LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Overview -
'Lego Star Wars' was the inaugural entry in the now eponymous 'Lego' video game series from Traveller's Tales, which has grown into a massive following with many other licenses in the stable. The first game had humble beginnings on the likes of such machines as the Game Boy Advance, Gamecube, and a gadget that was called simply "Xbox" with no other words or numbers after it. This most recent game is the companion to 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens', and is the fifth 'Lego Star Wars'.
Video Review
'The Force Awakens' sports a more modern translucent look in its UI, a marked departure from the aged arcade decorations of previous outings. There are also the incremental changes that accompany every successive release, particularly in explosions and other effects. The big spaceship figurines look just how I would imagine the real life toys would be, except perhaps more shiny. Slowdown is not usually a problem, but the bigger maps cause the engine to act up.
Audio Review
TT’s dedication to immersion is on full display with the production value of the voice acting, which has all been transferred from the film. Some new dialogue has even been recorded for the special levels (see some details below). The sound effects and music are similarly stellar.
Final Thoughts
'The Force Awakens' is one of the better 'Lego Star Wars' in recent memory. TT is paying attention to players and throwing in more variety. Even if we’ve seen all of this variety before, it’s very welcome in the 'Lego' world. If you haven’t been a huge fan of the series to date, this might not change your mind, but the returning fans will find a lot of 'Star Wars' to do.
