|
November 17, 2007
|
|
Its been two years since LucasArts released the first Lego Star Wars video game, a seminal romp through the prequel trilogy that combined the passions of adventure gamers with nostalgia for the fifty year old Danish toy juggernaut. New in stores this month is Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga, a re-packaging of the original game and its 2006 sequel, Lego Star Wars: The Original Trilogy.
While its tempting to travel the cynical route and posit that LucasArts was looking to make a few extra holiday bucks without the associated development costs, the reality is that the renowned gaming arm of the Lucas Empire, along with noted British developer Traveller?s Tales, has packed the ?new? release with a decent amount of extras, particularly on the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions.
Gameplay remains the same: a mixture of adventure-style puzzle solving and baddie smashing, as well as the signature stud collecting and Force-assisted Lego construction you may remember. Those of you who?ve played the first two games will feel right at home, as the levels play more or less the same, albeit with a fresh coat of next-gen paint (the textures are noticeably sharper this time around), and a few additions such as the ability to chase Zam Wessell during the AotC level.
While the majority of the action is pleasingly straight-forward, there are a few missteps, notably the podrace sequence from Episode I and the aforementioned Episode II chase. Coming on the heels of what amounts to linear platforming and puzzle-based advancement, the vehicular control seems tacked on, at best, and at worst, like a completely different game. Its never particularly challenging, so don?t expect to get frustrated, but it is a rather jarring experience compared to the surrounding content.
Where The Complete Saga really shines, however, is the new online multiplayer component. While the previous entries allowed you to bring a friend provided they were sharing your couch, TCS provides a streamlined multiplayer interface that facilitates co-op play from anywhere in the world. The Xbox Live setup was tested extensively for this review, and functions brilliantly save for the lack of an intuitive save feature (it auto-saves on level completion). The PS3 version functions similarly, while the Nintendo Wii shuns both the new online features and the upgraded graphics, begging the question of why TCS was even released for the Wii at all, aside from the obvious need for a kid-friendly Star Wars game in time for the holiday sales rush.
Previous franchise entries have had extremely high replay value, and TCS is no exception. In addition to the story campaign, collection-based sub-games, and the ability to replay/freeplay a level once you?ve beaten it, there are also a huge number of unlockable characters, as well as the ability to customize your avatar via a variety of different Lego outfits. These options, coupled with the whimsical nature of the game itself, make for hours of enjoyment whether you?re a grizzled Star Wars veteran or a wee one getting a first taste of Daddy?s (or Mommy?s) thirty-year addiction.
In a nutshell, if you?ve yet to play either of the entries in the Lego Star Wars franchise, or you?ve got a long-distance friend who is equally enthused about Star Wars, Legos, and video games, then The Complete Saga is for you. If you?ve played the first two games extensively, or you own a Nintendo Wii, you could probably find better things to do with your cash.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
