LEGO video games represent a rather interesting subgenre within the games industry—there’s really nothing else like them. Although there have been countless interactive experiences released under the LEGO banner, and they tend to sell well thanks to their recognizable IP licensing and family-friendly guarantee, the series is surprisingly open to innovation, always willing to experiment with new game mechanics, narrative approaches, and broader structural elements.
A prime example of this fluid design philosophy can be observed in LEGO DC Super Villains, a game that allows players to fill the role of an antagonist to the likes of Batman and Superman. This on its own is a rather novel concept—even more mature games aimed at older audiences tend to shy away from letting players become villains—but the creativity doesn’t stop there. In DC Super Villains, players can actually create their own distinct villain that fights alongside Riddler, Joker, et al., making for a surprisingly unique and personalized experience. Indeed, LEGO DC Super Villains is quite a special entry in the long-running LEGO games oeuvre, and future LEGO Star Wars games could learn a lot from it.
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LEGO DC Super Villains’ Customization Is Perfect for LEGO Star Wars
Character Customization in LEGO Games Simply Makes Sense
With games like LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga and LEGO Harry Potter tending to focus on low-stakes combat and exploration, there’s a notable lack of actual building mechanics. This is rather interesting for the obvious reason that LEGOs, the actual, physical toys, are meant to be built; they are recreational items designed with creativity in mind.
Even though much of LEGO culture revolves around perfectly crafting predetermined models, anyone who has grown up with LEGOs won’t hesitate to admit the joy of conjuring their own creations, throwing caution to the wind alongside the instruction manual. This is something that LEGO DC Super Villains taps into, allowing characters to customize the name, appearance, and abilities of their protagonist, who plays a role in the game’s original story. With the LEGO brand and legacy tapping into creativity and self-expression as much as spectacle and adventure, the implementation of such personalization is a no-brainer, and would slot nicely into a future LEGO Star Wars game.
How LEGO DC Super Villains’ Customization Could Translate To LEGO Star Wars
LEGO Star Wars, for the most part, is rather unoriginal in its storytelling. Of course, its presentation, tone, and overall style is consistently original and unique, but the actual plots of the series are derived directly from the blockbuster films they are based on. With LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga serving up the definitive LEGO Star Wars experience just a few years ago, an original story set in the Star Wars universe feels like the natural direction for the franchise to go, and if this were to happen, then a custom character is an obvious feature to implement.
An original story for the next LEGO Star Wars is even more plausible given the direction that the IP has taken in recent years, with many of the most recent Star Wars TV shows and films being mostly disconnected from the series’ core episodes.
This theoretical game could be something like Knights of the Old Republic, adopting a more streamlined RPG formula by letting players create their own protagonist and choose to resist or embrace the dark side. Perhaps players could even make a non-Jedi character, leaning into the diverse gameplay styles that the LEGO games are known for. By combining original storytelling with robust customization options, a future LEGO Star Wars game could hone in on what made LEGO DC Super Villains unique, and perhaps even surpass it.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 88%
- Released
- April 5, 2022
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief
- Developer(s)
- Traveller's Tales
- Publisher(s)
- Warner Bros. Games
- Engine
- NTT Engine
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Star Wars
WHERE TO PLAY
The galaxy is yours in LEGO® Star Wars™: The Skywalker Saga. Experience memorable moments and nonstop action from all nine Skywalker saga films reimagined with signature LEGO humor. The digital edition includes an exclusive classic Obi-Wan Kenobi playable character.
Explore the Trilogies in Any Order – Players will relive the epic story of all nine films in the Skywalker Saga, and it all starts with picking the trilogy of their choice to begin the journey.
Play as Iconic Heroes and Villains – More than 300 playable characters from throughout the galaxy.
Discover Legendary Locales – Players can visit well known locales from their favorite Skywalker saga films.They can unlock and have the freedom to seamlessly travel to 23 planets as they play through the saga or explore and discover exciting quests.
Command Powerful Vehicles – More than 100 vehicles from across the galaxy to command. Join dogfights and defeat capital ships like the Super Star Destroyer that can be boarded and explored.
Immersive Player Experiences – String attacks together to form combo chains and fend off oncoming attacks. New blaster controls and mechanics allow players to aim with precision, or utilize the skills of a Jedi by wielding a lightsaber and using the power of The Force.
Upgradable Character Abilities – Exploration rewards players as they uncover Kyber Bricks which unlock new features and upgraded abilities across a range of character classes, including Jedi, Hero, Dark Side, Villain, Scavenger, Scoundrel, Bounty Hunter, Astromech Droid, and Protocol Droid.
- Number of Players
- 1-2
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical Only
- Platform(s)
- Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 Players
- How Long To Beat
- 19 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 45 GB (November 2023)
