Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (NES game)
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| The Empire Strikes Back | |
|---|---|
 Title screen. |
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| Developer(s) | Lucasfilm Games |
| Publisher(s) | Lucasfilm Games |
| Platform(s) | NES/Famicom |
| Release date | JPN March 13, 1993 NA 1992 EU 1993 |
| Genre(s) | 2D - Action Platform |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Media | Cartridge |
Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back is a video game released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1991. The object is to destroy an Imperial Probe Droid, escape a Wampa-infested ice cavern, fight during the Battle of Hoth, meet Master Yoda on Dagobah to train with him, and attempt to rescue your friends in Cloud City from Darth Vader.
Playing as Luke Skywalker, you can fight with a blaster pistol or a lightsaber. You can also board a snowspeeder during the Battle of Hoth. As Luke learns about the Force, he develops multiple Force Powers to help during the mission.
The NES version was released in 1992, the same year as JVC's Super Star Wars for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. As Empire was released towards the end of the NES's lifecycle, a corresponding sequel to the film Return of the Jedi was never developed or released.
This is the second of three video games released under the Empire Strikes Back title for home video game systems. It was preceded by a version for the Atari 2600 and succeeded by Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back for the SNES.
A "port," or conversion, of this game was released for the Game Boy. That product was reprinted and distributed by several publishers over the course of three years.
Contents |
[edit] Levels
The Empire Strikes Back is a side-scrolling action game that is broken into ten areas, or levels. The level structure is slightly comparable to such titles as Metroid, with each level offering multiple paths leading to several ability powerups.
Level 1: Hoth Ice Caverns
The first level of the game consists of two interconnected ice caves, in which dwell Wampas, icebats and miniature Imperial probe droids.
Bosses: Wampa, Imperial Probe Droid
Level 2: AT-AT Walkers
Ten Imperial Walkers are approaching Echo Base. Players control a snowspeeder and attempt to stop the walkers' advance using the vehicle's blasters, harpoons, and Luke's lightsaber. This level closely resembles The Empire Strikes Back Atari 2600 game.
Level 3: Evacuation of Echo Base
Stormtroopers, probe droids and AT-ST walkers have overrun the damaged Echo Base. Players must find the correct path to the exit in order to leave Hoth.
Boss: Cannon Walker
Level 4: Dagobah
The swamp planet is rumored to be the home of Yoda, legendary Jedi Master. Between players and Yoda stand wildlife including swamp bats, jumping sloths, giant praying mantis, and vine snakes.
Level 5: Jedi Training
Upon locating Yoda, the Jedi training regimen begins. Players will navigate many trials involving precision jumping while they seek and acquire Force Powers.
Boss: Phantom Vader
Level 6: Bespin (vehicle-based level)
Bespin Cloud Cars and Imperial TIE fighters attempt to stop Luke from reaching Cloud City. This is a vehicle-based level similar to Level 2.
Level 7: Cloud City
Players help Luke find his friends, though bounty hunters abound. Laser beams block passageways and cause instant death when touched, requiring alternate means of travel.
Boss: Boba Fett
Level 8: Pursuit of Boba Fett
The second X-Wing combat level only contains one enemy...the formidable Slave 1.
Level 9: Return to Cloud City
After an unexpected plot twist, Leia is in need of rescuing. This level holds the last chance to acquire Force Powers; most of which are guarded by bounty hunters.
Boss: Three-armed Jawa
Level 10: Darth Vader
The site of the final battle is the dreaded Carbon-Freezing Chamber. Players engage Darth Vader in several duels on the ground, in air, and finally over the exterior bottomless pit.
Boss: Darth Vader
[edit] Level Illustrations
 Luke retrieves his lightsaber from baby Wampas in the Hoth Ice Caverns. |
 Destroying an attacking AT-AT Walker. |
 Piloting an abandoned AT-ST to progress in Echo Base. |
 Braving the Dagobah swamp to locate Yoda. |
 Jedi Training: Acrobatic avoidance of the praying mantis and swamp water. |
 Beheading the Phantom Vader during Jedi Training. |
 Engaging enemy starfighters over Bespin. |
 Using R2D2 to disable deadly laser beams in Cloud City. |
 X-Wing destroyed in an attempt to defeat Slave 1. |
 Return to the city: Cannon walker battle with the Levitate power visible. |
 Dueling with Vader across platforms in the Carbon Freezing Chamber. |
 The final battle with Lord Vader. |
[edit] Force Powers
Along Luke's journey, eight Force Powers are placed in the levels. Once Luke discovers them, he will have a new ability. Each power will consume varying amounts of Luke's Force energy per use. Most Force Powers appear in more than one place in the game.
Jump higher or farther than normal: Allows Luke to perform a super jump without kneeling to charge. Low Force energy usage.
Run faster than normal: Luke will run at an accelerated rate. Medium Force energy usage.
Reflect your enemies' shots: Luke will automatically deflect small-arms fire with his lightsaber. Medium Force energy usage.
Enhance the power of your lightsaber: Increases the power output of the lightsaber. Low Force energy usage.
Enhance the power of your blaster: Blaster energy output is greatly increased. High Force energy usage.
Levitate: Luke can fly in any direction for as long as the Force energy meter has charge. Medium to high Force energy usage.
Convert Force ability to Health: Energy from your Force energy meter is transferred 1:1 to the Health meter. Force energy usage varies inversely to the amount of Health present before the conversion.
Graphic Eye: Minor enemies will run away from Luke and fire in the opposite direction.
Versions of the Graphic Eye, saber deflect, convert Force ability and Levitate later appeared in Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back for the SNES.
[edit] Easter Egg
The developers of The Empire Strikes Back inserted a whimsical mini-credit sequence into the game. It is located in a secret area of the Hoth Ice Caverns and appears when the player acquires the "Fast Run" Force Power. The easter egg contains digitized pictures of the development team, and is set to the original Star Wars "Victory" music.
 Program Engineer credit. |
 Project Managers' credit. |
 Project Artists' credit. |
[edit] Notes
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Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- The game takes great liberties with the film's story, particularly at the end. For example, Luke meets up with Lando Calrissian on the first Bespin level, when in the film the two don't meet until the escape from Cloud City. More significantly, Luke actually succeeds in rescuing Han from Boba Fett after an X-Wing vs. Slave 1 space battle.
- The title was based on the same game engine as an earlier Sculptured Software NES game, Metal Mech.
- A feature of the game, uncommon to NES titles, was the inclusion of voice-overs ripped directly from the film (short clips like "Use the force, Luke" and "The Force is with you, young Skywalker"). Even the SNES games did not take voice directly from the film, instead opting to rerecord the dialogue with new actors.
- This is the first and only side-scrolling Star Wars title that included the Luke vs. Phantom Vader battle on Dagobah.
