Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga dropped in 2007 and covered, what was then, all the Star Wars movies from Episode I to Episode VI. What followed was an era where every independent property under the sun received a Lego game tie-in.

However, as the games were churned out, complaints began mounting about the lack of innovation between games and how they were all extensively the same game with a different coat of paint.

Now, after 12 years and 22 games, TT Games has gifted players with its most ambitious project yet titled Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. Spanning all nine films, this game completely revamps much of the traditional Lego gameplay. 

So, is this game enough to give Lego Games the reinvention it needed and is it just as well-loved for fans and newcomers alike?

The short answer is: yes.

The biggest shake-up this game has made to the traditional Lego formula is the structure. Gone are the days of the 2.5D levels, now all of the levels are full 3D and much broader and grander in scope. This does create a small problem in that it can become a little bit challenging to tell the difference between the designed, scripted level and one of the many mini open-worlds the game allows players to explore.

Combat has also received a massive revision. Combos are introduced very effectively and are visceral, but still cartoonish. They are also quite forgiving and hard to mess up, which I’m sure the younger players will very much appreciate. I had my concerns about the combat initially as it appeared to be trying to be a brawler, a third-person shooter and a traditional, melee-focused action game all at the same time.

However, these concerns were quickly put to bed. None of the elements of combat feel under-baked and everything is kept very simple, which makes it easy for players to swap between styles as the game demands. 

For those playing local co-op, friendly fire is present in this game, as my brother very quickly made me aware. Speaking of co-op, there are certainly moments where the game has not been optimised for the multiplayer experience. Some moments can turn into one player doing all the work, and the other one being forced to stand back and do nothing, due to more scripted segments.

The camera is also a fickle beast at times and often has a mind of its own. This led to many moments of frustration as I struggled to see what was happening on-screen. Granted, this really only happened in tighter environments. But where on earth would Star Wars have tight, claustrophobic environments…besides every single ship and space station? This issue only gets worse in the multiplayer.

The game looks incredible. Lego games have always had a unique visual style, mixing the designs of the respective property they adapt in with Lego, but this game is a significant step up for the franchise. The lighting effects are astronomical and the way the light bounces off the plastic Lego is attention to detail that I truly appreciate. All of the different effects and overall bright colour palette  make the game pop off the screen.

However, if there is one thing that this game rightly saw fit not to change, it is the series’ signature brand of humour. While some may see the humour as a little bit childish, the game regularly made me chuckle, with some moments of genuine belly laughter.

The cut-scenes in particular are executed so well and always have a joke, or several, that will definitely engage the younger audience (and me). Star Wars fans, in particular, should also really enjoy some of the comedy, as it fully embraces a lot of the memes that envelope the series. The game also isn’t afraid to poke fun at Star Wars as a franchise, and never takes itself too seriously, making it a beautiful breath of fresh air.

The sound design is spot on. The Lego games have never really misstepped in this department, but this one is a significant step up. From the sounds of the ships and explosions, to the blasters and lightsabers, to the alien dialects and beepings of the droid, everything is nigh perfect. It exemplifies the attention to detail that makes this series truly stand out from other licensed video games. John William’s iconic soundtrack is also one of the best ever and adds so much to the moment-to-moment gameplay. It makes the kid in me scream with glee.

The voice acting is pretty good. There are a lot of sound-alikes used, some of which are more convincing than others. I was very happy to see so much of the cast of the Clone Wars involved, as it does give this game a greater feeling of authenticity. However, the game itself does burn through the events of the films at a breakneck pace, which might mean that gamers who haven’t seen the films are left a little confused. More time could have been taken to flesh out each of the film’s stories.

This is coupled with some odd choices relating to what the games select and omit for levels, and how the films are translated into the games. There are a lot of moments where it feels like the game focuses on the wrong parts of the film’s plot, and key and iconic moments are given the can, as a result. 

A couple of the open-world segments can also have a lot of backtracking and escorting NPCs around, especially in the prequels, but that is more an issue to take up with George Lucas. Still, it does result in a dip in the engagement and, at times, boredom.  

The movement of the characters isn’t brilliant. Most of the characters can jump the same height and run at the same speeds, whereas the previous Lego games were very good at distinguishing Jedi from civilians, and different alien races from the droids. There just isn’t enough incentive to utilise different characters to explore the open worlds.

Beyond that, the movement of the characters, especially the jumping, feels a bit clunky and unnatural, as it kills the momentum that is being carried. I can see why platforming was de-emphasized, but it is a shame, as that was always one of the Lego games’ biggest strengths. It now means there is less variation in the gameplay. 

I did also run into a number of bugs during my playthrough, including a couple of level-breaking ones. Most commonly, an item for a puzzle wouldn’t spawn or activate, when characters interacted with it. While this was nothing a quick reload of the level wouldn't fix, it did take me out of the experience a bit. There were also a couple of smaller bugs, such as audio not playing during a cutscene, or characters’ mouth’s moving in the open world, when they clearly aren’t saying anything. Again, nothing serious, but it is a shame that these are present.

Overall, this is a game worth front-lining the next era of Lego Games. While it isn’t perfect The Skywalker Saga still has a lot to offer. Slightly updated gameplay for players who grew up with the originals, while still being simple enough for new players. Pair that with a clear love of the source material and Lego’s signature humour, and you have a game that is a lot of fun for any Lego or Star Wars fans.