Have You been disappointed with the Star Wars games that try too hard to be as much like the movies as possible and fail miserably to capture the excitement? Got a younger member of the family who is a Star Wars fan and wants to play a Star Wars game but just does not have the advanced gaming skills yet? If the answer to either of those questions is “yes”, the game for you is here. LEGO Star Wars doesn’t try to be 100 percent faithful to the movies and it is playable by kids with less-developed gaming skills. What this very surprising game delivers is a short but replayable game rendered in LEGO blocks that is almost guaranteed to charm even the most jaded gamer, LEGO builder or Star Wars fan.

Following the action of Star Wars Episodes I, II and III (and one special bonus level) only in a big-picture sort of way, LEGO Star Wars nonetheless manages to adequately convey the Star Wars epic, and at the same time handle the whole thing with more humor, and possibly better acting, than the movies did. (Yes, Anakin Skywalker actually plays better as a block of plastic than as the movies’ block of wood.) With almost everything in this game made out of virtual LEGO pieces, things change a bit. Battle droids get blasted into little LEGO pieces rather than so much scrap metal. People go to pieces when killed the same way. No blood and gore—just LEGO pieces.

The actual structure of the game is played out as the three episodes, each divided into chapters that take their level design from a major scene in the movies. For example, one chapter might have Amidala fighting to retake the palace on Naboo like at the end of Episode I. Once the very first chapter of Episode I is completed, all the episodes open for play. So if you want to play two chapters of Episode I and then jump into a few Episode III chapters, that is completely up to you. The game will keep track of your progress no matter how you want to play. Of course all of the action is LEGO style. And since you never hear a LEGO talk, the story is told more like a pantomime with a few grunt, bleeps, yelps, etc (and two very disturbing pops at the end of Ep.III) to fill things in.

In any chapter the gamer is playing with at least two characters and often more. Each character has a special move, ability or attack that makes him or her special and important to the game. Naturally Jedi characters wield The Force. Not exactly an offensive powerhouse, R2-D2 is a whiz at hacking some doors. Jar Jar Binks (may he join the Ewoks in movie hell) is no fighter but he has a very long jump, enabling him to reach higher areas. By facing another character and pressing the appropriate button, the player can instantly take control of any character in his party and employ his special abilities. Once a character is met or defeated in the game, that character is either given to the player or may be purchased for collected game currency. This is where the replay value of the game comes in. Once an area is completed, it is open for “free play.” In free play the gamer may select the main character he wishes to play with. By using new characters with different abilities than those the level is played with in story mode, suddenly blocked area open up and things once out of reach are available.

One of the biggest problems with this title for an adult gamer is the very short story mode. If you put your head down and just plow through the game’s story mode without looking for all the unlockables and hidden stuff, the whole thing can be played through in little more time than it takes to watch all three movies. The fact that the game’s difficulty is also way easy (from an experienced gamer’s point of view) does not help matters either. As mentioned before, the game’s lasting appeal is more wrapped up in the unlocking of characters and obtaining all the secret items by replaying levels with new characters, something younger players seem to get a kick out of but it is not quite as big a draw for an older crowd.

Of course this is really a game for children. (The fact that an adult can play the game and really enjoy it is only a happy coincidence.) It is supposed to be easy and forgiving. Controls are simple, generally only using a directional control to move and four buttons to jump, attack, use the character’s special ability and switch between characters. The control of the game is responsive and tight. No cheap deaths because a button press didn’t register. The few simple puzzles are no-brainers if the player is a reasonably-bright prepubescent. The only significant shortcomings in the technical aspects of the game are a less-than-stellar in-game camera with no manual control to take command of it and the fact that the game cannot be saved at will. The game only saves once a save point is reached. Not good for kids who are at the mercy of their parents for time. I know my mom would never have accepted the excuse, “I can’t come right now. I have to finish this level so I can save my place.” Fortunately my wife does buy that excuse. (Don’t tell her it is usually BS.)

A great strength of LEGO Star Wars is its two-player cooperative mode. It can be a good teacher to help kids learn to work together or (since the game is enjoyable to adults without overwhelming children) a terrific way for a parent to spend some gaming time with their kids. In many ways the game feels designed specifically for coop play. The AI takes up the slack okay when you’re on your own, but the game really shines when two players get into the action.

Graphically the game looks really good. It pulls off the LEGO style well. In reality, the whole world does not look like it was made of LEGO. Structures, ground and other large elements are more traditional looking. But all the people, vehicles, ships, small décor elements and the like are all LEGO pieces. As mentioned, there is no voice acting, but the stirring John Williams music from the movies is here along with the very distinctive weapons and vehicle sounds. This gives the audio an authenticity that clashes wonderfully with the whimsical treatment the graphics give the game.

Since LEGO Star Wars really was designed as a kids game, many of the problems (such as how easy and short it is if you’re not an 8-year-old, game-item collector) can be forgiven. The in-game camera can also be an annoyance at time. But all these can be generally overlooked because the game is plain fun and just bleeds charm. I defy any gamer with even a modicum of affection for Star Wars or LEGO to play this game and not have a good time with a big grin on his face.