I wasn't expecting much from LEGO Star Wars II, but the game has certainly exceeded my expectations. Before I jump into the details on the game I'll just point out for the few people that can't guess from the games title - LEGO Star Wars II is based on the original trilogy (episodes; IV: A New Hope, V: The Empire Strikes Back and VI: Return of The Jedi) of the popular movie franchise, the big catch being that the entire game’s surroundings, characters and vehicles are all made out of LEGO. The game is truly a joy to play for any Star Wars fan. As you play through the game you get the opportunity to control many characters throughout the game including Obi Wan, Luke, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewy, Yoda, R2, C-3PO, Darth Vader and more - that is just through out the course of your first play through. You can mix and match many LEGO pieces to customize your own characters as well as vehicles.

Gameplay

The gameplay is best described as the usual pick up and play that you would come to expect from similar games of this genre, which is a good thing. The game plays smoothly at all times, from the running and gunning to the light-saber battles and then to the air combat fights. There is a nice bit of variety in there, with many different objectives which can only be completed in a certain way, for example certain objectives require a specific character to open a door or crawl through a small space to reach the objective. The game play is enjoyable, but it is not all rosy, you have no real control over the camera view - it is fixed on your character but at some points in the game it is at an awkward angle where it can be facing your character which means as you move forwards you can't see where you are going, on more than a few occasions I have walked over cliffs to my death.

Graphics

LEGO Star Wars II breaks the norm for multi-format titles; typical multi-format games which appear on last gen consoles tend to be straight ports for our beloved Xbox 360, normally resulting in a game on par with the original Xbox visually with little improvement on the visual flair. However this is not the case here, it is clear that LEGO Star Wars II has had some extra work on it and it really does show in the game’s visuals. The cut-scenes are also something of a treat in their own right as they showcase classic scenes from the films but in the game’s own LEGO theme, but there is an element of comedy to it which is just fantastic. Thinking back after my first play through of the game I actually looked forward to each cut-scene as it sets up the next level but there are some really classic moments with Darth Vader and co which are very humorous. Unfortunately though the cut-scenes can not be skipped, which is annoying as you will need to play through the game on several occasions with different characters to access bonus missions and to find hidden goodies.

Sound

This is one of the game’s strongest points, the sound is authentic and stays true to the Star Wars universe. The soundtrack just helps so much to make an already enjoyable game that much more enjoyable. The soundtrack is as authentic as can get and the background music/effects in the game and in cut-scenes gel so well with the events throughout the game. The characters in the game do not actually speak, however they do mutter, though Darth Vader and Chewy make up for this with their own version of muttering with Darth's heavy breathing to Chewy's some what disturbing groans - again this all adds to the comedy element of the game.

Longevity

There is not much to keep the average gamer coming back for more, after the initial play through. As always the achievements will add some replay value requiring more plays to complete side missions and to collect hidden items, there are also plenty of things to buy in the game with studs which you collect through out the single player game; these range from buying new characters to play through the game with, which is required for the side missions as you can only complete side missions with a specific character. The big thing for me was the inclusion of co-op which enables you and a friend to play through the single player campaign together, sadly this is only local play and does not allow you to play on Xbox Live which I find really disappointing. Regardless of no Xbox Live play, co-op is still a blast to play with a buddy.

Overall

LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy will be a delight to play for any Star Wars fan, the story is short and can easily be completed in a weekend with out breaking a sweat, it will certainly be an enjoyable weekend though. There is some what of a dilemma in my recommendation as I can't decide whether to recommend a purchase or a rental - the game can be bought for as cheap as £29.99 if you shop around, so it’s a much more attractive price. I think the only people that would want to purchase will be the true Star Wars fans that once they have completed the game will stick with it and play through to try and do the side missions and get everything they possibly can from a game that is such a treat to play. For everyone else who just likes Star Wars then I'd recommend a rental, you will enjoy the game but I don't think there is enough replay value to keep the casual gamer interested after their first play through.

There is a demo available for LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy on the Xbox Live Marketplace, courtesy of Microsoft's X06 Bring It Home promotion. So for those who doubt the enjoyment they will get with this game then I recommend you to download the 516MB demo. The force be with you, it may.

The Pros

The Cons