Replay Value
Lego Star Wars offers incredible replay value, so those 4-5 hours can quickly turn into 25+ and that is what makes the game so special. Unlocking all of the characters, finding hidden items in each level, and purchasing all of the bonus “cheats” takes a long time to do and there is also a special hidden level to unlock. The gameplay is easy, but it is incredibly fun and unlocking everything is amazingly addictive. You’ll be enjoying yourself so much you won’t stop until you have everything and before you know it you have clocked 25-30 hours with the game. That much enjoyable gameplay sounds like a winner even if it is simple and easy.Co-Op Mode
Lego Star Wars also features a co-op mode where another person can jump in and play at any time. Both players have to stay on the same screen which limits movement a little bit since you can only move if your partner wants to move as well, but it is still an effective system. Playing through all of the levels with a friend is a blast but it actually makes the game a little bit easier than it already was. In single player, your AI companions are pretty much braindead and don’t help you much. With a human player hacking up enemies beside you the game moves pretty fast. There isn’t any sort of competitive multiplayer mode, but co-op is great and it can actually be pretty competitive depending on how you want to play it.
Graphics and Sound
Graphically, Lego Star Wars has a unique look thanks to the fact that everything is actually built out of Lego pieces. All of the characters look like Lego people and you get to manipulate Lego blocks at a number of points to build bridges or stairs and it is all really well done. When enemies are defeated they blow up into their separate Lego parts, which is impressive. The environments aren’t completely built out of Legos, but that is understandable. The stars of the game are the little characters and they look great. Nothing in the graphics department will really wow you, but Lego Star Wars does what it set out to do and that is recreate Star Wars with Legos and it does a great job.
The sound is also very well done. Even though the graphics are very different from what we have seen before, the sound is instantly recognizable as being from Star Wars. The music and sound effects have been ripped straight out of the movies and it all sounds really great. There isn’t any voice work in Lego Star Wars, which is sort of strange, but characters make sounds and the story is told well enough just through the actions of the characters so you won’t miss the dialogue. Not that the dialogue in the prequels was that good anyway.Bottom Line
Overall, Lego Star Wars is a well put together game that is worth playing and even owning if you are a big Star Wars fan. The gameplay is fairly simple and easy, but there is so much to see and do and unlock in Lego Star Wars that you can easily invest 25-30 hours into it. The characters are cute and the game is easy, yes, but please don’t be fooled into thinking this game is just for kids. It is fun enough and big enough that everyone can enjoy it and people who have grown up with Legos and Star Wars will appreciate it even more than the kiddies, so I really think this game was for us (adults) rather than kids. Star Wars fans will love it and will be happy with a purchase but everyone else should rent first.
