Once you play through a level in the story mode, you can play it again in free play mode, which gives you some control over which characters you'll play as, and you'll find that each chapter is absolutely packed with secrets and areas that you simply couldn't get to with the story mode characters. You'll unlock plenty of additional characters simply by playing the game, but there are others that you'll need to purchase in the shop, and still others that you can unlock with a game save from the original Lego Star Wars, if it appeared on the system you're playing on. The free play mode also lets you use your own custom-made characters, which you can build using pieces of other playable characters. It doesn't effect the gameplay, but there's still something really funny about putting Darth Vader's head on Princess Leia's body when she's in her slave costume. Several different types of collectibles, an unlockable series of bounty hunter missions, and time trial mode all help to create some good lasting value.
Though the game is appearing on no less than eight different platforms, most of these versions are virtually indistinguishable. Featurewise, the GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, and PC versions of Lego Star Wars II are nearly identical, and the PSP version is awfully close, though it takes a slightly different approach to certain unlockables, and it also has much more pronounced loading times. The current-gen console versions all look slightly better than the original Lego Star Wars, while the PC version looks a bit better than those, since it can run at much higher resolutions. By default, the PC version implements a kind of goofy keyboard only control scheme, though it's easily modified. There's also gamepad support, and we found that a wired Xbox 360 controller automatically mapped all of the controls to the appropriate buttons.
The Xbox 360 version has the most graphical flair, with better reflections, better explosions, and a cool lens-focus effect that makes objects too close to or too far from the camera appear slightly blurry. It's definitely the best-looking version, but it's also got a very minor frame rate problem that crops up when there are a lot of particle effects. The achievement points in the Xbox 360 version are pretty well balanced. You'll probably get almost 200 points just by playing through all three episodes, though there is also a string of achievements that require you to complete entire chapters without dying once, which in some cases is no small feat.
Regardless of the platform, though, the visuals have a ton of charm. Getting to see recognizable Lego pieces mingling with recognizable Star Wars characters and locales is just really endearing, and Lego Star Wars II does it quite well. A vast library of recognizable sound effects and that unshakably rousing John Williams score make the experience feel that much more authentic, and even though there's no real voice acting in the game, some miming and appropriate-sounding mumbles make it apparent what's going on.
As much fun as Lego Star Wars II is, it's unfortunate that it had to come second. Some of the novelty of the gameplay, as well as the concept itself, isn't quite as potent as it was the first time around. The original Star Wars trilogy just seems more deserving of this nostalgic treatment than the prequels. Still, anyone with even a sliver of nostalgia for Star Wars will find this to be a fun, good-natured romp.
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