LEGO Star Wars – XB – Review

“Sometimes,
we have to step back from the hardcore, down and dirty world of serious video
gaming and sample something more gentle and innocent”. Yes, that’s what I tell
people when I see their reaction to finding out I have been playing Lego Star
Wars: The Video Game. You see, it’s a kid’s game. I am an adult and not
supposed to be entertained by such. I can buy and play any rated “M” game I
want, so why bother playing a Lego game?!!  Because it’s darn fun.

What would happen if you took
the fairly serious (excluding Jar Jar) world of
Star Wars and mixed it with a childhood staple like Legos?
You get a hilarious, engaging adventure game that should be played by anyone
that likes Star Wars OR wants to experience something different for a change
of pace. OK, it may lean a bit on the “easy” side for some of us, but it’s
definitely not for kids, only.

The game focuses on Episodes
1-3, though characters from all of the films are scattered throughout the
adventure. Plus, they have about 40 playable characters, not just
cameos. You have to unlock a great deal of them, but they are there. Some of
the characters are crucial to gameplay. For example, some doors need a Droid’s
touch to open them and some heights can only be reached with Jar Jar’s leaping
ability. Aside from such distractions, it’s hard to not want a more glamorous
character on the screen.

The Force is with you,
literally. As a Jedi, you can use your mystical powers to move and break apart
(Lego violence!) objects to reveal goodies all over the game. Collect coins
and power-ups to enhance the game’s depth. Not only are the objects easily
destroyed, but they are visibly constructed of Legos—and
follow the physics of Lego blocks down to every seam and bevel. Destroy
something and watch it disassemble into fragments that can sometimes be
reassembled into something else. Just like Legos!
Amazing!!

The sound is excellent, with
a delightfully perfect score from the actual films. The characters are rather
mute, though the droids chirp and whistle at the right times. The sabers buzz
and the blocks rattle when blown apart. There’s a lot of audio detail for a
game created around plastic toys.

The graphics are top notch,
and faithfully mix the look of the tiny toys with movement that’s not too
awkward. They have stubby, plastic legs, but move pretty well. There are fun
animations to watch and cut scenes to brag to your friends about seeing.
There’s a cute glimpse into Episode 3 throughout.

It’s a fun game to play, and
more fun to re-play without the “pressure” of unlocking and gaining ground. In
Free Play, just go out and have fun exploring the Land of Lucas. The addition
of pod-racing and other vehicle escapes just add to the fun already had by
playing the actual characters. Though a minor part of the
whole puzzle, driving around gives you a break from exploring and busting-up
bad droids all over the galaxy.

Reviewer’s Scoring Details

Gameplay: 8.8

The
game plays a lot better than you might think. The controls and learning curve
are great—but not boring. There are still some things to learn before you
master your moves, but once you get rolling, it’s easily addictive. Some of it
borders on too easy– for well-seasoned gamers, but it still remains
fun and engaging.

Graphics: 9.0

It
looks as good as it plays. Every detail of a Lego set are there and faithful
in their physics. The players have the Lego-look, and are fun to move around.
The vehicles are no different, and offer a neat alternative to looking at
stubby characters parading about for hours. The sets look like they’ve been
dropped in from of actual dioramas, and its fun to witness that.

Sound: 7.5

The
audio is superb and faithful to the films. John William’s score is heavy
throughout, and the sound of exploding Legos
abound. Blasters and sabers sound great, which can be expected with the
Skywalker Sound touch.

Difficulty: Easy

The
game is fairly easy for any age group. Though more simple for experienced
gamers, it is still challenging enough to keep you interested. In some games,
“easy” is a warning and a turn-off. In the world of Lego, easy just means you
get to do more without having to battle complex controls or study a 80 page
manual just to get through a starter level.

Concept: 7.0

It’s
one of the most original adaptations of a movie into a game that I have seen.
I thought cel-shading was unique, but this is even
more interesting. The shame is, many people will snub their noses at this
“kid’s game” and pass it up. It’s a lot of original fun for all kinds of
demographics. Look for a landslide of similar games to come out in the future.
Will we see Sam the Hobbit as a Weeble??

Multiplayer:
You can play
alone with the AI, or a friend can drop in/drop out easily. There are no
complicated restarts to add/remove a player. It’s very seamless and easy to
come and go, which is great for younger players.

Overall: 8

It’s
an amazing game with a lot of fun for any age. I think Star Wars fans will buy
this, anyway—but just in case someone thinks they’re too “hard core” to play
with animated Lego people—don’t miss out. It’s made for kids, but you’d have
to be pretty jaded and close-minded to ignore the fun that’s to be had by
playing this game. There are plenty of secrets, characters and action to
unlock. It’s really a keeper of a game, and one that is a refreshing addition
to my otherwise standard array of “tougher” games. When it comes to exploring
and expanding, the Force is with this title—and more.