What levels are in the demo?

w HO CAN YOU PLAY IN IT?

A few weeks back, we took a look at the levels of LEGO Star Wars II that are based on Episode IV: A New Hope. After a recent trip to LucasArts headquarters, we can now bring you some in-depth details on the Empire Strikes Back stages in LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy.

The Empire Strikes Back

Chapter 1: Hoth Battle

Playable Characters: Snowspeeder

For years, fans have been begging LucasArts to let them experience the battle of Hoth in a video game. Finally, the company has listened, and we now have a chance to see what it's like taking on the giant AT-ATs with a mere tow cable and plenty of sarcasm on my part. But while we've seen Hoth in plenty of Star Wars games before, we've definitely never seen a LEGO version of it, have we?

This entire stage is played in a snowspeeder. During the first segment of the stage, you pilot the craft over Hoth's surface, taking out both probe droids and AT-STs. You will occasionally come across a passageway that's blocked off by a wall. To destroy the obstacle, you must track down a machine that dispenses bombs. Using the snowspeeder's tow cable, the bomb is dragged behind the ship until it is thrown at its intended target. The weight of the bomb actually affects your control of the speeder. To get any distance when you throw the weapon, you'll have to get a bit of a windup first. Just don't fly the bomb too close to a probe droid -- the obnoxious little robots can steal them from you.

In later parts of the stage, you'll have to take on a few AT-ATs. Just like in the film, you'll want to trip them up in the snowspeeder's tow cables, but to truly finish them off, you'll have to drag a bomb and detonate it on the downed Imperial walker.

Chapter 2: Escape from Echo Base

Playable Characters: Han Solo (Hoth), Princess Leia (Hoth), Chewbacca, C-3PO

"Imperial troops have entered the base!" With the Rebels' shield generator destroyed and snowtroopers pouring into their icy headquarters, it's time for the good guys to beat a hasty retreat. The stage begins with Han and Leia running through the base while fending off attacking snowtroopers. Some passageways are blocked by walls of ice, but some quick building with piles of LEGO bricks will create a heater that melts the walls and allows our heroes to get on their way.

You'll occasionally burst into a room and take waiting snowtroopers by surprise. If you look quick, you'll see that the invaders are warming their little, plastic behinds on heaters like the ones you've built.

Eventually, you meet up with Chewie and 3PO, and you'll have to get past a fairly elaborate puzzle that involves building a snowmobile to help the protocol droid reach an elevated platform. If only li'l Anakin programmed jumping into 3PO when he was built, this whole thing could have been avoided.

Chapter 3: Falcon Flight

Playable Characters: Millennium Falcon

With Echo Base lost, it's time to make sure that the Rebels can get past the Imperial blockade in orbit around Hoth. Pilot the Millennium Falcon through the swarms of TIE fighters and TIE interceptors and make your way to the real targets -- the massive Star Destroyers. Luckily, you don't need to take out entire ships, just their gun turrets. Fend them off long enough for the Rebel transports and escort frigates to escape.

With your allies out of danger, Han flies the Falcon into an asteroid field to ditch the pursuing Imperials. Getting through the field is made even more dangerous by the asteroids embedded with explosive mines. By shooting these booby-trapped rocks, you'll discover a proton torpedo hidden within. These torpedoes must be collected and used to blow up massive asteroids that block your way. Keep in mind that you'll also have to deal with attacking TIEs while all this is happening.

Chapter 4: Dagobah

Playable Characters: Luke Skywalker (Pilot), R2-D2, Luke Skywalker (Dagobah), Yoda

As in the film, Dagobah is where Luke begins to learn the ways of the Force. During the first part of the stage, Luke (still in his X-wing jumpsuit) and R2-D2 must maneuver their way through the planet's swamps in order to find the mysterious Jedi master named Yoda. Piles of LEGO bricks can be built into ladders and bridges to assist you, and you'll have to deal with wild creatures like bats and giant snakes.

Once you find Yoda, Luke's training begins (and he gets a change of clothes). Since the farm boy's powers are still weak, carrying Yoda on his back will allow Luke to use Force powers as you continue through the swamp. Eventually, Luke's powers manifest themselves, and he demonstrates them by building a tractor out of LEGO bricks. We don't remember that part from the movie either, but it was still pretty funny.

And yes, you will enter the cave that is strong with the dark side of the Force and confront the vision of Darth Vader.

Chapter 5: Cloud City Trap

Playable Characters: Luke Skywalker (Bespin), R2-D2

The duel with the phony Vader was just practice for the real deal here. Luke and R2 arrive on Cloud City and find it crawling with stormtroopers. The duo starts working their way through the city, using R2 to open up any locked doors as they go. Soon, they encounter Vader in the carbonite freezing chamber. As Luke and Vader fight, you can take control of R2, who can interface with a computer terminal that causes vents in the floor to expel gases. If Vader is standing on one of the vents, he'll begin coughing and become stunned for a moment. Use this chance to take control of Luke once more and deliver a few lightsaber blows.

Eventually, Vader will flee, forcing you to chase after him. You'll end up fighting the Sith Lord a few times throughout the city until the final, climatic scene in the city's central air shaft. I won't spoil how the non-speaking LEGO Darth Vader reveals Luke's true parentage to him, but it sure got a chuckle out of me.

Chapter 6: Betrayal Over Bespin

Playable Characters: Lando Calrissian, Princess Leia (Bespin), Chewbacca, C-3PO

Episode V's final chapter backs up the timeline a bit as we follow Han and Leia's adventure in Cloud City. The stage begins with Han being frozen in carbonite and carried off by the bounty hunter Boba Fett. Now, Leia, Chewbacca and Lando must chase after him in an attempt to save their friend.

As you make your way through the corridors of Cloud City, you'll have to fight stormtroopers and dodge the fleeing citizens. Since this is your first chance to play as Star Wars' resident ladies man, Lando Calrissian, I suggest you take full advantage of it. In addition to his blaster, Lando has some smooth kung-fu moves for close combat.

Since the game follows the plot of the movie, Boba Fett eventually escapes with the frozen Han. After that, you must lead the crew back to the Millennium Falcon so that they can escape the Imperial threat.

Make Your Own Jedi

In addition to the Empire goodness, we also got to play around with the game's character creator. This extremely silly mode lets you answer that long debated question: What would happen if Ponda Baba donned Princess Leia's metal bikini from Return of the Jedi, picked up a lightsaber, and fought Darth Vader in Cloud City?

Once that issue is put to rest, you can go about creating even more absurd scenarios. By mixing and matching various body parts, you can create and save two different characters to play as during the game's Free Play stages. With the ability to change the hat/helmet, head, body, arms, hands, waist, legs, cape and weapon, there are loads of different characters to design. The character's abilities depend on what weapon you give him or her (or it). Give them a lightsaber, and they'll have the ability to use the Force. Arm them with a blaster, and they'll also carry around a grappling hook.

Another new feature that LucasArts and Traveller's Tales has incorporated into the game is self-adjusting difficulty. This feature, which can be turned on and off, makes the game adapt to how well you're playing. So if you're doing extremely well in a level, you'll end up facing off against more enemies. If you're not doing so hot, the game eases up on you. This should prove especially helpful for younger gamers who might have otherwise found the game too challenging in later levels.

There are also new types of LEGO bricks to discover throughout each stage. Power Bricks open up new upgrades that you can purchase to make your characters stronger. Although more powerful blasters and lightsabers are valuable, you should really save your studs (the game's currency) to buy the Stud Multiplier. This goodie doubles the number of studs that you collect in each stage. Gold Bricks are earned by performing well throughout the game, and they're used to unlock such treats as extra levels.

We're now two-thirds through LEGO Star Wars II, and with all the extra stuff to unlock, it looks like it will easily top the original in terms of replay value. We'll have an in-depth look at the Return of the Jedi portion of the game in a couple weeks, followed shortly by a full review. Stay tuned.

Also, I've decided to get the Clone Turbo Tank instead of the ISD, because of the following reasons:

-It's the only set that has Episode III clones, which are better than Stormtroopers in my opinion.
-Stormtroopers and Palpatine's Guards will probably be released again later, and I can live without Tarkin and the droids.
-It undoubtedly has better playability.
-Commander Cody.
-Mace Windu.
-Mace Windu.
-Mace Windu.
-Mace Windu.
-Mace Windu.
-Mace Windu.

This game is so awsome, it can't be described in words. I only need one reason to go to my TRU on september 12: XBOX LSWII. Can't get better than this. I made a boba fett type with a little lightsaber. I heard that lightsabers will be upgradable, too. Has anyone else driven to the double stud zone in a landspeeder?

Suletu Master

I'm getting a kick out of the official site. What's the best character you've made up or mixed up?

I've mixed up "Bib yo tuna." XD
Aoi