Lego: Star Wars The Force Awakens Review - Nice addition to the Lego formula.

By Sam Coles:

Lego games over the years have not been my favourite genre and that is due to the fact they haven’t changed the formula for the best part of 10 years. Lego: Star Wars The Force Awakens has my attention not just because it’s set in one of my favourite films in recent memory, well that is a big factor. They throw in different gameplay mechanics to spice up the game just enough to make it different.

The story retells scenes from the movie but in cute Lego form with comedic ques, however the start of the game start s in Episode VI on the battle of Endor which serves as a tutorial with the new mechanics as well as the fight with Vader on the Death Star II. Like the other games the comedy is great with slap stick moments, but the problem I have like Lego Marvel Avengers is the fact they take the dialogue from the films and it seems out of place with the silly moments.  I wish TT games would go back to the old style of the Lego games where there is no dialogue and they have to convey the scene through hand gestures and visual ques; it’s funnier that way because it’s like a silent slap stick movie.

The gameplay is no different to any other Lego game you have combat which is still the weakest part of the game I don’t know why TT have not fixed this yet it still feels extremely clunky. What you’ll be doing mostly is platforming, puzzle solving and building. The puzzles aren’t particularly difficult but I will give it the benefit of the doubt because this game is aimed at a young audience. Building has been given an extra layer to it because they maybe more than one contraption to help you solve your current predicament. 

They’ve added in air combat sequences which are simple but really fun, but they don’t make the inverted controls the default which is a pain with standard look I would recommend switching to inverted with the flying sequences take make things easier.

The Lego games have never wowed me with the graphics, but this game has beautiful visuals with the environments even the Lego character models look really good. There is an excellent use of depth of field throughout the cutscenes and even during gameplay when you’re focusing on something. The sound design is top notch, but you should expect that from a Star Wars themed game with great explosion and blaster sounds to the superb musical score provided by the one and only John Williams.

Overall I was surprised how much I like Lego: Star Wars The Force Awakens because usually I despise the Lego games due to their repetitive nature and no innovation to the formula, but this game adds just enough to make it feel fresh. Go out and get!