Hello dear Stopgeymovites, I really love Star Wars and everything connected with them. Including games, and to be more precise, how they have changed from the very first to the present day. What they looked like then, what platforms they appeared on, what genres they tried themselves in. This is what the blog will be dedicated to.
Episode 1 The First Ten Years
Star Battle
The game was developed by Bally Manufacturing Corporation for Bally Astrocade and was released in 1977.
This is the very first Star Wars game. Represents a duel between an X-wing and a tie fighter on the Death Star. The goal of the game is to defeat the enemy without colliding with him (which could be the computer or another player).
Star Wars (1978)
Game developed by John Olsen for the TRS-80 platform, published in CLOAD magazine in October 1978.
We control Luke Skywalker’s X-wing must destroy the Death Star and return intact, otherwise you can crash into the walls. We fly into the trench to hit the exhaust port (the flight lasts 65 seconds) Darth Vader’s seed fighter will prevent us from reaching the target. Having seen the target, we shoot and fly away (there are 10 seconds after the shot). The game has three endings: 1) The Death Star explodes and we fly to the base to celebrate 2) If we don’t have time to destroy the Death Star or Luke is killed, then the rebel base is destroyed 3) The Death Star is destroyed, but Luke did not have time to fly away from the explosion, he will be remembered as a hero.
StarWars I
The game was developed by James Okamura and published by Creative Computing in 1978 for the TRS-80 platform.
Controlling the X-wing, it is necessary to destroy the imperial squadron led by Darth Vader, who will destroy our fleet faster than the empire. Aim using the sight in the center of the screen. Within a certain time it is necessary to destroy 25 enemy ships. There are four speed levels: slow, medium, fast and Jedi Knight.
Star Wars (1978) or Star Warriors
Published the game Softape for Apple 2 in 1978. On the back of the cassette was the game Space Maze (more on that later).
The game is similar to Star Battle except there was a duel, but here you catch the tie fighter, shoot him and so on.
It is worth noting that this is the first game where the name Star Wars appeared among the published
Space Maze
In the game we had to guide a tie fighter through a maze in a certain time and without touching the walls and that’s it.
Star Fire
The game was developed and published by Exidy in 1979 for arcade machines and was later ported to the Commodore PET the same year and in 1983 to the Atari 800 and Commodore 64. There are versions for Apple and Atari 2600. Alas, the publisher did not receive a license from Lucasfilm, so no big changes had to be made to the game (very tiny)
The player controlled the X-wing from the cockpit with the goal of destroying the space forces of the empire, including star destroyers. Controlled using the handle, fired using the button, while the shot is flying, you can’t shoot for two seconds. Frequent shots will cause the weapon to overheat. The player could be knocked down and then the enemies became weaker. The game time was limited; to continue the banquet it was necessary to throw coins.
Version for slot machines
Commodore PET version
Atari 800 version
Commodore 64 version
Apple version
Atari 2600 version
Jedi Knight. Warriors of the Old Republic
Developed and published by Computer Simulations https://nonukcasinosites.co.uk/review/casino-007/ Company in 1980 for the TRS-80 platform.
We play as the last Jedi, whose goal is to save the Republic and defeat Darth Vader. We travel around the galaxy, increase our popularity among the population, buy fuel, equipment and go into battle. This is where BioWare got the concept for its Knights of the Old Republic.
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Game developed by Parker Brothers in 1982 for the Atari 2600. In 1983, ported to Intellivision, Atari 800, ZX Spectrum, Commodore under the name Battle on Hoth.
We play as a rebel pilot in a T-47, trying to destroy as many imperial walkers as possible. You’ll have to shoot AT-AT missiles or fall into the flickering hatch. In cases of critical damage, you can land and repair the ship (no more than two times). If we do not receive damage for a long time, then with the help of force we become invisible for 20 seconds. It is impossible to win the game, the enemies get to the base or kill our hero.
Versions of the game differ from each other: the Atari 800 version shows the construction of the Echo base, and the pilot can go outside.
Atari 800 version
Commodore version
Return of the Jet-I
Published by Thundervision in 1983 for the TRS-80 Color Computers and Dragon 32 platforms.
We control the gravitational bike pilot’s goal to get to the shield generator bunker and destroy it. While flying through the forest, the player must dodge trees and trunks lying on the ground and destroy stormtroopers. On the way we meet Ewoks; they give you extra points for picking them up.
Star Wars: Jedi Arena
The game was developed by Parker Brothers in 1983 for the Atari 2600 platforms.
The game was a Jedi duel, the task was to defeat another Jedi (it could be a computer or another player), after which they received the rank of Jedi Master. The player controls the lightsaber using the game controller, protecting himself from laser shots from the droid. But after some time he went crazy and fired at both.
Return of the Jedi: Ewok Adventure
Revenge of the Jedi: Game I
The game was developed by Parker Brothers in 1983 for the Atari 2600, but it never went on official sale.
You had to play as an Ewok glider whose goal was to destroy the protective shield generator bunker. We were hindered in this difficult task by the Imperials (foot attack aircraft, attack aircraft on speeders, AT-ST) and nature (forest, river). Gameplay: they flew, dodged obstacles, threw stones at the Imperials if they ran out, you can get them low by flying over boulders, captured equipment for a short time (Chewbacca is apparently missing).Unfortunately there was no music in the game, everything was spent on graphics and gameplay.
The game was not officially published due to disagreements with marketers
Star Wars: The Arcade Game
The game was developed by Atari Inc in May 1983 for arcade machines. Later it was ported by Parker Brothers for the Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Atari 8-bit, ColecoVision, Commodore 64 platforms.In 1987-1988 appeared on Amiga, Atari ST, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, Enterprise 64, Apple II, Apple Macintosh, Commodore 64 and DOS.
We play as Luke Skywalker trying to find the weak point of the Death Star. In the beginning it is necessary to survive in the game with Vader and his seed fighters, after approaching the station we must dodge the shots of the protective turrets, after the experience we fly to the exhaust shaft to fire the last shot.
The game used the voices of the film’s actors, including the sounds of R2-D2.
ColecoVision version
Version for Amstrad CPC
BBC Micro version
Amiga version
Lucas also decided to evaluate
Return of the Jedi: Death Star Battle
The game was developed by Parker Brothers in 1983 for the Atari 2600, Atari 800, Atari 5200 platforms and later ported to the ZX Spectrum.
The Millennium Falcon must destroy the Death Star before its construction is completed. Not only the imperial fleet will interfere, but also the station itself. When you still managed to slip inside it, you need to hit the core. And then quickly get away before the debris hit the Falcon, and Khan could see it again.
Atari 2600 version
Atari 800 version
Version for Atari 5200 version
Version for ZX Spectrum
Return of the Jedi (1984)
Developed by Atari Games Corporation in 1984 for arcade machines, later ported to BBC Micro, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, in 1988 to Amiga, in 1991 to Electronics BK 0010.
The game has four levels. In the first one we’ll play as Luke on a speeder to get to the Ewok village. Naturally, the empire will interfere with this, but on our side the bears will help us in every possible way (set traps, throw stones). On the second we will find ourselves in the furry skin of Chewbacca, who has borrowed an AT-ST and the task is to get to the bunker and help Khan. In the third level, we control the Millennium Falcon and the task is to destroy as many ships as possible while the shield is active on the Death Star. On the fourth, you need to get to the reactor, and then fly away as quickly as possible before the wave hits.
Version for Electronics BK 0010
Commodore 64 version
Version for ZX Spectrum
Version for Amstrad CPC
Star Wars (1987)
Developed by Namco in 1987 for the Famicom platform. The first platform in a distant galaxy.
The game repeats the events of New Hope with some changes. Luke will have to save not only Leia, but also the rest of the heroes, including Han and Chewie on various planets that were not in the films (moreover, young Skywalker flies on the Falcon). A little more freedom Luke uses the force without learning exactly how to fight with a lightsaber (like Rey). At the end of each level there is a duel with Vader, who turns into animals (the Japanese are strange people). And in the finale we destroy the Death Star by blowing up a mine on an X-wing. And then the awards ceremony.
Star Wars: Droids
Developed by Binary Design, Ltd and published by Mastertronic Added Dimension in 1988 for Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 platforms.
The plot of the game is based on the animated series Star Wars: Droids and we will play as the inseparable couple R2-D2 and C-3PO. The game is a platformer and puzzle game. We will solve exciting puzzles over 8 levels.
Version for Amstrad CPC
Version for ZX Spectrum
Commodore 64 version
These were the first ten years, as you can see, Star Wars games from the very beginning tried to diversify the universe, giving them the opportunity to participate in famous events.
In the next episode, we’ll fly the X-winge again, play chess and explore the dark side of power.