Lego Star Wars-A History of Handheld Games

In fact, I’ve been waiting for this game to release since late 2019, following the conclusion of the Sequel trilogy. So, saying I’m excited to finally get my hands on this new title is a bit of an understatement. Regardless your opinion on the newest films, Lego Star Wars represents the most comprehensive way to play the entire saga. And as someone who’s been a fan of the game series since it debuted in 2005, this release is celebratory. Of course, when this article goes live, I’ll probably have stacked a few hours into the game. But as of right now, everything I know comes from trailers, reviews and leaked walkthrough videos. So, take my thoughts with a grain of salt. Because, more than anything, I’m reminiscing on my experience with the Lego Star Wars franchise.

Lego Star Wars On Game Boy Advance

Now, unlike others who grabbed Lego Star Wars when it first released, I played it on a Game Boy Advance. Growing up, I rarely had the opportunity to get my hands on the newest console. So, much of my experience was relegated to handhelds like Game Boys and Nintendo DS systems. This title was absolutely no exception to that norm. However, the game itself was far different for Game Boy than for consoles like PS2 or GameCube. In fact, that might be a main reason why I’m so utterly excited to play the Nintendo Switch version. Essentially, it’s a handheld system with the exact same gaming experience for The Skywalker Saga as on a console.

Of course, some of the graphical output might be less robust than, say, PlayStation 5 or Xbox One. But the overall format is the same from one system to another. So, even though I’ll be playing on another handheld, I won’t be missing out like before.

Undoubtedly, one of the main draws has always been the ability to play a multitude of characters across the series. And even in the original version, which only covered the Prequel trilogy, the roster included fifty-nine characters. So, from Mace Windu and Obi-Wan to Padmé and Shaak Ti, fans had a wide range of options. At least, that was the case for consoles. Unfortunately, the Game Boy Advance crowd received a pool of fifteen, plus twenty-three accessible only with cheats. So, even with the entire roster, handheld users were at a severe disadvantage in terms of playable characters. And additionally, that says nothing about the comparison of overall gameplay, maps, graphics, and other features.

However, the version differences have to be understood in light of the technology of the time. Naturally, Game Boy Advance hardware was nowhere powerful enough to run anything comparable to the console title. So, even though the first Lego Star Wars was significantly better on some systems than others, that can be forgiven. Particularly since the next entries in the series were far more enjoyable.

Lego Star Wars II and the Complete Saga

Now, to be entirely fair, it’s been years since I’ve played either of the Nintendo DS Lego Star Wars titles. So, perhaps it’s a bit of nostalgia influencing my view. But I remember these titles far more fondly than the first. And although Lego Star Wars II suffered many bugs, The Complete Saga was fairly stable. In fact, the 2007 title was far more akin to console versions than anything previous. It offered several interesting mini-game bonus levels such as lightsaber training, podrace pit stops, and more. But the variety in the levels far outweighed the depth of the original Game Boy Advance version. So, this later title offered a much better way to enjoy both the Prequels and Originals on the go. And of course, at the time, that represented the entirety of the Star Wars saga.

However, for all the advancements made over against the 2005 title, the DS games still weren’t on-par with consoles. For example, most levels were shorter, spliced together, or cut out entirely. The character roster was also still inferior, as were cinematic elements and available moves. So, even being superior to the original handheld title, The Complete Saga for DS still struggled to compete.

Now, the amount of hours I logged in the DS games aren’t easily estimable. I played through each film many times. And what’s more, my ongoing love for bounty hunter lore probably stems from the Lego Star Wars II bounty hunter missions. After all, an interest in Boba Fett and Dengar pushed me into the expanded universe novels. So, the second Lego Star Wars title boasts some merit for helping cement my love for the franchise.

Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars

Admittedly, the PSP version of The Clone Wars is probably the title I’ve spent the least amount of time playing. In fact, I don’t remember finishing the game more than once or twice, which was strange. Because in comparison, I completed both the Game Boy Advance and DS titles multiple times over. Furthermore, I’m a massive fan of The Clone Wars television series. However, this game didn’t have the same overall feeling as the titles dedicated to the main trilogies. So, I have relatively little to say on its behalf.

That noted, I should at least point out that this game had a new roster of characters not played before. Of course, this was because it covered an entirely different era of the Star Wars franchise. It also boasted yet further improved graphics and levels comparable to those found on console versions. And it even included fairly decent vehicular levels. However, it still failed to grasp the full picture presented by superior systems. And perhaps because the subject matter was less familiar than that of the main series. It covered a relatively short amount of content from the show. Especially since the previous DS title accounted for material from all six existing films. So, it not only felt lackluster compared to other version of the same game. It felt inferior to titles that released years before.

Moving Into The Skywalker Saga

Now, maybe you’ve read all this and you’re thinking, “All you did was complain about these games”. If so, that hasn’t been my intention. I have greatly admired the Lego Star Wars games since they first released over fifteen years ago – handheld versions particularly. However, recognizing they don’t stack up to console editions has made me extremely interested to play the Switch version. Because, by all accounts, the game should be extremely similar across all platforms. The gameplay has been entirely revamped for a fresh, new style. The roster of characters is over 300 strong, with additional DLC character packs available. The ability to free roam in both vehicle and on-planet looks extremely enticing. And the graphics are incredible in comparison to previous titles.

Now, whether the hype will stand up remains to be seen. But IGN has given the game an 8/10 score. Kotaku calls it “brilliant and well-made…without becoming boring”. And Game Informer hails it a “thorough and fun examination of all three Star Wars movie trilogies”. So, my hopes are high, and my excitement is growing with every anticipatory minute. Overwhelmingly, the consensus for Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga seems to be positive.