'Star Wars: Jedi Challenges' is the closest you can get to a real lightsaber battle
It was one of the most memorable scenes in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope: A droid and a Wookiee face off over a game of holographic chess, in which the pieces battle like gladiators in an arena, seemingly with a mind of their own.
The scene perfectly encapsulated the fantastical nature of the Star Wars universe, where imagination and technology meet -- and now, 30 years after that scene debuted, we finally have the opportunity to play the game for ourselves.
Lenovo and Disney have partnered for a new in-home augmented reality experience -- Star Wars: Jedi Challenges -- which allows fans to channel their inner Jedi through a series of immersive games and activities, from the aforementioned game of holochess to thrilling lightsaber battles against some of most legendary villains of the dark side, including Kylo Ren, Darth Vader and Darth Maul.
By donning a (surprisingly light) smartphone-powered Lenovo Mirage AR headset -- which is compatible with both Androids and iPhones -- and picking up their lightsaber controller, players will be transported in the world of the Star Wars saga under the guidance of a new character, The Archivist, who will train them in the ways of the Force.
The games are accessed through a Star Wars: Jedi Challenges app downloaded onto the user's smartphone, which is then slid into the tray of the headset to create a fully immersive AR experience.
The controller is a sturdy lightsaber hilt fashioned after Anakin Skywalker's iconic blue-bladed weapon -- which is also wielded by Luke and Rey in the films -- and acts as an in-game weapon and pointer, allowing players to navigate the user interface with a streamlined two-button configuration.
Here's the technical stuff, via Lenovo press release:
Through visible light-tracking technology, the headset’s sensors work together to lock onto the position of the lightsaber controller, allowing players to see a beam form above the hilt, which they can use to block and interact with the universe in-game. Haptic feedback is activated as players strike or block their opponents, while an inertial measurement unit sends rotational information from the controller to the smartphone to assist the beam in remaining stable mid-swing.
And yes, the game provides all the necessary vwooommm and fwshhhh sounds required for any good lightsaber battle. (You might still catch yourself making them anyway, but what you do in the privacy of your own home is nobody else's business.) And, because the blade is virtual, you're in no danger of smashing any lamps or your TV as you swing at your fictional foe -- always a bonus.
The wireless headset comes with a "tracking beacon," which is placed on the floor and acts as a stable base for the headset’s built-in fisheye sensors to detect the user’s movement during gameplay, providing inside-out positional tracking to allow free and natural motion for the player to move around as they duel opponents or direct their forces and pieces across the battlefield. This means that the villainous Kylo Ren will be able to stalk you around your living room, which is admittedly pretty terrifying (unless you venture too far out of the beacon's range, anyway -- in which case the baddie prowls around, waiting for you to step back into the danger zone).
In addition to chess and dueling, the game also includes a Strategic Combat mode, in which players can hone their skills in strategy and tactics by marshalling the forces of the Republic, Rebel Alliance, and Resistance against the might of the Separatists, Empire, and First Order in epic battles across their living room floors.
While real-life lightsabers are still in the realm of fantasy, this game brings us one step closer to making our Jedi dreams a reality -- with no danger of losing a hand.
Star Wars: Jedi Challenges will retail for $199.99 in the US and launch this holiday season; you can preorder the package from Best Buy and Lenovo online beginning Friday, Sept. 1 as part of Force Friday II.
