Metareview - LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
by Alan Rose 
{ Sep 17th 2006 at 12:00PM }
Traveller's Tales was on to something when they decided to take the popular LEGO brand of Star Wars toys and make a video game based on our favorite bricks. The resulting LEGO Star Wars was a novel, family-oriented romp through the galaxy far, far away. LucasArts was more Force sensitive this time around and assumed publishing duties from Eidos for the sequel, LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy. Overall marks are only slightly higher than the first game, but critics agree the stronger source material makes The Original Trilogy worth its weight in galactic credits.
- GameSpy (90/100) thinks the sequel's enhanced "born to build" features will appeal to the kid in all of us: "There are a lot more LEGO elements scattered throughout each stage than there was in the first game. By blowing up LEGO objects, you'll often be able to rebuild the scattered bricks into new items that can be used to reach otherwise hidden areas. It really gives you the feeling that you're playing within a living LEGO world."
- 1UP (80/100) knows the only substitute for a good blaster is a good ship: "While the vehicular stages vary in terms of quality, the mere fact that so many exist really adds to the scope of the game. Lego Star Wars II offers a surprising amount of playtime, and is much larger and longer than the original game (which was one of its biggest criticisms)."
- GameSpot (77/100) discovered that fancy next-gen visuals not make one great: "The current-gen console versions all look slightly better than the original Lego Star Wars, while the PC version looks a bit better than those, since it can run at much higher resolutions. The Xbox 360 version has the most graphical flair, with better reflections, better explosions, and a cool lens-focus effect. It's definitely the best-looking version, but it's also got a very minor frame rate problem that crops up when there are a lot of particle effects."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Wilky @ Sep 17th 2006 12:10PM
Have played this game, and it brings back some nostalgic moments. Some of the lego pieces that I used to loose, and the moments from the original star wars trilogy. Without both of these elements the game would be rubbish... But its worth more than the sum of its parts. It's great for the kids, and great for us older dudes too..
emmzee @ Sep 17th 2006 12:10PM
Bottom line is that if you enjoyed the first Lego Star Wars, you'll love this one too. :) I got it yesterday and it's tons of fun ... of course, it's best when you're playing 2-player co-op, so get someone else to play with you. Luckily, it's not too tough to just pick up and play even for people who don't often play video games.
CP229 @ Sep 20th 2006 8:04PM
I like how gamespot critisizes the graphics since all of it is just lego blocks.
Jackie Chan @ Sep 17th 2006 12:48PM
I played through the original game and loved it. While I appreciate this is a good game, for me, its too much of the same with just not enough variety from the first game.
Wild Homes @ Sep 17th 2006 12:28PM
the 360 version is plagued by a lack of any means to easily restart a level. when you're trying to accomplish beating a level without dying, having to exit to the cantina, re-select the level, and then sit through the opening scroll and unskippable intro video every time you die is awful.
the game is fun overall, but the level design isn't as good as in the first game. also, the lightsaber hit detection is spotty.
I'd rate is slightly below the first. I think the first game actually made the subject matter better (maybe because the prequels were underwhelming films) but the second game can't really improve on the content we get in the films, and so it doesn't feel exhilirating like the original Lego Star Wars did.
christopher7xii @ Sep 17th 2006 1:27PM
Bah, this game rocks. Graphics are perfect (they look exactly as intended), music is obviously great, cutscenes are comical and entertaining. Only downside I have to this, is the DS version. Very glitchy, and the AI is absolutely pathetic. No joke, on the Escape from the Death Star level, I didn't have a single storm trooper or imperial officer attack me unless I attacked him first, and even then it was about a 20% return fire rate.
I'd say grab the PSP version if you're going handheld to be honest. The DS version has an entirely different build, and in turn every level is completely unique / dramatically different from the console and PC versions... So if you really want a variety of level, go with it... Just be forewarned, major bugs (graphics disappearing, getting stuck in floors/walls, and major slowdown at times).
BlessedBullet @ Sep 17th 2006 1:05PM
I'm glad GameSpot critcized the graphics. It's ridiculous that there's framerate stutter when it's all just lego blocks.
Cody S. @ Sep 17th 2006 1:06PM
The guy at Target tried to sell me this when I (finally) went to pick up New Super Mario Bros.
Pencil $havings @ Sep 17th 2006 1:08PM
The Lego acting in Lego Star Wars part one was 100 times better than the acting in Episodes I-III. However, acting in Lego Star Wars II is on-par with the acting in Episodes IV-VI.
Sinnix @ Sep 17th 2006 1:41PM
Bah, I don't know what Gamespot's problem is. I've played through almost the whole game now and haven't noticed *any* slowdown when lots of particle effects are going on. If it is there, it sure doesn't hinder gameplay at all.
Eric Bostrom @ Sep 17th 2006 2:01PM
My wife and I have been coop playing through the Xbox version (big black, not 360). It's an excellent funny game.
The psp version is excellent as well, what surprises me is that it's the exact same game, not watered down at all.
Matt @ Sep 17th 2006 2:25PM
The big problem with a game like this, and it's predacessor, is that it brings out the worst kind of fanboy: the Star Wars fanboy. Sure, there are a few people out there besides myself who didn't despise Episodes 1-3, and we are harassed endlessly by the "purists", the people who think that only chubby fat women named Carrie Fischer are allowed to be the damsel in distress. Screw her being skinny in the 1980's, she was always a fatty at heart. ;)
But really, the acting isn't terribly bad (for the most part) in 1-3, you just have to look at it from an acting point of view, and not a "oh my god, George Lucas is going insane with old age" point of view. /endrant
John H. @ Sep 17th 2006 2:38PM
Indeed, it is surprisingly cool, just from the novelty and the cut-scenes (which are surprisingly funny).
I don't know if this coolness will translate into other Lego projects, but I like the idea of a rogue license out there with a devil-may-care attitude, taking the piss out of other licenses. Sic'em, Lego!
renaldo @ Sep 17th 2006 2:48PM
WHY ARE THEIR FACES AND HANDS NOT YELLOW
Dr.Swiss @ Sep 17th 2006 6:24PM
"WHY ARE THEIR FACES AND HANDS NOT YELLOW"
Because they are Star Wars characters turned into Lego and not Lego turned into Star Wars characters.
Thryon @ Sep 17th 2006 6:41PM
The game is great. It is a lot of fun to play. The story is true to to Star Wars, but injected with lots of funny momments.
I purchsed the 360 version on launch day, and I am unsure of this framerate problem comes into play. I have yet to experience any, and I have finished the game already. I even played the Character challenges (1 million in a specific time lenght), there is a lot happening in those levels, and there was still no framerate issues.
pixelator @ Sep 18th 2006 1:34PM
The Gamespot review was a cut & paste hack job. Read the PSP, 360, etc. reviews. They're almost all totally the same article.
The guy was obviously uninterested in putting effort out.
I got the game on my 360 and it's a blast (lawl) to play.
ThePete @ Sep 19th 2006 11:57PM
the PS2 version is great, but the DS version is absolute crap. Everyone involved in the making of this insanely buggy game should be ashamed and offer us our money back. Seriously--it's that bad. For god's sake, DON'T BUY THE DS VERSION!!
I'm thinking about trying to return it and getting the GBA version instead...