Set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, The Force Unleashed begins with the player controlling Darth Vader as he searches Kashyyyk for a surviving Jedi. After defeating the Jedi in battle, Vader discovers a child who is strong in the Force and raises him to become his apprentice, unknown to Emperor Palpatine for at least several years. When the apprentice (known in the game as “Starkiller”, and whom the player now controls) reaches adulthood, Vader sends him to kill the remaining Jedi as training for his ultimate goal: assassinating the Emperor so Vader and Starkiller can rule the galaxy together.

The game takes place about seven months after the events of the first game, and a year before Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. The Force Unleashed II is the “dark entry” in the series, and a more personal story for the game’s protagonist than the first game.