C&VG
27th August 1991
Categories: Review: Software
Publisher: Lucasarts
Machine: Nintendo (US Version)
Published in Computer & Video Games #123
Star Wars
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away... Star Wars is still one of the most successful movies of all time. All things to everyone: adventure, love story, visual spectacle, Star Wars has it all. The game follows the movie's plot faithfully and includes all its major elements.
You start off on Tatooine, Luke's home planet. From here you have to enlist the aid of R2D2, Ben Kenobi and Han Solo. Once you have Han Solo working for you, you can zoom off to the Death Star... via a large asteroid field. Most of the game is a scrolling platform romp, but there are various sub-games, including a 3D section in the middle. It's all there, so get going!
X-Wing Antics
There are two 3D sections in the game, one in the Millennium Falcon and one in the famous X-Wing fighter. In the first, you as Han Solo have to fly the Falcon through an asteroid field on the way to the Death Star.
This is extremely tricky. The second 3D bit is when you fly the X-Wing through TIE-Fighter-infested space. This section leads on to a vertically scrolling shoot-'em-up over the surface and into the trenches of the Death Star.
Use The Force
You can't actually use The Force in the game, but there are a few mysterious tricks you'll need to learn. The first obstacles are jump related - Luke can jump quite far, but he'll leap a good bit higher if you discover his amazing sprinting ability.
Like the Mario games, you hold down Fire to run, which makes Luke leap a whole lot further and enables him to reach those otherwise inaccessible ledges. Learning to control the momentum of Luke and the other characters is also vital, so you'll need plenty of practice.
All Pals Together
You have to use all the good guys from the movie if you want to complete the game. Starting with just Luke and C3PO, you seek the assistance of R2D2. Once you have him, Ben Kenobi will join the fun.
Next you have to find Han Solo and, finally, Princess Leia. Each character can be controlled and they all have their uses and it's up to you to find out who does what best. The film plot gives clues, so you shouldn't have much problem figuring it out!
Why Is C3P0 So Crap?
Although C3P0 is with you all the way through the game, he's completely crap. He doesn't do anything at all except complain all the time. He can't shoot, he can't jump and he can't even speak different languages like he's supposed to.
This isn't actually an option, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to leave him in the Jawa sandcrawler. At least they could make him into something useful, like a trumpet or a waffle iron.
X-Wing Antics
There are two 3D sections in the game, one in the Millennium Falcon and one in the famous X-Wing fighter. In the first, you as Han Solo have to fly the Falcon through an asteroid field on the way to the Death Star.
This is extremely tricky. The second 3D bit is when you fly the X-Wing through TIE-Fighter infested space. This section leads on to a vertically scrolling shoot-'em-up over the surface and into the trenches of the Death Star.
Frank
Star Wars is one smart cart! It has all your favourite bits of the movie and a few goodies which weren't strictly in the film. The plot has been doctored slightly to make the game flow a little more smoothly, but you hae to do everything in the right order.
The main part of the game, a scrolling platform romp is great fun, with death-defying leaps and lots of alien scum to blast. The graphics, considering this is an NES, are completely groovy, with smooth scrolling, top-notch sprites and wonderful backdrops.
The cart contains a special music ship which enhances the NES sound capabilities. What this means to you and I is that there are some thumping renditions of the movie themes, as well as brilliant sound effects.
The game is huge: you can play for an hour and still only complete five or six percent of the whole thing! Definitely the best film tie-in on the NES and one of the best Nintendo carts for ages!
Tim
It's taken a while to touch down (say about fifteen years!) but this game is fab! Lucasfilm have really gone to town here, turning in a game and a half which will have you doing a double take to prove you're actually playing an NES.
There's nothing quite like this one anywhere, 'coz it's so faithful to the swashbuckling adventure appeal of the movie itself. Looking very Luke-like you journey through some gorgeous graphics to complete one mutha of a tough task!
The soundtrack really stands out, ranking among the best I've ever heard on the 8-bit Nintendo. But at the end of the day what I really like about this game is the way it so closely mirrors the excitement and drama of one of the greatest movies ever. This is the one the fans have been waiting for, and here it is at last!