Customer Reviews

Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

After the release of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith in theaters we got Lego Star Wars; a game that was a lot of fun to play simply because it emulated the movies rather well with all the characters being made entirely from Legos. Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy is even better for the simple fact of nostalgia. Any Star Wars fan will enjoy this.

The PSP version is actually not all that different from the console versions. In fact, this is like carrying around the console version. So if you want to play Lego Star Wars II on the go, you can do that just fine with the PSP.

You'll begin the game in the Cantina in Mos Eisley. This is the hub, and from there you can go into any of the three episodes and play through them. At the start you'll only be able to choose A New Hope, but after completing the first chapter, you can choose The Empire Strikes Back or Return of the Jedi. As you go through the three episodes you'll some of the most memorable moments of the movies acted out entirely with legos. These moments aren't only memorable, but they're given a hilarious charm. These moments are also from the actual original versions of the movies as well. In other words, Han Solo DOES shoot first.

The game is visually striking. Seeing your favorite characters from the original Star Wars films as legos is quite a treat. Not only do you get to have nostalgia with Star Wars, but with legos as well. Even better are the hilarious antics of most of the scenes. To benefit the nostalgia even more is how John Williams' classic score accompanies each and every level of the game. For a Star Wars fan this game is the ultimate nostalgia.

As you play through each of the classic episodes, you'll be in control of several characters. Not all at once, but you'll end up having to switch. At times you may only have two characters, at others there may be as many as seven in your party at once. Your characters, depending on who they are, also have their own unique skills they can use. Jedi for example, can double jump and use the force. Those who wield blasters have a grappling hook that allows them to ascend to accessible platforms. The droids can open up special doors for you. Other characters, like the Jawas and Ewoks will be able to go into vents and access areas the other characters can't. In all actuality, they're really no different than their counterparts in the original Lego Star Wars. Also like the original Lego Star Wars, you'll constantly have to switch between characters in order to get through each and every area. You'll have to switch to R2-D2 to open up a door, for example. More than one person can play at a time, which is also really cool. You can also beat up your allies if you wish, and they respawn instantly. The gameplay isn't completely the same, though, there have been some small tweaks made here and there.

The additions to the gameplay aren't huge, but they are welcome. As you progress through levels all your characters may be able to assemble certain materials together to form a droid to help them fight. In the original Lego Star Wars this ability was only given to the Jedi, but here everyone can do it. There are also moments when you'll have to dress up as a stormtrooper in order to gain access through certain doors. You'll also be given the chance at some point to dress up as a bounty hunter and you'll be able to use Thermal Detonators. Characters also have their own unique abilities. Chewie, for example, can rip a stormtroopers arms right out of his sockets. All of these are welcome additions, and that's not even all there is to the gameplay. From time to time you'll be in command of vehicles. Landspeeders, the Millennium Falcon, the X-Wing and more as you take on some of the more memorable moments from the film, like destroying the death star.

It will probably only take you five hours at the very least to complete the story mode of all three episodes. However, Lego Star Wars II is full of extras. Each time you dispatch an enemy, whether it be in story mode or not, you'll earn money. You can also destroy certain objects and obtain money. You can use the money you gain to purchase cheats and hidden characters. Each time you get a new character they'll walk around in the hub, and you can switch to them. "Purchasing" characters isn't the only way to get them. You could easily just use one in story mode and you've got him or her. You'll also get hidden characters if you've got save data from the original Lego Star Wars. Just unlocking all the characters takes a lot of time.

The importance of unlocking characters is so you can play through certain aspects of the free play mode. There are places that in story mode the default characters couldn't reach. These hidden characters might be able to reach it, though, and so you will find yourself playing through levels again. The good news is these levels are so much fun that playing through a second, third or even fourth time is no hassle at all.

Free mode also offers a way for you to customize what a character looks like. You could put Yoda's head on Luke Skywalker's body, for example. This is mostly just a lot of fun to mess around with. Some combinations are just all out crazy. You could, for example, put Chewbacca's head on Leia's body from when she's wearing the slave outfit in Return of the Jedi. This really doesn't do a whole lot for the gameplay as a whole, but it is quite fun to mess around with, and the combinations are endless.

The only real problem with this game that I can really think of is that there is little, if any, challenge at all. Each time you die you respawn right where you left off and you have infinite lives. There's really no such thing as a game over. If you die the only penalty is that you lose money. However, the sheer fun factor of the game is enough to do away with that, and still makes Lego Star Wars II a treat.

Lego Star Wars II surpasses the original in just about everyway. It's a Star Wars game for the classic trilogy done with instant perfection. If you love the original Star Wars movies, you'll definitely want this game.

On the positive side
+Based off the original theatrical versions and not the special editions
+Beautiful game
+Addictive gameplay
+Co-op mode
+Several extras and hidden characters
+Customizable characters
+Tons of replay value

On the negative side
-The story mode is quite short
-While not really much of a con for this game, it's got very little challenge

Although this game is loads of fun, there is an annoying technical setback. I have a 4GB memory stick in my PSP. I figured it'll be big enough for all of the game saves, music, pictures and movies. Well, this game didn't even recognize the memory stick. I send email to the tech support, and they said the game is designed only to work with the memory stick comes with the console. Not only they failed to notice that not every PSP comes with a memory stick, also they failed to mention what is the max size memory stick can be used. So I bought a 512MB stick, and the game works with it. I don't know if 1GB or 2GB will also work, but I know 4GB won't work for sure.

About the game play, there is lots of humor, and fun features. The graphic is very nice for a portable game, and the game story sticks very closely to the original star wars movies. But there is couple of issues. The camera angle can be a little annoying in some scenes and have some long loading time issue. Other than that, it's a fun game to play.

One way to guarantee the appeal of a video game franchise that you are planning on launching is to combine multiple kinds of nostalgia that will recall the youth of the gamer. The entire Lego Star Wars series, and specifically "Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy", nailed the hammer on the head by combining two parts of Americana that every child who came of age in the late 70's through early 80's can identify with: Star Wars and Legos. The potential of such a combination is great and, fortunately, the result matches the potential.

It does not hurt that this game takes a very `tongue-in-cheek' approach to the Star Wars mythology. The cut scenes for each stage are hilarious Lego-style renditions of actual scenes from the original trilogy.

So, it goes without saying that this game places our heroes (and villains) as Lego characters in a universe with ships, buildings, forests, and vehicles all made out of Legos. The main objective has you completing six missions for each of the three Episodes which cover the storyline of each film.

Of course, like with a lot of video games these days, the main objective only makes up a small portion of the overall game play experience. After completing the regular missions, you have opportunities go back achieve other objectives like collecting `x' # of Lego studs (currency in this game), which will allow you to unlock other characters or vehicles. The Free Play mode allows you to use any of a number of characters to help you access areas and prizes you can get in regular mode. Then, there is the Challenge Mode, which you have to find 10 parts of the special `mini-kit' within a specified time (usually 10 minutes) to meet that objective.

The concern over the repetitiveness of playing the same missions over and over to get each new objective is unfounded. Aside from the expected few missions that can be troublesome, the different sorties feel like a new experience each time. It leads to a greater overall playing experience.

This is a strongly recommended game. I rate it at about 4.5 stars.

I gave this game to my older son for his birthday and he loves playing it on his PSP.

This game is definitely fun (and more than a few times funny, particularly during the cut scenes - though making Chewbaka tear the arms off a stormtrooper never gets old), but it's not really like playing the Star Wars movies. Sure, the basic story and characters of the movies are there, but because it's Legos and because it's a game that involves a lot of running and jumping around to move through areas and solve basic puzzles, the game has more of the feeling of a standard adventure/platformer rather than the feeling of really playing through the movies.

There are some other pros and cons as well - some of the areas can be unique and fun, like flying the x-wing along the Death Star at the end of episode 4, or flying the land speeders through the forest in episode 6. However, one somewhat odd part of the game is that you can't access numerous areas of each chapter until you've completed the chapter and replay it using alternate characters. For some, this might be fine, but for those who aren't into repeatedly playing parts of a game over and over, this can be a drag.

Overall though, the game is certainly good cute fun, and if you're into Legos and/or Star Wars (and adventure/platformer type games), I'd recommend it.

This game is easy to play. My son is only 7 and he has a PSP, most of the games for this device are very complex for a 7 year old to understand. This one isn't. This game has held his interest for over a year.

My Lego Star Wars game will not save to my Sony 4GB memory stick.
It says my stick is too full to save. I only have a few games saved from
other games on the stick so it is barely used. My copy of Lego Indiana
Jones and Lego Batman both work fine. I also have God Of War II gamesaves
saved on the stick. Why does the Star Wars game say the stick is too full
when it is almost empty?
Response from Lucas Arts:
In response to your question about LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 15:19:29 -0500
Hello,
The game only supports 32MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB, and 2GB memory sticks which have all proven to save in-game data correctly.
Best Regards,
Tom V. at LucasArts Technical Support

You might think this is a kids game (and indeed, I bought it so my kids would have something to play on my PSP), but its great fun for all ages, thanks to a witty element that affectionately pokes fun at the Star Wars we all know and love.

When you shoot (or slap) Stormtroopers they fall to (lego) bits, the facial expressions are not always the same. Princess Leila scowl is wonderful. The short Darth Vader is a funny, too.

The game is not overly simple, either, requiring you to work out the next steps, which may require different actions (building controls, switching characters, getting across gaps, disassembling baddies), but equally (even on the PSP) it's easy to control and never frustrating.

I guess if you hate Star Wars on principle, you might not enjoy this gun, but I doubt even that.

It's the only computer game I've ever played that makes me chuckle as I play it.

... and, yes, the kids love it, too!

Our sons loved the game; however, it does not save. We have had this same issue with a couple other PSP games (spiderman 3, MX vs ATV).

Bought this game thinking I'd take a break from long storyline type games. Ended up playing this longer than most other games. The Star Wars stories are precise and playing within the levels is just plain FUN. You want to find all the hidden areas. I'd say buy it for the fun factor alone.