LEGO Star Wars 2: The Original Trilogy (Console version)
© 2006 LucasArts
This two-player collaborative adventure takes things up a notch compared to last year's already excellent LEGO Star Wars (Eidos/Traveller's Tales). Note that you'll want to have two working controllers plugged into your console to take advantage of the richness of the most unique feature of the game—namely the collaborative play. Still the program is fun to play alone. This edition features 24 levels, a richer storyline and the ability to customize your characters with different outfits. The core game content, levels and features are the same for all three main consoles (PS2, GameCube and Xbox, with the graphics more enhanced on the Xbox 360 and the PC). The PSP version shares the same rich soundtrack and is also very similar in design to the console version with the bonus of wireless game play. The GBA version is very fun, but obviously does not have the rich sounds, graphics or two-player mode of play. The DS version gives you more creative options and also offers easy wireless game-sharing with nearby players. The story is a comical take on the Star Wars Trilogy (Episode IV: A New Hope; Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, and Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi). The goal is to stop Darth Vader's attempt to take over the universe. Of course, this requires plenty of exploring maze-like space stations and interesting planets. Along the way, players must work together to get trap doors to open or to find parts of inventions needed to deactivate a force field. Each goal results in earned lives or LEGO studs, that can be used to buy additional outfits or features. Too many wrong moves can result in needing to start over in a level; however, in general, the game is very easy, with even young players enjoying levels of success. Testers liked how the game captures the feel of the original three movies, right down to the classic opening scene of a massive Star Destroyer in pursuit of Princess Leia's ill-fated Blockade Runner. All of the major events from the movies are in the game. The "drop-in, drop-out" gameplay of the first game is still there with the addition of new special moves. There's no shortage of shooting, light-sabre fighting, kicking and punching--all done with dose of comic mischief. For example, when an enemy is blasted with a laser, he breaks into dozens of Legos. There's no actual building with Legos in this game, only the ability to customize characters with accessories and clothing, so the entire experience is light on the creative thinking. All in all, this game sticks to the same formula as the first, but adds more things to do, making it an all-new, easy-to-play experience. Definitely pick this one up.
$40, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Xbox, GameCube, Windows XP, Nintendo DS, PSP, Game Boy Advance
Teaches: social collaboration, logic, problem solving
CTR Rating: 92%