How to Turn Your Phone into a Lightsaber & Fight Stormtroopers

Star Wars season is definitely upon us. No matter where you turn, you can't go a day without being bombarded by merchandising and co-branding advertisements that attempt to draw a parallel between some character from a galaxy far, far away and a galactic cruiser like the Dodge Viper, or a midichlorian-laden power source like Duracell. Yep, it's kind of annoying, but at least we can get some fun out of it here and there.

Google, being an advertising company at heart, has definitely taken to this trend—but at least they've done it with some flair and ingenuity. Just today, they debuted a game called Lightsaber Escape that pairs your iPhone or Android device with your computer in spectacular fashion, and lets you fight off Stormtroopers by turning your smartphone into a virtual lightsaber.

Requirements

Desktop or laptop computer with Google Chrome installed
Android or iOS device with Google Chrome installed

Step 1: Visit the Website from Your Computer

To try it out (and believe me, you'll want to), simply type g.co/lightsaber into the address bar in Google Chrome on your computer. From here, you'll see a message near the bottom of the screen with a unique link that allows you to pair your phone and your computer. Make sure to copy this link exactly and get your smartphone ready.

How to Turn Your Phone into a Lightsaber & Fight Stormtroopers

Step 2: Visit the Website from Your Smartphone

Next up, over on your smartphone, head to the unique link provided by the website. As soon as you type this into Chrome on Android or iOS, you'll be prompted to calibrate your phone for use as a lightsaber. To do that, hold your phone upright and get a firm grip with both hands, then tap the "Initiate" button. From here, you'll see a lightsaber handle on your screen—just tap the blue power button to get things going.

Step 3: Fight Off Stormtroopers with Your Smartphone Lightsaber

Now that your phone and computer have been paired, the Lightsaber Escape game should automatically start. You'll get a tutorial at first, but the basic premise is simple enough. Just wield your smartphone as if it were a lightsaber, and the lightsaber on your computer screen will respond in kind. From here, you just use your lightsaber-phone to fend off laser blasts from the Stormtroopers, and as they bounce back, the Stormtroopers will start falling one by one.