LE GO Star Wars: The Force Awakens
The winning combo of Star Wars and LEGO strikes back
$39.99 Developer TT Fusion/Feral Interactive, feralinteractive.com Requirements OS X 10.10.5 or later, 1.8GHz Intel processor, 4GB RAM, Intel HD 5000/AMD 4850/NVIDIA 130 graphics, 18GB storage At this point, there could be a LEGO video game of any franchise and people would play it. Of course, not all sagas are Star Wars, and the latest LEGO adaptation has been treated with special care. LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens adds a few new elements to the tried-and-true formula, but it’s the extra story content and humorous Easter eggs that make it a special treat.
The main beats of the story follow the film’s plot, though some events have been fudged to fit LEGO’s quirky brand of storytelling. Jakku, the Millennium Falcon, and even Endor have been bricked, with players taking the roles of the film’s many memorable characters.
Rey can climb and use her staff to great impact, while Chewbacca is able to throw thermal detonators, and Han Solo’s grappling hook comes in handy. It’s a charming way to experience the story again, but better yet, there are hidden tidbits throughout just waiting to be found. Unlockable side missions reveal more lore, load screens spout trivia, and many of the cast even recorded additional dialog.
For the most part, no matter which character you are, you’ll be using your weapon of choice to smash the environment, collect hidden treasures, and bash bad guys. It also adds third-person shooting portions – complete with cover! – and while they play a bit like Baby’s First Shooter, it’s a fun way to shake things up.
Also new is building multiple contraptions with the same pile of LEGO bricks, either to unlock a secret or continue in the game. This adds a bit more depth to a relatively simple game. It’s unfortunate, though, that after so many years there are still camera issues and glitches, such as characters falling through floors into space.
the bottom line. This doesn’t fix what’s not broken, building on the simple-but-fun LEGO game formula with tidbits for Star Wars diehards.