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To celebrate LucasArts' showing gamers the true power of the dark side with new release Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, we take a look back at some of the saga’s greatest game tie-ins to date.
10. Droids: Escape from Aaron (Amstrad CPC/ZX Spectrum)
During Star Wars’ wilderness years, games based on the franchise were as rare as the recalled Revenge Of The Jedi merchandise, but these barren years did produce one gem. Droids: Escape From Aaron - based on cartoon spinoff Star Wars: Droids - was an arcade-style platform puzzler in which the player controls both C-3PO and R2-D2.
With little plot to speak of, the game revolved around the characters’ escape from the treacherous Fromm Gang complex. The player had to puzzle their way through a prison, a factory and a research centre, avoiding an army of hostile robots hell-bent on turning the pair into scrap.
Underrated in its day, Droids’ combination of platform and RPG elements gave it a depth, challenge and longevity rarely seen on 8-bit formats. Today the title is incredibly difficult to track down, but copies occasionally appear on eBay for a few of your English pounds.
9. Star Wars Episode 1: Racer (N64)
At least one good thing came from the mammoth disappointment that was Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace. Its N64 tie-in was arguably the best racer to appear on a Nintendo console since the original Super Mario Kart.
Faster than a speeding X-wing and more furious than a rancor on heat, Star Wars Episode 1: Racer featured a variety of different tracks across numerous planets, a diverse cast of characters and plenty of bonus features to unlock.
Upon release in 1999, the game’s critical reception was generally positive, its remarkably simple gameplay quickly finding favour with avid gamers and Star Wars fans alike. There is no word on whether this one will be made available for Nintendo Wii via its online service, but it would be a valuable addition to the console’s download roster.
8. The Empire Strikes Back (Atari 2600)
Most Atari 2600 titles are better left forgotten, but The Empire Strikes Back is a notable exception. This 1982 release from Parker Brothers was the first Star Wars video game adaptation. From a playability standpoint, they didn’t get much better.
In this side-scrolling shooter, the player controlled a snowspeeder, cruising across the never-ending wastelands of Hoth. The aim: to protect the rebel base from an onslaught of Imperial AT-AT walkers through a combination of deft manoeuvring and frantic button bashing.
The game design was devilishly simple. In a similar fashion to the 1980 classic Defender, it consisted of no more than a few clusters of blocky pixels, a series of bleeps and a linear level design, yet it remains incredibly satisfying to watch those AT-ATs crumble after several direct hits.
7. Star Wars Trilogy (Coin-Op)
If you’re lucky enough to find one of these in operation, make sure you are armed with a fistful of change, because Star Wars Trilogy on the arcade remains one of the most faithful adaptations of the saga to date.
The player chose which episode of the original series they wished to immerse themselves in and it’s nonstop action from the word go. Whether blowing up the Death Star or locked in a toe-to-toe lightsaber battle with Darth Vader, this game really captured the spirit of the original trilogy’s set pieces, plus there was none of Mr. Lucas’s contrived dialogue to hamper the experience.
It may be as linear as a first-person-shooter can be, but with a powerful cinematic soundtrack, solid graphics and smooth control, the force remains strong in this one.
6. Super Star Wars (SNES)
It may be a remake of the lesser-known Star Wars, which was released across multiple formats in 1991, but Super Star Wars is the definitive 16-bit platform shooter.
The player took control of Luke Skywalker in the early stages, with Han Solo and Chewbacca appearing later in the game. A number of levels put you in direct control of a spacecraft, giving the SNES a chance to show off its ability to employ Mode 7 graphics, a primitive form of 3D that was cutting edge in the early 1990s.
Although criticised for its unforgiving difficulty, Super Star Wars was generally well received by fans and critics alike for its sleek graphics, evocative soundtrack and inventive level design. The two sequels it spawned - based on The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi - were equally acclaimed.
5. Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy (PS2/PSPGamecube/Xbox/Xbox 360/DS/PC)
Many dismissed the original Lego Star Wars as child’s play, but those who gave it a chance were treated to an incredibly novel gaming experience. Its follow-up, Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy, beats its predecessor hands down thanks to vastly superior source material.
Delivering nostalgia by the barrel, this family-friendly action-adventure quickly won over die-hard Star Wars fans and gamers of all ages with its tongue-in-cheek approach and dedication to the original theatrical releases. Hours of fun could be had watching Chewie pulling the arms off Stormtroopers, and reducing the Death Star to a pile of Lego bricks brings a smile to your face.
Lego Star Wars II works best as a nostalgic joyride, but it builds on the concept started by its predecessor and takes novelty gaming to new heights.
4. Star Wars: Battlefront (PC/PS2/ Xbox)
It is astounding how long it took LucasArts to finally deliver Star Wars: Battlefront. A team-based shooter featuring the saga’s main characters and situations is what fans had been crying out for, and this one did not disappoint.
With large maps, dozens of characters and plenty of vehicles to hijack, this game was designed with its target audience firmly in mind. The online multiplayer supported up to 32 players, ensuring an intense contest when the maximum number of human players took part.
Single-player mode contained just as many kicks. Gunning down Tusken Raiders on Tatooine and taking out Ewoks on Endor never loses its appeal, but the game’s highlight comes when you find yourself in the cockpit of an X-wing embroiled in a furious dog fight to the death.
3. Rogue Squadron 2: Rogue Leader (Gamecube)
Released as a flagship title for Nintendo’s Gamecube, Rogue Leader served as an effective showcase for the new platform and raised the bar for Star Wars titles in the process.
Drawing on the original trilogy for its storyline, the player took control of Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles, with X-Wings, Y-Wings, Snowspeeders and even a Twin Pod Cloud Car at their disposal.
With its graphical and sonic prowess, Rogue Leader completely immersed fans in the Star Wars universe, improving on its predecessor - Rogue Squadron on the N64 - in every conceivable way.
Simple to learn but difficult to master, it’s impossible to put this one to bed until every gold medal has been won and all of the bonus features unlocked. It is rare that a launch title pushes a new console to its limits, but Factor 5 and LucasArts achieved this with Rogue Leader, capturing the flavour of the films in the process.
2. Knights of the Old Republic (PC/Xbox)
Set 4,000 years before the original trilogy, Knights Of The Old Republic (KOTOR) whisked you away to a universe swarming with Sith and teeming with Jedi. In this boundless, non-linear world, the player took control of their own padawan, moulded by the decisions they make.
This Bioware-developed RPG was epic in every sense of the word. Through a gripping and involving plot, the game allowed fans to step into the saga’s expanded universe. Whether training in the Jedi academy or rumbling with local bounty hunters in a cantina on Tatooine, Star Wars does not get any better than this.
KOTOR deservedly topped many ‘game of the year’ charts upon release in 2003. Its sequel KOTOR II: The Sith Lords, fared equally well both critically and commercially.
1. Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast (Gamecube/Xbox/PC)
Four years after Kyle Katarn’s debut in the original Jedi Knight: Mysteries Of The Sith, the lightsaber-wielding hero came roaring back in this explosive sequel.
This may not have been the first time gamers had taken on the role of a Jedi, but it was undoubtedly the most definitive. From force lightning to lightsaber throws, every move in the Jedi arsenal was here. Throw in a back-story infused with love and revenge and we have a winning formula.
Not only is Jedi Outcast arguably the best Star Wars tie-in to date, it’s one of the most addictive action-adventures you will ever play. Executing force chokes and lightsaber decapitations on hapless Stormtroopers makes for hours of fun, and plenty of Dagobar training will be required to solve some of the game’s more challenging puzzles.
