This is my problem with Lego Star Wars: it made me forget that the Phantom Menace was a terrible, terrible movie.

Lego Star Wars is an unabashedly good time. Joining the worlds of Legos and Star Wars in a playable form, the game takes you through Episodes I-III, cutting out all that whiny “hold me like you did by the lake on Naboo” crap and keeping the focus on light sabers and robots. The end result is a somewhat short, often funny button-masher/puzzle game. The first time through story mode, you control the good guys as they make their way through the movies. Obi Wan, R2, Yoda… they’re all there, in Lego form. Most of the stages are standard “get to the end while killing a lot of droids and figuring out the little puzzles along the way” levels, but it never gets tiresome. A few flying levels are tossed in for variation, and the final boss battles are incredibly fun, as they require a lot more timing and problem solving to complete.

There are plenty of things that push this game past an average third-person action game. For starters, there’s the ability for a second player to join (or leave) the action at any time. The controls are simple enough for anyone to pick up in a short amount of time, and the emphasis on teamwork makes for a a pleasurable multi-player experience. Also, you can replay any level with any character you’ve unlocked in the game. If you have ever dreamed of having Chewbacca take on Darth Maul, this game is the game that will let you do that.

But most importantly, this game is just plain enjoyable. It’s light-hearted, easy to play, and a delightful way to relive Episodes I-III without hearing Jar Jar speak.

There are a couple of faults in the game: it’s simply too short, and the camera angles don’t always make for easy play, especially when playing with a friend. But the faults don’t mar the sheer enjoyment that underlies Lego Star Wars. My fingers are crossed that they’ll work on a second version to cover Episodes IV through VI. I want to take down a LEGO AT-AT.