LEGO Star Wars is a concept that I probably laughed at the first time I heard about it. Fortunately, however, I gave it a chance when LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy was released on the 360.

LEGO Star Wars: TCS is essentially a compilation of the two previous releases of the game, containing both trilogies on one disc. However, Traveler’s Tales, the developers of the LEGO Star Wars games, didn’t just copy and paste both games together. They updated some aspects of the gameplay in the first trilogy to match that of the second. They also added some new missions, a handful of characters and completely changed the achievements (for the better).

The controls in the game are simple enough that most who are old enough to play a video game will be able to handle it. The camera is completely controlled by the game, so only one thumbstick is required for movement. The actions are easy to manipulate and only require two buttons most of the time. To simplify things even further for younger players, the characters will automatically dodge or block (based on the character) as long as you continually mash the attack button. The graphics have been polished since LSW II, but they are nothing spectacular. I did notice that there are frame rate issues from time to time but they do not make the game unplayable at all. Co-op play really makes this a great game for the whole family. Also, this game is the first to allow online co-op, which is a very nice addition.

So now that you have some of the technical details of the game, lets get on to the important stuff. The LEGO Star Wars games have always been fun, but this release takes it a few steps further. The second half of the game is definitely stronger than the first, but that’s to be expected given the source material. That being said, it’s still a blast to play through all six episodes, even multiple times. The characters really bring the game to life with plenty of humor and silly antics, and the game even pokes fun at the movies from time to time. (See the Achievement: Shoot First.) There’s enough variety in the levels that you’re never bored, and you rarely feel any repetition. They’ve also hidden enough stuff in the game that, if you’re like me, you’ll have hours and hours of gameplay searching for the next Power Brick or trying to collect more studs so that you can buy that one character that you really want to play as. (For me it’s always Boba Fett.)

Besides the weaker first half and the occasional frame rate issues, I don’t have much bad to say about this game. The game offers plenty of entertainment for young and old and will still be fun after multiple play-throughs. The cut scenes will frequently have you laughing out loud, and the settings and characters will bring back fond memories, given you’re old enough to remember the original trilogy. LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga is a must buy for any Star Wars fan, but will still be enjoyable even if you aren’t the biggest fan. I give the game a $40. It’s not the best game of the year, but at $40, you’ll get you money’s worth.

Score: $40 / $50

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