Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Parker Bros. video game)
| Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back | |
|---|---|
 Atari 2600 cover art |
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| Developer(s) | Parker Brothers |
| Publisher(s) | Parker Brothers |
| Distributor(s) | Parker Brothers |
| Platform(s) | Atari 2600 Intellivision |
| Release date(s) | |
| Genre(s) | Scrolling shooter |
| Mode(s) | One or two players |
| Media/distribution | Cartridge |
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back is a scrolling shooter video game published by Parker Brothers in 1982 for the Atari 2600 and in 1983 for the Mattel Intellivision. It was the first Star Wars video game.
[edit] Gameplay
In the game, the player controls a snowspeeder to battle against Imperial AT-AT walkers on the planet Hoth. The goal is to hold off the walkers as long as possible before they blow up the power generator at the Rebels' Echo Base. The difficulty levels included several variables, including the initial speed of the walkers, whether or not the walkers were solid, and whether or not the walkers included a "smart bomb".
The player could destroy a walker by shooting it repeatedly in the head or torso; shots to the legs were ineffective. As the walker was damaged, it would change colors - transitioning from black (undamaged) through various shades of gray, red, and orange to yellow (critically damaged). The player could also destroy the walkers by shooting a small flashing spot that would randomly appear as the player shot the walker. On the Intellivision, the walkers required thirty hits to take down, compared to 48 hits on the Atari.
The walkers shot back at the player changing the speeder's color from black to red to yellow before destroying it (three hits would destroy the player). A player could land a damaged speeder to repair it. On more difficult levels, the walkers would be solid, meaning that the player could crash into them, damaging them and destroying the player. Other levels included a smart bomb which would periodically launch from the flashing port on a walker and follow the player for a time. If the player was hit by the smart bomb his speeder was destroyed. Occasionally, the player would be granted the power of the force. When this happens, the speeder flashes colorfully and becomes invulnerable for a short time.
The game ends when five speeders are destroyed or when the lead walker reaches Echo Base, destroying it. As the game, progressed the walkers became faster to simulate a harder difficulty level.
[edit] External links
- Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back at MobyGames
- Information at Intellivision Lives
- Information at AtariAge
- Gametrailers' Star Wars Retrospective Episode I
- Behind The Scenes of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back on games
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