Lego Star Wars
Publisher: LucasArts
Official Site: www.legostarwarsthevideogame.com

ESRB Rating: E
Reviewed Platform: Xbox
Available Platforms: Xbox, PS2, GameCube, GameBoy Advance, PC
For up to 2 players.

Overall: A-
Violence: B-
Sexual Content: A
Language: A
Alcohol/Drug Use: A

What is this game about?

When it comes to Star Wars video games, there have been quite a few duds. For the most part, they failed to capture the underlying sense of humor that inhabits George LucasÕ six-part space opera. That, or the gameplay just plain stunk.

But Lego Star Wars is chock full of humorous cut scenes (which poke fun at the movies, as well as the plot situations) and the gameplay mechanics are letter perfect for a game aimed at both kids and adults.

Lego Star Wars is a compilation title that covers the first three films in the trilogy -- that being Episodes I, II and III. None of the characters speak, but the designers have incorporated a little slapstick fun into the cutscenes that join the sections of the story together. However, they're so sparse in terms of storytelling that if you haven't seen the movies, you might not really understand the context of the scenes you're playing. Just know that they comprise the key action sequences of the three films.

In terms of the action you'll encounter, there are plenty of duels using Lego-esque lightsabers, some sections where you'll have to rely on your trusty blaster, while others put you into dogfights in starships. Oh, and you can use The Force to move and transform objects or push enemies out of your way. In essence, thereÕs a little bit of everything and the game makes good use of all of the Star Wars sound effects.

Is it fun to play?

Without a doubt, this a game kids and adults will enjoy playing together. The control scheme is user-friendly. My son started playing this game at age six and had no difficulty mastering it within an hour. Whether it's swinging a lightsaber, using The Force to transform broken Lego blocks into a set of stairs, or firing a blaster, simplicity is the order of the day and it works beautifully.

The graphics are cute, the environments surprisingly detailed and the worlds being portrayed are quite colorful and vivid. Everything you see is constructed out of Lego pieces, so it has a really interesting look to it.

The animated sequences arenÕt scenes from the real movies that have been Lego-ized. In fact, thereÕs a little sarcasm at play in most of them that young children wonÕt grasp, but older fans of the series will get a chuckle out of -- like in the opening scene in which the ship the Jedi arrive in is destroyed inside the hanger. One second the pilots are sitting in the cockpit. The next, the ship explodes and theyÕre sitting bewildered in mid-air, before dropping to the floor of the space station.

What do parents need to know about?

From a parentÕs perspective, there is violence in Lego Star Wars, so if you want your child to avoid violent actions of any kind, you may want to consider passing on this title. That said, the violence is cartoonish -- when you hit an enemy with a lightsaber or blaster, they break into little Lego pieces. Most people will see it as pretty benign stuff.

The best thing about this game, from this parentÕs perspective, anyway, is that it affords you a great opportunity to play with your child thanks to the two-person drop-in, drop-out co-operative mode. If one of you has to leave for a minute, you donÕt have to pause the game. You simply hit a button and walk away, allowing the other person to continue on while the computer controls your character. Hit another button when you return and you instantly rejoin the action.

Built into the gameplay are areas where it's vital the two of you work together, such as both of you having to stand on circular spots that cause a wall or a forcefield to open. In other spots, one of you will have to make your character jump onto a box or item, while the other uses The Force to raise it in the air. That often allows you to reach areas where special hidden collectible items are located. By encouraging you to work together, the game really reinforces the team concept, which is a great lesson for kids (and some adults) to learn.

The designers also did a good job of glossing over some of the third movie's darker moments. When Yoda and Obi-Wan enter the Jedi temple and access the logs, there's no visuals of Anakin killing the younglings. And when Anakin gets burnt up, necessitating his transformation into Darth Vader, the scene is neither graphic nor disturbing in the least. You never see Anakin being burned alive.

Lego Star Wars is a game most parents will find that their kids enjoy. ItÕs bright, highly engaging and stresses the importance of teamwork.

Wayne Chamberlain

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