Star Wars (1987 video game)

Star Wars (スター・ウォーズ Sutā Wōzu) is a video game released in Japan in 1987 by Namco under their Namcot label. It was developed for the Family Computer (Famicom for short) and Hiroyuki Kawada was one of the developers. The game is a common side-scrolling platformer in which the player controls Luke, as he travels in order to join the Rebellion against the Empire.

Opening crawl

EPISODE IV A NEW HOPE IT IS A PERIOD OF CIVIL WAR. REBEL SPACESHIPS, STRIKING FROM A HIDDEN BASE, HAVE WON THEIR FIRST VICTORY AGAINST THE EVIL GALACTIC EMPIRE. DURING THE BATTLE, REBEL SPIES MANAGEDTO STEAL SECRET PLANS TO THE EMPIRE'S ULTIMATE WEAPON, THE DEATH STAR, AN ARMORED SPACE STATION WITH ENOUGH POWER TO DESTROY AN ENTIRE PLANET. PURSUED BY THE EMPIRE'S SINISTER AGENTS, PRINCESS LEIA RACES HOME ABOARD HER STARSHIP, CUSTODIAN OF THE STOLEN PLANS THAT CAN SAVE HER PEOPLE AND RESTORE FREEDOM TO THE GALAXY....

Story

Gameplay from Star Wars

While the game is based on Episode IV, Namco took several liberties with its storyline. For instance, Luke must rescue some of the main characters from the movie (R2-D2, C-3PO, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Princess Leia, Chewbacca and Han Solo), who are trapped on distinct planets. Luke travels using the Millennium Falcon (which in the movie was piloted only by Chewie and Han) in order to find them. On each planet, the boss appear to be none other than the Sith Darth Vader, who is typically impersonated by shapeshifting entities who will sometimes transform into a giant scorpion, a Wampa, a shark, or a pterosaur in order to continue attacking. Vader himself is eventually fought for real on the Death Star, as well as on Yavin 4.

The planets themselves are portrayed very differently than in the mainstream franchise's universe (Kessel contains ruins that resemble that of Ancient Egypt, for example), and some don't appear in the film (such as the icy planet, which, although named "Tina" in-game, is most likely Hoth). In addition, Chewbacca in this game has some ability to speak Galactic Basic Standard, even though neither the films nor most Expanded Universe materials even hint at him being capable of speaking anything other than his native tongue.

Other differences include the use of a lightsaber and the Force, the latter of which Luke learned very little of until Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back. In addition, Luke's in-game appearance is black haired, although instruction manual illustrations depict him with yellow hair, closer to his actual sandy-blond hair color.

Transforming Vader

According to both "Game On!," an article published in Star Wars Insider 135, and the game manual, the fake Vaders were "intended as illusions representing Luke's fears, like the Cave of Evil scene in Empire Strikes Back." However, those "illusions" were able to kidnap Luke Skywalker's allies and hold them prisoner.

Appearances

By type

Characters	Creatures	Droid models	Events	Locations
Organizations and titles	Sentient species	Vehicles and vessels	Weapons and technology	Miscellanea

Characters

C-3PO Chewbacca Obi-Wan Kenobi Leia Organa R2-D2 Luke Skywalker Han Solo Unidentified Dianoga Unidentified gatekeeper (First appearance) Darth Vader

Creatures

Dianoga Frog Hoth whale (First appearance) Maritima (First appearance) Possum (First appearance) Gyaos Vader (First appearance) Clados Vader (First appearance) Sasori Vader (First appearance) Wampa Vader (First appearance)

Droid models

Prowler (First appearance) R2-series astromech droid 3PO-series protocol droid

Events

Battle of Yavin

Locations

Hoth (as "Tina") Iskalon Kessel Abandoned Kessel temple (First appearance) Tatooine Yavin 4 Massassi Temple

Organizations and titles

Alliance to Restore the Republic Galactic Empire Stormtrooper

Sentient species

Elespad (First appearance) Human Jawa Tusken Raider Wookiee

Vehicles and vessels

Death Star Millennium Falcon Sandcrawler T-65 X-wing starfighter TIE/LN starfighter TIE/Advanced starfighter X-34 landspeeder

Weapons and technology

Lightsaber

Miscellanea

Force crush/Force levitate Force shield Force speed Force warp Metamorphosis

Sources

• Star Wars video game (Japan) in the StarWars.com Cargo Bay (content now obsolete; backup link)
• "Game On!" – Star Wars Insider 135
• The Best Star Wars Games of the 8-bit Generation on StarWars.com (backup link)
• The Weirdest Star Wars Games on StarWars.com (backup link)

External links

• Famicom Star Wars manual (PDF). Video Game Den (archived from the original on January 5, 2017)
• Star Wars (1987 video game) on MobyGames
• Star Wars (Namco). Strategy Wiki (archived from the original on February 20, 2021)

In other languages

• Deutsch
• ქართული
• русский