LEGO Star Wars III shaping up to be best game yet

On March 22, the popular Cartoon Network series Star Wars: The Clone Wars gets LEGO-fied. Excited? We are!

The latest entry in the LEGO Star Wars franchise promises to be the best one yet. Combining story elements from Star Wars: The Clone Wars with new, updated game features, LEGO Star Wars III will feature new combat styles, SceneSwap (take control of multiple teams in separate locations–really cool!), all-new puzzles, multi-layered space battles, and expanded combat and Force abilities–just to name a few! The overall look of the game will remain the same as the LEGO games that have come before it, but will feature sharper graphics and character animations. Fans of and newcomers to the LEGO series will be impressed! Check out the launch trailer below and see for yourself!

Another new feature of LEGO Star Wars III are massive ground battles, where players can take control of battalions of clone troopers to face off against the advancing Separatist armies in an almost RTS kind of way. Check out the video below to see how they’ll play out!

As a fan of both the LEGO franchise and the Clone Wars television series, I’m really excited about this game. While a playable demo for LEGO Star Wars III isn’t available yet for download, most retail stores have copies in their console demo units. I’ve had a chance to play it, and even though it was only the first level of the game, I’m very impressed with the overhaul! In addition to the split screens and improved graphics, the characters each have their own individual animation and movement–not like other LEGO games where all the characters tended to play the same. There is a difference in playing as Obi-Wan and Anakin, both in the fighting style and overall character movement. Even the droids move more smoothly and distinctly compared to the other LEGO Star Wars games. (C-3PO kinda-sorta runs instead of slowly staggering about like in the other LEGO Star Wars games.)

And for the voice actor fans out there, the same actors from the television show provide the voices (er, grunts) for their characters in the game. Check out the awesome behind the scenes video of the recording sessions:

LEGO Star Wars III really is shaping up to be the best game in the LEGO franchise yet. Look for it on March 22 for Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC, PSP, DS, and even the 3DS!