More impressive than reducing the First Order’s finest to a pile of bricks from behind Chewbacca’s Bowcaster, is the game’s new Multi-Build mechanic. Scoring head-shots on Stormtroopers might not feel ground-breaking to a Gears of Wars fan, but it’s a significant upgrade for this series, one that has us hoping it eventually spawns a dedicated third-person shooter. Utilizing an intuitive new cover system and cinematic camera, these exchanges bring an addictive, arcade-y layer to firefights.

Where January’s Lego Marvel’s Avengers let fans down a bit with tedious gameplay and poor pacing, The Force Awakens refreshes the comfortably familiar formula in a variety of fun, welcome ways.įor starters, the game very fittingly retools the series’ ranged combat to fit the style of Star Wars’ action-ratcheting blaster battles.

While this fun-poking portrayal of last year’s blockbuster does an especially good job of recreating memorable scenes that will stretch smiles across the faces of kids and adults alike, this latest Lego-fied romp taxes the thumbs as much as it tickles the funny bone. Of course, if you’ve played any previous Lego titles, you’re well aware of the series’ ability to parody popular properties-from “Harry Potter” and “The Hobbit” to Marvel’s Mightiest Heroes and even DC Comics’ brooding bat - with charm, personality, and style to spare. It’s a hilarious scene, and just one of many that unfold during both gameplay encounters and cut-scenes. That’s right: upon conjuring a giant tub of kernels, your fire-flinging foe will cook them just before his allies excitedly attempt to catch the freshly popped corn in their helmets. Because this is the latest entry in the brick-based, family-friendly franchise, though, you don’t dispatch the blocky baddie with a blaster or lightsaber, but with, well … popcorn. Less than an hour into Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens, you’ll find yourself facing one of the First Order’s fearsome Flametroopers.

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