Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1992 video game)

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back is a video game released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1992. It is the sequel the original Star Wars for the NES. This is the second of three video games released under the Empire Strikes Back title that were developed directly 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 Super NES.

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
NES game box front cover art
Developer(s)Lucasfilm Games
Sculptured Software
Publisher(s)JVC
Designer(s)Mike Ebert
Kalani Streicher
Programmer(s)Ken Grant
Artist(s)Harrison Fong
Armand Cabrera
Jon Knoles
Composer(s)Paul Webb
Platform(s)Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy
Release
  • JP: March 12, 1992 (Famicom)
  • NA: March 1992 (NES)
  • EU: 1992 (NES)
Genre(s)2D Action Platformer Adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

After the game was completed, the developers were occupied making Super Star Wars for the Super NES, so a corresponding NES sequel covering the film Return of the Jedi was never developed, nor released.[1]

A version of the game was released for the Game Boy. It was reprinted and distributed by several publishers over the course of three years.

On July 26, 2019, the NES and Game Boy versions were officially re-released in both standard and Collector's Edition sets with Disney and Lucasfilms's approval in limited quantities on unlicensed replica game cartridges by Limited Run Games.

Gameplay
Title screen

The objective of the game 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 friendly characters in Cloud City from Darth Vader.

Unlike the previous game, the player can only control Luke Skywalker, who can fight with a blaster pistol or a lightsaber, and who can also board a snowspeeder during the Battle of Hoth. As Luke learns about the Force, he develops multiple Force Powers that will help him during his mission.

The ending is significantly more upbeat than the movie's ending, as the player must both rescue Han Solo and defeat Darth Vader in combat in order to win.

Reception

References
  1. "Cart Queries". GamePro. No. 87. IDG. December 1995. p. 17. Patrick Lozano: Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back both came out for the NES, but was there an 8-bit version of Return of the Jedi? / Gamepro: No. Just when LucasArts would have started on Jedi for the NES, it set its sights on making the first 16-bit Super Star Wars game.
  2. "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (GB) - GameRankings". Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  3. "Nintendo Power Awards" (46). March 1993: 99. Retrieved November 12, 2015. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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