Come watch our Zelda: Breath of the Wild live streamThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildSwitch and Zelda: Breath of the Wild impressionsWill you play Switch more as a console or a portable? Impressions of the final Switch hardwareTomorrow Corporation on initial Switch games, future projectsWill you still pick up Zelda: Breath of the Wild on Wii U?Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer and release date leak *UPDATE* Sony posts official trailer to YouTube Tuesday 2 February 2016 09:17 GMT *UPDATE* Sony has posted the offical Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer to YouTube: Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens appears to be real, as its debut trailer has leaked online as well as an official product listing appearing on the Xbox Store. The trailer features iconic moments from the movie recreated in Lego form, including Kylo Ren’s drawing of his lightsaber, Poe Dameron in the cockpit of the X-Wing and BB-8 rolling through the desert, all given a humourous twist, of course.
A product listing on the official Xbox Store revealed more details about the game, stating that it will bridge the narrative gap between episodes VI and VII. “In LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens, players relive the epic action from the blockbuster film Star Wars: The Force Awakens, retold through the clever and witty LEGO lens” the listing reads. “The game will also feature exclusive playable content that bridges the story gap between Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Gadgets and tech news in pictures The product listing also provides a release date of June 28, with this being a Tuesday, we can expect a UK release date of around July 1. The last Lego Star Wars game was Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars, which launched back in 2011. So fans of both Star Wars and the Lego game series will no doubt be delighted with its long-overdue return. Star Wars the Force AwakensThe games that inspired the movie inspired a game in return.
The Lego Movie Videogame is an enjoyable romp through the movie-inspired main story that captures most of the charm and fun of the original film. For the uninitiated, you star as Emmet, an ordinary construction worker whose destiny is far greater than anticipated. He is “The Special,” a person meant to destroy the Kragel and bring down the evil Lord Business’ master plan. The game takes you through 15 levels that follow the exact story. Some Lego games are original stories (like the Batman trilogy) while some are based on movies (like the Star Wars saga). Because it’s based on the movie, the game is slightly more restricted than the other games in the series. There are 75 characters, most just variations of single characters. For example, Emmet makes up 6-7 of those characters with his different outfits. The mix is fun, featuring unique characters Wildstyle, Vitruvius, Benny, and many more, while licensed heroes Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and more appear. I was slightly disappointed that Han Solo and Lando Calrissian didn’t appear but I’m sure that’s due to licensing agreements.
As in every Lego game, each character generally fits into a category of special skill sets. Emmet can fix things, Vitruvius can perform “secret knocks,” and most characters have the ability as “master builders” to finish certain builds. The locations were fun to run around at first, but unfortunately they wore out their welcome quickly. You start out in Bricksburg, where Emmet lives and works. The Wild West set is a blast and ended up being my favorite of the bunch, particularly the saloon. Cloud Cuckoo Palace featured as the main location in at least 4 levels and featured little to no variation as it felt a bit stretched out. The final battle is spread across the last 3 levels and was most exciting, as you had to use different characters to defeat Lord Business. Throughout the game, you’ll come across dance sections. The dance features every Lego character on screen dancing to “Everything Is Awesome,” the fantastic, uber catchy main theme. As the player, you have to follow the button prompts in order to make the right moves.
This was a nice addition and lets be honest, does it ever get old hearing that song? I might have just got it out of my head finally from the film’s original February 2014 release, and now it’s there to stay. TT Games has rarely deviated from its winning formula and I would still willingly play every Lego game from here until the end of time even if it doesn’t change more than a few slight editions per each entry. The game is enjoyable with a partner but is perfectly acceptable to play on your own. Because of the charm and relative ease found in Lego games, they often play the role of breaking up my lengthy gaming blocks. For example, after playing Destiny, Watch Dogs, and Battlefield: Hardline, it’s good to switch things up and have something that might not require the most intense playtime. I once heard the original Lego Star Wars game called a “snack” and I’ve always felt that was an appropriate description. The voice cast carries over from the movie and helps with the authentic feel.
For the completionists out there that like to hit 100%, The Lego Movie Videogame doesn’t take quite as long as say, Lego Marvel Superheroes. Longer isn’t always better and that is certainly the case here. Because TT Games decided to stick to following the direct script of the movie, side activities had to be limited. The Lego Movie Videogame is a solid game when it comes to the relativity of movie-game tie-ins. There wasn’t much else TT Games could have done in terms of gameplay due to the decision to not stray from the film’s path. If you loved the movie, you’ll enjoy this. + Sights and sounds capture the essence of the movie. -Lack of diversity in characters and levels. -Certain Free Play elements are not as free as they should be. The Lego Movie Videogame was reviewed on an Xbox One. It is also available on PS4, Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii U, Playstation Vita, and iOS. Check out the review of the movie here. Josiah LeRoy is The Geekiverse’s Senior Editor.