The Force Unleashed Update

Here’s a report showcasing the power of the physics engines behind The Force Unleashed, courtesy of IGN at the GDC.

NaturalMotion’s Euphoria engine powers all of the physics in the game. So when you toss an object off into the distance and see it hit against a wall, a box, another wall, and then fall and break into a million pieces, it’s euphoria that makes it look good. Is it better looking than the havok-driven physics that we’ve been seeing for years? That’s tough to answer. The first time you see a body get mangled in the environment it doesn’t seem all that special, but it’s the second and third time that you play through that exact same section that you start to understand what euphoria is about. Will it blow your mind? Probably not. Is it impressive? You betcha.

A physics engine is what drives the physics in a game. It’s what dictates what happens when you shoot someone dead, for example: does he crumple to the floor or is he sent flying backwards Hollywood-style?

Because of the nature of the source material, it’s important for The Force Unleashed to get the physics right. As a designer, you want to be able to replicate how The Force is presented in the movies. Previous games allowed players to use Force Push & Pull on crates and other objects, so I expect to see that here. Will we be able to go as far as lifting X-Wings with our minds a la Yoda? That remains to be seen.

Source: IGN

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