Super Star Wars was created by LucasArts, and released on SNES in 1992. The game is based on Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, and is mostly a platformer game in which your primary weapon is the blaster (with potential to use the lightsaber). The game is true to the movie, with minor exceptions. However, this does not detract from the story or the gameplay. Players can progress through the game as Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, or Han Solo as they're introduced into the storyline. Each character has some differing attributes/abilities, but they can all utilize the blaster, which is really all that's required to get through the game.
Graphics: 8 In terms of graphics, you have the layout in all playable levels, as well as cutscenes. Note that in this era of video games, "cutscenes" here are an image, with scrolling text. Within the playable levels, there's great attention to detail in the background, and the art for some of the boss characters look nice, too. Overall, a pretty good looking game for the earlier SNES days.
Sound: 9 Did you like the soundtrack for Star Wars? If so, have another listen as you play through the game. The sound and music are well preserved in the translation from movie to video game. The music of each level doesn't repeat too often, either. What else is there to say- John Williams is amazing!
Addictiveness: 6 Super Star Wars is not the kind of game I would describe as addictive. A little difficult, yes, but that's a different section of this review. This is the kind of game you play through entirely within about 45 minutes. As there is no password system yet (there are in the sequels), you either get through it all in one shot, or you don't. Still, the game is at least easy enough to pick up and put down at any time.
Story: 8 Mostly true to the movie (basic spoilers here!): two droids escape with plans on how to destroy the Empire's Death Star. Luke Skywalker must relay this message to Obi Wan. They obtain a ship piloted by Han Solo and Chewbacca, get captured by the Death Star, escape, then return to the Death Star in an assault, and finally destroy it. This is an oversimplification of the story, I know. However, the game adheres to it; some exceptions include areas that you must fight through, which happen in the movie with little to no conflict (e.g. fighting your way through the sandcrawler, the monster in Mos Eisley, etc.). If you don't know the story of Star Wars yet, I highly suggest watching the movies!
Depth: 6 While the game is mostly platformer, some levels break from the format and are more shooter in nature. Examples include the interlude levels where you must travel to the sandcrawler/Mos Eisley, plus some of the Death Star levels. Between just the platform levels, there is variation, as well. There are unique obstacles throughout each level with many different enemies. If anything, the only enemy that stays the same are essentially the stormtroopers. Players can play as Luke/Chewy/Han, but for the first half of the game, the story hasn't met Chewy or Han so the player must use Luke Skywalker. After a couple of levels in, you're then given the choice of switching between lightsaber and blaster. I was a little disappointed in the lightsaber; it's a powerful weapon, but against bosses you have to get dangerously close and they do more damage to you than your lightsaber does to them. Essentially, you're much better off using the blaster. In later levels, after Chewy and Han are unlocked, it's almost always better to just pick Chewy as he has higher base health than either of the other characters. Regardless, all characters play the same way shooting and jumping between obstacles. It's not until the next game where use of the lightsaber as a primary weapon becomes viable.
Difficulty: 8 The first time I played this game, I found it pretty difficult. There was typically one specific part in the game I couldn't get past. In essence, the easiest way to get through the game is to not die (very original, yes). Let me elaborate: your gun has 5 levels of power, and these power up items are in specific locations in most levels. If your player dies, you start the level (maybe at a checkpoint) with the lowest level blaster. The reason I had difficulty in early play-throughs was mainly because I died on a certain boss. The level then started you at a checkpoint late in that level with little chance to upgrade your weapon. The result was an even lesser ability to fight said boss, leading to more dying. In other words, you have to be careful about dying to avoid getting stuck in these types of situations. In this way, momentum is the best weapon of the game. In terms of the actual level design, it wasn't insanely difficult. Some of the harder platform stages are within the first half of the game.
Overall: 7.5 Super Star Wars is a decent platformer game that stays true to the storyline of its respective movie. Whether you're a Star Wars fan or not, it's a fun, good looking game with great music, that has to be played all in a single playthrough. While the game isn't insanely difficult, dying at certain areas can potentially set the player back a lot. For me, this is a great game to pick up every once in a while to keep it fresh, but not overplayed. In terms of replay value, there are the three basic difficulties (easy/normal/hard), and you can always add extra layers of difficulty/parameters by not using Chewy, or mostly using the lightsaber... assuming it's possible to advance in this fashion! Pick it up and check it out, it's worth a play. |