Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy (GameCube) Review

On first glance you would be forgiven for mistaking 'The Original Trilogy' for a simple sequel with no additional features. The visuals, although improved, bare a striking resemblance to the first title in terms of style and presentation. Indeed once you start up, everything is just where you left it. The game is split up by a 'hub' of sorts (this time round it is the Cantina from Tatooine, complete with that oh so lovely alien music!). From here, you can choose to tackle the main story or just run around smashing up tables and chairs, it is up to you entirely. Once you dig a little deeper below the surface however, everything starts to change, thankfully for the better. In fact, the game improves upon almost every single element from the original title. We will look at each element in turn (such if the life of a reviewer), kick starting with... the game play!

Comparatively speaking, the game play has been almost identically copied over to the new (although technically old... never could quite get our heads around that) trilogy. Tap A to jump (twice for double), B to attack and X to perform a special move specific to the character and/or location in question. Whist nothing astounding in itself, it is the way that the game mixes everything up that really adds enjoyment to playing. You see, Lego Star Wars is based heavily on team co-operation. You will never find yourself alone on a mission, whether you are lost in the desolate wastelands of Tatooine or exploring the deep, dark depths of Dagobah's many swamps and caves. Swapping between party members is an essential part of the game's single player structure as each level features character specific areas and objects.

For example, although Droids may be useless in combat, and great fun to constantly force push off of great heights, causing them to beep frantically, you will have to take control of them at certain points in order to operate complex mechanical mechanisms (open locked doors). For the most part, though, you are free to choose your favorite characters to tackle the bulk of missions with (provided they are part of the roster for that level, or you have unlocked free play mode, more on that later!). Each level has been cleverly laid out so that they remain faithful to the original films but also give jobs to each of the characters present. Take the Dagobah level for example, if you recall the Empire Strikes Back, Luke crashes into a swamp along with R2-D2, and so this is exactly how the level begins. But rather than wandering around aimlessly, your 'pet' droid is essential for navigating swamp areas because he can go underwater (monsters don't like eating metal, see) and initiate alternate ways for Master Skywalker to progress!

Wow, we really can ramble when we put our minds to it, can't we? Three paragraphs and we've only covered the basic game play elements. It must be the overload of Wii information getting to us. Anyway, moving swiftly on, it's time to talk about the different modes included in the game. As discussed already, there is the standard single player campaign mode where you work through the main story. Although you have to play each mission in order within the three episodes, you can tackle the actual episodes in any order you like. This mode can also be played through with the superb co-operative play. Co-operative has been improved upon since the original in a few ways, firstly the levels seem to have been designed with co-op in mind (insert supermarket pun here) given that many important features have been duplicated, for example gun turrets on the latter levels. The camera has also been expanded, quite literally, so that it can include a greater area on screen before a person wanders off and causes his or her accomplice to be forced along with them.

Next up is not so much a mode in its own right so much as it is an extension of the single player campaign; vehicle based levels! These are far and beyond anything the first game featured and are whole lot of fun in their own right, not merely tacked on extras that you can find in so many games these days. The variety of these levels is also commendable, rather than merely stuffing the same physics onto different vehicles, each level feels distinctly different from the last. In one instance you get to take control of the immensely fast Speed Bikes on the Endor's forest moon whilst in another you can partake in the infamous Death Star run in your trusty X-Wing. All of the events are re-created with precise attention to detail, in fact any fans of Rouge Leader (and its brethren) will feel right at home here, albeit a somewhat more simplified and cuter home.

Everything mentioned so far; despite being excellent, will not take you masses of time to work your way through, especially considering the decidedly simple game play and low difficulty level. Thankfully all is not lost as Lego Star Wars boasts some of the most extensive extra goodies we have ever come across in a video game. First up is the basic collection of 'Studs' (money) that can be collected throughout each level and in turn rewards you with a rating depending on the overall percentage collected. If this amount is 100% you are further rewarded with a special Gold Lego Block (you also get one for completing a level), these can then be totted up and used to unlock the 'Super Play Mode' for each episode (where you play through levels consecutively under a time limit). On top of these are the Red Lego Bricks hidden throughout certain levels (we won't tell you what those unlock, it's a secret!) and also 10 vehicles parts per level that when combined create new vehicles for you to check out back in the game's hub. Phew, as if all that wasn't enough Stud's can also be redeemed for bonus features such as the hilarious option to add disguises to all characters (and vehicles), said disguise consists of a large moustache and dark glasses, so you can imagine what a riot that is! The option to upload all your unlocked characters from the first trilogy can also be purchased, almost doubling the already massive roster of characters.

Of course none of these features would be worth a dime if it wasn't for the impeccable humor that runs through the entire game. No matter who you are you undoubtedly know the plot for each of the three films the game is based on and have seen the movies numerous times. For this reason above all it speaks to reason that new Star Wars games need a specific angle to keep things fresh and interesting, Lego Star Wars has chosen comedy, and a brilliant choice it is too. We don't want to give too much away for potential buyers but a stand out moment comes with the crucial Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker moment. None of the characters are gifted with speech, even in cut scenes, so rather than another delivery of the 'I'm your father' line, Mr. Vader whips out a family picture and waves it around causing Luke to scream slightly before jumping to his apparent doom. It's little touches like this which really help blend everything together and keep you playing through even when things begin to get somewhat repetitive.

This humor is combined with a few other Lego specific features (such as the terrific character building feature!) that just wouldn't work in any other game (unless the other game also features worlds made of Lego of course). Whereas only Jedi could use the force to construct objects in the first game, all characters (who aren't droids) can now get in on the DIY action. The animation for these sequences is superb, you actually see each individual piece of Lego being chucked through the air and combine into a finished product. If your character is interrupted mid-build the construction remains unfinished with the remaining pieces lying about waiting for you to get back to it. There are still force-sensitive objects that can only be manipulated by Jedi or Sith, something that must be taken into account if you want to unlock all the extra features in the game. A large number of levels include locked sections that can only be accessed by certain types of characters (bounty hunters, droids, storm troopers, etc), only by returning to these levels can you hope to finish the game 100%. (Note: We finished the single player campaign and didn't even have a 50% completion ratio!)

As you can see by looking at the screenshots included with this review, the visuals look great, even if there are a few blocky graphics here and there. Everything runs at a smooth frame rate for 95% of the game, with occasional slowdown in moments of extreme action. Environments are gorgeous and contain a much greater level of detail than the first game. Audio wise everything is sounding spot on, just as you would expect from a John Williams score of such renown. Sound effects all sound like they have come straight out of the films too, from the 'vwing' of lightsabre's to the 'ping' of blaster rifle shots. So, as we near the end of the review it is worth noting that whilst playing we did come across a small selection of minor glitches. For example, once or twice we found ourselves completely stuck with no way of progressing, after restarting the level the solution mysteriously presented itself to us (we were just relieved we weren't losing our gaming prowess!). We also found ourselves stuck in the occasional wall, but more often than not frantically pummeling the A button freed us without any further problems.