Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
Lego Star Wars was a surprise hit when it was released in 2005 . The game seemed to fit squarely into the occasional family game space , but build a craze following of “ regular ” gamers / Star Warsenthusiasts who really sleep together the activeness . So it ’s little wonder that LucasArts followed along with a sequel , Lego Star Wars II . And in just about every regard , this biz is better . amazingly , Lego Star Wars II is n’t the work of Aspyr Media , which broughtthe first gameto the Mac . rather , it was released by Feral Interactive .
The original Lego Star Wars borrowed scenes and characters from George Lucas ’ less - loved “ prequel ” trilogy tracing the rise and gloam of Anakin Skywalker and his reincarnation as Darth Vader . This plot specifically focuses on what it calls “ The Original Trilogy : ” The events depicted inStar Wars : A New Hope , The Empire Strikes BackandReturn of the Jedi .
As with the first game , what you ’re doing is playing a third - person activeness game using scenery and characters that depend like they ’ve been create in Lego blocks . Star Wars and Lego set — this game tickles two kernel of the geek head at the same time .
Gameplay itself is pretty straightforward chopine - vogue action — you , assuming the character of theStar Warscharacters you work , need to dispatch scenes from the movies . You ’ll go on a mission like hear to save the Rebel base on Hoth from the elephantine AT - AT Walker , using wrestling sweetener on the backs of snowspeeders just like Luke Skywalker did . Or you might witness yourself in the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree small town of the Ewoks on the timber moon of Endor , fix troops to battle for control of the Imperial shell generator that protects the 2d Death Star while it ’s under construction . There are puzzles to solve and battles to get ahead , but it ’s all pretty straightforward and approachable , and quite “ elongate , ” as they say in secret plan reviews — intend each horizontal surface has a specific start point and remainder point that create sensation as you ’re traipse through it . The plot follows the original movie scripts closely : You ’ll have to destruct the Death Star , train with Yoda and fight Darth Vader , and then pilot the Millennium Falcon into the new Death Star , crucify its reactor nitty-gritty and escape .
Because the secret plan combine Legos and Star Wars , there ’s mass of action , but there ’s little in the way of actual violence ( unless you consider a Lego Chewbacca shoot down the limbs off a Lego Stormtrooper to be wild ) . It ’s more mirthful , than anything .
Tusken Raider NationLego Star Wars II puts you in the shoes of characters from the originalStar Warstrilogy — in this sheath , Obi Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker as they do battle with the Sand People .
you may have a friend fall in you in conjunct play , if you ’d like — you may also play back tier in a “ Free dramatic play ” mode once you ’ve conquered them . Both of these summate to the replay time value , as does the tons of unlockable content you ’ll gain access to along the way — hours and hours of extra merriment and challenge you ’ll get accession to the more you take on . As with the original game , you compile “ studs ” and can use them as currency to unlock contentedness . you’re able to also gain access to “ Minikits ” that will give you ascendancy of vehicles you’re able to fly around the fit you ’re in , too .
It ’s worth noting that while Lego Star Wars II is plentiful with the sound effects and cinematic soundtrack of theStar Warsmovies , there ’s no actual moving picture dialogue — you’re left to use your imagination about what the characters are saying , just as you would with “ real ” Lego set . That ’s a carryover from the first biz , and it ’s not a disappointment — the floor and cinematic cut scenes are very well represented and well enliven . The one helplessness is in television camera control , which is lacking and often so far back from the action as to make it nondescript . One of these days Lego will get camera control right ( its Bionicle plot , also work to the Mac by Feral , was similarly encumbered ) .
Feral deserves congratulations for making trusted Lego Star Wars II put up gamepads — I did n’t try all of my gamepads , but my trusty Logitech model worked fine with this game once it was configured . That really add to the game , and it create this an inordinately easy transition from the console interlingual rendition that have been around for a while . Therein , perhaps , is a criticism , albeit a meek one : If you have a console , you may very well have already bet this game .
Lego Star Wars II excels as a family - friendly action at law biz , but that ’s also a likely weakness , at least for experient gamers who will find the activeness to be less than challenging . But you ca n’t be all things to all multitude — Lego Star Wars is a lot of fun , especially for new players and originalStar Warstrilogy fan who mayhap are n’t as fast on the hooking as they used to be .
Still not sell on it ? Well , you ’ll be happy to experience that Feral has prepped ademothat will give you a taste of the action — as long as a 400 MB download does n’t scare you .
If you ’re a MacBook or Intel Mac mini owner , by the way , you ’re in luck — Feral says Lego Star Wars II cultivate just fine with the incorporate graphics offered by those machines .
The bottom line
As a family - friendly action biz , Lego Star Wars II excels . hard-core gamers might pull up stakes a slight frustrated , however .
