Lego Star Wars II Almost Ready To Launch

Lego Star Wars II

By M (31 July 2006)

Your favourite moments, Lego-style.

WITH LESS THAN TWO months to go until the release of Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogyon September 15, the teams at LucasArts, TT Games and developerTraveller's Tales are continuing to offer insight regarding thedevelopment of this tongue-in-cheek romp through the Star Wars galaxy.Now that the Episode V The Empire Strikes Back portion of thegame with its six unique movie-based levels is nearly complete, whatscenes did they most enjoy giving fans the chance to build and battletheir ways through?

"The Battle of Hoth isa huge blast of spectacle and action to kick-start the movie, and itwas an absolute joy to bring this vast battle to life in Lego," saysJonathan Smith, director at TT Games Publishing. "The AT-ATs had amassive impact on me when I first saw the film as a child, and theirexisting Lego toy models – as well as the AT-STs and of course thesnowspeeder – are just so cool. We had a lot of fun creating a Hothbattlefield for two players to zoom around on simultaneously, and we'rereally proud of the storytelling sequences, too."

David Perkinson,producer at LucasArts, is particularly amused by the cutsceneaccompanying his favourite moment from the film. "You want to know howthey handle Darth Vader saying 'I am your father' to Luke with Legocharacters that don't talk, don't you?" he teases. "Well, I'm not goingto ruin anything for you. But trust me, it'll have you laughing outloud."

"Of course, there'ssomething to be said for the gameplay actually leading up to thatcutscene," adds Jeffrey Gullett, assistant producer at LucasArts. "Fromthe carbon freezing chamber to the central chasm within the bowels ofCloud City, the lightsaber battle itself between Vader and Luke willalways be a classic. You've possibly played this classic scene in apast Star Wars game, but Traveller's Tales has absolutely nailed it –and with the added bonus of a few healthy chuckles along the way."

But that's not theonly thing Gullett enjoys while visiting Cloud City. "Lando is myfavourite character in the game to play as, without a doubt," he says."With his unique melee attack, you can bust out some mad kung-fu skillswith him as you take out stormtroopers en route to a boss fight withBoba Fett. Everyone also laughs when they see how he tilts his blasterto the side as he shoots. Someone at Traveller's Tales has a lot oflove for Lando!"

"We all love him andall of the other characters in the game," assures William Thompson,character artist at Traveller's Tales. "And we love developing theclassic scenarios into Lego form just as much. In one way, you feellike you're making a tribute to the amazing characters and sequencesthat thrilled you so much as a child. In another, you also just have somuch fun sticking in the slapstick gags and adding all those littleimportant details that you hope fans will notice – things like makingR2-D2's periscope on Dagobah an essential gameplay element during yourtime on Yoda's swamp planet. This particular example serves the doublepurpose of both making you laugh and helping you get through the level."

Through working onDagobah for Lego Star Wars II, Smith came to appreciate the swampplanet even more than before. "Until we really got into our research,we didn't realize how much Lego there is littered across the swamps ofDagobah," recalls Smith. "The area around Yoda's house is full of junkto fool around with! Now, when we watch the movie, we almost expect tosee a Lego washing machine or a Lego tractor half-submerged besideLuke's X-wing!"

Next story: "In Pieces, You Will Be"

*May the Force buildwith you with versions developed by Traveller's Tales on PlayStation 2computer entertainment system, Sony PSP, Xbox 360, Xbox, GameCube andWindows, as well as handheld versions developed by Amaze Entertainmentfor DS and Game Boy Advance.

Gameplanet - Features - Lego Star Wars II

I myself really dont like any of the lego series of games. I am however amazed with the multiple number of platforms that they are releasing this title on. I guess someone out there really likes the games. Just not me.

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