Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga - The Good, the Bad, and the Ridiculous
For a change the game reviewed is not M rated, or really T rated for that matter. Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (to be known as LSW:TCS from here on in) is basically a compilation of the original LSW, and LSW2. So, it's Episodes 1-3 and 4-6 wrapped into one neat and tidy package (if only they'd do that with the DVD movie releases too).
THE GOOD
While the game itself is designed for a younger audience it is still enjoyable by an older crowd who may have grown up with the original films. Game play is based off of a simple but solid platformer style action, and combat with a simple one button attack system for sabers and blasters that actually includes blaster deflection and dodging actions for the character types. Many of the playable characters have special abilities for them; such as bounty hunters being able to toss thermal detonators, Jango & Adult Boba Fett able to traverse long distances with their jet packs, Jedi/Sith able to use the force to pull/push/manipulate items, droids can unlock some doors, non-Jedi can rappel up at special spots, and small characters can crawl through vents.
Besides having your players go through scenes from the movies (humorously acted out by 'mute' Lego characters), there are also several vehicle only sections for things like pod racing, space fighters, destroying walkers, Death Star Runs and the legendary Millennium Falcon. While not overtly complex these sequences can be very fun and sometimes frustrating as your ship can get destroyed often. Thankfully when you 'die' the game doesn't stop, but rather you respawn and have to collect the studs that are used as in game currency that are dropped by your death.
The studs themselves are plentiful and are required in order to purchase upgrades, some new characters and vehicles and some of the gold blocks used to access special levels in the game. Hidden throughout the levels are hard to reach studs, special red bricks, and mini-kits that are used to assemble vehicles related to that particular part of the films (Millennium Falcon, X-wing, Pod Racer, Tie Fighter, ect). Sadly though that cannot be collected the first time through the level, but more on that in the next section. A neat feature is that in several levels you can assemble Lego blocks to make everything from switches, droids, speeders, and even the two legged walkers and pilot said vehicles whenever you wish and help gameplay.
The game itself is actually designed to be played by two players, making it a good game to play with friends, kids, or parents as you can help one another in it.
Humor is also a large part of the game, ranging from the silly cut scenes to building a disco in Jabba's Barge so Gamorrean Guards can play air guitar on their axes to a metal version of the Imperial March (I kid you not).
THE BAD
Sadly, the camera angle is mostly static so it makes it hard sometimes to see what you are doing, where you need to go, or where enemies are. Of course this is normally the curse of platformers anyway.
The designers also made it so you have to play through a second time in order to unlock character specific areas (bounry hunter, Droid, Stormtrooper, TIE fighter, Sith, even Jedi) that are not normally open during your first play through. It basically forces you to play the whole game again just so you can get a greater completion total. On that subject, even if you play through the whole game your first time and beat it, you only get a 50% completion level and then must go through again to find all the little hidden areas that were denied to you on your first play through.
Vehicle control is a little over simplified and slugish on turning sometimes, making controlling an AT-ST a tricky proceedure in the cramps streets of Mos Eisley. Aiming with most of the ships is more guess based than skill as you don't get a pipper showing where you are shooting at.
THE UGLY
Nope, none, nothing. It's a kids game after all. I mean really, did you actually expect something here?
