I foresee a new trend in Lego games...and it is a good one....
That is not to say, however, that Lego Star Wars skimps in the technical department. The graphics are beautiful, with excellent lighting and shader details, and even a few environmental special effects thrown in for good measure, all nicely implemented within the confines of the game. The character models look almost exactly like their plastic counterparts, with a little more flexibility added for fluid animation. Their varied facial expressions are a nice touch, serving to convey emotions and general goofiness quite well, since the game features no voice acting.
The music and sound effects are also very nice in Lego Star Wars, as they manage to flawlessly capture both the relatively serious themes of Star Wars and the whimsical humor of Lego together in one package. The music will be instantly familiar to any Star Wars fan, providing a nice touch of nostalgia to complement the lighthearted themes of the game. The sound effects are sufficiently goofy, and are exactly what one would expect from a Lego game set in the Star Wars universe.
The controls of the game are also very well done, providing intuitive gameplay for both gamepad and keyboard users alike (although the gamepad is definitely the better choice). The only problem here is a compatibility issue with some game pads that renders the control scheme unchangeable; however, this problem has since been fixed in a patch, so it is really nothing to worry about.
There is no doubt that Lego Star Wars is a technical work of art; however, where it really shines is in the multitude of unlockable extras hidden throughout the game. Players will want to go back to each level and explore every nook and cranny to unlock extra bonus levels, minikits, and dozens of playable characters. Finding everything the game has to offer will reward the player with the ability to play what amounts to an early version of the first level of Lego Star Wars II, the Tantive IV, as Darth Vader.
But above all, the real selling point of this game is its undeniable charm. Rarely have I come across a game that exudes as much universal appeal as this one. Although the humor is often geared towards kids, and is thus goofy and cartoon-ish in nature, it is still enjoyable by adults as well, if only as a reminder of their own childhood. And although the game is rather easy, the option to play with a friend on the same PC and the sheer variety of the game's characters and levels ensures that you will come back to it time and again to search for more of its cleverly hidden extras. This game is a must-own for any gamer of any age, a guaranteed classic that will certainly spend a lot of time in your disk drive, whichever console you choose to play it on.