Just as Good the Second Time Around
To review LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga on a whole would be a complete waste of your time. Why is that? Simple. Because this latest LSW installment is actually a compilation of LSW and LSW II: The Original Saga. Finally, Star Wars fans can play through the entire saga from the opening Trade Federation scene of Episode One to the fall of the Empire in (basically) one sitting. It's certainly possible if you have quite a lot of time on your hands. For gamers new to the LSW series, this compilation is an excellent introduction. But for those who have already played the two games, the big question you'll have to ask yourself is this: is LSW worth playing again?
Possibly. Still, the first LSW game hit store shelves back in April 2005, and you can pick up both games for the Xbox, PlayStation 2, GameCube and PC for (an assumed) cheap price. In order to generate that "play me" excitement for returning fans of the original games, there needed to be something else incorporated into the new package, something to make that additional hit to the wallet seem worthwhile. Traveller's Tales and LucasArts have cleverly put together a package that should appeal to both the newcomers and the die-hard LSW fans. Unfortunately, it may not be enough to justify shelling out hard-earned cash, but rather serve as a good week's rental - unless you're a die-hard LSW fan, that is.
Truth be told, the main story campaign is not long in length. What actually makes the bulk of this compilation somewhat meaty is the extra modes unlocked after each episode's completed chapter, as well as the bonus levels associated with each episode.
The LEGO Star Wars games perfectly recreate moments from the movies in the LEGO universe.
Let's draw up a map: players start out in the Mos Eisley Cantina (along with your designated sidekick). There gamers can purchase items at the bar including hints, characters/vehicles, extra items, gold bricks used to build special doors, story clips and the ability to enter cheat codes (the monetary system uses jewel-like "studs" found throughout each chapter). Also within the Cantina are seven doors, six leading to each episode, and one door that leads to the bonus area. The bonus room contains six stacks of gold bricks that players collect through the episodes. In turn, when each brick is collected for its associated stack, you build these special doors and unlock bonus stages: the Pod Race, Anakin's Flight (deleted from the original release), Gunship Cavalry and more.
On that same note, by returning to the cantina and entering one of the episode doors, gamers will find a special extension of the cantina featuring six chapter doors and one special door (as an example, the side lounge for Episode 5 comes straight from Hoth). Obviously each one of these doors unlocks after gamers complete the previous chapter. They also unlock special modes that players access in the special door: Super Story Mode, Character Bonus and Mini-kit Bonus. On a whole, the new compilation features 162 playable characters, 38 story levels, six bonus levels and 20 bounty hunter levels (now accessible in Episodes one, two and three).
Traveller's Tales redesigned a few levels for this compilation (Gunship Cavalry and Mos Espa Pod Race); incorporated the ability to wear helmets, build and ride vehicles in the prequel episodes and even incorporated Indiana Jones into the roster, available for purchase after viewing the LEGO Indiana Jones trailer (seen in the main Bonus room). There is also the inclusion of the never-before-played high-speed pursuit of bounty hunter Zam Wessell. Gamers also access the Bounty Hunter levels (10 of which are completely new to the compilation) by heading out to the Junkyard just outside the Cantina; Jabba the Hutt waits out in his "office" by the trash.
Clearly, LSW has more to offer than the two original games previously released, and with the additional Wii remote features, this puts the saga in a different light than seen on the other next-gen versions - if you can handle the gameplay, that is. Again, this isn't the place to rehash the game's platform scheme. Suffice to say that if timed jumps and awkward camera angles are not your cup of tea, then it's best to approach this game with caution. While the game is not fully loaded with difficult jumps and precision timing, this form of gameplay defines the overall compilation. There are definite moments of frustration, making you ask how this really defines "fun" when clearly it's not. Yet, there are stages throughout all six episodes that really stand out and make you wonder why the game isn't always this enjoyable.
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