LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy [PS2]

The gameplay is much better than it was in the original Lego Star Wars. There are plenty of clever puzzles (brace yourself for a real head-scratcher or two), some exciting vehicle sequences, and even some thrilling battles. And you don't have to go it alone, since the cooperative gameplay is seamlessly built into the game. It's always an option to have a friend or child or parent pick up a controller and immediately join in. But it's worth noting that friendly fire is a constant threat. This makes the co-op game more challenging than letting the AI control the other characters. But death has virtually no sting in Lego Star Wars II. This isn't a punishing game in any way, which is partly why it's perfect for kids and girlfriends. There is never backwards movement here. You're always earning those little studs that you use to buy unlockables.

And there are plenty of unlockables. Plenty. Unlockables, thy name is Lego Star Wars II. There are characters, cheats, and blocks that slowly build vehicles around the game hub in Mos Eisley. The incentives to replay levels are much greater and more explicit than they were in the last game. There are doors that can only be opened by distinct classes of characters and vehicles. There are objects that can only be manipulated by Dark Jedi, or characters with thermal detonators. It's always obvious when you need to come back with someone else, and it's always clear exactly who you need to bring.

The main criticism you can level at Lego Star Wars II is that it's all too easy. It doesn't put up much of a fight. It moves forward no matter what you do, with almost no challenge beyond simply persisting. It's a game that slides by almost effortlessly. If it weren't so charming, it could be utterly forgettable.

Lego Star Wars II looks much better than it has any business looking. For a simple game, there's a lot of elaborate work here to take advantage of nice videocards or an Xbox 360's high-definition output. For such simple graphics, you get fancy effects for depth of field, reflections, lighting, and that glossy plastic sheen of a Lego just out of the box, as yet untouched by sticky fingers. Even the animation of the lightsaber fights is surprisingly good. And the levels are full of little touches like bits of Lego falling from the crumbling ceilings of Echo Base on Hoth.

It's telling that this is probably the best Star Wars game in a long, long time, mainly for how well it recaptures the joy of being a kid watching a movie you loved in a way that only a kid can love a movie. Its enthusiasm is infectious and irresistible. Here's to hoping LucasArts keeps the spirit alive with, dare we hope, a Lego Indiana Jones.