Really shallow
After an uneven first title, SW: TFUII takes another swing at physics-heavy Jedi gameplay. Starkiller --- who, mind you, died in the original affair --- returns to exact revenge on his former master Vader.
Now, let's go ahead and say that the story has problems. Yes, you died last game. Except, you have been CLONED. Yes, Lucas' lame storyline premise controlling the prequels is done to make the "good" ending in the original absolutely pointless. But, let's be honest, nobody plays these games for the storylines.
The game is all about your attempt to save your love and to get revenge on Vader...in that order, to be precise. You traipse all over the galaxy trying to find Juno and save her from whatever fate Vader has planned for her. Thankfully, the plot really isn't appreciably deeper than that. Nothing is sadder than Star Wars trying to do a deep plot nowadays.
This game is all about combat. And Starkiller still feels like one Force-empowered mofo. The powers are basically unchanged from the original (well, there is a mind control power, but that is the only notable change), but it's cool. It's easy to control and the physics are outstanding. Enemies fly off in a very rewarding manner. But it is, basically, the same combat as last time. Enemies aren't smarter. You're not more powerful. You start off able to slaughter almost anybody who faces you and that doesn't really change. Even the upgrades don't feel like they make a really material change to your capabilities.
It's just a shame there is so little actual substance here. The game is really, really short. I doubt they could stretch more of this than they did, but it doesn't really make a full price release justifiable. The enemies aren't really that different and boss fights tend to be more tedious than challenging. The final boss fight is dull...and far too easy and anticlimactic. And there is the usual moral choice at the end --- which I expect TFU III to completely ignore.
I can't say the game is actually bad...but it is definitely not very good. It's fun to wreak havoc, but the entire game seems anticlimactic. It's not an exaggeration to say, from the moment you hit start, you're the most powerful being in the game. That doesn't really make a compelling game as "Walk around and slaughter many people with few problems involved in doing so" is many things, but a great game mechanic is not one of them.
This is a rental, plain and simple. It doesn't have anywhere near enough substance to justify a purchase.
