Star Wars (1988 video game)
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It has been suggested that this article be split into articles entitled Star Wars (Namco video game) and Star Wars (JVC video game), accessible from a disambiguation page. (Discuss) |
For an overview of Star Wars video games, see Star Wars computer and video games
There are different versions of the first Star Wars game for the third generation of consoles, based on the first movie of the franchise, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. The first version is a game released for the Japanese market exclusively, while the second one was released in the North American and PAL territories.
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[edit] Japanese version
The Japanese version of Star Wars released in 1987 by Namco, released for the Famicom. This version is a common side-scrolling platformer in which the player controls a black-haired Luke Skywalker, as he travels in order to join the Rebellion against the Empire.
[edit] Story inconsistencies
While the game is based on Episode IV, Namco took several liberties with the storyline. For instance, Luke must rescue some of the main characters from the movie (R2-D2, C-3PO, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Princess Leia, Chewbacca and Han Solo), who are trapped on distinct planets. In order to move between planets, Luke travels using the Millennium Falcon (which in the movie was piloted only by Chewbacca and Han Solo), in order to find them. Additionally, some of the planets in the game were only mentioned in passing in the franchise's universe (such as the second stage, Kessel, which contain ruins that appear Egyptian in origin), while others had simply not appeared in the movie series yet (such as Hoth, and a water planet, which is either Sullust or Mon Calamari). The Empire is also depicted as having taken over the Rebel base at Yavin IV's Massassi Ruins, which Luke has to traverse to get the X-wing. Darth Vader is the game's only boss, who transforms into animals in all but two of the stages.
Another difference includes the use of the lightsaber and the Force, neither of which Luke had learned with any degree of proficiency at this point in the series until Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.
[edit] Gameplay
For the most part, the game is a typical side-scrolling platformer with two difficulty settings-the Novice Mission and the Pro Mission. Luke uses the lightsaber as his primary attack, and he can also use the Force to execute special maneuvers like floating, speeding and stopping time, among others. Energy to activate Force powers can be obtained through diamonds collected after killing an enemy. When the characters are rescued, they will help Luke by providing hints and other actions that are important to progress through the game.
Between planets, the Millennium Falcon is forced to fight a wave of TIE Fighters that prevent the Falcon's entrance to the next planet. The games switches to a first-person shooter perspective.
The final level involves using the X-Wing against the Death Star. While the film's climactic sequence occurred inside a long trench, the game's version can be roughly described as vertically-scrolling overhead maze-like stage, complete with dead ends and intersections. At the end, there is the reactor's duct where the proton torpedoes will be shot automatically in order to destroy the station. If the player fails to get to the end within a limited amount of time, the Death Star will destroy Yavin IV and the game will be over.
The game is particularly difficult, as the player only has three lives and two continues (activated with enough diamonds), and Luke dies upon touching an enemy. The Millennium Falcon can sustain only one hit before being destroyed, which could be prevented using one of three deflector shield bursts.
[edit] American & PAL version
This version was released in 1991 by JVC for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Master System, Game Boy and Sega Game Gear. The object is to pilot a landspeeder around Tatooine, explore caves, assemble all the necessary characters, gather a lightsaber and shields for the Millennium Falcon, navigate through a meteor shower to the Death Star, battle storm troopers, and destroy the Death Star.
Each character has different attributes. Obi-Wan Kenobi can resurrect Han Solo or Princess Leia five times. R2-D2 can display a map of Death Star hallways.
Strangely, neither Chewbacca nor Darth Vader make any appearances.
Enemies include:
- Jawas
- Banthas
- Sandpeople
- Flying Insectoids
- Womp Rats
- Giant Slugs
- Bounty Hunters
- Boba Fett
- Imperial Stormtroopers
- Various Droids
