Controversial opinion incoming -- I didn't think The Force Awakens was the best Star Wars. I know, I know. Maybe it isn't as controversial to say as it was back in December, but anyone who sees it is seemingly contractually obligated to sing its praises because of how cool and progressive it is. Yet, I had a few issues with the film that prevented it from ascending into the pantheon of greatness with Empire Strikes Back. It was a great action film though, and the LEGO rendition reflects that. You are logged out. LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens (3DS, PC, PS3, PS4 [reviewed], Vita, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One)Developer: Traveller's TalesPublisher: Warner Bros. Interactive EntertainmentReleased: June 28, 2016MSRP: $29.99 (3DS, Vita), $49.99 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360), $59.99 (PS4, Wii U, Xbox One) I'm going to stop right now and recommend that if you're a diehard fan of Force Awakens, the game will immediately appeal to you. If you thought that because the project only focuses on one film, not several (like past entries that encompassed trilogies) that it wouldn't have enough stories to tell, you'd be wrong.
Take the tale of how C3PO got his shiny new red arm for example (which matches up with the comic, and is also a Sony console bonus, by the way), or why the First Order was ready to pounce on Jakku at the start of the movie, and you'll have an idea of what it's trying to do. Like the fact that Traveller's Tales shifted to full-on voice acting instead of the gibberish. There was a time when that was all we needed, and the original fully-voiced releases bordered on "we cut this directly from the film" territory, but over time it has improved. With LEGO Force Awakens, the voice-overs allow for more comedic situations on top of the slapstick and situational routines that the developer has already nailed for the past decade. A lot of it is fanservice -- both for the source material and LEGO -- but it's lovingly done. Basically everyone from the film reprises their roles, which is of particular note because Gwendoline Christie (Captain Phasma) actually has a larger role in the game than she does in the flick.
Getting back to the expanded stories angle, you'll see things like Han and Chewie searching for those big tentacle monsters (Rathars) you see in the movie. I mean, just don't go in expecting big reveals like the identity of Snoke, and you'll be happy. Its numerous gaidens are tastefully done to the point where they're giving you, well, a taste of new storylines, without going overboard. Of course, there's lots of Scooby-Doo moments inside of those revelations. These games have more become novels than anything -- their own art form that doesn't stray too far from the source, getting the point across while also injecting some humor. Jokes range from things so silly that even kids won't laugh at them (trombone-playing Ewoks) to delightful revisionist history, like Luke giving Vader a crudely drawn crayon portrait to entice him to unite against Palpatine. There is one exception, though -- the prologue. Players inexplicably have to relive the Battle of Endor, which I estimate maybe 1% of the entire human population who has access to a television probably hasn't seen by now.
And it's not just a quick movie explaining how Luke bested the Emperor and the Rebels basically took down the Empire -- it's a near 30-minute retread of past events, which were already depicted in a LEGO Star Wars game. It's not excruciatingly bad or anything, it's just odd padding. From there you'll jump 30 years later to Poe's POV, right before the start of Awakens. Note that this is still a family game. For most of the adventure you'll press a button to build a contraption that will solve the very light puzzles in your way, mash the attack button to destroy everything, and collect little bits to unlock more upgrades or vehicles. Death is merely a momentary fleeting inconvenience, as you'll lose a little currency (which is used to buy enhancements that you don't need, because again, death is meaningless), and that's it. Puzzles usually amount to "build this thing to collect the water, then press this thing to dump it on a fire." Playing with a friend is especially key to circumventing these dull passages, so you can tackle them twice as fast (plus, the AI can be painfully unresponsive).
You have to give this version credit though as it tries to iterate a bit. The new cover mechanic brings me back to my days playing the relatively obscure Star Wars: Rebel Assault series, in that it's basic, but functional and fun. It also looks great on current-gen systems, providing a cool-looking sheen on the figures that make them look cartoony, but in the style of actual, living LEGOs. I can see why kids love this series so much given how authentic it is. Authenticity, mind, that is marred by occasional glitches and re-appearing objects (none of which have been game-breaking for me). LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens still feels limited in nature, but it's a better, more pointed effort than Marvel's Avengers, which was all over the place. It might feel a little more stretched if you didn't go bonkers over Abrams' film, but if you're really anxious to hang out with Finn and the gang again, this is a good opportunity. [This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]
LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens reviewed by Chris Carter7GOODA solid game that definitely has an audience. Might lack replay value, could be too short or there are some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.How we score: The Destructoid Reviews GuideThe Lego franchise has been around for a long time now, and has turned our favorite movie adaptations into comical Lego-filled games that for the most part have been pretty solid. Although the formula is starting to wear out it’s welcome, Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens showcased a lot of promise in adding new elements to the series, along with bringing home the successful movie into a video game adaptation for Nintendo owners who have been looking for new games to play. Problems exist within this universe though that hold The Force Awakens back from being a solid purchase. The game obviously follows the plot of The Force Awakens movie, which was a huge blockbuster success. TT Games went above and beyond this though, and added canon content to the story that is officially accepted within the Star Wars timeline, which brings about a nice touch.
You will encounter various locations from the movie, along with characters as well. For those who haven’t seen the film, I won’t talk too much of the story, but it is an accurate representation of the movie. The game also has full voice acting and music from the film, and this is where we see our first problem with the game: the presentation values are all over the place. Some audio clips are loud and crisp, and some are quiet and muffled. I thought maybe my audio set-up was to blame for the varying quality in sound, but it wasn’t. I know some dialogue was ripped from the film, but you would think the audio clips would at least be of the same quality and volume as those which were recorded just for the game, but it’s not. It might not seem like a huge issues, but it really takes you out of the experience when you are trying to immerse yourself in the Star Wars universe. LEGO games have always followed a consistent formula, but Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens attempts to add some new elements to the mix.
First up is a cover system that is used in certain areas, which I found to be well done. Your character takes cover behind various objects in heavy-fire shoot outs, and it has a “Gears of War” feel to it that is rather enjoyable in breaking up the standard “smash everything and build” gameplay. Also added into the mix are some flying stages that have you controlling various spacecraft from the Star Wars universe, which once again is a nice break in the gameplay and helps the game flow much easier. As enjoyable as these added elements are, the gameplay as a whole suffers from one huge issues: framerate. LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens runs at a very plodding and janky framerate that cripples the enjoyment of the experience for me. It’s more noticeable when a lot of action is happening, but even during mellow segments you will notice a lag that just detracts from the overall experience of the game, and can even impact certain things you have to do in order to advance. I checked other versions of the game such as the PS4 one to see if this was an issue across the board with all versions, but it’s not.