The Verdict
I feel like the Twilight of the Republic play set was an appetizer. The Rise Against the Empire play set is the definitive Star Wars experience you've been waiting for in Disney Infinity. It's the perfect blend of the Star Wars feel that you love with the style of Disney Infinity.
While there are a few parts I would have liked to be included that weren't, that's the beauty of the game. I could go into toy box mode with all of the new unlockables and build Dagobah or the Death Star trash compactor myself. The play set is perfect for a structured Star Wars experience with a good variety of missions and general shenanigans. Not to mention, you'll have to blast all of those womp rats.
To me, if you are a Star Wars fan, or just want more Disney Infinity, this is a must-have.
The Positives
- The figures look absolutely phenomenal. If anything, they're worth the price just to display them or have your young ones use them as toys.
- Rise Against the Empire lets you play the highlights of the original trilogy, though the events don't necessarily happen the way you remember. It has to be that way when you can take down Imperial Walkers in a snow speeder piloted by Vader. Though things happen differently, every moment I expected to play was there.
- The multiple open-world planets to play in, and the world building by unlocking buildings and customizing them, remind me more of the play sets in the first Disney Infinity game, and that's a good thing! It has a huge variety of things to do and side missions, especially when compared to the Marvel play sets.
- I like the options, powers and supers for these characters more than I do for the ones that released at launch.
- The voice acting for all of the characters are phenomenal. You'll be sure to recognize them.
- These are all of the enemies and vehicles I've been waiting for — not only in play sets, but toy box as well. And they do not disappoint!
- The Hoth battle and taking down the Imperial Walkers is a lot of fun. It's not technically difficult, but you still have to try to take them down. And if you don't want to use a speeder with tow cable, you can take them down with a blaster, lightsaber, and some good ol' fashion jumping skills.
- The Death Star run, as well as the open flying segments against Star Destroyers are done really well.
The Negatives
- I let my kids play with the figures even when they're not playing the game. If you're like me, just keep some super glue handy. The lightsabers are a bit delicate and can break off.
- The on-rails flying portions, while fun, are kind of hard to navigate — especially for younger kids. For instance, the Death Star runs where you have to avoid objects while aiming are very difficult. The changes in direction are very abrupt and you can't really tell which way you have to go due to the camera angle.
- I expected the fight with Vader to be more… epic.
- No Lando Calrissian or R2-D2 figures? C'mon man…
- I was really surprised that there was no Dagobah part to the game. The same goes for a lack of substance to the part aboard the death star. No scene in the trash compactor? Huge platforming opportunity right there.
When people think 'Star Wars', they don't think about Episodes I through III. They think of the original trilogy — A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi. Because as much fun as Anakin, Obi-Wan, Ezra, Sabine and the other launch day characters are, I've raised my kids to know who the real stars of this franchise are.
They know that Han hot first. They know that you always let a Wookie win, especially Chewbacca. They know that Luke is a Jedi, like his father before him. They know Princess Leia can doesn't betray the Rebel Alliance in the face of evil. And they know Darth Vader is the best villain ever. With all of this knowledge, all they wanted from Disney Infinity 3.0 was a way to play as these characters and experience their story, then go on to make their own.
Alas, we have the Star Wars Rise Against the Empire play set, which comes with an adventure that spans the events of Episodes IV through VI (differently, though), and comes with Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia (Han Solo, Chewbacca and Darth Vader are sold separately). From Tatooine and Hoth, to Endor and the Death Star, the Rise Against the Empire play Set takes you on a journey through your favorite movies with the characters you love the most. But does it do them justice while fitting in with Disney Infinity?
