LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy

LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy is a video game released by LucasArts on September 12, 2006, based on the Star Wars-themed toy line by the LEGO Group, and the sequel to the highly successful LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game. The game was released concurrently with the highly-anticipated DVDs of the original, unaltered films of the original trilogy. The game is available on the Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, GameCube, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance, and PC.

The Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance versions are in portable style, as opposed to the original's presence on only the Game Boy Advance.

Description


While the original films were fairly serious, besides a few puns in the later movies, LEGO Star Wars II is much more tongue-in-cheek, with large amounts of bizarre physical humor (there is no voice acting, so all jokes involve slapstick comedy). It covers the first three films (episodes IV, V, and VI), unlike LEGO Star Wars, which covers episodes I, II, and III.

The game was developed by Traveller's Tales, which was also responsible for the original. Publishing duties were taken up by LucasArts (replacing the original's Eidos Interactive). It features a total of 114 playable characters, 46 of them unlockable by having a saved game from LEGO Star Wars on the memory card or hard drive (and the others must be bought in the Mos Eisley Cantina, or unlocked during gameplay). The game also includes several new features, including vehicles, character-specific abilities, and customizable characters. The game holds the Guinness record for most playable characters in an action-adventure video game. Much of the game revolves around collecting "studs," small LEGO pieces that are used as an in-game currency. Some of the characters have special actions such as slapping or punching enemies, or interacting with friendly characters.

There are also levels where you must pilot a ship. You can unlock Slave I if you collect all canisters in the game.

Episode IV

 * In the film, the Stormtroopers shoot down the door separating them from the Rebels, who they then kill. In the game, they carve the door down and knock down (not kill) the rebels.
 * In the film, Leia composes the message in a chip and immediately finds R2 who takes it without struggle. In the game, an armed Leia and Antilles store it on a disk and fight their way to R2, who refuses to take the disk despite Leia's prodding. Leia hten opens R2's top like a lid and throws the disk inside, before leaving R2 and 3PO with Antilles.
 * The scene where Leia is stunned by the Stormtroopers searching for her is omitted, as is the later argument between her and Vader.
 * In the film, R2 whimpers as he wanders through the canyon. In the game, he shows no sign of fear.
 * In the film, R2 is reactivated inside the sandcrawler's droid bay, where he is reunited with 3PO who is delighted to see him again. In the game, the tube that sucks R2 into the sandcrawler deposits him right next to a seated 3PO, who turns away from him in a pouty huff.
 * In the film, the purchase of R2 and 3PO is conducted by both Luke and Owen Lars, with a brief interlude involving a malfunctioning R5 unit with a bad motivator. In the game, only Luke comes out (Owen and Beru are entirely absent from the game) and picks out R2 and 3PO immediately, out of a line-up of otherwise malfunctioning droids.
 * The scenes in which Luke cleans 3PO and R2 to discover Leia's message and has dinner with his family before going outside to fantasize about joining the Rebellion are omitted.
 * In the film, R2 runs away from the Lars homestead to find Ben Kenobi, prompting Luke and 3PO to track him down in the morning. In the game, R2 and 3PO are stolen by the Jawas and Luke sets out to recover them alone.
 * In the film, Luke encounters the Tusken Raiders after finding R2, before being attacked by Raiders who then start examining his landspeeder before being scared off by Ben. In the game, Luke is attacked by a single Sand Person, then teams up with Ben to track down R2 and 3PO.
 * In the film, Ben tells Luke about his father before giving him his lightsaber and seeing Leia's message. In the game, Ben doesn't tell Luke of his father before seeing the message (which is frantically gesticulated in this version), and pulls a walkie-talkie, a coffee mug and a large blaster out of the trunk before finding the lightsaber.
 * In the film, Luke simply waves his new lightsaber around in an experimental way, not doing any damage at all. In the game, he swings it around in a much more playfully hostile way, and accidentally decapitates 3PO.
 * The scene of Luke discovering his home destroyed and family killed is omitted.
 * The Empire's meeting aboard the Death Star is omitted.
 * While driving to Mos Eisley, R2 falls off the speeder and meets back up with them as they stand on the edge of the mountain.
 * Luke accidentally hits a civilian Jawa with his speeder when arriving at Mos Eisley.
 * In the film, the Stormtrooper Ben uses his Jedi mind trick on doesn't seem to be too badly affected by the mind trick, aside from his sudden acquiescence. In the game, the Stormtrooper is dazed by the mind trick (with stars hovering around his head) and falls to the ground when clipped by the nacelle of Luke's speeder.
 * In the film, Han Solo confronts Greedo after sending Chewie to take the others to the Millennium Falcon and simply shoots Greedo in the chest to kill him. In the game, the altercation happens before Luke and Ben met Han, as Greedo slams his hands on the table and moves to shoot Han, only to have his torso shot out by Han. He only collapses after looking down at the damage and chuckling nervously.
 * In the film, Ponda Baba confronts Luke unprovoked, soon joined by Dr. Evazan, before Ben gets involved and ends up severing Ponda's arm. In the game, Luke accidentally knocks over Ponda's drink, and when Ben cuts off his arm, the other one soon falls off, and Ponda falls apart, much to Evazan's shock, who quickly downs his drink and runs away.
 * Han and Jabba the Hutt's conversation is omitted.
 * In the film, Tarkin orders Alderaan's destruction with dispassionate calm, and the operation itself is carried out with clinical efficiency. In the game, Tarkin is forced to wake up the technicians to get them to carry out his orders, then laughs evilly at Leia as she cries for her destroyed homeworld.
 * Luke's lightsaber and Force training is omitted.
 * In the game, when the Millenium Falcon arrives in the Alderaan debris field, Chewbacca proceeds to cover his face in fear.
 * In the game, Han is seen by Vader in his Stormtrooper disguise on the Falcon's loading ramp, trying to act casual to avoid suspicion.
 * In the game, when Vader first senses Ben's presence on the Falcon, Ben is also shown sensning Vader' presence.
 * Han and Luke do not necessarily wear their Stormtrooper helmets as they travel throughout the Death Star.
 * In the film, Ben leaves shortly after the group arrive on the Death Star, leaving 3PO and R2 to hide from the guards after the others leave the location room. In the game, Ben leaves after the group arrives at the location room as 3PO and R2 immediately hide while the others discover Leia's location and a photo of her that Han is attracted to, much to Luke's frustration.
 * In the film, Han simply yells at Chewie to get him into the garbage chute. In the game, he throws a small bone in to tempt him.
 * Luke enjoys going down the garbage chute, acting as though he's riding a waterslide. Han does not share his enthusiasm.
 * Two Stormtrooper helmets can be seen in the trash compactor. One is to the right of the door and the other is to the left, but is not seen after the LEGO refrigerator containing the Mini Kit is set.
 * 3PO and R2 are never found by the guards nor given a communicator.
 * The dianoga scene is omitted, although it can be heard growling early in the level.
 * In the film, Ben holds back his weapon and allows Vader to kill him in front of Luke. In the game, Ben waves to Luke before holding back and deactivating the lightsaber before being killed as the others escape without being attacked.
 * In the film, as Luke, Han, Chewie, and Leia arrive at the base and several groups of Rebels riding small transports are in the background. In the game, the Rebels' transports suffer a collision.
 * The battle preparations against the Death Star are omitted.
 * The X-Wings' S-foils get stuck briefly before opening.
 * In the game, turbolaser guns surround the exhaust port and must be destroyed by shooting them before Luke can fire into the port itself.
 * In the film, the mood in the Death Star is calm just before it is destroyed. In the game, Death Star personnel run around in fear until the Death Star is destroyed.
 * After the Death Star explodes, a Stormtrooper is seen floating out into space.
 * In the film, Vader is not too badly shaken as his fighter spins away from the Death Star. In the game, he is seen being thrown around the cockpit and dizzily leans to one side after regaining his composure.
 * In the film, Han and Luke calmly receive their reward from a dressed-up Leia. In the game, Han and Luke are filled with more excitement, Leia is in her regular clothes, and Han and Luke laugh at 3PO hugging R2; also, Garindan, an Imperial spy who followed Han and Luke in Tatooine is arrested.

Episode V

 * In the film, Luke contacts Han after the probe droids arrive. In the game, he did not contact him and was not seen being knocked out nor was his Tauntaun seen being killed by the arriving wampa.
 * In the film, when frozen to the Wampa's cave ceiling, Luke reaches for his lightsaber with the intent of grabbing it physically, before steeling himself to use the Force. In the game, Luke uses the Force pretty much immediately.
 * All scenes in Echo Base before its evacuation are omitted.
 * In the film, Han finds Luke who he shelters in his dead tauntaun's entrails and nurses him back to health before returning to base. In the game, Luke is found semi-conscious by Han shortly after escaping from the wampa's cave.
 * In the movie, Vader's flagship is an Executor-class Star Dreadnought, whereas in the game it is merely a regular Imperial class Star Destroyer. In fact the Executor never appears at all throughout the game: The same Lego mini Star Destroyer seen in the game's version of A New Hope is used in that cutscene, and the full Lego Star Destroyer (still a regular Star Destroyer) is used later in the game.
 * All scenes of the Empire before approaching Hoth are omitted.
 * There are five AT-ATs in the movie, in the game there are seven.
 * If an AT-AT pulled down by a tow cable is left for too long, it gets back up.
 * In the game, AT-ATs cannot be destroyed by shooting blaster fire at its weak point at its neck.
 * In the film, one of the AT-AT's legs were tethered and subsequently tripped and Luke, who, after being shot down, struggled to escape from his fighter before it was crushed by an AT-AT. In the game, one of the three Imperial Walkers was not tripped and Luke easily escaped from his fighter.
 * In the film, Luke threw the bomb into the AT-AT and quickly dropped off. In the game, while still hanging from the AT-AT, the bomb falls out and Luke kicks it back in.
 * When the Rebel base begins to collapse, Han and Leia hold each other in fear until Leia backs away, blushing.
 * After entering the Millennium Falcon, the power briefly goes out. When it returns, Han is revealed to have been sneaking a kiss on Leia in the dark. Leia responds to this by slapping him.
 * In the film, before the Millennium Falcon escapes Echo Base, the stormtroopers manage to set up their heavy gun before they are shot by the Falcon gun. In the game, the stormtroopers cannot build their gun fast enough (one of them falls backwards while carrying a part of the gun) before the Falcon escapes.
 * The scene where the Empire was selecting bounty hunters to hire was omitted.
 * In the film, the Millennium Falcon settles in an asteroid before attaching itself to a Star Destroyer and then sneaking away in the trash dumped by the ship. In the game, the Millennium Falcon doesn't necessarily take shelter inside the asteroid but does indeed attach to the Star Destroyer, before taking off into its trash dump.
 * In the film, Boba Fett makes no sound as he follows the Falcon. In the game, he turns to the camera and chuckles malevolently.
 * In the film, Yoda's identity as a Jedi Master isn't revealed until after he brings Luke to his home. In the game, when Luke indicates that he's looking for a Jedi, Yoda points to himself, only to receive a disbelieving chuckle from Luke. Yoda then proves his power by lifting the rock Luke was sitting on into the air, then dropping it on him.
 * In the film, only Luke fights the apparition of Vader. In the game, both Luke and Yoda enter the Dark Side cave and both of them fight Vader.
 * Luke is seen landing in Cloud City, but doesn't assist (or encounter) his friends.
 * In the film Luke is sucked out a window, but in the game it's Darth Vader instead.
 * In the game, R2-D2 follows Luke throughout his battle with Vader, instead of being shut outside. This change was made because the game requires two friendly characters on the screen at all times.
 * Vader informs Luke of his parentage by producing a Polaroid of Anakin Skywalker and a pregnant Padmé Amidala. He points out Padmé's swollen belly and then points to Luke.
 * The events of the crew of the Millennium Falcon take place after Luke's fight with Vader, not at the same time.
 * In the film, Lando enthusiastically welcomes Han before showing an interest in Leia. In the game, Lando ignores Han completely, brushing past him to greet Leia.
 * In the film, E-3PO walks past 3PO with a Huttese curse when leaving the room in which 3PO is shot. In the game, he beckons 3PO into the room, and 3PO isn't shown being shot.
 * In the film, Han shoots several shots at Vader upon seeing him, before Vader Force-pulls Han's gun away. In the game, Han fires only one shot, then throws his gun down as Stormtroopers surround him, Leia and Chewie.
 * The Scan grid and Han's torture scene is omitted.
 * In the film, Han is pushed onto the carbon freezing chamber platform by a Stormtrooper, and is lowered into the chamber. In the game, the platform is already lowered and he jumps in.
 * When holding off the Stormtroopers, Lando runs out of blaster ammo and kills one of the stormtroopers with a missile launcher.
 * Leia cries for Han, while 3PO and R2 watch the fitting of Luke's new prosthetic hand. 3PO pulls off his own hand and shrugs in confusion.
 * Lando lowers his chair before taking control of the Millennium Falcon, to the point where only the top of his head is visible over the console, much to Chewbacca's bewilderment.
 * As Luke comforts Leia, his hand malfunctions and is seen bouncing around the room, which may be a reference to Thing from The Addams Family.
 * In the game, the Rebel fleet meets up around a planet.

Episode VI

 * In the film, Vader exits his shuttle without event. In the game, the smoke generated by the door's hydraulics causes him to have a brief coughing fit.
 * In the film, Moff Jerjerrod manages to maintain most of his composure while Vader chastises him, only showing a few signs of nervousness. In the game, he leans back in terror as Vader glares at him, and once Vader leaves him he turns to a nearby officer and begins crying on his shoulder.
 * In the film, Leia is disguised as a bounty hunter who turns Chewie in to Jabba the Hutt. In the game, the two infiltrate Jabba's palace together and are shortly joined by Luke.
 * In the film, Luke attempts a sneak attack on Jabba by using the Force to summon a blaster and fire it at Jabba. In the game, he and his friends are apprehended as he attempts to summon a blaster, only to summon a coffee mug before he, along with his friends, go into the battle with the rancor.
 * A demoralized Bib Fortuna is knocked out by Jabba when he throws his fist to signal that the group should be taken to the Sarlacc as R2 bumps into several guards.
 * In the game, when 3PO encounters R2 on the sial barge, he knocks off his drinks tray and tries to replace the cups.
 * In the film, Luke steps off the skiff's plank, bounces back on and catches his R2-launched lightsaber without messing around. In the game, as he makes his first jump, the executioner cowers, but Luke continues to bounce, happily showing off in mid-air. When R2 fires Luke's lightsaber, the executioner catches it instead. Luke lands behind him and asks for the weapon, which the executioner gives him before receiving an elbow to the stomach and being oushed off.
 * Using a grappling hook instead of a pre-existing rope, Luke carries Leia off of Jabba's sail barge.
 * Scenes between leaving Jabba the Hutt's palace and arriving on Endor are omitted (Yoda's death, the Emperor's arrival, Alliance assembly).
 * In the film, Han joins Luke and Leia on Endor and steps noisily on a twig as he sneaks up behind a scout-trooper. In the game, Luke and Leia are alone on Endor where Luke trips, alerting the trooper to their presence. They are not separated, leaving Leia to never individually meet the Ewoks.
 * In the film, an animal is posted over a trap that Chewie accidentally sets off. In the game, the trap's trigger is a bone on a string.
 * The group's preparations for being cooked by the Ewoks was omitted.
 * In the film, 3PO relates the Rebellion's fight against the Empire to the Ewoks around a fire. In the game, 3PO is seated when informing the Ewoks of Vader's fight with Obi-Wan through sign-puppets.
 * Luke telling Leia of Vader being his father and her being his sister is omitted.
 * After the Ewoks agree to assist the rebellion, Leia tries to kiss Luke, who declines, knowing she is his sister.
 * The Battle of Endor takes place before Luke leaves for the Death Star.
 * After destroying the shield generator, one of the smaller dishes lands on Han.
 * Luke's fight with Vader is omitted. Instead Luke and Vader fight the Emperor together.
 * In the film, Luke resists the temptation of the Dark Side and is attacked by the Emperor until Vader has a change of heart and throws the Emperor into the abyss. In the game, the Emperor immediately attacks Luke when he arrives and Vader joins Luke in fighting the Emperor, eventually throwing him into the abyss (this was done because of the game's co-op gameplay).
 * In the film, the disabled Super Star Destroyer falls down towards the Death Star. In the game, several regular Star Destroyers fall toward the Death Star.
 * After Anakin dies, an emotional Luke places his hand gently on his father's forehead, before entering the shuttle and closing the door, causing Anakin to slide down it into the ship.
 * In the film, Anakin's spirit does not appear until after Luke burns Vader's armour. In the game, Anakin's spirit appears on the pyre itself, pretending to warm his hands on it.
 * In the film, Han and Leia share two mutual kisses before the celebration. In the game, as they lean forward to kiss, an Ewok interrupts them and Han pulls a plant over the Ewok so that he may continue undisturbed.
 * The Ewoks not only use the troopers' helmets as drums during the celebration, but also as hats.
 * The celebrations from all over the galaxy are omitted.
 * In the film, Luke sees the spirits of Obi-Wan, Yoda and Anakin standing by a railing on an elevated platform, smiling in approval. In the game, he sees Obi-Wan, Anakin standing by the railing and Yoda sitting on it, and Yoda almost falls off before being caught by the other spirits.

Because of these differences, the game is considered non-canon.

Game Boy Advance
For the Game Boy Advance, the game is altered for portability reasons, such as lower quality graphics. This version has 36 playable characters, which is fewer than the console versions, although it does feature characters not available in console versions such as a Baby Rancor, R2-Q5 and K-3PO. Also, Vader is unlocked at an earlier time, and the scout trooper and mouse droid are now playable without using the extra toggle mode. The generic Ewok is gone, and Wicket's slingshot is replaced with a spear.

There are not any power bricks to find, but there are still extras to buy. For example, the Jedi Spirit extra turns characters into Force ghosts, something that can only be done when one of the three ghost characters in the 128-bit version is used.

There are five levels in Episodes IV and V, and six levels in Episode VI. A character in each level is unlocked when all ten minikits are collected. The Dagobah level is not in the Game Boy version. Mos Eisley Spaceport and Through the Jundland Wastes are formed as one level (Tatooine). The console versions' levels "Jedi Destiny" (Emperor Fight) and "Into The Death Star" (Death Star 2 Battle) are reversed.

Nintendo DS
For the Nintendo DS version, like the Game Boy Advance version, the game was altered for portability reasons, such as having lower quality graphics. The DS version has 50 characters, though they do not exactly match the ones from the console games. In addition to cooperative multiplayer, the DS version allows up to four people to battle wirelessly, where they can choose to fight over Han Solo (Carbonite) in Jabba's Palace or battle in a Tatooine-themed arena. Character swapping is performed by touching icons on the touch screen.

Though generally praised for its gameplay, the original release of the DS version was criticized for its bugs and graphic glitches. Many Internet sites accused it of being rushed to shelves with the other versions of the game and the reissued Star Wars DVD films. One website was supposedly contacted by anonymous employees of the developer which claimed that the US, European, and Japanese versions were different from each other regarding the bugs, and that a new fixed version would be shipped to shelves after the first print run was sold out. One of the most notable glitches is in Episode VI, where many have considered the first main boss entirely unbeatable. This has not been verified by either the publisher or developer. However some people have beat the boss (Jabba's Rancor) using Luke Skywalker to use the force, to bring down the gate, crushing the boss.

Salacious Crumb is available only in this version and is one of various DS-version exclusive characters, such as Wuher, K-3PO, Zuckuss, and the four members of the Bith band.

Some levels are renamed. Just like the GBA version the levels "Mos Eisley Spaceport" and "Through the Jundland Wastes" are formed as one level, "Into the Death Star" and "Jedi Destiny" are both also renamed.

Sand Box
The Nintendo DS version of Lego Star Wars II also replaces LEGO City with the Sand Box. The Sand Box includes plenty of objects to destroy, but has no defeatable enemies besides a giant Ewok.

It can be accessed through a door with a question mark over it in the Mos Eisley Cantina, between the Bounty Hunter Arena and the hangar. In the story mode you play as Princess Leia with slave outfit and Salacious Crumb. The only objective is to build and destroy everything in the level. As a prize for beating the level you unlock the Emperor for purchase at the cantina bar.

Objects in the Sand Box include two Sand Skiffs, the Sarlacc Pit, one giant Ewok, and one space worm.

Once you have completed all story mode levels with Jedi status in the game, you can go into the door leading to the Sand Box.

PlayStation Portable
The PlayStation Portable version of Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy contains exclusive material including the final levels from Episodes I, II and III of the first Lego Star Wars game and a challenge mode for each level in LSW II, where the player goes through each level to find all 10 blue minikits in a time limit. If completed, the player will achieve a character from the original Lego Star Wars game. Unlike other versions, the player can use characters from the original Lego Star Wars game in the Mos Eisley Cantina. Similar to the DS version, it contains a Wireless Lobby.

The cantina's area is made an empty place featuring only the player and one other character, to make sure the game runs lag-free due to the PSP firmware capability at the time. The bounty hunter missions are excluded from the game in place of the prequel episodes' levels. Gold bricks cannot be bought from the cantina, and there are longer loading times.

Cell phone
The goal of the cell phone version is to rescue Princess Leia and then reach the Millennium Falcon by using characters' special abilities: Luke can move Lego bricks and create bridges and new paths, R2-D2 can use switches and Leia can shoot enemies. It has 18 levels.

Critical Reaction
The game was mostly favorably received with fans and critics, who praised the gameplay, which focused mainly on fun and exploring. Many considered it superior to the original, mainly due to the improved gameplay, the many new features, such as the character creating aspect and freeform vehicle sections, and other aspects. However, some gamers considered it childish, too simplistic, and even with the adaptable difficulty, very easy.

Awards
On December 13, 2006 the game received an award for "best video game based on a TV show or movie" at the Spike TV Video Game Awards.

On December 22, 2006, StarWars.com declared LEGO Star Wars II as Number 1 in Star Wars: The Best of 2006.

Complete Saga
LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga was released on May 25, 2007. It combines the levels from LEGO Star Wars and LEGO Star Wars II. The levels from the first game are updated to include power bricks, vehicles, and other aspects found in LEGO Star Wars II, and most prequel characters will have the ability to build. New or redesigned levels, new playable characters, new bounty hunter missions, and new bonus missions have been added.