Not such a long time ago, in a console not so far, far away, a game called Lego Star Wars (review) shuffled onto the scene and, in spite of its tie-in to the prequel films, did surprisingly well. Whether it was the kitschy take on the newest Star Wars characters or the simple pleasure of gathering yellow-Lego “coins,” Lego Star Wars won over many a heart here at DailyGame, not to mention the hearts of our kids and spouses. We didn’t care that it was based on three arguably bad films; it was a fun game, and that’s all that mattered.
So imagine our pants-wetting glee when LucasArts announced it was publishing Lego Star Wars 2: The Original Trilogy. Not only was there a sequel to a recent surprise hit, but it was going to be based on three classic films that, no matter how hard George Lucas botched them in their DVD release, simply will not be diminished in their nerf-herding greatness.
As the name implies, the levels, characters, vehicles and scenarios in Lego Star Wars 2 are all based on the classic trilogy that stormed our collective sci-fi conscience in 1977. Luke, Han, Chewie, Old Ben, Darth Vader, Leia … they’re all here. The X-Wing Fighter, Millenium Falcon, Speeder Bikes and Land Speeder … they’re all here. The Blockade Runner, the Endor base, the Death Star and (old-school) Tatooine … they’re all here. Yes, we predict the Force is going to be strong with this one.
Slated for release this fall on the PS2, Xbox, GameCube, DS, GBA and PC, Lego Star Wars 2 will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor by taking a comical look at A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Although no multiplayer options have been announced, it’s safe to presume the same-screen co-op action from the Xbox and PS2 versions of the first Lego Star Wars will be completely intact. But while you might hold out hope for online co-op support, LucasArts insists that, like the first game in the series, Lego Star Wars 2 will be “family friendly,” which is often publisher speak for “not online-enabled.”
That’s not to say the game will be short on replay value, though. For starters, LucasArts realizes that the beauty of Legos is the ability to design your own creation, so they are working with Traveller’s Tales to incorporate a create-a-hero mode in which players can mix and match Lego body parts to customize their own character.
In addition, players will be able to use their saved game from the first Lego Star Wars to unlock as many as 56 additional characters for Free Play depending upon just how robust that game save is. The Free Play mode will also be upgraded this time around with vehicles, new character-specific attacks, playable mini-kit vehicles and an “advanced” mode for experienced players.
While additional details about Lego Star Wars 2 remain slim, this is one series whose fans will be ecstatic to hear that a sequel is on its way. Likewise, with the create-a-hero mode and the basis on the original Star Wars trilogy, there’s plenty of reason for new fans to hop on board the Lego Star Wars bandwagon. If you didn’t get a chance to check out the first game in the series, Lego Star Wars 2 definitely has the potential to be the family-fun gaming experience you’ve been looking for.
— Jonas Allen
