Intros are not only important for movies, but games also benefit from strong intro levels. An action game has such a good one that MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes can’t stop thinking about it even after more than 15 years.
Every gamer knows the few moments in video games that stay in memory even after decades. These can be dialogues, boss fights, or specific levels. When I think of the best video game moments of all time, I quickly think of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.
In the 2008 action title, you play as Galen Marek, a secret apprentice of Darth Vader. As a Sith apprentice, you fight against various enemies and bosses in different levels and become more and more powerful over time. The Force Unleashed is a good action game, not outstanding, but still so entertaining that I have played through it several times. A few years after the release on the Wii and later again on the Xbox 360.
But the intro of the game still stands out strongly even after years, so much so that it remains one of my favorite levels of all time, even though you play a different character: Darth Vader.
In Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, you play a much nicer character:
The best introduction to showcase a villain
Why is the intro so good? The first level of The Force Unleashed shows the backstory of Marek and how Darth Vader found him in the first place. As a Sith Lord, he personally leads an invasion on the planet Kashyyyk, which is inhabited by Wookiees.
With a swift step and the legendary breathing, he faces the warriors using Force powers and the red lightsaber. This level is not a challenge, and every blockade and every enemy is dealt with easily. You are literally the one-man army of the Empire. At the end there is a boss fight against a Jedi, but that is not particularly challenging either.
What makes the level so good? The Force Unleashed is not the only game that shows how powerful you can become right from the start, but it works well on two levels.
Gameplay-wise, it demonstrates how strong the Force and lightsaber can be in an (to Vader) harmless environment, without presenting it in a mundane tutorial. At the same time, you see the later mentor in top form.
Even within the Star Wars universe, this intro is a highlight. The arguably best villain of the series showcases all his skills on the battlefield. Together with the end of the movie Rogue One, it ranks among the best moments of Vader and perfectly shows why he is still a threat after all these years.
Can I still enjoy the game today? The controls are somewhat stiffer
than what you would expect from today’s action titles, but it is still playable, especially if you want to experience a true power fantasy in the Star Wars universe. You can buy the game (and the slightly worse sequel) on Steam and play it without any issues.
Without a discount, you pay 19,50 € for the first part, but many Star Wars games are often available on sale. If you have ever wondered who the strongest Sith are, we have a list for you: 10 strong Sith Lords from Star Wars that even Yoda would be afraid of
