LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars

© 2010 LucasArts
$50, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360, PSP, Nintendo DS
Teaches: logic, socialization
CTR Rating: 96%
Editor's Choice

CTR Review

Great for two players, fun and rather cheesy, LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars fully met the expectations of our testers even if it is at times a bit hard to follow. We tested the XBox 360 and PS3 versions. This edition follows the same design formula as its two predecessors, as well as many of the other LEGO games. At its heart, it’s really a puzzle game. During each level, you control one of a small party of characters. At any point, you can switch which character you control with the press of a button. Different characters have specific attributes, which are needed to solve each puzzle and progress through the game. For example, you may need a Jedi character in order to move a large block into place. Another interesting thing about the game play is that if a character runs out of health, he or she simply jumps back up. Hard core gamers might find this makes the game too easy, but it's perfect for kids. Instead of the player worrying about staying alive, he or she can focus on solving the puzzles. Weaknesses to note include a confusing story. While the first two LEGO Star Wars games were based on the Star Wars movies, this one was based on the animated show on Cartoon Network, each level being an episode from the show. As with any other LEGO game, there isn’t any dialogue. All the characters communicate through facial expressions and grunts, so frankly, unless you’re familiar with the TV show, it’s pretty hard to tell what’s going on. Our testers also found that this game seemed to be focusing less on puzzles, and more on slashing up storm troopers. This is fun in its own right, but can get stale. All in all, LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars is quirky, innovative, and loads of fun, especially when playing with a friend. While it isn’t much of a step up from its predecessors, that step was pretty high to begin with, so it still can be enjoyed. If you’re a fan of the Clone Wars TV show, you'll find this game worth your allowance.