Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy

"II is better than I"

This is my first review. Hope it helps everyone unsure about the game out.

For those of you who enjoyed the first Star Wars Legos, be prepared for a much-improved game. For those of you who avoided the first since it was based on the prequels, then rejoice and snag this game. And for those of you who dislike Star Wars in general, you'll still get a laugh out of this great game.

Game play: 10/10
Like the original, the controls are so simplistic and great that my 50 year old mom can catch on fast. A single button to jump, to attack, to switch between characters, and to interact with items. It doesn't get much sweeter than that. You can have many characters on screen at the same time, and with the push of a button can control them all. The AI is pretty good, following close behind and even anticipating when you need their help with a 2 or more character puzzle.
The vehicle levels are soooo much better than the original. It is a lot better, where as you can move about with more flexibility and actually explore the area. Nothing is funner than jumping in an X-wing to take on the Death Star, or to hop into a snow speeder and trip AT-ATs with the tow cable. Also, as in the original game, you run around collecting lego "studs" to purchase additional characters to play as. Another interesting aspect of the game is the "increasing difficulty". The game determines how well you progress, and makes enemies more difficult to fight as you go. And if you have a hard time and keep dying, the difficulty will lower, so the game is always looking for an equilibrium with your skill.

Sound:10/10
The soundtrack is straight out of the original trilogy. Like in the first game, the character's don't talk during cut scenes, just moan and make other funny noises.
The sound effects are nice.

Graphics: 10/10
For those of you who collect the actual Star Wars Lego sets, you will be in for a visual treat. The characters look exactly like the Lego pieces, as do the weapons and vehicles. When things explode, Lego pieces go flying about. Some people may find this to cutesy of cartoonish, but I loved it. Being a Star Wars fan, you gotta love the hilarity of seeing the original trilogy in such a comic and great light.

Replay Value: 10/10
This game, like the first one, has a high replay value. You can waltz through the story in about 2 days, 4 tops (depending how addicted you become to the game). But then you have to go back through the levels as different characters so that you can grab all the hidden pieces and such throughout each level. And sometimes you feel like just running through the story mode again to get a good laugh.

Overall: 10/10
The game is solid. It will have you hooked from the first level until the end of the story and beyond. It is such a great way to kill some time. And if you have friends, this game is a MUST!!! It is great single-player, but when you throw a bud in it's beyond awesome. Who doesn't want to play as Han and Chewie with their best friend, as they bust their way through the Mos Eisely Cantina? This is a MUST HAVE for ANY Star Wars fan, and a great game to play with a buddy for the non-Star Wars gamers out there. So buy it already!!!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 09/18/06