N-Philes

LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy

Posted November 3rd 2006 by Curtis Brunet.

There are few things I love more then the Star Wars Universe. Those things are breathing, eating, and women. Two of those I can live without, and it's not women. I once wrote that I have a predilection to the Star Wars Universe, a fondness if you will: for Twi'lek women, for rough and tumble smugglers, and for Carrie Fisher in a bikini. I really don't care what she looks like now.

So it goes without saying that when LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy for the Game Boy Advance crossed my desk the other day, I put my physical and emotional needs and wants aside for a few days, and let instinct run through my body. That instinct was nothing but pure, unadulterated, hardcore time spent with one of the best titles to grace the Game Boy Advance.

There's a multitude of reasons as to why this title succeeds as one of the better Star Wars tittles on the GBA, everything from its gameplay to the beautifully rendered levels and the solid outing from the sound and effects departments. But even the best of titles still has some faults. After spending a few hours with the title, and flowing through multiple levels you start to notice the repetitiveness in the level design, where every single level looks, feels, and plays almost identical. The design is linear in nature, with slight maze aspects to certain levels, but almost every room looks the same. This point is driven home in the Endor on foot levels, where finding your way through the level is a gift in its own, as every new section of it looks increasingly identical in design.

But enough about what is wrong with the title, how about what's right? That's where the list balloons and LEGO Star Wars shines. Even though the title is on the GameBoy Advance, don't let anyone convince you that the graphics are appalling in any way shape or form. With a crisp 3D look, every LEGO piece is shown with great accuracy. With only slight slowdowns when multiple characters are on screen coupled with each characters own action, the game outperforms most other attempts at great graphics on Nintendo's fading handheld.

Not only do the graphics perform at a higher level than most other titles, but the sound also excels in almost every department. Be it the ambient 8-bit recreation of John Williams' classic score, or the sound of blaster fire and character interaction, the sound is top notch, and up there with the console iteration of the series.

The game itself plays like a dream. You run through multiple levels and scenarios depicted straight from the original Star Wars Trilogy; from fighting Tusken Raiders on Tatooine in Episode IV:A New Hope to destroying AT-STs and Stormtroopers on the forest moon of Endor in Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. In the story mode, you are given specific characters for that scenario, and you must then blast your way through enemies and utilize the different characters to solve puzzles and make your way through the level. But what would Star Wars be without vehicular combat? To add to the grand battles on foot, you also must command your way though multiple vehicle-based levels, from destroying the Death Star I in your trusty X-Wing, to tackling AT-ATs in your weatherproof Snow Speeder, to finally destroying the Death Star II in the ever-popular Millennium Falcon. After finishing the level, you can then go back and play through the finished level in "Free Play" mode, which allows you to use different characters or ships (depending on the level type) that you unlock and purchase throughout the different levels. Collecting custom LEGO pieces allows you to purchase those extra characters and ships, along with cheats and different elements of the game, such as the ever elusive (and ridiculously expensive) ‘Invincibility'.

Aside from all these elements lay the story, and the heart of what makes these LEGO games work: the humor. Even in a portable format, the comedy is more then existent, and can have anyone with a good sense of humor laughing out loud. Though no words are spoken, character interactions and thought bubbles (with pictures) provide more hilarity than words ever could. This mix creates something that even today's high definition titles can't seem to recreate.

Steady Beat - The LEGO bricks are strong with this one.

What more do you need to know? The title is simply a solid outing for the GBA. The Game Boy Advance iteration has fewer characters than its DS brethren, and does not contain multiplayer as the DS version does. Regardless, it is still a very solid game, and should not be passed up. As a Star Wars fan, you can't lose. And guess what? Han shoots first.

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