Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars forced to March 22

The Force has not been strong with the latest Lego Star Wars title, as The Clone Wars was originally pegged to debut last fall. It later was pushed to a broad March 2011 window.

Now, the latest comical block title has a definitive date with retail. LucasArts has confirmed that Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars will now launch on March 22 in North America. The company did not offer a European release date, but March 25 would seem likely.

Developer Traveller's Tales will introduce new battle modes with Lego Star Wars III, including close-encounter combat techniques and the ability to build customized bases and fortresses. Gamers can take the side of either a Jedi or a Separatist, each of which comes with its own special abilities.

The game is slated to arrive on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, Wii, DS, and PSP. (A 3DS version is also planned, though its release date is unclear.) It is the first Lego game since Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4, which shipped last May. For more on the latest Star Wars entry, check out GameSpot's most recent hands-on preview with Lego Stars Wars III: The Clone Wars.