How much I like the level depends on several factors; creativity, how smooth task progression is, which enemies you face, the aesthetic looks (including cut-scenes), and just overall how worthwhile it is for the amount of time it takes. There are a few notes to keep in mind. My liking of a level may not correlate with how much I like the depicted scene from a movie, as adaptation can be clunky. I’m also considering this from a one-player perspective, so getting stuck using R2-D2 the entire level won’t be factored. This also ignores the bonus levels and bonus materials, including minikits, power bricks, studs, etc; we’re strictly looking at the level itself from start to finish in story mode. Oh, and we’re judging based off of this game’s versions, so changes from the two games prior will not be considered. I will also warn you, I’m not a huge fan of space/vehicle missions, so there will be a heavy bias against a lot of them. With all of that in mind, let’s dive in!
Scale:
1/5: Not a good level, and I sometimes dread playing it
2/5: Some notable parts, but much of the level can be a slog
3/5: A good level with a few gripes at worst, or a spot or two that hurts it
4/5: A great level the whole way through with perhaps one nitpick
5/5: A perfect level
E5L1: Hoth Battle - 1/5
As I said, I have a bit of a bias against many of the flying levels, but Hoth Battle has a few extra points against it. Needing to drag the explosives for so many parts of this is extremely annoying, and flying the snow-speeder is anything but user-friendly. Needing to time the AT-ATs and deal with the probes throwing you off adds even more layers of frustration. If anything, it would have been better to do some ground battle with a little bit of flight, and maybe end it with using Luke to blow up the AT-AT. I dread this one every time.
E2L1: Bounty Hunter Pursuit - 1/5
While Bounty Hunter Pursuit isn’t as annoying, the level’s flow is extremely boring, with virtually nothing going on save for flying through traffic until you reach Zam Wessel at the end. Even that ending is pretty underwhelming once you finally catch up. I understand that Episode II has very little to work with, but this absolutely could have been replaced with some ground antics going after Zam.
E5L3: Falcon Flight - 1/5
Here’s an issue that both Episode II and Episode V have; there should be only one flight mission per episode, and they each have two! Falcon Flight is not only boring, but somewhat stupid, being an aimless flight through a bunch of asteroids after duking it out with some star destroyers. This film has more action to work with, so it’s less excusable. The Hoth level should have been ground, and this should have been the only flight, at best. Though I’d argue there’s room for more Bespin or Hoth stuff in general.
E2L5: Gunship Cavalry - 1/5
And the other Episode II one, another boring trudge that could have easily had ground battle along with the vehicle-use. Gunship Cavalry also has the annoying aforementioned drag-explosives, and the lasers really make it that much more frustrating. The old version of this level was honestly better, if only by a little. Boring and difficult are a bad combo.
E5L4: Dagobah - 1/5
This is why you can’t judge my ranking based off of the scene. I’m dragging Empire pretty hard here, and unfortunately there isn’t a lot you can do with the Yoda scenes, despite it being a great part of the actual film. Dagobah is simply a run through the marshes while Luke learns the force along the way, and killing a bunch of bats and snakes really isn’t very interesting. Even the Darth Vader vision battle couldn’t really save it.
E1L4: Mos Espa Podrace - 2/5
Admittedly, Mos Espa Podrace improves from its original makeup on this rendition, and it can be kinda fun from time to time blasting through all of the obstacles. But it gets very frustrating near the last lap, having to start it over every time if you don’t finish first. I’ve gotten good over the years, and I guess I understand the level’s importance, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.
E6L3: Speeder Showdown - 2/5
Speeder Showdown comes down to how ridiculous the actual speeder bike parts are. There is absolutely no reason for needing to repeat that process so many times, let alone how hard it is to not only avoid all of the obstacles, but also hit the scout troopers. The parts on either end of the level are fine, but the repetition and irritation of the bulk of this gets on my nerves very fast. It could have benefited from cutting back on the chasing.
E3L4: Defense Of Kashyyyk - 2/5
Simply put, Defense Of Kashyyyk should have been replaced with the actual battle of Kashyyyk. This level is long and has a lot of tedious moments, from the constant regenerating droids, to the endless enemies on the beach. The fact that the clones and droids don’t still shoot each other also bothers me more than it should. The beginning parts up in the treehouse bases are fun, but after that, the level tanks. I think this should be how the level ended, and the rest of if was the actual warfare.
E3L3: General Grievous - 2/5
The issue with General Grievous is less the concept and more the execution. It’s so short, and the entire fight takes place on one platform. This not only should have opened with the actual Utapau battle, but also had several phases of fighting General Grievous. My complaints are more around what it isn’t, than what it is. Episode III has so much action to work with (and so much that got skipped entirely), that it’s rather inexcusable. Also, why the hell did they have him kill Commander Cody at the end?
E6L6: Into The Death Star - 2/5
Circling back to the space levels, Into The Death Star is a fine level to end on, and it really just comes down to my biases here. It’s a great leap better than the Episode II and V space levels, but again, a lot of it is flying through tubes, trying to shoot targets and not get hit by obstacles and tie fighters. Not much you can do about it, I guess.
E4L6: Rebel Attack - 3/5
And by extension, Rebel Attack gets the same treatment. This is slightly more fun, as it takes place on the surface and leaves a little more room for creativity and flight space, but it’s easily still the worst part of Episode IV.
E1L5: Retake Theed Palace - 3/5
Retake Theed Palace is a neat and necessary level, and I love the way this one looks. The progression from room to room through the city feels organic and its mechanics are neat. It can be cumbersome at times to constantly swap between characters, and I do think it’s a bit long, but neither of these factors are a hindrance to the whole picture.
E3L5: Ruin Of The Jedi - 3/5
I’ll admit, part of the reason why Ruin Of The Jedi isn’t higher is because of the “disguised clones.” Why they thought that was a good idea is beyond me, but the rest of the level is fun enough. Playing through the mess in the Jedi Temple to kill clones is fun, and while I think maybe this should have ended with the Darth Sidious battle, what’s here is decent.
E1L2: Invasion Of Naboo - 3/5
Invasion Of Naboo is pretty neat. The jungle trudging is far better here than in other levels, and the droids and gungans running amok is a neat touch. The back half of the level can go on a bit more than it should, but overall, this is a pretty fun play.
E2L2: Discovery On Kamino - 3/5
I have to hand it to them; for how little there was to work with on Discovery On Kamino, a pretty decent level came of it. The turrets worked organically, and the chase through the hallways and rooms are visually pleasing in every way. The final showdown with Jango is also fun. While not the most interesting level, I find it to be quite enjoyable for what it actually is.
E6L4: The Battle Of Endor - 3/5
Again, being a bit on the longer side with repetitive open fields is gonna knock a few points off. That out of the way, The Battle Of Endor is like an improved version of the Kashyyyk level. The rest of this is still quite fun, and the way they depict moving towards the base was solid. The puzzles we solve to move through are oddly satisfying, and visually, things are neat as well. Just a bit much at times.
E1L3: Escape From Naboo - 4/5
This is the preferred Naboo battle level. Escape From Naboo did a good job of stretching a really short scene, with user-friendly missions and solid visuals of the buildings. I would have maybe ended it with the hangar, however, instead of them simply dropping down to close it out. It’s also a little strange that the Jedi mysteriously disappear and reappear, but I guess they needed a blaster-focused level.
E3L1: Battle Over Coruscant - 4/5
Battle Over Coruscant is the single only space mission that I truly love. The guided path through all of the war torn space regions is very creative between battling small ships as well as breaking through large ones. It’s straightforward, and the flight of the ships themselves is user-friendly. The literal only reason why it isn’t a 5 is because Episode III has so much action cut out, and giving this an entire level probably could have gone elsewhere. There are two Palpatine battles, and other nuances that get skipped, unfortunately.
E4L5: Death Star Escape - 4/5
Death Star Escape is also a pretty strong level, and the only reason it isn’t perfect is because it has little variance from the one before it when they entered the death star. Obviously they needed to fill six levels, so I can’t be too harsh, but it really just comes down to “there’s a better version of this.” It would have also been nice to be able to partake in Obi-Wan’s final battle with Darth Vader, since this entire episode has no lightsaber duels.
E2L3: Droid Factory - 4/5
Talk about a fun scene brought to a fun level! Droid Factory utilizes the mechanics of the scene to its advantage, making for one of the best platforming levels and loads of visually appealing motions. Having a strong role for every character also helps, and the only real issue is that the depth perception can be really frustrating at times. Otherwise, this is smooth from start to finish.
E5L2: Escape From Echo Base - 4/5
If there’s a Hoth level worth playing, this is it. Escape From Echo Base uses strong effects to show the collapse of the base, with spurts of snowtroopers coming in to shake it up. The little puzzles are neat in relation to the icy caves, and the snowy effects themselves bring plenty of life to the level. The only thing that could have added effect would have maybe had more background battling between rebel and empire forces. But that’s just a note on what isn’t here. What is here is great!
E2L6: Count Dooku - 4/5
The final boss of Episode II is a lot of fun, and all it really needed was a little more substance. Perhaps more droid fighting and puzzles leading up to the end would have been helpful. Count Dooku is visually appealing, and the mechanics of the fight itself are neat. The way of introducing Yoda partway through in a cutscene was a strong touch, and the room itself was depicted wonderfully.
E4L2: Through The Jundland Wastes - 4/5
Through The Jundland Wastes is an incredible depiction of the harsh, sandy climate of Tatooine, offering so much to play through. Fighting sandpeople, exploring through a Sandcrawler, and capping off by killing stormtroopers was planned wonderfully. The ins-and-outs may go on a little longer than they should at some points, but the playability of this level is so accessible. Really, they needed a lot of room to make this fit.
E6L5: Jedi Destiny - 4/5
It may simply be a lightsaber duel and nothing else, but Jedi Destiny does my favorite part of the whole franchise great justice. It may seem strange that Darth Vader allies with you before the fight, but I suppose shaking the plot a bit to make the level flow better can’t be complained about too much. The puzzles involving Palpatine's lightning, the breaks with imperial guards, and the way the entire throne room worked to keep things moving was wonderful. Other than the logistics of the characters itself, this is perfect; if nothing else, they could have made it a battle against Vader, and then The Emperor.
E6L1: Jabba’s Palace - 5/5
Arguably one of the strongest openers of any film, Jabba’s Palace captures all of the alleys, halls, and rooms of the mighty Hutt’s palace beautifully. I also love the imagination used to show all of the heroes sneaking their way in. Closing off with a rancor fight was pulled off wonderfully, and the gamorrean guards made for fun enemies to fight. Strong progression in every way.
E2L4: Jedi Battle - 5/5
Though a shorter one, this game made great use of the stadium with Jedi Battle. Similar to fighting the Emperor, the entire level takes place in one area, but that area is milked for everything it’s got. All of the background battle with the jedi, the tasks for rescuing the main players, and the spurts of droid attacks worked wonders to keep things moving. Ending with the Jango Fett battle was a good move too, as if Mace Windu isn’t fun enough to use as is.
E1L1: Negotiations - 5/5
It’s always good to start a game on a strong note, and Negotiations does just that. This is a course through halls near droid hangars, and the way the controls are introduced are fantastic without feeling like a tutorial. Moreover, the different stages of fighting droids is timed wonderfully, and I love the open area at the end. The mechanics work wonders, and fighting the droidekas is always a neat way to reach the final section before parting. It may be simple, but it needs nothing more.
E1L6: Darth Maul - 5/5
Wow, talk about dragging a lightsaber fight out in a creative way! Darth Maul is our first taste of this, and its mechanics are remarkable. The movement through Naboo’s interiors not only looks great, but is laid out in a way that feels exactly like the scene’s progression. The rayshield chambers were a solid touch, and the final confrontation with Darth Maul at the end was very much worth the long crawl.
E6L2: The Great Pit Of Carkoon - 5/5
If moving through Jabba’s palace wasn’t enough, The Great Pit Of Carkoon is even more pleasing visually, and has a lot of background action. The fighting of Boba Fett, skiff guards, and more gamorrean guards keeps you on your toes. Going from vibrant action before cooling off inside the sail barge before emerging at the top could not have been designed better, and the big puzzle room in the middle with the dance floor is something I always look forward to. Flawless level.
E4L3: Mos Eisley Spaceport - 5/5
We’ve reached peak Tatooine with Mos Eisley Spaceport. The day-to-day action of the civilians mixed in with the chaos of the stormtroopers in the sand-city is all a culmination of fun. Each outside stage, to the cantina, and reaching the Falcon progresses smoothly, and the character change is easily one of the most organic in the game. I feel like this was a harder level to come up with, but conceptually, it’s perfect.
E5L6: Betrayal Over Bespin - 5/5
The sad conclusion to the sophomore film is shown wonderfully in Betrayal Over Bespin. Lando’s character is so much fun to use, and the chase after Boba Fett resembles the Jango Fett chase, except enhanced visually and with more action. The scared civilians worked as a neat extra, and the movement from room to room in an attempt to make an escape progresses beautifully. Cloud City is hard to mess up, really.
E3L6: Darth Vader - 5/5
Allowing for two playable characters in a scene that only had a good guy and a bad guy (depending who you ask) took some serious imagination, and Darth Vader nails it. The intense and emotional fight between Anakin and Obi-Wan on Mustafar pulled off all of the effects that made the fight so stressful, and implementing teamwork between little battle cutscenes felt far more organic than it had any right. Every puzzle here is enjoyable, and the final face-off at the end is a rapid battle that I always look forward to. The mechanics here were knocked out of the park.
E4L4: Rescue The Princess - 5/5
This is the level I was referring to earlier. Rescue The Princess has all the visual appeal of the death star escape, but the puzzles here are a little more fun, with the mechanics feeling stronger. The sections of stormtrooper fighting between different rooms and roaming the hallways are placed nicely, and I also just love using the stormtrooper disguises with the outfits. Creative in every way, and beautiful movement from area to area.
E4L1: Secret Plans - 5/5
Another strong first level is Secret Plans, one that lays a great foundation for what to expect. With far more levels based around blasters than lightsabers ahead, we get a good taste of evenly dividing hallways of different sizes with a few open regions that don’t get too heavy handed. Shooting stormtroopers across a long range also feels far more realistic to what the rebels went through, and having them as npc allies is something I can appreciate. This is how you make a long level work wonders.
E5L5: Cloud City Trap - 5/5
The classic first real showdown between Luke Skywalker and his father is presented wonderfully. Cloud City Trap takes off right from his landing, working through a few areas of stormtrooper fighting before the Vader confrontation starts. Several different phases are laid out wonderfully, capturing each aspect of the scene in a different light, throwing in a few chase parts and puzzles to solve. Out of every level based mainly around a lightsaber fight, this is easily the best one. I think the episode should have ended with this level, but placement isn’t being factored here.
E3L2: Chancellor In Peril - 5/5
Chancellor In Peril wins top slot solely for the fact that it has a little bit of basically everything that makes the game amazing. It has the halls, the open spaces, the controlled bursts of enemy droids, droideka ambushes, a shorter lightsaber duel with Count Dooku, and an outro that sees fighting two magna guards. The visuals are pleasing, the movement is organic, the level layout is top-notch, every puzzle is fun, and there’s absolutely nothing to complain about despite how much there is. Episode III had a lot to pack into six measly levels, and this one captured so much, which other levels could have done better with. And of course, being a longer one, it’s well worth your time, not feeling as long as it actually is.
The Empire Strikes Back - 17/30
Attack Of The Clones - 18/30
Return Of The Jedi - 21/30
Revenge Of The Sith - 22/30
The Phantom Menace - 22/30
A New Hope - 26/30
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