It’s weird to think 17 years have passed since the original LEGO Star Wars game hit the PS2 and TT Games seemingly achieved the impossible – make the prequel trilogy not completely suck.
A combination of brilliant brick-based buffoonery, simple pick-up and play puzzle platforming, and laser-focused, laugh out loud humour secured LEGO Star Wars place as one of the best games of that console generation, and the start of a series of games that have almost become a right of passage for generations of young gamers since.
Now almost two decades later, and a stack of games lampooning every major movie franchise of the last twenty years, TTGames return to where it all began with LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga.
Players embark on an epic journey to a galaxy far far away that takes in all nine mainline Star Wars films. Like previous LEGO games, each episode of The Skywalker Saga is treated as its own mini-adventure that hits all the major plot points of each film. What The Skywalker Saga does differently from earlier games in the series though is how it rewards exploration by opening up the major locations in each film, packing them with additional side quests, puzzles, hidden jokes, and opportunities to upgrade and unlock new characters.
Though you can tackle the three trilogies in any order, you have to start with the first chapter and play through them in order. So you can’t just jump straight to the parts first. If you were wondering, they are; Empire, Revenge of the Sith, and The Last Jedi (fight me!).
Whatever point of the Ennealogy you decide to jump into first, you are treated to a fantastically funny trip to a galaxy far far away, filled with sight gags and plenty of slapstick. As always, the gags are the star of the show and it’s worth playing through the whole all nine episodes at least once just for the cut scenes.
Highlights include Obi-wan making sure he has the higher round, Kylo Ren Vader stan, Anakin returning to his desk to do some colouring in the Jedi Council chamber, and a brilliant answer to did Han shoot first?.
It’s not just The Skywalker Saga’s cut scenes full of silly asides. Every level is peppered with sight gags and easter eggs. You will be able to find where Lando keeps his capes, Stormtroopers goofing off in a hot tub, pissed that their white armour has been died pink, and even taking part in a spot of Tai Chi, and the rebels sneaking into installations in all kinds of silly costumes.
The Skywalker Saga is by far the best looking LEGO game too and takes full advantage of current-gen consoles, running at a solid 60 frames a second while looking like an animated movie. Surfaces accurately reflect light, the whole cast looks like something out of a Pixar movie, and the game’s numerous vehicles and spaceships are constructed in exacting detail to look just like real-life lego sets. It’s impressive stuff and does a great job of dragging you into the Star Wars universe as much as the LEGO one.
Although The Skywalker Saga feels more cinematic than previous entries, at its core, it’s still the same formula we all know and love. A great mix of character-based puzzle-solving, simple platforming, and slap-happy combat. The Sky Walker Saga’s huge cast (there are 380 characters to unlock + DLC)
are each divided into different classes, each with their own skill tree to unlock new abilities and attacks unlocked by collecting bricks earned by playing through the main campaign and numerous side quests littered throughout each level.
Combat for the best part is the same as it’s ever been but slightly tweaked to include some fun combo opportunities for players that want to do more than just hammer the attack button, though that is still an option.
Boss battles are a little more engaging but are more like fun set pieces rather than a demanding end of level challenges. These include multi-level fights with Kylo Ren and Vadar, as well as a tussle with a trash compactor monster.
Speaking of set pieces, the vehicle sections are superb. You can fly craft across the galaxy, take part in dog fights takedown AT-Ats, take part in the trench run, and even help Anakin win at the big pod racing meet
The challenge has never been the point of this series though, it’s about the laughs you have along the way and LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is another fine addition to a series that’s best described as a gateway drug for non-gamers and youngsters alike.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is another lovingly crafted, and hilarious addition to the long-running series.
Though it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it does just enough new things to move the LEGO series forward in a myriad of small ways while being not only the best looking game in the series but the hardware it’s running on.
If you’re a Star Wars or LEGO fan, picking up LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is an absolute a no-brainer, if you have kids you should definitely give in to their endless demands for it, and if you are a childless 30 something slob like me, with a penchant for a good parody, and don’t completely hate The Phantom Menace, I couldn’t recommend it enough.