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LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga review | Xbox Series X|S

12/4/2022

 
The Millenium Falcon in Cloud City

Many of us, especially around here, have had a fairly long history with LEGO games, and an even longer history with Star Wars, so you could say expectations were high for LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga.

James Michael Parry
by James Michael Parry

Picture

​@james_parry

Picture
Developer: TT Games
Publisher: WB Games
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC
Players: 1-2


Back in 2016, I talked about needing a break from LEGO games, since I’d dipped into most games by then, and then I proceeded to review at least half a dozen more over the next few years that followed, including LEGO The Force Awakens, which was all the way back in 2017.

Coming back to the LEGO Star Wars franchise after all this time feels strangely refreshing, and although many of these stories and moments have been touched on in previous games going as far back as 2005, the series' trademark physical humour and beautiful presentation is back and better than ever.

Visually, the amount of lighting effects and reflections here really lifts the action on-screen, while the character models have a lot more texture and surface imperfections which really give you the sense this is actual LEGO.

Attention to detail in that area is a delight, since you can't beat the excitement of seeing a physical set you own perfectly recreated in the game, as happened on numerous occasions, particularly with the various spaceships, which, along with the characters themselves, are numerous.

The format of this game is as straightforward as you'd expect, with each of the nine episodes bringing its own characters and locations, but the galaxy is connected by a map which lets you zip between any planet you've been to in any film. So, if you want to, you can bumble about Naboo with Rey and Finn to find some Kyber Bricks (the main brick to collect this time), which might be tucked away behind an environmental puzzle or challenge.​
Obi-Wan and Darth Maul with lightsabers
Characters each have different abilities, depending on their type, and the variety brings in the sort of range of gameplay we've seen across countless LEGO games all in one.

It can prove frustrating at times to keep straight exactly what tool is needed to deal with each different coloured glow, but once you've got the hang of it (or refreshed your memory), you settle into the experience quite easily.

The puzzles themselves aren't massively challenging, though you aren't always given a huge amount of direction, a lot of the challenge is piecing visual cues together to work out the way to go.
Rey dodges a TIE fighter
Combat isn't too tough either, especially if you've got one of the many lightsaber-weilding characters along for the ride, as between the sabers themselves and force powers, your characters will make quick work of most enemies.

If you do find you need a bit of extra oomph though, there is a rudimentary upgrade system, which lets you level up running speed or build time for LEGO, though most won't be necessary unless you're gunning for 100% completion.
there's always something new to discover whenever you are wandering around hub worlds, inevitably smashing everything in sight...
Speaking of, there is an awful lot of "stuff" in this game. Collectables are nothing new of course, but here the total number of Kyber Bricks alone numbers at over 1,000, on top of multiple part minikits per level, hidden costumes, characters and ships as well as cheat codes to unlock huge stud multipliers.

It's dizzying at times, though it means there's always something new to discover whenever you are wandering around hub worlds, inevitably smashing everything in sight.
Leia takes down some Stormtroopers
The experience is always endearing and wholesome, with even the darker moments of the story poked fun at or even played for laughs.

Between gameplay sections you'll see cutscenes – so far, so normal. However with so much story to get through, these sequences can feel very rushed, with entire plot points or conversations truncating minutes into mere seconds. If this is your first introduction to the story then you'd more than likely struggle, which might be the case for some younger fans.

For most though, it's a well-known story, meaning it doesn't pose too much of a narrative stumbling block, it just means at times you can feel a bit of cutscene whiplash.
A Bongo in Theed, Naboo
The voice acting is, for the most part, on point. Qui-Gon Jin has a bit of a Sean Connery twang, but some of the actors doing impressions of the original performers do a great job – particularly Rey. Others go in a different direction, which also works, as we've seen in the Holiday Christmas Special, from which many of the performers reprise these roles. Finally you have Anthony Daniels and a handful of other originals, so in all it feels like a really mixed bag.

John William's iconic score is included in its full majesty, and the sound design is, as usual, pulled straight out of the film universe, as are all of the location and character designs – many of which boast an impressive amount of scale, which is especially apparent when you're just bumbling about, exploring.

Space is less of a compelling setting, with many space sections already well-trodden more effectively in everything from the recent Squadrons all the way back to the original Rogue Squadron series. It all has the feeling of filler rather than having a real significant point to it.​
A Speeder fights an AT-AT on Hoth
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga feels very comprehensive, and with it being the team's umpteenth trip to a galaxy far, far away – though the first in a few years – you'd certainly hope so, but perhaps this should be the swansong for the entire franchise in a way. (Besides further Mandalorian expansions anyway.)

The experience is fun and quite therapeutic, with tons of options of things to do and explore. What's more, the game offers a rare opportunity at some very engaging and varied splitscreen play, which is a huge thumbs up.

For those already itching to jump back into the LEGO Star Wars world, this is a no-brainer, but equally, despite its drawbacks, it's a great introduction into the genre and the galaxy overall.

Pros
  • Nostalgia-fuelled locations, ships and characters abound
  • Using different characters does change the game and adds replayability
  • Everything you could want from a Star Wars LEGO experience…

Cons
  • …though possibly a little too much clutter for some
  • Not a huge number of new ideas
  • Visual updates are noticeable, but not game-changers

9/10​
0 Comments

PHOGS! review | Xbox One X

2/12/2020

 
PHOGS! get hot under the collar

Sometimes you need a video game to inject some joy into your life, and that applies especially in 2020. Enter PHOGS!, the charming puzzle game about exploring with a double-headed dog in search of bone-shaped treats.

James Michael Parry
by James Michael Parry

Picture

​@james_parry

Picture
Developer: Coatsink and Bit Loom Games
Publisher: Coatsink
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox X|S, PS4, PS5, PC, Switch
Players: 1-2

The game at first glance seems simplistic, but behind it's bright colours and basic control scheme lies a delightful, engaging experience for all ages. Beyond colour, the aesthetic has a cartoonish, almost cel-shaded style. Its early, food-orientated levels channel greats like Overcooked and Mario Odyssey’s Luncheon Kingdom, before transitioning to a more subdued presentation for the nighttime stages.

Exploring with the PHOGS themselves is fairly linear. While you’ll need to keep an eye out to find all of the collectable bones in each level, tackling each challenge required to move on to the next area is straightforward. Visual tells seamlessly teach you how to complete the various tasks, plus there’s some fun environmental storytelling, making the experience particularly accessible to younger or first-time players.

There’s an emphasis on savoring the experience here too; there are no time limits, no scores and no real penalty for falling off the edge of a level, which keeps stress and frustration to a minimum. There’s a unique approach to the control scheme as well, as you’re asked whether you want to use one or two controllers to play. In the case of the former, buttons are separated in such a way that you can play quite happily after some initial adjustment.

Though PHOGS! isn’t too demanding overall, there’s still an element of challenge to achieving 100% completion on each level. That said, you aren’t overwhelmed by a huge number of collectables - instead, finding them will require observation and persistence to track down. Testing the physics is also intuitive, with only the odd moment where you’re thrown around unexpectedly.

​
Your reward for scouring the levels is the ability to spend your bones on a modest variety of hats. Unfortunately, even unlocking everything leaves plenty of bones leftover, and the hats themselves often look better in the customisation room than they do in the flesh. With customisation at the forefront in titles like Fall Guys and the Worms series, this inclusion feels a little under-developed, but nonetheless welcome in the absence of microtransactions.
PHOGS! have fun in the sleep world
PHOGS! is easy to pick up and play and the gradual introduction of different challenges and mechanics is steady, drawing you in and having you eager to lap up just one more level.
The PHOGS (a merging of the words physics and dogs, as seen within the gameplay) exude character as you move them around. If you lazily control a single head at a time, for example, you’ll see the trailing head quickly drop off to sleep. That same level of characterisation extends to the NPCs as well, with our particular favourite being an octopus chef who's increasingly pleased with how his mountaintop soup is turning out, thanks to your help.

​
The game’s music has enthusiasm and beaming positivity to match, but at times relies too heavily on a short, repeated phrase that can start to grate. Fortunately each level has a new tune, meaning such earworms are fairly short-lived.
PHOGS! have a snooze on the beach after lots of exploring
PHOGS! is an experience we’ve been hearing about for a long time, and it's a pleasure to finally have our paws on it. The sheer delight at successfully getting Red and Blue to the friendly patchwork-style snake which safeguards the end of each level can’t be overstated. It’s easy to pick up and play and the gradual introduction of different challenges and mechanics is steady, drawing you in and having you eager to lap up just one more level.

​
Coming into the festive season, a family PHOGS! session sounds far more appealing than a six-hour argument over Monopoly. It’s also just as fun to watch as it is to play, for any technologically-opposed family members. Coatsink and Bit Loom Games have taken a simple concept and really nailed it. If you’re in the mood for some gaming joy this Christmas, PHOGS! undoubtedly fits the bill.

​Pros

  • Adorable artstyle and characterisation
  • Accessible to all ages and skill levels
  • Hard to resist grabbing all of the collectibles 

Cons
​
  • Music can grate at times
  • Customisation options are underwhelming
  • Controls can occasionally feel a little floaty and imprecise

9/10
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