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Great game but not so easy on the DS

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 7 / 11
Date: September 14, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This is the first Lego Star Wars game I have played on the DS and I just am not enjoying it too much. I played the original game on the PS2 and thought it was the best game since ICO. The controls on the PS2 were perfect. Now this game on the DS is well, not so perfect. The firing controls are tough and basically you just have to aim near the item to hit it. But often it's not that easy to aim.
On the DS you do not use the touch screen to control the characters, you use the directional pad. This makes crossing narrow platforms SLOW work. The low resolution of the DS screens also leaves a lot of the fun graphics to the imagination. Don't get me wrong - I love the DS.
My opinion - buy Lego SW II for a non-portable system if you want the best experience. For on the go types, the DS will keep you busy but you will be missing out a little.

I Find It's Lack of Faith Disturbing

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 9 / 12
Date: September 14, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Lego Star Wars is perhaps one of the best games to be released this year. It's absolutely fantastic in it's execution. As usual, though, the handheld versions get the short end of the stick. The PSP version of Lego Star Wars is just about the same as the console version. I was expecting the DS version to be identical, but on a less graphical scale. I was wrong. There's more changed in this than ever, and to be honest, it just isn't all that it's cracked up to be on the Nintendo DS.

You begin in the Mos Eisley Cantina. This is the hub, and where you'll be able to select an episode you wish to play. At first you'll only be able to choose Episode IV, but after you complete the first chapter, you'll be able to dwell into Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.

Playing through these levels isn't nearly as exciting as it is on the console counterparts. The game is fully rendered in 3D, and you'll have all sorts of characters at your command. You'll blaster toting characters, jedi, ewoks, Chewie and plenty more. Characters also have their own unique moves. Leia has her slap, Chewbacca can run up to a stormtrooper and rip his arms from his sockets. Jedi can use the force. Jawas and Ewoks can do down shutes and reach places characters can't. Characters who wield a blastertech can use a grappling hook to reach other areas, while droids may have to open up doors. There's a lot of variety. You'll be in a party the whole time, and you'll often have to switch to other characters. For example, Han Solo can't open doors, and so you'll have to let C-3PO do it. There are doors that R2-D2 can open, but C-3PO can't. So you can't just barge through a level as just one character.

Playing through most of these levels though is a hassle. The camera is often unfriendly. There are moments when the camera swings around and suddenly you can't see yourself because you happen to be behind obstacles. You might often die just because you can't see yourself, or in some instances the person your shooting. The good news is that in Lego Star Wars there is no such thing as a game over. The only penalty you receive is losing studs. Still, you might suffer some deaths that could've easily been avoided had the camera let you see yourself. You don't get much control over the camera either. You can use the touch screen to control the camera, but you'll often have to take a break from combat just to use your stylus to control the camera. And it's not a lot of fun since it'll often get stuck on other objects. Having the camera be controlled through the touch screen wasn't such a good idea, either. It probably would've been easier had it been set to L and R, since those buttons aren't really used for anything. The touch screen is also used for a few other things. Switching between your characters, customizing them or navigating the menu for instnace. The touch screen isn't an integral part of the gameplay, though, and you'll never find a moment when you'll actually have to use it. It's just there to make things a little easier. Such as only having to double tap a character icon to swith as opposed to going up to them and pushing X. Other than that, you'll never find a moment when you absolutely must use the touch screen.

There are a ton of extras to be found in Lego Star Wars. As you go through levels you'll collect Lego Studs that serve as currency in the cantina. You can buy cheats, unlock characters this way, and plenty of other little things such as playing the game in medieval mode or something like that.

The heart of the extras comes from unlocking the characters and going back into levels with them. When you unlock a character they'll be walking around the cantina. You can switch to them and then enter any level you've already completed once. This is freeplay mode, and in order to find everything and do everything in Lego Star Wars, you'll have to do this. Unfortunately, some levels are of poor structure and just aren't as fun to play through a second time. Especially the levels with awkward camera angles. All you'll be doing in some cases is punishing yourself to fight with the camera again. None of these levels are very long either, and some of them just aren't all out exciting. They're not heavily populated with enemies and most of the time you'll be running down empty corridors. Even worse, there's a little glitch in some levels where if you run around as a droid your enemies won't shoot at you at all. It makes what could've otherwise been an exciting game, rather bland.

The controls are also either unresponsive or too loose. In some levels where you pilot vehicles, such as the Hoth Battle, you'll find that control these vehicles is a pain. You can't turn properly, and I often found myself caught up on some of the environments and couldn't get off because I had to fight with the camera just to find myself first. In these levels the controls are rather loose. In other levels such as when you run around blasting people, the controls sometimes don't respond until you've pressed the button two or three times. The good news is, this doesn't happen too often. The bad news is when it happens in a fire fight, or when you're supposed to jump over a pit.

Graphcially, the game doesn't look bad on the DS, but there are some flaws and bugs in the graphics. Pieces of the environment getting cut off, or your character standing in mid air when he should be falling into a pit. Usually just small little things. There are also moments of slowdown. The game certainly doesn't look bad, but these small little glitches and bugs can be tiresome to look at. It feels like a game that was rushed out into development.

I wish I could tell you the music score sounds absolutely fantastic. It will certainly remind you of the movies, but it sounds nowhere near as good as it could've have. Many tunes actually sound like they belong on your Super Nintendo. The Super Star Wars games certainly sound more true to the movies than this one does. A lot of the music is tinny and hardly sounds like the movie. This is strange considering on the GBA, Apprentice of the Force sounds very similar to the movies. Here, it just could've sounded better. It strange that they couldn't get the actual soundtrack to come through the speakers when the DS is fully capable of such. It should sound just as good as the console versions, but it doesn't. The tinny music sometimes makes me want to turn the volume down.

Lego Star Wars on the DS isn't bad, it just feels unfinished. As usual, the handheld version gets the short end of the stick (with the exception of the PSP version of the game). The Nintendo DS version is no where near as good as it could've been. You're probably better off sticking to the console versions for this one.

The Good
+It doesn't look bad
+The gameplay isn't bad either

The Bad
-The sound is butchered
-Lot of graphical glitches
-Framerate issues
-Sometimes unresponsive controls
-A lot of camera issues

One word: SHOVELWARE.

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 14 / 14
Date: September 15, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Don't be fooled into buying the DS version. The game totally sucks on the DS. AMAZE Entertainment, the holes behind Shrek SuperSlam, was given the DS version for no particular reason. Every other console got Traveler's Tales, but what does the DS get? Amaze Entertainment.

Graphical AND gameplay bugs that should NEVER have gotten past QA, wimpy controls, and many, many more bad items.

Why would you buy this version? If you have a kid who doesn't know any different, this might be a present that might make them resent you for life.

BTW, this is NOT a hint.

Don't buy the DS Version!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 13 / 14
Date: September 15, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I am a huge lover and fan of the first Lego Star Wars. This one sucks. Ds and the developer botched this big time. Sure there are some fun moments but the hassle overshadows it on the DS. I am already thinking of trading it in for the console version. Oh, and the Prima Guide book has NOTHING similar with the DS version. In the rush to have it come out on several different consoles at the same time they must have taken the lowest bid for the DS. SHAME ON ALL WHO LET THIS BUGGY GAME THROUGH. The camera effects are terrible and you often will end up dead-ended in free play mode only to try the whole thing again. I cannot believe how disappointed I am. With some awesome DS games out there why would they let such a great and promising game hit the market like this. DO NOT BUY IT. Borrow it to see how much it sucks first.

This isn't the droid you're looking for.

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 39 / 43
Date: September 18, 2006
Author: Amazon User

What an incredible disappointment packed into that li'l cart...

I ran out the day this was released and snapped it up, and two days later, ran faster to trade it in for the PS2 version.

I won't go into the bugs, they're rife and well-documented. What bothers me even more was the horrible hack-job they did to the levels and storyline. Yeah, of course I recognize that you can't fit all the chrome onto a DS port that you can afford to pack on a disc, but the choices that were made are unfathomable.

They cut out Dagobah, for cryin' out loud. Dagobah! The coolest part of the coolest movie of the Trilogy! I know that sacrifices needed to be made, but taking out Dagobah removed Yoda from the Empire Strikes Back chapter altogether, and for such a major character, that's just not okay.

When I was playing the game, I knew it was a dog, but it wasn't until I went and got the PS2 version that I realized just how terrible the DS version is. The full game is a joy, capturing not only the spirit of the movies but the feeling of playing with all of my Star Wars toys as a kid. The levels are massive and varied, the cut scenes are frequently hilarious, and the action is frenzied fun of the first order. The DS version is none of these.

The one area I can praise in the DS over the PS2 is using the touch pad to manipulate the character creator. The layout and ease of use are an improvement over the console version. But this is a mighty small piece of a mighty big game, and in no way ameliorates the central fact of this game's poorness in design and execution.

There's one other good change made to the DS cart, but it wasn't intentional. I got a bug in the Mos Eisley hub; when I walked into the Return of the Jedi room after completing the first level of New Hope, I was able to move directly to the final battle, Darth and Luke vs. the Emperor. In a game this bad, skipping everything between the first and last levels is a distinctly good idea.

Astonishing number of glitches and bugs

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: September 18, 2006
Author: Amazon User

The developers at Amaze Entertainment and the project managers at LucasArts who rushed this game out the door should be placed on Boba Fett's hit list.

Allied characters, even your buddy character, shoot at the player's character. Sometimes, particularly on some of the fly-through-maze levels, your ship disappears completely. Other times the game just freezes.

This game really needed a grown-up at LucasArts to step up, take responsibility for the problems, and announce a delay for the launch while they worked out the bugs.

What should have been a fun followup to the original game is a stunning disappoinment, one that I'm stuck with now that the game is out of the shrinkwrap.

I'll take the blame for not waiting for a few reviews to emerge before plunking down the cash for this, but someone at LucasArts deserves to be tossed to the Rancor for this.

almost unplayable

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: September 18, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Bought this game for DS the first day it came out. Within minutes the glitches became clear - blank screens, rogue characters, etc, like the other reviewers. Within hours it started locking up completely at random intervals. Exchanged it. The new cartridge worked for 2 days, then began freezing - 4 times in 20 minutes. SAVE YOUR MONEY The game is frustratingly unplayable.

Started out fun but quickly turned bad...

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: September 19, 2006
Author: Amazon User

So many bugs in this game don't know where to begin. There were several times where my ship would disappear or the landscape would turn black and all you see are your characters. Characters always get stuck in corners etc. Just read the reviews below... My [...] year old son hates it too. I've always enjoyed all of the DS games until I bought this POS. Save your money.

Garbage!!!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 15 / 16
Date: September 26, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I purchased this game since the previosu version of Lego Star Wars was awesome, it was well put together, fun story line and lots of perks.
Lego Star Wars II for Nintendo DS is the complete opposite of this. I was incredibly dissapointed with the graphics, poor quality, awful camera angles, unccountable glitches and an overall bad experience.

I cant believe that they actually release a game to the market with this level of problems and glitches. BIG QUALITY CONTROL ISSUES!!!! It is a ripoff, the game is not worth the money. I am actually discouraged to buy the PC version now as a result of my tasteless DS experience.

Bad way to kill a good name.

the force is with me

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 8
Date: September 26, 2006
Author: Amazon User

i like this game very much. i have played 3 1/2 levels so far and enjoyed it alot. i have not found any problems playing it yet. i think other kids will love this game like i do.

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