I finally found some time to get back to playing LEGO Star Wars II with my sister. We were able to complete it in three or four sessions. While I had mixed feelings about this game, it can be analyzed through two very different perspectives: that of the critic and that of those looking to have a fun time.

As a critic, I have several reservations. The first game had straightforward gameplay and a clear path. I was able to play it with my four-year old cousin and still go in the correct general direction. With this game, however, we often found ourselves wandering around rooms, trying to push and pull and jump on everything. We kept scratching our heads, asking, “What do we do now?” We had to resort to a strategy guide online almost every level, while a strategy guide to the last game would be a joke. There was very limited help in the game (i.e. no real tutorial) and success in some levels seemed to be based on sheer luck.

My sister and I would sometimes find ourselves shouting at each other, thinking the other incompetent because the simplest task for the character was ridiculously complicated. One such incident occurred when we were trying to put on stormtrooper hats at a stormtrooper hat machine. These machines are generally placed in the screen before the stormtrooper-activated doors. The screen with the doors had guards that would fire at you, and when a character was hit, they would lose their hat. The guards would not re-spawn. Unfortunately, one of the hat machines was placed in front of a point where enemies would re-spawn at regular intervals. My sister and I would end up arguing, the guards (or even one of us) would end up shooting the other and then the hat machine efforts would go to waste. It was the frivolousness of such efforts that made the play frustrating at times.

The game was far too difficult for small children, making it a poor family game (as it was advertised). From a critical perspective, I felt that this was not a very strong sequel to the original LEGO Star Wars. I have told many other people of my frustration and how it is simply better to stick with the original.

On the other hand, I have to give this game some credit. Thinking back to Bernie DeKovern’s Well-Played Game, it isn’t always about winning or feeling happy and relaxed. Sometimes being totally involved in the game is valuable. Many of DeKoven’s guidelines, such as the willingness to play, safety, trust, and familiarity were met while my sister and I were playing. It did give us a reason to block out time to be together and bond over head-scratching puzzles. Occasionally, the trust was broken (such as the mistaken incompetence issues mentioned above), but we do trust each other to delegate tasks in the cooperative game mode.

The issue of familiarity reminds me of another reason that I had to love this game: it included memorable characters from one of the most beloved series of my childhood. We eagerly anticipated the Endor level for the chance to play an Ewok. Much to our dismay, there was only one Ewok, but we each took a turn and found Wicket adorable even when we were not in control of him. (Although I cannot guarantee that Wicket was always squished by accident under my Chicken Walker’s mechanical foot).

While the familiarity with the series made me roll my eyes at the slapstick-laden movies (such as Darth Vader coughing in the steam as his spaceship’s door is lowered), I have to admit that I did enjoy seeing Star Wars in a friendly LEGO atmosphere. My sister enjoys watching me play games more than playing them, and this one allowed her to join in with relatively little difficulty (compared to my usual RPGs or plaformers). Together, I think we were able to have a well-played game, even if the game was not as well-made as its predecessor.  

I have been so busy lately that I have neglected games at home. This has happened to me multiple times during my school career, and each time I feel myself getting increasingly anxious. Neglecting games means denying a real passion of mine, and I have decided that I really must make more time for fun games. So made a date with my sister tonight to play LEGO Star Wars II, a game that was released a week ago last Tuesday and I have talked about excitedly to no end. It was wonderful to finally sit down and play it with a pal; after all, its real strength is the co-op mode.

I was a huge fan of the first LEGO Star Wars for its cleverness and good-natured fun. There were unlimited lives and simple puzzles that depended on each player’s unique abilities. I had played it multiple times, with five different people between the ages of four and 24. I have found few games that can match it in appeal for a co-op game that even non-gamers can enjoy.

LEGO Star Wars II is based on the original trilogy (whereas the first was based on the new trilogy). The sequel is based on the movies I grew up with as a child, making it much more of a nostalgic experience for me. We didn’t have a large amount of time to play this evening, but it was enough to notice a few key differences.

In the first game, you would lose health points if you shot an object close to you (in order to get money inside it). You are not harmed by the exploding objects in the second game, which is nice since you don’t have to be as careful. There are also a couple of doors specific to characters you can unlock later. There were only a couple of locked doors in the first game. The new design really encourages the free play mode, which I have found to be one of the best features in the original game. Free play is an excellent way to show off the kitschy value of Star Wars scenes completely redone with LEGOs, as non-gamers can enjoy exploring the familiar worlds with less pressure. Also, the levels are more detailed. The graphics are better and there are more intricate interactions with the environment (such as sliding off awnings and sandhills or riding creatures and vehicles). The expanded environments can make it more difficult to determine where to go next, but it’s simple enough for most older players.

The original game also had a large dependency on characters who could use the Force to manipulate the environment. A Jedi was necessary in almost every situation, but it fit with the story. In the classic movies, the Jedi aren’t always around. This problem was easily overcome by allowing any character (except droids) to build with LEGO pieces. I had wished that characters could build in the first game, since it seems such an integral part of the LEGO theme. It is also very funny to watch a character’s arms flailing as the LEGO pieces are assembled.

From the small amount of time I have spent with the new LEGO Star Wars, I am quite pleased. While it is no perfect, there seem to be a lot of nice features to help keep the game challenging for adults but still accessible and fun for children. I am excited to play more and learn about all the new features. I hope it is another keeper because I do love playing games with non-gamers friends.