off, yet Starkiller goes up there anyhow. Kota, unable to bear the conflict of Starkiller going to face Vader alone and risking his life for Juno's, begs Starkiller to rethink his actions, and to leave Juno behind. He also requests Starkiller join the Alliance. Starkiller, however, informs the General that he cannot join the rebellion, as he loves Juno.

Starkiller comes across thousands of cloning platforms, each of them containing dozens of clones of himself. Realizing that Vader has cloned an army, informs Kota of this fact, who urgently mobilizes. Starkiller leaps across several of these platforms, and even onto neighboring clone monitoring robots, to the top of the spire. He comes across fierce resistance in the form of Saber Guards and Sith Acolytes. He asks Kota if he thinks that the original Starkiller is within the facility, yet Kota again states his belief that Jedi cannot be cloned, despite evidence to the contrary.

Confrontation With Vader
"Where is she?!"

- Starkiller

Starkiller finally reaches the top of the spire, yet when he does, he finds himself plagued by anxiety, fear, hatred and love. He is unable to run, only walk through this self-inflicted nightmare. His anxiety, magnified greatly by the force, crushes neighboring equipment. Visions of Vader himself attacked him out of nowhere, although he was able to repel them, and voices of Juno and Kota echoed around him, Juno calling him a 'monster' and a 'thing', while Kota called him 'Vader's puppet', 'filled with the memories of a dead man'.

Finally overcoming the visions, Starkiller enters a large cloning chamber, and sees Vader standing on a cloning platform - the clones in this area are fully-grown. Vader and Starkiller duel, with Vader unleashing the clones on Starkiller. One group of clones could only wield lightsabers, while another group could wield force powers, and were therefore, able to deflect Starkiller's own force attacks. Numerous times, Vader throws cloning pods, and even platforms at Starkiller, even when the latter was dueling the clones. Throughout his duel, Starkiller saw visions of his past, and at one point, his future. The latter vision was of him cradling Juno's seemingly dead body, saying that he 'should have stayed here'. Vader uses this momentary distraction to blast Starkiller backwards, and uses the pod monitoring robot to levitate upwards. Starkiller finds another one and follows him.

Arriving in front of Vader, Starkiller demands to know Juno's location. Vader steps aside, and reveals Juno. Gripping Juno by the throat, using the Force, Vader orders Starkiller to bow before him, else Juno dies. Starkiller obeys, dropping his lightsabers. Juno is set down by Vader, and unseen by both Vader and Starkiller, crawls towards one of the discarded sabers. Vader orders Starkiller to execute Kota, give himself to the Dark Side, and to execute the remaining rebel leaders. If he did not do any of these, then Juno would die. However, Juno ignites the saber she picked up, but before she can attack Vader, she is thrown through a window by him, landing on an electrified platform, seemingly dying. Starkiller lets out a feral scream and charges Vader, summoning back his lightsabers. They engage in a brief lock before Vader grips and throws Starkiller as well, although he makes a perfect landing. Vader jumps down after him.

The Final Battle
"I will kill you!"

- Starkiller in a rage.

After a quick duel, in which Starkiller is enraged by Juno's death, Vader is disarmed by a throw of his own lightsaber, slicing off his right hand. Starkiller catches an electricity pylon thrown at him by Vader. He picks up another whilst trying to stop the first one crushing him. After throwing the first pylon back at Vader, he uses the Force to carry lightning up the other pylon, charging three others. He uses this current to charge his own lightning powers, and blasts Vader with them, severely, and perhaps near-critically, damaging him.

Starkiller stands before Vader, accusing him of taking everything from him. Kota and several Rebel troops stop him from immediately killing Vader. Kota wants to arrest him, and put him on trial for crimes against the true Republic. He also mentions that Vader is the only one who knows if the orignal Starkiller survived.

Starkiller spares Vader, and Kota requests that he be restrained. Starkiller runs to where PROXY is attempting to revive Juno, to little success. Starkiller cradles her body in his arms, and says that he should have stayed on Kamino, thus acting out his final vision. Juno, however, wakes, and kisses Starkiller. After affirming that they are still alive, the two kiss again. Later, Juno and Kota are having a discussion with Princess Leia Organa. Juno says that they are sending a dozen small freighters in all directions - if the Empire discovers that Vader has been captured, they won't know which ship to follow. Leia tells them that they should be proud, and that the Force is with them. Her image dissolves to reveal a still-damaged PROXY. All three walk towards the Rogue Shadow.

A Final Conversation
"As long as she lives, I will always control you."

- Darth Vader

Inside, Starkiller enters Vader's prison room. Vader is restrained on a metal table, with several large, heavy bolt fixing him to it. Starkiller tells him that, despite Vader telling him that he is a clone, he chose to spare Vader - he has finally broken Vader's hold over him. Vader says nothing to that. Just as he leaves, Vader tells him that as long as Juno lives, he will always control Starkiller. Starkiller pauses, but brushed off the remark, and returns to Juno in the cockpit. They share a sentimental moment as juno says 'prepare for lightspeed', and the Rogue Shadow disappears into space.

However, Boba Fett's ship, Slave I, unattaches from the remains of a Star Destroyer, and follows the Rogue Shadow into Hyperspace.

Dark Side Ending
As Starkiller makes to strike Vader down, he is stabbed from behind by a hooded figure, who fades in out of nowhere, as if he had been watching the entire battle. Kota attacks him, yet is easily slashed across the stomach. He and his soldiers are blasted of the platform and into the sea. Meanwhile, Terror Troopers make short work of PROXY and other Rebels. Starkiller dies as Vader tells him he lied about the cloning process not being perfected, and the hooded figure reveals himself to be the 'perfect' clone of Starkiller, pale and deeply immersed in the Dark Side. Darth Vader congratulates the dark clone for completing his training. He orders him to take the Rogue Shadow and search the stars for the surviving Rebels, and to kill them all. As the clone turns to leave, he briefly glances at the dead body of Juno Eclipse with no apparent emotions, except hate. The clone takes the Rogue Shadow, accompanied by several TIE Fighters, and makes the jump to hyperspace.

The unlockable cutscenes named Distant Thunder show the development of this dark clone, and how he comes to realize his past self's weaknesses.

Promotion
The first trailer depicts a hooded man walking along a hall, apparently oblivious to the fact that he is using the Force to destroy everything around him while the voices of Yoda and Darth Vader are speaking about the light and dark sides' paths. As the voices conflict, the man appears to become more confused and frustrated, as the destruction he leaves in his wake becomes more chaotic. The man stops when the voice of Juno Eclipse is heard. He stops destroying the hallway, and as he lowers his hood, he appears to be Galen Marek. He enters an arena on Cato Neimoidia while a dead rancor is thrown in the air and lands near him. A Gorog then appears from the gate and Galen charges his Force lightning before firing it at the massive beast. He subsequently pulls out two blue lightsabers and jumps onto the beast. The background fades and the lightsabers become the Roman numeral "II" behind the Force Unleashed logo. 

The game was also advertised by its own website featuring the trailer and the press release from LucasArts. On May 26, the website was modified to feature a first-person perspective of someone in a Cloning tank, known as Subject 1157. The tank featured a holographic display where users could click on and play minigames which periodically unleash visions. In two medical entries, there are passwords to unlock: KAMINO and JUNO. On July 28, the website was updated once again to include an interactive menu.

The second trailer was premiered on June 11, 2010. It shows Starkiller chained to the floor surrounded by stormtroopers. Darth Vader tells him he has served his purpose and he has no more need for the apprentice. Ordering his execution, Vader walks out. As the stormtroopers move in for the kill, Starkiller grasps his chains and the lights go out. He jumps around and takes out the troopers one by one. Walking into the hallway, Starkiller meets more troopers and an armored flamethrower droid, which he destroys by splitting the gas tank on it's rear and firing Force lightning into the escaping gas, causing an explosion. He then meets more troopers and a giant four-legged walker, all of which he mercilessly destroys, vaporizing a large number with a violent Force repulse. Surveying the damage, Starkiller is surprised by a Terror walker. The droid attacks the warrior with a laser blast, but Starkiller absorbs the laser and uses lightning to damage the droid's leg. As the droid topples, Starkiller slashes the droid's front legs off and jumps on top of it, viciously stabbing and slashing the droid apart. Jumping off, Starkiller lifts the damaged droid into the air, crushing it before leaping up and slicing it in half. As Starkiller leaves, he declares he has something to fight for, and no one, not even Vader, can stop him. Meanwhile, levels below, Vader walks into a room filled with cloning tanks, and one of the clones wakes up.

On October 6, 2010, a new gameplay trailer was released, showing more detailed cutscenes/cinematics of Kamino, Cato Nemoidia, and The Salvation. Apparently, as seen in the trailer, Starkiller will face unstable clones of himself with silver lightsabers. Also, many new and unidentified enemies appeared in the trailer. In October 12 the demo for the game was released for both Xbox 360 and PS3, the demo is focused on the planet of Kamino at the first level where Starkiller escapes from the cloning facilities and steals Vader's TIE Fighter to get off the planet.

Characters

 * Sam Witwer as Starkiller / Dark Apprentice —The only character to physically appear in the first trailer. Although much of the game's story implies that he is a clone of the original Starkiller, it remains currently unknown whether this Starkiller really is a stable clone or the real Galen Marek from the first game. Nevertheless, Starkiller is greatly affected by Marek's memories during his time on Kamino, thus prompting him to break free of captivity to find Juno. In the non-canon Dark Side ending of the game, Starkiller is killed by another clone, one that is completely subservient to Vader, although the actual canonical existence of the Dark Apprentice character is debatable as he did not appear in the Light Side ending. However, the Distant Thunder cinematics take place before the ending of the game and indicate that the Dark Apprentice is part of Star Wars canon since the choice between the Light or Dark Side ending does not affect what happened before the game's end.
 * Matthew Sloan as Darth Vader — Returning as master to Starkiller, Vader is determined to create a more powerful and obedient version of his former apprentice, surprised at Starkiller's turn at the end of the last game.
 * Tom Kane as Yoda — Starkiller will meet Yoda when he travels to Dagobah. He suggests to the troubled young man, who is unaware of the Grand Master's identity or Force sensitivity, to search for whatever is missing from him inside the Dark Side Cave.
 * Dee Bradley Baker as Boba Fett— Fett is hired by Vader to track down the escaped Starkiller by kidnapping Juno as bait. He is also provided with Terror Troopers and tools from the Empire to help accomplish the job.
 * Nathalie Cox as Juno Eclipse
 * Cully Fredrickson as Rahm Kota
 * David W. Collins as PROXY

Gameplay
A new fighting style has been revealed which shows a more realistic style of fighting. As well, the targeting reticule has been shown, which is more precise and is now more defined. Also, lightsaber dismemberment has been confirmed.

The Force powers from the last game will return with a couple new ones. One of these is the mind trick, which makes enemies fight along side the player or run off a ledge killing themselves, depending on the situation.

Anyone who purchases the collectors' steel box special edition of the game will have the opportunity to play as the "original Starkiller" as designed by Ralph McQuarrie in early drafts of Star Wars.



Those that make a pre-order for the game from participating Gamestop stores and website will be given a code to unlock the exclusive "Maulkiller" skin. This skin is said to be a creation of the DNA of Darth Maul and Galen Marek. Also included in the pre-order is a silver Lightsaber crystal which decreases force consumption. Maulkiller is only available for PS3 and Xbox 360. Players will also be able to unlock a "Guybrush Threepwood" skin from the Monkey Island series.

At Gamescon 2010, it was announced that there would be a light side/dark side choice in the game like the first Force Unleashed. As of October 19th the game's demo is available to all Xbox Live members.

For PS3 and XBox360 owners, anyone who has already played the first game will get some bonuses: Simply having a HDD save on your PS3/XBox will unlock the Training gear costume and the Sith Stalker Armour and Ceremonial Jedi Robes are available to players who have completed the dark and light endings of the first game, respectively.

Rating
The game has been rated T due to violence (killing, dismemberment, etc.). (Rating by ESRB)

Behind the scenes
The clearance code to dock on the Salvation is Talus Haroon 10-11-38. The entire sequence is a reference to George Lucas's first movie THX 1138. If one converts the number 10 into its Roman numeral X, the beginning three parts of the sequence can be abbreviated to THX, with the 1138 right behind it.