With the success of Lego Star Wars in 2005, Travellers Tales had to make the another game for the original series and luckily for us - they did.
Lego Star Wars 2 as you could of guessed, focuses on Star Wars Episodes IV-VI, and has Travellers Tales have seemed to have correct the mistakes made in the fist game.
You start of in Mos Eisley cantina, playing as Princess Leia, and it's here where you can buy hints, characters, vehicles and enter cheat codes, just like in the first game. A new feature you can now do is to make your own characters, changing their head, body, legs, weapons etc, which adds a nice touch to the game as you can make a Darth Vader wear a gold bikini!
Unfortunately, in the Lego Star Wars 2 on the PS2 or any other home console, you are surrounded by many characters wandering about, fighting and shooting (just like in the first game) but in the PSP version, you don't. This is because the PSP can't handle controlling so many people at one time and so you left on your own, with only the stupid AI character to keep you company. This does make the place seem very isolated and remote but then you don't really spend much time in here anyway. However, you can't help
but enjoy starting a fight between two characters, then having everyone join in until it turns into a mini-war, which is a let down but then even if it did have this, the game would lag and act jerky, so really it's a good thing they left it out.
You start of with A New Hope, playing a level aboard Tantive IV (which you should remember from the original game as this was a secret level you could unlock, although in that one you played as Darth Vader and the level was different). The game play remains very similar to the first game but there are some changes that improve it. Characters can now dodge a laser, which comes in handy when you're stuck in the middle of a battle. Each character also has their own melee attack, which is fun to watch.
Each level is a mix of blasting enemies, solving puzzles and platform jumping, which is no bad thing. Travellers Tales has managed to make this interesting and enjoyable even though it's really all you do in the game. As well as chopping up storm troopers with a light sabre, you also get to fly in some memorable scenes from Star Wars. From dodging TIE Fighters down the Death Star trench to tying up huge AT-AT's with snowspeeders, each flying level has something different. Also, when you get blown up, you don't have to watch the same annoying cut scene like in the first game.
As you unlock more and more of the original trilogy, you collect more and more studs, which can then be used to buy more characters. There are over 50 characters to control, ranging from powerful Sith Lords to simple droids. The more studs you collect in each level, the higher your Jedi Meter will fill up, and when you fill the meter up completely, you get a gold brick. These gold bricks can be collected to unlock extra material, including challenge modes and more. You also have to collect 10 minikits in each level, which then form a vehicle made of Lego outside the cantina. These collectables provide a reason to go back and play the levels again, which is only a good thing.
Some may find this game slightly to easy, but then again, this game is aimed for the younger audience. However, everyone will find something to like in this game - Star Wars lovers, Lego lovers or just people who love to play games. As in the first game, Lego Star Wars 2 is filled with humorous cut scenes, which is clever, seen as there is no dialogue. Travellers Tales have really remained close to the film in this game which Star Wars fans will love. Each level really does look the business and really has that Star Wars sense about them - especially with John Williams's memorable songs in the background.
The game is vast improvement on the original (and it isn't just because it's based on the more popular original films), but that doesn't mean it's without its flaws. If it isn't characters going though certain areas of the levels, as if they are magic, it's the fact that sometimes, the character just doesn't pick up your controls. This is especially true if you're using a light sabre, as you'll find yourself getting shot even though you pressed to block.
Also, the game is a bit button-mashing in some areas, where you're surrounded by many enemies, and all you have to do is repeatedly press one button.
Loading times are ridiculous, taking ages just to go through a door, but then again - it is on a handheld so it's something you'd expect.
Still, the undeniable charm of using the force to break apart a storm trooper into Lego pieces overrides these problems and the fact Travellers tales has managed to squeeze all of this into one game is amazing. Granted, the console versions of the game may have better graphics and characters walking around the cantina - but you can't play them on a train or in a car can you?
Overall, Lego Star Wars 2 on the PSP is a must have. While it does have some minor flaws such as loading times and ghost-towns, that's nothing compared to the fun you can have playing as many different characters in so many unforgettable locations. Whether your on board the Death Star snapping apart storm troopers or in the muddy swamps of Dagobah, shooting bats and other weird creature, you'll never find a boring part in this game. With a variety of game play and some amazing graphics for the PSP, everyone will love this game. Travellers Tales has really made something incredible for the PSP, and let's only hope Indiana Jones and Batman will be this good.
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![Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy [Platinum] PSP](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/105169363.jpg "Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy [Platinum] PSP")
May 4th, 2008
(May 7th, 2008)
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