LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars

Overview

LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars is a game for the Nintendo 3DS that was released in Europe on 25 March 2011 and North America on 27 March 2011. This game has drastically improved graphics when compared to the version of The Clone Wars 3D on the Nintendo DS. There are new features, such as the addition of Play Coins and StreetPass intergration. The game is set across thirteen worlds, each split up into three sections apiece, or Acts. There are also returning features, such as the ability to build objects with brick piles, and the LEGP studs used to buy things in the shop. The items in the shop consist of hints and tricks, characters, and mini-game levels. Gold bricks also be make a return to this game, along with 10 mini kit canisters for each level and red power bricks.

Gameplay

Gameplay in LEGO Star Wars consists of swapping between different characters to fight enemies, solve puzzles and progress through different levels. The player can use many different abilities to complete levels. A large focus of the game is on finding collectables throughout the levels in order to unlock new features in the game. Also collecting lots of studs gives you new ranks like True Jedi etc.

Changes from the Series

Technical

Graphical improvements from previous LEGO games have been made possible by an improved game engine. This allows for new gameplay elements such as having vast numbers of enemies on the screen at one time. It utilizes the Nintendo 3DS' 3D effect, and is the first game in the LEGO video game series to have this feature.

Gameplay

Gameplay in this game is very similar to that of previous LEGO titles, but does include a few new novelties. A new feature called "Scene Swap" allows the player to instantaneously switch between characters in different locations to complete multi-part objectives. Also, characters with lightsabers can cut holes in certain walls to get to certain areas as well as being able to use the force to move objects, as in the previous LEGO Star Wars games. Characters with lightsabers are also able to use their lightsaber to perform a "wall-jump", another new move to the LEGO Star Wars series. There are also bricks that characters can build platforms with to get across certain obstacles. LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars also has mini-games within it, including snowball fights and droid volleyball.

Characters

Playable

Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and R2-D2 were confirmed to be playable in the demo of the game. Yoda and Clone Troopers, such as Commanders Rex and Cody, are also playable. There are also classic unlockable characters, including Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Chewbacca. To unlock some characters you have to earn and spend Nintendo 3DS play coins that you earn for every 100 steps you take with your Nintendo 3DS by using its built in accelerometer.

Story

The game takes place during the "Clone Wars" animated series (specifically Seasons 1 and 2) but also includes characters from the main Star Wars movie saga. Episodes are group based depending on which enemies and characters are in each chapter however the game does not always follow the chronological order of the TV series.

Release

LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars was a launch title for the Nintendo 3DS in the west, releasing on March 25, 2011 for the UK and March 27 for North America, making it the first LEGO game to be released for the Nintendo 3DS. The game also launched for Wii, Nintendo DS, PC, PS3, PSP and Xbox 360 on March 22. Although the game was embellished and released at the same time for all game consoles, LEGO Star War III: The Clone Wars was released with a different version on the portable versions (Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, PSP), then on the home console versions (PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii). The portable versions featured no large-scale battles and a completely different mission system.

Reception

LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars was released to very mixed reviews. Metacritic, the online reviews compiler, gave it an average score of 67%, however review of the game actually range from 50% all the way up to 85%. Nintendo Power (8.5/10) commented that it looked and played great on the Nintendo 3DS' stereoscopic screen, whereas Gamespot (60/100) commented that the LEGO formula was getting old and that the gameplay was predictable and unchallenging.