A long, long time ago in a galaxy far away – well… about 17 years ago – the forces of LEGO and Star Wars merged and we got LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game; the first title in what has become a very much loved and long running series. Now 2022 sees this rich past coming together to create the “ultimate” LEGO Star Wars game, which will not only tell the epic tale across the movie saga, but also gives you a block built galaxy to explore, plus a whole lot more. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga bills itself as fans one-stop shop, as the team at Traveller’s Tales have created a true love letter to all things Star Wars and LEGO, while also being packed with their signature humour. It’s worth saying that it was far from a smooth road for the game, as it was delayed a few times over the years because of recent global events, and full credit to Traveller’s Tales for taking this move as it pays off big time. Now we actually have it in hand it’s clear to see the level of polish and overall quality is next level.
Starting the game you can choose from the three main beginnings of the saga, meaning that The Phantom Menace, A New Hope or The Force Awakens are all available out of the box, and from there you unlock the next movie in the chain as you complete them, which is a nice touch. This means fans both old and new can jump into the trilogy they enjoy the most right away. Gameplay-wise if you have played any LEGO game before you know what’s in store here, though the formula has been streamlined somewhat and that keeps things fresh. One minute you’ll be battling on the Death Star, the next finding yourself pod racing, and then before you know it you’re flying the Millennium Falcon. There’s a shout out to the multi-tiered boss battles which often serve up some of the best combat moments in the game. All while the Skywalker Saga is constantly poking fun at itself with a truly funny sense of humour across the 45 core levels.
There is a great selection of standout levels built around the key moments from the movies, though beware if like me you have completion OCD it’s going to drive you nuts. As in that oh-so LEGO way, you can’t fully complete levels the first time through most of the time. The Skywalker Saga sees you having to replay levels in Free Play mode and exploring the open world sections, with the HUGE cast of characters (each with their own special abilities), which you will need to help you get to secret areas or to solve puzzles to get at those all-important collectables. Speaking of characters… there is an insane number to choose from here with 380 playable characters on show to begin with, plus there are DLC ones in the works from the likes of the Bad Batch and Solo. Plus throw in a number of hidden characters that Traveller’s Tales are dropping codes for on their social media and you can spend hours finding your favourite one.
Visually LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is really nice looking given that the source material is fundamentally plastic bricks, and each character has that oh-so real world plastic sheen to them. With this being a Star Wars game the sound is outstanding from the pew-pew of blasters to the whoosh of lightsabres and even down to the iconic soundtrack from the movies. What isn’t so great is the voice acting, which is a little hit and miss as to whether the voice actor actually sounds like the character – I’m looking at James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Tom Kane as Qui-Gon Jinn – which at best is questionable, and at worst dodgy.
Also worth shouting out is that the Skywalker Saga has a healthy level of accessibly settings that really help you dial things in for players of all ages and level of skill, which is an extremely welcome addition. A key feature of the LEGO games is co-op, and whilst it’s here, it’s a bit of a kicker as there is no online co-op. Travellers Tales have opted instead for just couch co-op, and it’s is handled through the standard LEGO games vertical split screen. There’s no hiding that it does impact your field of view a little, and the boss fights don’t really feel inclusive in co-op as one player gets to have the fun and the other is… well… best going to make a cup of tea.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga knows full heartedly what it is and who it’s aimed at, and it plays into that very well. It’s full of nods and winks to fans, as well as being built for younger gamers, but having enough there for older ones to get a kick from it as well. If you’re a fan of LEGO or Star Wars in any way, shape or form, this is a must. If you are looking for a title to share with a younger gamer in your life then it’s perfect, and there is so much content to find, unlock and enjoy – you’ll be here for a long, long time to come.
An Xbox Series X review copy of LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga was provided by Travellers Tales PR team, and the game is available now on nearly all current platforms for around £40.
The Verdict
Stuart Cullen
Latest posts by Stuart Cullen (see all)
- Best Games of 2022 – Scotch Corner’s Verdict – December 28, 2022
- Turbo Golf Racing Preview – August 11, 2022
- MultiVersus Preview – May 24, 2022