Star Wars: Jedi Arena

"A used paper towel tube and a few vocal "Vrrmmms! Wrrvrrumms!" did a better job than the game."

Star Wars: Jedi Arena is a game produced solely for the Atari 2600 by Parker Brothers, released in 1983. The game faces two Jedi Knights off against each other in a special arena. Each opponent tries to block laser blasts from a training remote with their lightsaber, and redirect them back towards the other, thereby knocking out their shield. The first Jedi to receive three hits loses. According to the rules, the winner gains the rank of Jedi Master.

Early materials from Parker Brothers list a version of the game for Intellivision intended for release in June 1983, but the game was never produced.^[3]

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Publisher's summary

Are you the JEDI MASTER? To find the answer, first you must be a JEDI KNIGHT. Face your most worthy opponent in an electrifying laser battle. You must have nerves of steel, quick reflexes, and a swift LIGHTSABER. Defeat your opponent...you are the JEDI MASTER.

Gameplay

The game is played from a top-down perspective and can be played either against its artificial intelligence or against another player, controlling the angulation of the lightsaber using Atari's Paddle Controllers. The two characters, protected by shields face each other in a small arena, with a training remote (called "seeker" in the manual and promotional material) in the middle. The remote fires laser bolts at the players, who should avoid their shield from being hit, which would eventually result in damage, by deflecting the bolt. Also, they control, together with the angle of their lightsaber, the angle of shots that the remote takes in their rival's direction, which they should angle trying to damage their shield. As a hole is carved into one's shield, bolts may pass through it, and hit them. Once they are hit three times, they lose the game.

An important part of the game is that every once in a while the remote goes "wild", rapidly shooting bolts in random directions, independently of the commands the players give it.

Marketing

The game was marketed with a flyer titled "Scott Grayson, Doctor by day, Jedi Master by night", which presented a photograph of a glasses-wearing man wielding a lightsaber and described how Dr. Scott Grayson, when back home in the evening, transformed into a mighty Jedi Master by the power of the game, ready to challenge everyone. The flyer depicts a different game box art from the one that was used.^[3]

Another flyer, also featuring the alternate box art, depicted Luke Skywalker wielding his lightsaber and challenged the customer to "Become a Jedi Master without ever leaving home." A television commercial was also produced, depicting Luke entering a futuristic arena and starting to play the game on an Atari 2600, as a second, dark-robed character later entered the scene.^[3]