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, 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; the latter covers episodes I, II, and III.

The game was developed by Traveller's Tales, who 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 Guiness 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.

Episode IV

 * In the film, the stormtroopers shoot down the door separating them from the rebels who they kill. In the game, they carve the door down and stun 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 compose it at as disk and fight their way to R2 who neglects to take the disk until stormtroopers approach and Leia opens R2's top like a lid and throws the disk in as she leaves R2 and 3PO with Antilles.
 * In the film, Antilles is choked to death by Vader who throws his corpse at the wall as Leia is stunned by a stormtrooper's blaster. In the game, Antilles is choked by Vader who finishes him off by throwing him at the wall (notably knocking off his helmet) as Leia is simply apprehended, rather than stunned.
 * In the film, R2 whimpers as he wanders through the canyon. In the game, he shows no sign of fear.
 * The stormtroopers' search for the droids is omitted.
 * In the film, R2 is reactivated and taken to his cell where he meets 3PO, excited to see him. In the game, a reactivated R2 is sucked up to his cell where he meets 3PO, frustrated with him.
 * In the film, Luke is joined by his Uncle Owen when purchasing 3PO and a red droid that malfunctions, leaving 3PO to suggest R2. In the game, Luke individually chooses both 3PO and R2.
 * 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 to find Obi-Wan Kenobi only to be found by Luke and 3PO when Luke is knocked out by a Tusken Raider until a cloaked Ben Kenobi arrives to scare the Sand People away. In the game, both 3PO and R2 are stolen by Jawas as Luke arrives at the canyon to discover one milking a Bantha until attacked by a Tusken Raider that prepares to beat Luke until an uncloaked Ben scares it off and joins Luke in rescuing 3PO and R2.
 * 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, in which Leia frantically signs them the situation as Ben pulls out of the trunk a coffee mug and two blasters before the lightsaber that Luke tries out before accidentally decapitating 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 with his speeder when arriving at Mos Eisley.
 * In the film, Han 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, Luke and Ben have yet to meet Han, who they notice with Greedo, who prepares to shoot him until Han shoots Greedo's chest through as the rest of his body collapses.
 * In the film, Ben persuades the stormtrooper to let them go. In the game, he confuses him so Luke can drive away, leaving the stormtrooper twirling in the wind.
 * In the film, Ponda Baba, unprovoked, threatens Luke in Chalmun's Cantina as his friend interrogates him before throwing him aside to fight Ben, who cuts Ponda's arm off. In the game, Luke accidentally knocks down Ponda's drink, leaving him to knock down and prepare to shoot Luke until Ben arrives to not only cut off both his arms, but the rest of him, killing him as his friend finishes his drink and flees in fear.
 * Han and Jabba the Hutt's conversation is omitted.
 * In the film, Leia keeps calm during her conversation with Tarkin until taking shock in discovering his plan to destroy Alderaan. In the game, a frustrated Leia mocks Tarkin who awakens the operator to destroy Alderaan, much to Leia's deep sadness.
 * Luke's lightsaber and Force training is omitted.
 * Chewie is asleep until awakened by Han before the ship is pulled in by the tractor beam.
 * In the film, Vader is not present when the stormtroopers infiltrate the Millennium Falcon where they are shot and their armor used by Han and Luke. In the game, Vader is present when the stormtroopers infiltrate the Millennium Falcon where they are knocked out and a helmet falls out, when Han tries to put it on and act cool in front of Vader who then senses Ben's presence.
 * Han and Luke do not 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 shoot of her that Han is attracted to, much to Luke's frustration.
 * In the film, Luke rescues Leia before they escape down the garbage chute that Han forces Chewie into. In the game, Leia is seen leaving her cell before escaping down the garbage chute that Han lures Chewie into with a bone.
 * Luke is overwhelmed with excitement when escaping the stormtroopers down the garbage chute, as opposed to Han.
 * 3PO and R2 are never found by the guards nor given a communicator.
 * The Dianoga scene is omitted.
 * In the film, the group is about to be crushed until the walls are stopped by 3PO and R2. In the game, the groups is being crushed while airborne until the walls open as the group fall from the air as 3PO, watching from the security camera, gives R2 a friendly, rewarding punch and pat.
 * 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, the entire rebellion view the Death Star's blueprints. In the game, only the fighters view the blueprints and suffer multiple, differing emotions.
 * The battle preparations against the Death Star are omitted.
 * The rebellion fleet slightly struggle to open their ship's wings.
 * Luke firing into the Death Star is omitted.
 * In the film, the mood in the Death Star is calm before being 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.
 * After the Death Star's destruction, Han and Chewie attempt to give each other a high five, but instead Chewie accidentally punches Han, Luke thrusts his fist in excitement before relaxing in his seat and Vader's ship continues to spin until stopping, disorienting Vader.
 * 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, the man who had turned Han and Luke in to the stormtroopers is arrested.

Episode V

 * In the film, Luke contacts Han after the drones 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, Luke struggles to reach his lightsaber while trapped by the wampa before using the Force to summon the lightsaber that he uses to free himself and to sever its left arm. In the game, Luke immediately uses the Force.
 * 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.
 * All scenes of the Empire before approaching Hoth are omitted.
 * The overseer guard, given a mustache, fought and was vaporized by the Imperial Walkers.
 * In the film, one of the Imperial Walker'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 Imperial Walker. 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 Imperial Walker and quickly dropped off. In the game, while still hanging from the Imperial Walker, 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, Leia distracts Vader and his men by shutting off the power, which quickly returns to reveal Han sneaking a kiss on Leia.
 * In the film, the Millennium Falcon settles in a meteor 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 take shelter inside an asteroid but instead crashes into the Star Destroyer before sneaking off in its trash as Boba Fett chuckles before following them.
 * In the film, Luke and R2 settle on Dagobah until meeting Yoda, who takes care of Luke and trains him in the ways of the Force, as Obi-Wan intended. In the game, Luke and R2 don't settle on Dagobah, but immediately meet up with Yoda emerging from a ship; Yoda trains Luke in the ways of the Force with no indication of Obi-Wan's demands.
 * Luke is seen landing in Cloud City and but doesn't assist his friends.
 * Vader informs Luke of being his father by showing him a picture of him as Anakin Skywalker with a pregnant Padmé.
 * The events of the crew of the Millennium Falcon take place after Luke's fight with Vader.
 * In the film, Lando welcomes Han before taking an interest in Leia. In the game, Lando chooses Leia over welcoming Han.
 * In the film, 3PO is shot when entering a room that E-3PO (Bespin) is leaving. In the game, he follows E-3PO into the room and is not seen being shot.
 * In the film, Han continuously shoots at Vader, who blocks his shots then uses the Force to pull Han's blaster to him. In the game, Han delivers a single shot before throwing down his blaster.
 * Han's torture is omitted.
 * Han's goodbye to his friends is omitted.
 * In the film, Han is cuffed and somber when placed into the carbon freezing chamber. In the game, he is cuffed and acceptingly jumps into the carbon freezing chamber.
 * Holding off the stormtroopers, Lando runs out of blaster ammo and kills one of the stormtroopers with a missile launcher.
 * Leia suffers deeper sadness for Han while 3PO offers Luke his hand as replacement.
 * Lando lowers his chair before taking control of the Millennium Falcon.
 * As Luke comforts Leia, his hand malfunctions and is seen bouncing around the room.
 * Instead of a Nebula a unknown Planet is seen.

Episode VI

 * As Vader arrives, he chokes on the smoke emanating from his ship and then discovers the construction of the Death Star is lacking; as Vader leaves, an Imperial officer, overcome with sadness and maybe fear, is comforted by a fellow officer.
 * In the film, Leia is disguised as a bounty hunter who turns Chewie in to Jabba the Hutt's. In the game, the two infiltrate Jabba's palace together and are later 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 film, 3PO tries to get R2 to stop serving drinks. In the game, he stacks them back on him after bumping into him.
 * In the film, R2 launches Luke's lightsaber at him as Luke walks off the plank and bounces back up on. In the game, Luke shows off by bouncing several times, leaving the executioner to catch the lightsaber, which he gives to a sneaking Luke who pushes him off the plank and prepares for battle.
 * Using a grappling hook, Luke carries Leia off of Jabba's ship.
 * Scenes between leaving Jabba the Hut's palace and arriving on Endor are omitted.
 * In the film, Han joins Luke and Leia on Endor and calls the attention of the stormtroopers. In the game, Luke and Leia are alone on Endor where Luke trips, calling the troopers attention and 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 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 signs.
 * 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 bombing the Empire's base, Han is crushed by a satellite.
 * In the film, Luke declines joining the Dark Side and is attacked by the Emperor until Vader converts to the Light Side 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.
 * After Vader dies, Luke gives him an honorable marking before returning to his ship that Vader slides in.
 * During the "Viking" funeral, Anakin's soul is seen being liberated from his body and saluting to Luke.
 * The Ewoks use the troopers' helmets as hats during the celebration.
 * In the film, Han and Leia share two mutual kisses before the celebration. In the game, an Ewok walks in on them about to kiss until Han uses a plant as a shroud before Leia plants a kiss on him, as witnessed by the Ewok that moves to the side of the plant during the celebration.
 * The group celebrate on top of an Ewok home.
 * In the film, Luke see the spirits of Obi-Wan, Yoda and Anakin standing by a railing on an elevated platform. In the game, he sees them on top of the Ewok home as Obi-Wan and Anakin stop Yoda from falling off of the balcony.

Game Boy Advance
For the Game Boy Advance, the game is altered for portability reasons (i.e. graphics, fewer characters etc). The Game Boy version has 36 playable characters, fewer than the console versions, although it does feature characters not available in console versions such as a baby Rancor and R2-Q5. Also, Darth Vader is unlocked at an earlier time, and the Scout Trooper and MSE-6 are now playable without extra toggle. The generic Ewok is gone and Wicket's slingshot is replaced with a spear. The player can not mix and match their own character. There are not any power bricks hidden in the levels, and there are no gold bricks to achieve.

PSP
The PlayStation Portable version of LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy contains PlayStation Portable exclusive material including the boss levels from Episodes I, II and III of the first LEGO Star Wars game and a challenge mode for each level in the game, 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. These features were presumably added due to the lack of release of the first game for the PSP.

The cantina's area is made a empty place featuring only the player and another character to make sure the game runs lag-free. If you attack your companion he will shoot back. The bounty hunter missions are excluded from the game in place of the Prequel Trilogy's boss levels, which are as follows: Darth Maul from Episode I, Count Dooku from Episode II and Darth Vader from Episode III. Also included are short movies about the prequels. Gold bricks cannot be bought from the cantina, and there are longer loading times.

Otherwise, the PlayStation Portable version contains the same features and gameplay as the console versions, with one reviewer describing it as "having all of the substance, cut-scenes and style of the Xbox 360 version."

Nintendo DS
For the Nintendo DS version, the game is altered for portability reasons (i.e., graphics, fewer characters, etc.). The DS version has 50 characters, though they don't 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. This version of the game is well known for its bugs and graphic glitches.

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 announced on May 25, 2007. It will combine the levels from LEGO Star Wars and LEGO Star Wars II. The levels from the first game will be updated to include powerbricks, 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 will also be added.