Starting with the opening sequence of Episode I, you control either Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn or his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi aboard the Trade Federation cruiser. Two allies are always active, so either the computer will control the other character or a second person can do that if you have what some people call "friends." In many other games, having a computer player as an ally can often be a hindrance because they're either getting in your way, stealing bonuses and points, or even turning on you. But the computer player is actually pretty benign and will always assist when certain tasks require a helping hand. And a second player can drop in or out at any time.

After you finish the first level, a number of things happen: you unlock the next story level of Episode I, the first story levels of Episode II and III, TC-14 as a playable character, and the first level is available to play again in Free Play mode.

LYou might be asking yourself "Why would I want to play the level again in Free Play mode?" You also might be asking yourself "Who was TC-14?" Or maybe you're asking yourself "Why am I not eating chocolate and peanut butter right now?" Well, to answer the first two questions: While you played the level in Story mode, there were Lego "studs" laying around to collect. These are basically the coins of the game and can be used to purchase hints, characters, and extras. There were also 10 Lego canisters floating around - only some of which you could get to in Story Mode. When you collect all 10 of the studs, you build a Lego Star Wars mini-kit and are rewarded with thousands of studs. TC-14 is a protocol droid like C-3PO and he can interface with the computer system to allow you access to off-limit areas (some of which contain studs and canisters).

For every level that you finish in Story Mode, you gain new characters and others become available for purchase. Each character has certain abilities that are useful in different situations and are required to collect the 10 Lego canisters in each level. For instance, Jedi characters like Obi-Wan can use the Force, non-Jedi characters like Padme and clone troopers can use grapple guns to get to high places, child characters like little Ani or Boba Fett can fit inside tiny spaces, Astromechs like R2-D2 can use their jets to fly across extra-long distances, and Jar Jar can jump really high. In Free Play mode, you can quickly cycle between the different characters you've earned in order to reach areas of the level that contain Lego canisters or studs.

Because you can use any character you've earned in past levels in Free Play mode, you can fight with Darth Maul against Jango Fett, or you can fight as Darth Maul against General Grievous, or as Darth Maul against Darth Maul. (Okay, so I like Darth Maul.) There's something quite entertaining about saving Obi-Wan from the clutches of the Geonosians as Darth Sidious, plowing through a field of Battle Droids as a Super Battle Droid, or running around Naboo as General Grievous with Chewbacca as your ally.

Unfortunately, each Episode has one level that cannot be played in Free Play mode. These vehicle-based levels have you piloting a podracer, gunship, or starfighter. The "on rails" nature of the level means you have little control over where you can go, and if you die at any point you are forced to replay a large portion of it and watch the accompanying cutscenes again ... and again ... and again.

Speaking of dying, in the regular levels, although your character dies when you fall off a ledge or take too much damage, you simply lose studs and instantly regenerate in place. You will never see a Game Over screen. This makes the game both kid-friendly and spouse-friendly. Additionally, the main menu of the game, Dexter's Diner, allows you to interact with characters you've earned or purchased without any repercussions. So you can practice deflecting blaster bolts, force-pushing droids, or get into a multi-person lightsaber duel.

It's odd that the game is promoted for its size ("Three movies in one game!") because its main weakness is that it's quite short. Although it's billed as having "the whole story" of Episodes I-III, there are actually large chunks missing. The Episode II section begins with "Discovery on Kamino," which is probably halfway through the movie, the Episode I section doesn't include any Gungan battles, and the Episode III section doesn't include the battle of Utapau, among other omissions. Of course, there are definitely sections of the films that don't lend themselves to game-playing. I'm glad they left out potential levels like "Debate in the Senate" or "Love Blossoms on Naboo."

While the game can be beaten in Story Mode in a day, collecting all the Lego canisters to build all the mini-kits adds extended play time, and if you achieve True Jedi Status in every single level, you'll unlock the ? door.

As is typical among Star Wars videogames, sound design is superior, since every level is filled with music by John Williams and the original Lucasfilm sound effects. But the volume is inconsistent, making some areas overwhelmingly loud followed by scenes that are nearly silent.

Overall, Lego Star Wars The Videogame is fun for all, especially non-hardcore, non-cynical gamers, but an enjoyment of the Star Wars prequel trilogy definitely helps.