Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, a game boasting nine movies of brick-built chaos, arrived in April 2022 with the fanfare of a TIE fighter dogfight. Did it live up to the hype? Buckle up, space cowboys, because this review is taking you on a bumpy hyperspace jump through its strengths and weaknesses.
Lightsaber Symphony: Let’s start with the good. The sheer volume of content is staggering. We’re talking nine full episodes, each lovingly recreated in Lego’s charmingly blocky style. From the bustling markets of Tatooine to the chrome-plated hallways of Coruscant, each locale feels vibrant and familiar. The levels themselves offer a pleasing mix of combat, puzzles, and exploration, with enough variety to keep you engaged across the galaxy.
Character Chorus: The roster of playable characters is a veritable cantina brawl of heroes and villains. From Yoda’s flippy-floppy antics to Darth Maul’s rage-fueled pirouettes, each character feels distinct and enjoyable to control. New abilities and combat mechanics, like blaster deflection and environmental takedowns, add spice to the familiar Lego formula.
Story Snippets: The game faithfully follows the plot of the movies, albeit with a healthy dose of Lego humor injected into the dialogue. It’s not Shakespeare in space, but the jokes land often enough to keep you chuckling through the familiar story beats.
Dark Side Jitters: Now, for the not-so-good. The launch was plagued by technical glitches, from frame rate drops to save file corruption. While patches have improved things, the occasional stutter still throws a wrench into the galactic gears. Some levels feel rushed or repetitive, particularly toward the later episodes. And if you’re hoping for deep dives into character development or plot nuance, well, this is still Lego Star Wars, remember?
Verdict: Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is a love letter to a galaxy far, far away, packed with enough charm, humor, and brick-smashing action to satisfy even the most jaded Jedi master. However, technical hiccups and occasional level fatigue cast a shadow on this otherwise joyous celebration of Star Wars.
Overall: 8/10 – A bumpy but ultimately joyful trip through the Star Wars saga, perfect for Lego enthusiasts and casual adventurers alike. Just don’t expect an epic RPG or a profound meditation on the Force. This is popcorn cinema in Lego form, and that’s okay.
