This might be a reskin of the game, but going back to Hoth, one of the trilogy’s most iconic settings, even in that quasi-Isaac from Dead Space getup has me intrigued. At least intrigued enough to fire up my old copy and toss around some palette-swap Wampas, I mean, Wookiees as practice.

Exclusive Ultimate Sith Gameplay [Gametrailers]

The game’s new Tatooine mission is the second DLC level offered since last September. The original took place during the events of the game’s campaign, which spans Star Wars Episode III and Episode IV. The new one occurs after the game, as summarised in LucasArts’ press release:

The mission begins at the end of the story of The Force Unleashed and re-imagines the Star Wars Saga as if the Secret Apprentice had killed Darth Vader and taken his place at the Emperor’s side, becoming the most powerful Sith Lord in the universe. The story picks up as the Emperor sends his new apprentice to the planet Tatooine to dispatch Obi-Wan Kenobi — who has been hiding on the planet ever since the events of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. During their hunt for the reclusive Jedi, players will also explore the depths of Jabba the Hutt’s palace and encounter notorious bounty hunter Boba Fett.

The mission costs 800 Microsoft points, or $US10.

A third level, set on Hoth, is set to be included only on the disc-based Ultimate Sith Edition release of the game, which is set for later this year. That edition will include all three missions in addition to the core game.

LucasArts has announced no plans to make the bonus missions available for the Wii version of the game.

The Trophy patch will be issued prior to the release of the next downloadable level for the game, one set on Tattooine and introducing Boba Fett to the game’s adventure.

Trophy hunters, be warned, LucasArts told Kotaku that a Sony requirement necessitates that anyone wanting to use this patch will have to let their current PlayStation 3 save file for the game be deleted. Maybe you can copy it, but the message we’re getting is that it won’t work, as per Sony requirements for Trophy patches.

With the Tattooine DLC coming in the fall, the Trophy patch should be out in the next few months. The Xbox 360 version has supported Achievements since launch.

The new Hoth level, which brings one version of the game’s branching plot beyond a new downloadable Tattooine level to an Empire-Strikes-Back-era level with AT-ATs and Luke Skywalker, will only be available in a new version of The Force Unleashed, according to LucasArts.

But on that disc, the Hoth level will be easily accessible.

A LucasArts rep told Kotaku today that the three extra levels that extend beyond the original release of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed — meaning, the already-released Coruscant DLC level plus Tattooine and Hoth — will all be accessible from the new edition’s front menu. That means players who have finished the original release of the game won’t have to worry about transferring their save file or even playing the game all the way through again, in order to reach that level. Of course they’ll still have to get a copy of The Ultimate Sith version. It just sounds like renting or borrowing may be an option for those who merely want to play Hoth and be done.

The new version, Star Wars: The Forced Unleashed: Ultimate Sith Edition, ships for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 this holiday season.

The forthcoming Tattooine level, unlike the Hoth mission, will be downloadable later this year for Microsoft and Sony’s consoles.

And here is aforesaid trailer regarding the DLC for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. You’ll battle with Obi-Wan and Luke (on Hoth) and, quite gratuitously, Boba Fett. Wonder how they’ll retcon that one.

OK, so, you look like Isaac from Dead Space, and the Emperor’s VO is loud enough to make me think this was a fan-produced trailer. But it’s not. This expansion is on the level, and you get access to this storyline content in the fall. Enjoy!

Exclusive Ultimate Sith Trailer [GameTrailers]

The expansion will have players once again assuming the role of the Secret Apprentice from The Force Unleashed, now serving the Emperor and tasked with eliminating the few remaining Jedi—Obi-Wan and Skywalker, for example—altering the established Star Wars story line further. The DLC’s trailer posed the question “What if the dark side won?”

LucasArts will also release Star Wars The Force Unleashed: Ultimate Sith Edition during the Holiday 2009 season, a special edition of the game featuring the original title, plus the already available downloadable content, plus an exclusive level.

The publisher also has plans for PC and Mac versions of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed planned for later this year.

It’s time for the Xbox Live Deal of the Week, and this time around it isn’t half bad. The Jedi Temple Mission Add-On for the Xbox 360 was one of those iffy add-ons that a lot of people passed up. After all, why pay 800 Microsoft points for a mission they included in the Wii, PlayStation 2, and PSP versions of the game but left out of the PS3 and 360 versions?

Well how about 400 Microsoft points then? From now until the end of the week, the Jedi Temple is priced to move, so if you’ve a spare $US5 lying around, there you go. I have the PlayStation 3 version of the game myself, so all I can do is weep.

Deal of the Week: The Force Unleashed: Jedi Temple Mission Pack [Major Nelson]

The five new achievements boost the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed achievement count from 1220—220 of those points added alongside the Jedi Temple Mission Pack DLC—to 1345 points. Thing is, LucasArts hasn’t publicly announced that new downloadable content. But it appears it will soon.

The spoiler-filled possible new additions to The Force Unleashed are after this.

• And The Quarterback is Toast – Defeat Boba Fett
• Skywalker Style – Meet Jabba and defeat his pet using the pit gate
• No More Lies, Old Man – Defeat Obi-Wan, before and after he becomes more powerful than you can possibly imagine
• Hot Bot – Use the hot irons three times on the Gonk Power Droid
• Jawa Juicer – Crush 5 Jawas by using the grinder in the Garbage Processing Room

Nice Die Hard reference, guys.

We’ve contacted LucasArts to get clarification on these new unannounced additions, but haven’t yet heard back. That may be because the new DLC announcement was planned to be made at next week’s Comic-Con Star Wars Spectacular keynote, one of the “world exclusive announcements” the publisher has planned.

According to the title’s project lead Haden Blackman, “But part of it… is that I’m watching this team that has worked so hard on this game for two, almost three years. And they’re reading this stuff. And you’re right; all the air gets sucked out of the room. People were miserable for the whole day. It’s hard to keep them focused.”

Two things: 1. Don’t confuse hard work with good game making. Everyone works hard. That’s what it means to be a professional. 2. This is the nature of the beast. You work on something and put it out to be judged. It can be judged by critics, and it can be judged by consumers. The Force Unleashed was judged favourable enough by consumers, it seems, racking up 5 million copies sold in North America and Europe.

Some games critics love, but consumers hate. Other games critics hate and consumers love. Chin up, Haden Blackman! Remember critics don’t play the bills. George Lucas does.

Dining With Developers, Vol. 2: Haden Blackman, Part 1 [Crispy Gamer via GameBizBlog] [Pic]

LucasArts Star Wars spin-off The Force Unleashed was a Star Destroyer sized hit for the publisher, selling 5.7 million copies since its September launch, making it the fastest-selling Star Wars game in history.

That figure is according to a release from LucasFilm, which released Star Wars: The Force Unleashed on just about every platform one can rattle off, including PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PSP, Wii, Nintendo DS, iPhone, nGage and other mobile phones, a platform bombing strategy sure to have helped the game’s chance. Moving 1.5 million copies in its first week gave it a pretty good head start.

We’re betting that LucasFilm might have something good going here with this Star Wars stuff. I’m calling it now: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II. Eh? Catchy, isn’t it?