Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a Lego-themed action-adventure video game developed by TT Fusion, based on the 2015 film Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It is the fifth entry in TT Games' Lego Star Wars series of video games. Under license from Lucasfilm, the game was released by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for iOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Vita and Wii U, on 28 June 2016, and for Android on 27 July 2016. The game was ported and released by Feral Interactive for OS X on 30 June 2016.
Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens | |
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Official cover art | |
Developer(s) | TT Fusion |
Publisher(s) | |
Director(s) | Jamie Eden Pete Gomer Rob Hewson |
Designer(s) | Tommy Turner Rory Shafto Mike Northeast Ed Marsland Rich Greer |
Programmer(s) | Tom Matthews Rian Walters |
Artist(s) | Josh Pickering Pick Pascal Serra David Woodman |
Writer(s) | Graham Goring |
Series | Lego Star Wars |
Platform(s) | |
Release |
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Genre(s) | Action-adventure |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
In addition to adapting the film, the game includes content which covers the period between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens.
Gameplay
The gameplay of Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens is similar to previous Lego video games. New systems were introduced including Multi-Builds which grant players access to various building options. These options can be destroyed and rebuilt in certain brick-building sections of the game, allowing for new path to be opened within the game's world.[1][2] Players can also hide behind cover and engage in "Blaster Battles" with enemies throughout the game.[3] The game features over 200 playable characters, including Rey, Finn, Captain Phasma, Poe Dameron, Han Solo, Kylo Ren and droids, such as C-3PO and BB-8, as well as ships, both regular-sized (which can only be used in certain misisons), and miniaturized. Players may freely explore Jakku, Takodana, D'Qar, and Starkiller Base, which all act as mini-open worlds.[4] In addition to adapting the film, the game also bridged the gap between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, with Lucasfilm allowing for creative freedom in the additional content that will explore the characters' backstories.[5][6]
Plot
The plot closely follows that of Star Wars: Episode VII -The Force Awakens, though with numerous humorous deviations or minor changes to adapt to the two player co-op gameplay. There is also a prologue that depicts the Battle of Endor, the defeat of Emperor Palpatine, and the destruction of the Death Star II at the end of Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi.
Development
In early February 2016, publisher Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment teased that the company is working on a new title that involved "two of the world's most popular entertainment brands". The game was later leaked by several retailers, before its official announcement on 2 February 2016. Players who purchase the game's Deluxe Edition will receive a season pass to the game and a Lego minifigure of Finn, while players of the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 versions received additional downloadable content, including a character pack and a bonus level, titled the "Droid Character Pack" and the "Phantom Limb Level Pack" respectively.[7] The game was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo 3DS and Wii U on 28 June 2016.[8]
Audio
The game featured the voice talents of Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Anthony Daniels, Domhnall Gleeson, Gwendoline Christie and Max von Sydow reprising their roles from The Force Awakens, as well as Bill Kipsang Rotich as Nien Nunb, Christian Simpson as C'Ai Threnalli[9] and Tom Kane reprising his role as Admiral Ackbar from various Star Wars video games.[10] Archival recordings from the film also serve as the game's dialogue.
Downloadable Content
A total of 12 DLC packs were released from the game. The first one, entitled "The Phantom Limb," includes a level that explains how C-3PO obtained his red arm, in addition to eight characters and a miniature vehicle based on the level. There were three more level packs, namely "Escape from Starkiller Base" (which follows a pair of Resistance pilots as they make their escape from the besieged Starkiller Base), "First Order Siege of Takodana" (which depicts the Battle of Takodana from the First Order's perspective), and "Jakku: Poe's Quest for Survival" (which depicts Poe Dameron's escape from Jakku upon being separated from Finn and presumed dead in the main storyline). The other eight packs were character packs, each adding eight characters and a miniature ship: the "Droid Character Pack", "The Clone Wars Character Pack", "Rebels Character Pack", "The Empire Strikes Back Character Pack", "Jabba's Palace Character Pack", "The Freemaker Adventures Character Pack", "Prequel Trilogy Character Pack", and "Jedi Character Pack".
Reception
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The game received mostly positive reviews. GameSpot awarded of 7.0 out of 10, saying "Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens doesn't really take you to a new galaxy far, far away, but it's still a pleasant journey."[13] Game Informer awarded it 8.5 out of 10, saying "A blast for Star Wars and Lego fans alike."[12] IGN awarded it 9.0 out of 10, saying "Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the most gaming fun I’ve had with either series in years."[14]
The game was the best-selling retail video game in the UK in its week of release and the fourth biggest launch for a Star Wars game in the UK,[20] and became the fourth fastest-selling game based on the Star Wars universe, and the fourth fastest-selling Lego game.[21] It stayed in the top position for five consecutive weeks, and was the second Lego game to do so, following Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes.[22]
Awards
List of awards and nominations | |||
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Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
British Academy Children's Awards | Video Game | Nominated | [23] |
Annie Awards | Best Animated Television/Broadcast Commercial | Nominated | [24] |
References
- Phillips, Tom (2 February 2016). "Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens reveal leaked, due in June". Eurogamer. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
- Hussain, Tamoor (2 February 2016). "Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens Leaks, First Screenshots Are Adorable [UpdateE]". Game Informer. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
- Cork, Jeff (2 February 2016). "March Cover Revealed – Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens". Game Informer. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- Plunkett, Luke (2 January 2016). "Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens Is Coming Soon". Kotaku. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
- Muncy, Jake (2 February 2016). "The Force Awakens Is Getting The Lego Videogame Treatment". Wired.co.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
- Carpenter, Nichole (8 February 2016). "Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens Will Expand Movie's Lore". IGN. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
- Eden, Jamie (2 February 2016). "Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens Launching June 28th on PS4, PS3, PS Vita". PlayStation Blog. Retrieved 3 February 2016.)
- G. Macy, Seth (2 February 2016). "Lego Star Wars Ep.7 Confirmed, Details And Deluxe Editions Announced". IGN. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
- "Film Magazine".
- McMillan, Graeme (4 May 2016). "'Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Writer Talks New Mythology and Celebrity Voices". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
- Carter, Chris (29 June 2016). "Review: LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens". Destructoid. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
- Reiner, Andrew (27 June 2016). "Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens. A Fun Expansion Of Star Wars' Canon". Game Informer. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
- "Ramsay, Randolph (27 June 2016). "Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
- Sliva, Marty (28 June 2016). "Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens Review". IGN. Ziff Davis, LLC. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- Musgrave, Shaun (12 July 2016). "'LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Review – Chewie, We're Home". TouchArcade. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- "LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- "LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- "LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens for Wii U Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- "LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- "The sales are strong with Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens | Eurogamer". www.eurogamer.net. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- Orry, James (4 July 2016). "UK Video Game Chart: Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens is Lego's ninth No.1 in UK". VideoGamer.com. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
- Orry, James (1 August 2016). "UK Video Game Chart: Lego Star Wars makes most of new release slumber". VideoGamer.com. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- Foster, Elizabeth (19 October 2016). "Horrible Histories, TrueTube lead BAFTA Children's noms". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications Ltd. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- "44th Annual Annie Awards Nominees & Winners". Annie Awards. 2017. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2019.