14 DAY TRIAL // I’m a big fan of the LEGO video games, and I also happen to love Star Wars, which would theoretically make LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga a dream come true for me. Although I’ve played LEGO Star Wars games before, I’m particularly excited about The Skywalker Saga since it brings together everything that TT Games has created until now, and then some.
I’ve been in love with LEGO video games for multiple reasons, but what I treasure the most is the fact that they value your time. A game doesn’t have to be 30-40 hours long to be valuable, especially in this day and age when time is the most precious commodity.
LEGO games offer short bursts of pure fun, which is one of the main reasons I love them. The other is the fact that unlocking the Platinum trophy in these games is very easy. It may sound cynical, but the truth is I’m a trophy hunter.
Unfortunately for me, I don’t think LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga will be an “easy Platinum,” not because it’s harder than the previous games, but mostly because it’s longer, much longer. Frankly, I’m stunned by the fact that TT Games managed to adapt all nine entries in the Skywalker saga series of films in a single game.
Earlier this month I had the chance to play a small slice of The Skywalker Saga and I’m happy to say that I’m impressed by all the changes. The biggest change gameplay-wise is the over-the-should camera, which means you’ll be seeing your character from a closer angle. But considering the complete overhaul of the combat system, I find the new angle, typically used by many third-person shooter games, more appropriate.
In my 1-hour playthrough of Chapter IV, I have used lightsabers and blasters to complete the objectives, which by the way, can be achieved in multiple ways. A new combo bar positioned on the right side of the screen shows you what buttons to press to prolong your flurry of hits. I did not pay too much attention to this at first, but as I progressed into the story, I tried to chain as many hits as possible and the animations for achieving a high score felt quite rewarding.
The gunplay has some depth to it, as you can target certain enemy parts to produce maximum damage or stun them. There’s also a basic cover system that makes fights against hordes of enemies much easier to tackle.
But it’s not just the new gameplay mechanics that promise to make The Skywalker Saga one of the best games in the LEGO series. The visuals have been completely overhauled and everything looks very slick. All the environments are made of LEGO pieces, and they look better than ever. Forget anything you’ve seen in the previous LEGO games, The Skywalker Saga feels like a completely different game in the same universe.
It took me about an hour to finish two story missions, although I didn’t explore at all. Considering that the game has nine chapters and each feature five main missions, it will most likely take an average player more than 20 hours to finish the game without tackling any of the side content. If that doesn’t sound impressive, I’ll just add that The Skywalker Saga features 300 playable characters and dozens upon dozens of vehicles and starships waiting to be unlocked.
Conclusion
I can’t wait to fly my Millennium Falcon over Tatooine, hack and slash some enemies as a young Obi-Wan Kenobi, and “blast” my way through hordes of Stormtroopers as Han Solo. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga shapes up to be the best game in the series hands down. If you’re a fan, don’t miss out on this fantastic saga. The game is set for release on PC and consoles on April 5.
