The big problem with the original Lego Star Wars game is its content. There's nothing wrong with the game's build, as it's delightfully fun to play and looks and sounds great. No, the problem actually lies in its content. When you ask a tried and true Star Wars fan what their favorite movie in the series is, there's very little chance they'll mention something out of the new trilogy. No, their love and passion lies with a film from the original trilogy, which ran from 1977 to 1983. Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and the Return of the Jedi conclusion are films that some of us grew up with, and new-found fans are discovering and enjoying for themselves. So it was only a matter of time before Lego Star Wars would have to visit the original trilogy...and so it finally has.

Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy follows the events from the first three films, from the opening battle where C-3PO and R2-D2 escape from Darth Vader's grasp to the final battle between Vader and his son, Luke Skywalker, for Jedi supremacy. The only difference, however, is that it's all played out with Lego characters. You'll be able to recognize touches in each character so they're recognizable, like Han Solo's cocky attitude and Chewbacca's wily Wookie ways (he rips arms off of Stormtroopers- how quaint). You'll also recognize certain locales, like the Mos Eisley Cantina (complete with a Lego Hammerhead!) and the Death Star. Travellers Tales, the developer behind the original Lego Star Wars, produces some great visual work here, even though the Xbox 360 port doesn't have too many things that make it look different from the other versions. The floors look a bit nicer with reflections, and the Lego characters look, well, more like Legos. That's really about it.

The sound is absolutely top-notch. John Williams' score is given the finer treatment, although there are times it gets slightly repetitive. There is no voicework taken from the movie, aside from some Chewbacca yells and R2-D2's robotic bleeps and bloops. Instead, you have cute little "filler" dialogue, like Darth Vader's little blurbs and the occasional death gasp. I don't mind, really. A game of this nature would probably get confusing if actual film dialogue was used. All this is rounded out by great sound effects, including the classic blaster and lightsaber effects we grew up with.

The gameplay follows pretty closely with what was presented in the first game, although that's not really a bad thing. Each character serves some kind of purpose. Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker (in later levels) wield lightsabers that have a limited range but are very powerful with attacks. Han Solo and other characters with blasters can take out enemies from afar, or swipe away up close at foes. Their power isn't as great as the Jedi characters, however. The droids stick around merely to open doors, and R2-D2 seems to have more range than C-3PO, as he can jettison across platforms while 3PO merely walks. It's pretty well balanced, and relies on team tactics and puzzle solving along with kicking Empire butt. However, the puzzles are relatively easy to solve, with just a little thinking and item placement.

The levels, however, seem to be larger this time around. Just cruising around Mos Eisley, there was more terrain to be covered, and more items to be found. Some areas also require a certain character in order to be accessed, like Stormtroopers or bounty hunters like Boba Fett. This bumps up the replay value, as you'll be working to unlock more characters in the game so you can access more secrets. Vehicular use also comes in handy during these levels. If you climb on a Bantha's back, for instance, you can jump to higher areas. A Landspeeder can help get you across boggy areas without sinking into the sand. And then there's the Falcon, speeding through space as you fire away at TIE Fighters. Awesome.

One of Lego Star Wars II's biggest attractions is having to find a series of unlockables. As you proceed through the game, you'll collect plenty of coinage (little bolts that add up quickly), as well as hearts (for health) and other goodies. The more you collect, the more golden Lego pieces you unlock, which will help you access new areas and extras. The Xbox 360 version stands out because most of these equate to Achievements, which can help bump up your Gamerscore. There's a wide list here to unlock, so it motivates the player to keep going. Adding a second player at any time is a great feature, as you can work alongside a friend to reach this goal much quicker. It's just a shame that play via Xbox Live wasn't considered. There is content download (to be determined later), but you can't hook up with a friend in the lobby and go on a Jawa rampage. Or an Ewok one, for that matter.

Along with the excellent list of unlockables and hidden secrets, the game has one more benefit going for it. You can actually access a number of different character parts and create your own twisted little creation to play as over the duration of the game. This adds greatly to the game's already humorous content, and you can't help but grin ear to ear when you have a character with Yoda's head, Vader's legs, and Slave Princess Leia's torso. That's insane...and just one of the many combinations available.

Regardless of a lack of online play, Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy is still a recommended purchase for the Xbox 360. Its graphics, sound, and gameplay all bring a classic trilogy to life with utter detail, and the added sense of humor and countless list of secrets and Achievements will keep you playing, even after the Empire's fallen at your feet. The customization option also adds an ace to the deck, giving the game a bit of unpredictability and even more silliness. Use the Force, this game does.