Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Encyclopedia
Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, sometimes called Super Empire Strikes Back, is a platform game for the Super Nintendo
, it is the sequel to Super Star Wars
and was followed by Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
. It is based on the second film of the original Star Wars
trilogy, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
. It was released in Japan by Victor Interactive Software as Super Star Wars: Teikoku no Gyakushuu. The original Super Nintendo title was released on 1993, with a re-release on the Virtual Console
in North America on August 24, 2009 and in the PAL regions on October 2, 2009, alongside the other games in the Super Star Wars series.
quasi-3D vehicle sequences. The controls are very similar to the first game, but feature a double-jump. Luke Skywalker
, Han Solo
, and Chewbacca
return as playable characters although the character-select option itself was removed.
Unlike the original game, this installment allows each character the use of a primary and secondary weapon. Following one of the Dagobah
missions, Luke Skywalker can also collect Force Powers for use in later levels. Darth Vader
appears as the final boss
in the video game.
is played by C. Andrew Nelson who previously played Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: X-Wing
and who has appeared as Darth Vader
in the Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition, the Rebel Assault II and Dark Forces games from LucasArts, as well as numerous commercials, TV shows, print ads, and live appearances.
, which required the contestants to answer six multi-choice questions, and for which the "Grand Prize" was to have the person's likeness appear in this forthcoming game. The winner was Jeff Crosno, for whom the developers placed his appearance on a Rebel soldier in a, Ice Fields of Hoth
cut-scene, replacing the already existing facial graphics.
praised the games enhanced "Mode 7" graphics. Rotten Tomatoes
currently gives Super Empire Strikes Back a 83% "fresh" rating. Metacritic
had 89 out of 100 reviews coming out as positive.
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
, it is the sequel to Super Star Wars
Super Star Wars
Super Star Wars is the first of a series of three Super Nintendo games based on the original three films of the Star Wars series released in 1992 and re-released on the Wii Virtual Console. The term Super Star Wars can refer to the first game or to all three games collectively...
and was followed by Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, sometimes called Super Return of the Jedi, is a platform game for the Super NES/Super Famicom which follows Super Star Wars and Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. There is also a simplified version for the Nintendo Game Boy and Sega Game Gear portable...
. It is based on the second film of the original Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
trilogy, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner. The screenplay, based on a story by George Lucas, was written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan...
. It was released in Japan by Victor Interactive Software as Super Star Wars: Teikoku no Gyakushuu. The original Super Nintendo title was released on 1993, with a re-release on the Virtual Console
Virtual console
A virtual console – also known as a virtual terminal – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some operating systems such as UnixWare, Linux, and BSD, in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between...
in North America on August 24, 2009 and in the PAL regions on October 2, 2009, alongside the other games in the Super Star Wars series.
Gameplay
Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back follows closely the standard set by Super Star Wars, with multiple playable characters and Mode 7Mode 7
Mode 7 is a graphics mode on the Super NES video game console that allows a background layer to be rotated and scaled on a scanline-by-scanline basis to create many different effects. The most famous of these effects this can create is the application of a perspective effect on a background layer...
quasi-3D vehicle sequences. The controls are very similar to the first game, but feature a double-jump. Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the original film trilogy of the Star Wars franchise, where he is portrayed by Mark Hamill. He is introduced in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, in which he is forced to leave home, and finds himself apprenticed to the Jedi master...
, Han Solo
Han Solo
Han Solo is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise played by Harrison Ford. Introduced in the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope , Solo and his Wookiee co-pilot, Chewbacca , become involved in the Rebel Alliance against the Galactic Empire...
, and Chewbacca
Chewbacca
Chewbacca, also known as Chewie, is a character in the Star Wars franchise, portrayed by Peter Mayhew. In the series' narrative chronology, he appears in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Episode IV: A New Hope, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi...
return as playable characters although the character-select option itself was removed.
Unlike the original game, this installment allows each character the use of a primary and secondary weapon. Following one of the Dagobah
Dagobah
Dagobah is a fictional planet in the Star Wars films, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. It also makes an appearance in a deleted scene from Revenge of the Sith....
missions, Luke Skywalker can also collect Force Powers for use in later levels. Darth Vader
Darth Vader
Darth Vader is a central character in the Star Wars saga, appearing as one of the main antagonists in the original trilogy and as the main protagonist in the prequel trilogy....
appears as the final boss
Boss (video games)
A boss is an enemy-based challenge which is found in video games. A fight with a boss character is commonly referred to as a boss battle or boss fight...
in the video game.
Plot
Like the original video game, the characters from the movie are shown. Luke SkywalkerLuke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the original film trilogy of the Star Wars franchise, where he is portrayed by Mark Hamill. He is introduced in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, in which he is forced to leave home, and finds himself apprenticed to the Jedi master...
is played by C. Andrew Nelson who previously played Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: X-Wing
Star Wars: X-Wing
Star Wars: X-Wing is the first LucasArts DOS computer game set in the Star Wars universe, as well as the lead title in the X-Wing computer game series. It simulates the experience of combat in the A-wing, X-wing, and Y-wing starfighters of the Rebel Alliance...
and who has appeared as Darth Vader
Darth Vader
Darth Vader is a central character in the Star Wars saga, appearing as one of the main antagonists in the original trilogy and as the main protagonist in the prequel trilogy....
in the Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition, the Rebel Assault II and Dark Forces games from LucasArts, as well as numerous commercials, TV shows, print ads, and live appearances.
Development
The previous game in the series was known for its high level of difficulty which was continued in the sequel. In response to this concern, a password system was introduced to allow players to proceed from the level in which their game ended and not have to start back at the beginning of the game when they were out of continues. In late 1992 a contest was launched exclusively in Electronic Gaming MonthlyElectronic Gaming Monthly
Electronic Gaming Monthly is a bimonthly American video game magazine. It has been published by EGM Media, LLC. since relaunching in April of 2010. Its previous run, which ended in January 2009, was published by Ziff Davis...
, which required the contestants to answer six multi-choice questions, and for which the "Grand Prize" was to have the person's likeness appear in this forthcoming game. The winner was Jeff Crosno, for whom the developers placed his appearance on a Rebel soldier in a, Ice Fields of Hoth
Hoth
In the fictional universe of Star Wars, Hoth is the sixth planet of a remote system of the same name. It is a terrestrial planet blanketed by snow and ice. Many meteorites from a nearby asteroid belt pelt the planet's surface, making temporary craters in the planet's ever-moving snow drifts. Hoth...
cut-scene, replacing the already existing facial graphics.
Reception
Reception for the game was met with mixed to positive reviews. IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
praised the games enhanced "Mode 7" graphics. Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
currently gives Super Empire Strikes Back a 83% "fresh" rating. Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
had 89 out of 100 reviews coming out as positive.