Mixing LEGO and the Star Wars franchise might seem like a strange premise for a video game, but once you start playing LEGO Star Wars, you won't want to put it down.

Based on the first three Star Wars episodes, LEGO Star Wars puts the light saber in your hands. You'll play as many different characters from the saga in the fight to fend off the dark side of the force.

Of course, all the characters are LEGO-fied, which lends to the game's creativity. When you defeat an enemy, it disintegrates into little blocks and disappears. When you change characters on the fly, your first character rearranges its blocks to become the new character. You will need to change characters to accomplish certain tasks. If you're not a big fan of Jar Jar Binks (and who is?), it might pain you to switch to him from Obi-Wan Kenobi, but Jar Jar is a much better jumper.

What Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Yoda and Anakin Skywalker are good at is using The Force to defeat enemies and also solve puzzles. To use The Force, simply hold the L Button when they're next to a sparkling item. In addition, each Jedi Knight has his own Force power. Obi-Wan sends out a disruptive beam while Qui-Gon turns himself invisible. You'll also play as several non-Jedi characters, including Jar Jar, Queen Amidala and R2-D2.

In Story mode, you don't have to play each episode in order. You can play parts of all three episodes, if you wish.

Once cleared in Story mode, a level is available in Free Play mode. Each level has five Death Star insignias you need to find for bonus unlocklables. You can only reach some of them in Free Play mode, when you can add a character to your party. Use that character to reach the inaccessible points, or you can just replay the level with your favorite character.

The 3D graphics (although blocky, of course) look good, and they're enhanced by the three-quarters, top-down view. Although the gameplay isn't necessarily difficult, the high replay value of the Free Play mode offers hours of fun.

Play the most memorable and exciting scenes from The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith

Three save slots

40-plus playable characters

Use unlocked characters in Free Play mode to replay levels and find bonus insignias

Use "The Force" to manipulate environments and objects in order to solve puzzles