Lego Star Wars II is an action-adventure game with gameplay similar to its predecessor, Lego Star Wars: The Video Game. Most of the game's setting and objects are made out of Lego bricks based on the Star Wars-themed toy line created by the Lego Group. Lego Star Wars II 's levels cover the events of Star Wars episodes A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi, which are collectively known as the original trilogy; whereas Lego Star Wars 's levels covered the events of The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith, which are collectively known as the prequel trilogy. Lego Star Wars II presents a humorous view of the original trilogy, retelling its events with cutscenes that feature no dialogue.
Many locations from the films have been adapted into levels, including the planets Hoth, Bespin, Dagobah, Tatooine, the forest moon of Endor, and both Death Stars. Each episode is divided into six levels, which are accessed through doorways in the Mos Eisley Cantina, a spaceport and bar on Tattooine. The player takes the form of various characters from the films, armed with a gun or a lightsaber, and plays through the levels, collecting Lego "studs", small disk-like objects that serve as the game's currency. Completing levels requires the player to defeat enemies, build objects out of Lego bricks, drive vehicles, and switch between playable characters for their abilities. Some levels are completed entirely in vehicles such as the Millenium Falcon. The player's health is displayed as four hearts; being attacked by enemies depletes their health. When the health runs out, the player "dies" but instantly reappears in the same place; a small number of their studs bounce away from them but can be recollected. Once each level is completed in story mode; it can be played in free play, and the next level in the same episode can be played in story mode. In story mode, only a few characters can be played, but in free play, all unlocked characters can be played. Levels can be played as many times as desired to collect studs and secret items. At any point in a level, a second player can join in by plugging in a second controller and help to complete the level.
Three secret items can be collected in the game's levels: "minikits", "gold bricks", and "power bricks". Minikits are small canisters that are hidden in difficult-to-access places in levels. There are ten in each level. Once all ten minikits are found, the player unlocks a vehicle that can be used in a bonus level unlocked after completing the episode, and viewed—but not driven—outside the Mos Eisley Cantina. Gold bricks are items that are obtained after completing a level, achieving "True Jedi" (collecting a high number of studs) in both the story and free play modes of each level, collecting all ten minikits in each level, and completing special missions for each episode. There are 99 of them in the game; obtaining certain numbers of them unlocks rewards, such as access to a spigot that spews out Lego studs. Power bricks are red Lego bricks; one is hidden in each level. Collecting them makes various cheats available for purchase in the cantina.
In the Mos Eisley Cantina, the player can use studs to purchase characters, vehicles, gameplay hints, gold bricks, and extras such as invincibility and stud multipliers. The player can also visit a small outdoor area, create customized characters, or use cheat codes to unlock characters, extras, or Easter eggs such as a Santa Claus character.
[ edit] Characters
Over 50 characters from the films are playable. These include Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian, R2-D2, C-3PO, Darth Vader, an Ewok, and Boba Fett. More can be purchased at the Mos Eisley Cantina. When a character is unlocked, their pieces can be used in character customization.
Lego Star Wars II places greater emphasis on character abilities than Lego Star Wars; they have various abilities which makes it necessary to switch between them at times. Characters armed with a gun can use a grappling hook to reach higher areas when they stand inside a small red circle, and can attack enemies from a distance; while those armed with a lightsaber can double jump, use the Force to move certain objects, and use their lightsaber to deflect enemies' projectiles. R2-D2, C-3PO, and other characters are needed to open certain doors. Small characters like the Ewok can crawl through small hatches to reach otherwise inaccessible areas. Bounty hunters like Boba Fett can throw thermal detonators to destroy otherwise indestructible objects. Sith like Darth Vader can use the Force to manipulate black Lego objects. Some characters have unique abilities such as Chewbacca's ability to rip enemies' arms from their sockets, Darth Vader choking enemies with the Force, Lando Calrissian's kung-fu-like attack (a favorite of the developers), and Princess Leia's ability to slap enemies. Sometimes, the player will need to return to a level in Free Play so they can use more characters and find all the secrets in the level. "Use Old Save" is an unlockable feature which enables the player to import all 54 characters from Lego Star Wars and use them in free play. In order to use this feature, there must be a Lego Star Wars saved game on the same memory card as the saved game of Lego Star Wars II.
Up to two customized characters can be assembled in the Mos Eisley Cantina. Parts from playable characters, as well as miscellaneous pieces otherwise absent from the game, can be used. Millions of combinations are possible. The game generates names for the characters created based on the pieces used (for example, a character made from pieces of Darth Vader and C-3PO might have the name "Darth-3PO"); alternately, the player may create a name