LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars

But the most surprising aspect is how polished the game is - not just in its approach to storytelling, but in general gameplay and its mechanics.

Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars 3DS is a lot of fun. It doesn't make great use of the 3D, but it doesn't mess it up, either.

An evolution of the LEGO series, but only a tiny one. If you liked or haven't played the others, you'll enjoy this.

For fans of Star Wars and the 3DS, this is a no-brainer. Actually, its 3D feature is quite good and has to be seen. A lot of humor and a well-told story make this game typically LEGO, and this is recommendable enough.

A quality title that doesn't gain much from being on the 3DS.

If you are a Star Wars fan craving for something on the 3DS or a Lego fanatic then Star Wars III: The Clone Wars on the 3DS is a title that you should definitely check out.

Very similar to previous LEGO Star Wars games although with the appeal of 3D effects. It's a long game, yes, but it's an easy game, a game out of date.

It perhaps guides players along more than necessary, and the lack of ability to save during the half hour-long levels on the first play-through is a misstep, but LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars continues the quality established by the series, with simplistic, satisfying gameplay that anybody can pick up easily whether they are fans of The Clone Wars animated series or not.

The levels are varied and the puzzles are great. But what's the deal with this terrible checkpoint system?

Beyond an exuberant use of 3D, which certainly creates a pleasant viewing experience (though the developers tend to overdo sometimes), the Nintendo 3DS version of LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars ends up disappointing the expectations. The feeling that this is a title designed exclusively for the younger players is too strong, given the lack of any challenge both for fighting and for puzzles. The game also lacks any kind of multiplayer.

Clone Wars' appeal may reside more with the younger audience than that of the more dedicated gamer -- there just isn't enough of a challenge here for most. As such, this version of the game works better as a substitute to those who can't play the excellent console iterations, or who want something else to play on their 3DS until a more substantial title arrives.

It works well enough, and even though it's far too easy and features ridiculously simplistic gameplay, it still gets the job done. Still, paying $40 for a game that just gets the job done feels a little wrong, and if you are a real LEGO Star Wars fan, you would be better served picking up the console version.

Ultimately, LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars isn't irredeemably bad, it's just another in a long line of disappointments. In many ways, it's a lot like the Mega Bloks version of an excellent game. It's similar enough if you're desperate, but your money is better spent on the genuine article.

We'd wait for the more assured Lego Pirates instead. [Apr 2011, p.60]

A glut of unlockables makes LEGO Star Wars III's smash-and-grab emphasis a somewhat addictive grind. Even so, it lacks the nostalgia factor of its predecessors, and with all of the challenge completely stripped out to cater to a younger slant, it's tough to recommend this one for anyone but the most devout of Star Wars enthusiasts.

In terms of challenge, difficulty and balance, the Nintendo 3DS version doesn't offer anything better than the first versions of Lego Star Wars.

But outside of the dogfights Clone Wars maintains a plodding, mechanical rhythm that doesn't feel fitting for a game that inherited LEGO's typically fun features.

In a word: disappointing. What we have here is a fun game that, with a bit of polish and a few extra features could have been something truly special.

Pretty, easy-to-play, content-rich, and often funny, LEGO Star Wars III has every trait of a good little game. Nothing out of the ordinary, though, but its concept works, and the variety of the action (mixing platforming and space combat) is refreshing. Its numerous levels deliver a good show in 3D, too bad its frame rate isn't always beyond reproach, that some effects seem to induce visual discomfort, and above all, that the franchise doesn't take much risks to surprise us.

In an age where everything is capable of online play, it just doesn't make sense for a franchise famous for its cooperative play to be single player only. Still, it'd be a great distraction for kids, who are less likely to be annoyed by the repetitive level design.

This familiar Lego-themed adventure has flashy 3D effects, but predictable gameplay and a lack of challenge keep it from flying high.

LEGO Star Wars III is a perfectly competent LEGO game, neither excellent nor dismal, just simply there. It has all of the things you'd expect from a LEGO game, however they never gel into a game that's better than its parts. I would imagine die hard fans of the series will find more there than I did, but I suspect that most people will remember the game for being a 3DS launch game rather than being an exemplary LEGO game.

A good foundation doesn't always make a very good game. LEGO Star Wars on the 3DS feels a bit lonely and it gets a bit boring after a while. The 3D effect is purely cosmetic.