Build your own empire with Lego Star Wars sets

There's no denying that Star Wars was one of the biggest cultural phenomena over the turn of the millennium. Not only did 1999 see the highly anticipated release of the first Star Wars prequel, The Phantom Menace, but Lego also released its first Star Wars sets tied in with the new film. This line of figures, spaceships and alien worlds proved to be a huge hit with avid Star Wars collectors and new fans alike, and has since spawned numerous sequels of its own - not least a successful video game franchise.



The colourful Star Wars universe has always been popular with collectors, ever since the first action figures hit the shelves in the late seventies and early eighties. What makes Lego Star Wars unique is that it gives you the chance to design and customise your own scenes, and the universe is continuing to expand - with news that Lucasfilm has extended its license for Lego to continue producing new sets until at least 2011.



What began as a tie-in with Star Wars Episode I soon became a regular tradition that saw new Lego sets released with each subsequent film in the series. Old-school fans of the original trilogy (Episodes IV to VI) were well catered for too, with classic characters like Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and the distinctive Darth Vader also making appearances. While some of these characters follow the traditional Lego style of a round, yellow head and square body - albeit painted to resemble their individual look - some of the more 'exotic' creatures had customised moulds, such as Yoda, making them even more unique.

It's not just famous characters that have made Lego Star Wars such a success, though - much of its appeal also lies in the famous ships and vehicles from the series. Recognisable craft such as the Millennium Falcon and X-Wing fighters are still among the most popular in the line, and have gone through several revisions over the years to make them even more accurate and appealing.



Setting the scene is always important when creating Lego dioramas, of course, which is why Lego has also released numerous location sets, including the Death Star from the classic first film and more recently the ice-strewn landscapes of Planet Hoth, from The Empire Strikes Back. There are now more than 200 Lego Star Wars sets available to buy, collect and combine, offering fans a creative way to continue the Star Wars legacy into the new decade.