LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
Jun 16, 2006It sounded like a recipe for disaster, but the fusion of LEGO and Star Wars in videogame form ended up being
The game did contain an Episode IV bonus level where you played as Darth Vader and a stormtrooper searching the Tantive IV for Princess Leia, but it wasn't enough. We wanted more! Well, the success of the original game has convinced LucasArts to give us more, and we're getting it this September 12, the same day that the non-Special Edition Star Wars DVDs are released. We recently took a trip to LucasArts to get a closer look at the first third of the game -- those chapters based on the first Star Wars film. That is to say, the first film released in theaters, not the first based on the storyline's timeline. Curse those prequels for forcing us to give slightly confusing explanations for what should be simple statements!
The storyline isn't the only thing that's changed this time, though. LucasArts and developer Traveller's Tales have listened to the players and critics, and have made all sorts of improvements. In the original game, only Jedi characters could interact with the LEGO elements scattered throughout each stage. Now, every character has the ability to build stray piles of bricks into useful items for getting through the game. Some puzzles do require knowledge of the Force, however, so Obi-Wan and (eventually) Luke's skills won't go to waste. There are also more obstacles that require building, making the game seem even more LEGO than before.
The Circle Is Now Complete
New moves give the player greater versatility when going up against the evil Galactic Empire. In the first game, Jedi characters were able to deflect blaster fire with a well-timed swing. Other characters, however, were defenseless against such attacks. Now, all characters have dodge moves that are pulled off just like the Jedi deflect. Additionally, a melee attack has been added for close quarters combat. In a fun touch, each character has their own dodge and melee animations. Seeing LEGO Chewbacca rip off a stormtrooper's arms or Leia deliver a brutal slap (complete with one hand on her hip) reveals that this sequel hasn't lost the humor of the original.
Another complaint about the original that has been somewhat rectified this time around is the issue of camera control. Some people felt that the first game could be frustrating thanks to the fixed camera. Although you don't have full control over the camera now, you can pan the view a bit with the right analog stick. This will come in handy to search for enemies around corners or secret items hidden just out of view.
Just like in the original game, LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy is divided into three segments, each focusing on one of the movies in the trilogy. Each of the segments is divided into six chapters, but there are two bonus chapters per movie. There's even an "ultimate" secret level that you can find after clearing everything else. As you play through the game, you'll unlock over 50 playable characters. If you have a memory card that contains a saved game from the original, you can import any characters from that game into this one. That comes out to over 100 playable characters.
The game begins in a hub world, specifically the Mos Eisley cantina on Tatooine. Any characters you have unlocked roam around the wretched hive, going about their own business. Parked outside, you'll find LEGO models of ships that you build by collecting hidden items throughout each chapter. In the first game, these models were just for show, but now you can pilot each of them in special bonus stages. When you're done goofing around in the cantina, it's time to jump into a stage.
A New Hope
Chapter 1: Secret Plans
Playable Characters: Princess Leia, Captain Antilles
Just like in the movie, the action begins aboard the Rebel blockade runner, the Tantive IV. Darth Vader and a platoon of stormtroopers have boarded the ship, and you must guide Leia and Captain Antilles through the ship to find R2-D2, who will carry the stolen plans for the Death Star off ship.
For the first stage in the game, this one is fairly long. The Tantive IV is not a tiny ship, and the level design reflects that. As you work your way through the corridors, you'll frequently have to assist Rebel troopers, who are fighting back the stormtroopers. At one point, we passed by a window where we could see Vader performing his own brand of interrogation on some Rebels with his Force choke.
Leia and Antilles are both armed with a blaster, and sticking to the series' tradition, "blaster" characters are also armed with a grappling hook for launching themselves up to high ledges. Naturally, you'll have to take advantage of this ability a few times before you find the little droid.
Chapter 2: Through the Jundland Wastes
Playable Characters: Luke Skywalker (Tatooine), Ben Kenobi
After fleeing the Tantive IV, it isn't long before R2-D2 and C-3PO are captured by Jawas and then purchased by Luke's uncle Owen. When R2 runs off to deliver Leia's message to one Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke goes after him and is rescued from a Tusken Raider attack by that crazy old hermit, Ben Kenobi.
At this point in the game, Luke doesn't have his father's lightsaber or any mastery of the Force, so it's up to old Ben if you need any Jedi business taken care of. A new Jedi ability that we saw was the Jedi Mind Trick, which confuses your enemy, rendering them harmless for a few seconds. Luke will have to be content with being a blaster character for now. As you travel through the Jundland Wastes, you must fend off the aforementioned Raiders as well as Jawas. Running loose all over the level are dozens of Womp Rats, which are great for a little target practice.
Another new addition to this sequel that pops up in this level is the ability for non-droid characters to ride animals. If you see a Bantha hanging out, you can climb aboard and go to town. In another humorous touch, each character has separate riding animations. Ben is used to riding wild animals (remember his ride on Boga in Episode III?), so he handles the Bantha quite gracefully. Luke, on the other hand, is hanging on for dear life, and he looks like he'll fall off the beast at any moment. The only time your character will fall off, however, is if the creature takes too much damage. Then, they're rear up and knock you to the ground. LucasArts was able to confirm that you'll also be able to ride dewbacks and tauntauns in the game. There's no word yet if you'll be able to take control of the most exotic and fearsome creature in the Star Wars universe.
Chapter 3: Mos Eisley Spaceport
Playable Characters: Luke Skywalker (Tatooine), Ben Kenobi, R2-D2, C-3PO, Han Solo, Chewbacca
With a wave of a hand and a "These aren't the droids you're looking for," Ben gets Luke and the droids into Mos Eisley. Right form the get-go, this level introduces you to how vehicles are handled in LSW2. Unlike the original where the vehicle stages were on rails, you can now freely drive Luke's landspeeder around the town. If you hop out to go exploring, don't get too far away from it or Jawas will come along and whisk it back to the beginning of the stage.
At one point, you're forced to find a way to clear a blocked road. By exploring the immediate area, you find piles of stray LEGO bricks. A little bit of building with them, and you've put together a full-sized AT-ST. Hop into the Imperial vehicle and blow the barrier away. You can now roam around in the walker, picking off stormtroopers with ease.
If there's one thing that this stage is good for showing off, it's the variety of extra goodies that you can find by thoroughly exploring a level. Run down a stray alley, and you find a "Double Score Zone" where any LEGO studs (the game's currency) that you collect are worth twice as much. Hop onto the right rooftop, and you'll find a Womp Rat shooting gallery mini-game. Done using the landspeeder? Find the hidden used vehicle lot and sell it to the Jawas for studs. Want more studs for your speeder? Run it through the car wash first to tidy it up before selling.
Sure enough, at the end of the stage you meet up with Han Solo and his faithful Wookiee partner, Chewbacca, where you can take control of them as well.
Chapter 4: Rescue the Princess
Playable Characters: Luke Skywalker (stormtrooper), Han Solo (stormtrooper), Ben Kenobi, Chewbacca, R2-D2, C-3PO
From Tatooine, it's off to the Death Star to save Princess Leia before she's executed. Since the Death Star is crawling with stormtroopers, it would be best to try and blend in. Luckily, Luke and Han have donned a couple of stolen stormtrooper uniforms, but in this game, they don't have helmets. Luckily, whenever you get to a door that only stormtroopers can get through (there are cameras mounted near the doors), there tends to be a helmet dispenser nearby. In a cute touch, all the characters can use the dispenser with some humorous results -- Chewbacca's head is too large for the helmet to fit on, so it sits awkwardly atop his Wookiee dome. When Luke and Han are wearing the helmets, enemy stormtroopers will ignore them. That is, unless one of the heroes starts shooting.
In addition to stormtroopers, you'll also face off against TIE fighter pilots and Imperial officers. Near the end of the stage, you must provide cover fire for a computer-controlled Ben Kenobi as he attempts to shut down the tractor beam that is keeping the Millennium Falcon aboard the Death Star.
Chapter 5: Death Star Escape
Playable Characters: Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia
This level is the second half of your romp through the Death Star. With Leia freshly sprung from her cell, you begin the stage in the Death Star's trash compactor. Once you escape, it's just a matter of blasting your way through the hordes of stormtroopers until you reach the Falcon. This level contains a fairly complicated puzzle that involves multiple character swaps and lever switching.
Chapter 6: Rebel Attack
Playable Characters: X-wing
The final chapter in A New Hope is, as you might imagine, the assault on the Death Star. The first portion of this level is seen from a near top-down view, as you maneuver your X-wing across the battle station's surface, shooting down TIE fighters and dodging enemy fire. You will occasionally encounter force fields that block your path. To get past them, you must destroy the shields' generators by finding a bomb dispenser. Flying over the dispenser allows you to drag a bomb behind your ship and deliver it to the generators. Your X-wing is capable of pulling off a few advanced moves like loops, barrel rolls, and 180° turns.
The second half of the stage is the familiar run down the Death Star's trench. The viewpoint shifts to the traditional behind-the-X-wing view. Once you outrun Darth Vader and his TIE fighter escorts, you have to drop some proton torpedoes into the vulnerable exhaust port. In this game, the port is protected by a shield, so "blowing this thing and going home" won't be as simple as it was in the movie.
LEGO Star Wars II treats ships just like it treats characters. That is, when you play as a ship in the story mode, you can then unlock it to play in other levels. Once you gain access to a few new vehicles, you'll want to replay this stage and explore areas that the X-wing can't get to. Other confirmed ships that you can play as are Y-wings, A-wings, snowspeeders, TIE fighters, Imperial shuttles, and the Millennium Falcon.
If this early peek is anything to go by, it looks like LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy is going to be even better than its predecessor. Next month, we will take a closer look at the next third of the game, the part based on The Empire Strikes Back. We'll also have a look at the game's new create-a-character mode. Be sure to check it out.
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