Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is better when it’s creative

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker SagaThis nostalgic adventure is inspired by the Lego Star Wars films. The game wavers between cinematic accuracy — with levels pulled right out of the movies — and fun twists on more minor Star Wars set pieces. But the game is ultimately at its best when it doesn’t worry too much about emulating the films perfectly and focuses instead on showing fans something new.

The Skywalker Saga each numbered Star Wars episode is only five linear levels long, and each level is just a bite-size piece of the movie’s overall story. The rest of each episode consists of open-world adventuring where players fly through space or roam around the planets solving puzzles, riding vehicles, visiting iconic locations, and getting the lowdown on the area’s wider lore.

Many cases can result in some really fun Lego vignettes. Walking through Luke, Owen, and Beru’s house on Tatooine — complete with the iconic droid maintenance room — really hits that nostalgic mark. The joy of exploring their house and securing bonus upgrades points through the chase around Womp Rats feels like an extension to that space.

However, these huge levels often serve to drag the story forward in the same way as the films. I’ll fly down to Ahch-To just to follow Luke from The Last JediAfter a while, you can move on. Instead of creating exciting levels, mission objectives simply continue the story. They show you a Lego-built movie scene. Much of the game’s dialogue is even taken verbatim from the films — even if there are some comical Lego background goofs.

Image: TT Games/WB Games/Disney/Lucasfilm Games

As I enjoy the science-fictional aesthetic and the storyline of the films, I find the gaming experience to be incredibly entertaining. And it’s here where the scope ofLego Star Wars The Skywalker SagaIt really does work. It’s amazing that TT Games created every Star Wars meaningful planet. I could explore them all, I am sure. Are you sure I don’t need another Death Star trench-run? Are you sure? This Is pod racing really possible? I know the Gungans’ side of the battle against the droid army is important, but is it a fun level to play? These questions can be answered with a resounding no. Lego Star WarsIt is best to meaningfully depart from its cinematic source material.

The most enjoyable people I know are my friends. The Skywalker Saga It finds the joy in the unspoken scenes of films, and gives me an opportunity to explore places that the numbered series never could. The Millennium Falcon was my favorite film. A New HopeI made the puzzle of the junk and put it back together in between Stormtroopers. Because the movie focuses mostly on the Shield Generator sequence, I enjoyed a more extensive battle of Endor playing with Wicket & Chewie. Even Rising of Skywalker, the series’ worst film by a parsec, gets a great level in the puzzle/fight hybrid between Rey and Kylo throughout the destroyed Death Star on Kef Bir.

Lego Star Wars The Skywalker Saga’s level selections feel inconsistent. TT Games is known for straying from the beaten path in order to present a unique angle on a Star Wars Event we know. However, it can also fall apart under the stress of creating some of cinema’s most memorable moments. It works great as a Star Wars simulation, but the game is even more enjoyable as an exploration of new things. Looking back, I see The Skywalker Saga’s grand journey, I know I’ll remember the weird puzzle-filled adventure through the Geonosis droid factory more than I will the iconic battle against Count Dooku himself.