Directional Pad

Reviews » Lego Star Wars 2: The Original Trilogy [PC]

DISCLAIMER: After completing my review of the PC version, I have heard several reliable reports that the Nintendo DS version of Lego Star Wars 2 is, in fact, broken unplayable crap, and should be avoided at all costs. Please keep in mind this review covers ALL console and PC releases of the game, but does not reflect any impression on the portable releases. In short, don't blame me! - M

Ever since the breakout (brickout?) success of LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game among the nerd community, all of us pale shut-ins have been eagerly awaiting the next installment, the one that would build (oh snap) on the artfully tongue-in-cheek presentation, and add characters that don't make you wince in disgust. It wasn't hard, it wasn't groundbreaking, it was just a lazily paced kids game that happened to be the absolute best thing to come out of the prequels since Duel of the Fates. Finally the successor has arrived, LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy. Developer Traveler’s Tales will never be accused of a flawless track record, so there was some concern as to the treatment the Better Half of the saga would get. Luckily, they have dodged yet another bullet, and LEGO Star Wars II carries the small, plastic torch with pride.

The formula for LSW2 is a simple one. Each movie of the trilogy is represented by six levels of play which re-enact the (hopefully) more exciting parts of the trilogy. In Story mode, your goal is to complete these levels by defeating enemies, completing specific goals, and solving puzzles which often require your character to build a bridge, switch, or other helpful device out of LEGO bricks. You are given a minimum of 2 characters, dictated by events, who sometimes pick up extra party members through the course of the level. There are several types of character, with different skills that let you access all of the puzzles and secret areas of each level. For instance, Jedi carry lightsabers, double jump, and can use The Force to manipulate bricks, enemies, and vehicles. Blaster wielding characters have not just their sidearm but also a melee attack when they get close, and can also use a "grapple' feature at certain points. Droids can open specific doors. The list goes on. Simply 'tag' another character to take control of it and use their special skills.

Battle consists of jamming on a single button. It's not deep, and most characters don't have a moveset per se, besides Jedi who get a few combo moves. Most enemies die in a single shot, but some, like Imperial officers, Gammorrean guards and the like have two or more life hearts. You yourself have four, and only bosses and vehicles will have any more than that. As long as you don't let yourself get outnumbered, you'll do fine. Even if you do, death comes at the expense of spilling 2000 studs, which, since you respawn almost immediately, you can regain most of if you can gather them quickly enough. It is meant as a child's game, and as such is not going to be a RE4 / God of War continue-fest.

Not everything is accessible your first time through; but once you complete a level, you unlock it in Free Play mode. There you take a team of 8 characters, which you can freely switch between, in with you to collect all the studs (the small, round lego pieces that act as the game's currency), uncover secret canisters that build Minikit vehicles in the Mos Eisley hub area, and special bricks that unlock secret abilities and modifiers. All in all there is a lot to do in this game, much more than the first. Simply tearing through the Story levels netted me only 43% completion. There is a lot of replay value here. More goals aren't the only additions; Traveler’s Tales gave us a many more attractive gimmicks to look forward to than the first game. Wacky secrets like Yoda's hut having a PC and a flatscreen, or a random clothes dryer being your ticket to freedom abound. Hell, I even found a Hat Machine that gave Chewie a stylish fedora. You can import old save games from LEGO Star Wars on PS2, XBox, GCN and PC to unlock your old Prequel Characters in free play, and the ability is scheduled as a marketplace download on 360.

Vehicle levels make up a large amount of the gameplay this time around. And while LEGO Star Wars' vehicle levels were autoscrolling pits of agony and suffering, the ones included in its sequel are much improved. Some let your regular characters take the wheel of one of many vehicles during the course of a level. AT-STs, speeder bikes, random work vehicles, and even tractors (!?!) make appearances. There are also all-vehicle levels, like the attacks on the Death Stars or the defense of Hoth, which have you navigating a fighter through a fast-paced, destruction-oriented level. Nothing that plows you into walls, or kills you with bad camera angles, however.

The Trilogy's story is told through pantomime cutscenes that the first game made somewhat famous. LEGO characters, by simply muttering and gesticulating, act out important moments of the movie in a spot-on humorous fashion, taking advantage of all the in-jokes that both LEGO and Star Wars have to offer. Arguably the best part of the game, these movies are all available to watch after you see them in story mode.

That's not to say the game plays badly, quite the contrary. The delicate balance of secret-finding, stud-hunting, and light combat the first game offered is largely intact. The vehicles are more abundant and more fun, and levels are more varied and exciting than the first game. Though it's not all smooth sailing- there are downsides. For one, your nonplayer party members are utterly useless in battle. Unless you count them as living shields, which they will somehow manage to fail at when you need it most. Any other time they are always in your way, attempting to attack an enemy that they are absolutely incapable of killing. I know this because once I let Chewbacca plug away at a Gammorean who had become fortuitously stuck on a corner for a solid minute, which netted the guard absolutely NO damage. Another thing I don't especially appreciate is 2 or 3 COMPLETELY obtuse puzzles in the course of the game. One had a poor camera angle to blame, others were just inscrutable without about a half hour of combing the level. I'd say I'm just stupid, but I know of others (adults, mind you!) that have had similar problems.

These small detractors do not take away enough to ruin the game, however, by far. And keep in mind, all the fun you can have in this game is doubled by the 2-player co-op it provides. Because of the simple controls, goals, and mechanics, even a casually-interested significant other, or aspiring-gamer little sibling can play alongside an older player, and both will enjoy it just as much. It's quite special in that regard; there's no way I'd let my little sisters get my back at Streets of Rage or Turtles in Time, but they'd be all over this one.

While not universally appealing, it is damn close to it. Fans of LEGO, Star Wars, or just anyone looking for a laid-back game to play with friends will find a lot of fun in LEGO Star Wars II. In fact, the only people I've seen dislike it just really don't like Star Wars or LEGO very much, and cite the lax difficulty as a turn-off. If this is you, you may not enjoy the game. But iId encourage you to rent it at least, just to see. A high replay value and a good sense of humor can appeal to a lot of people. And for the diehard nerds, I can't imagine you not having a good time.

Lego Star Wars 2 - All Platforms

Presentation

Outstanding. A clean, simple interface leaves you to enjoy an impeccable sense of humor as applied to your favorite sci-fi franchise.

Gameplay

In a word, Easy. Both a curse and blessing; for the serious gamer, there isn't going to be a real challenge, but it adds up to a lot of fun, especially for the causal gamer or child.

Replayability

High. With a ton of unlockables and a lot of studs needed to use them, you'll be running through all the levels a few times, and then again with your friends.

Value

For $40 dollars or less for everybody but 360 owners ($50 for them) it's worth the many nights of cursing/rejoicing, high-fiving/fist-fighting that you and your friends will get out of it.

Overall

A well conceived and executed game that bridges the gap among all kinds of gamers.