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Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Parker Bros. game)
Encyclopedia
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.
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
.
Parker Brothers
Parker Brothers is a toy and game manufacturer and brand. Since 1883, the company has published more than 1,800 games; among their best known products are Monopoly, Cluedo , Sorry, Risk, Trivial Pursuit, Ouija, Aggravation, and Probe...
in 1982
1982 in video gaming
-Events:* December 27 - Starcade, a video game television game show, debuts on TBS in the United States.-Notable releases:*October 13 - Mystique releases the Custer's Revenge adult video game for the Atari 2600 home console....
for the Atari 2600
Atari 2600
The Atari 2600 is a video game console released in October 1977 by Atari, Inc. It is credited with popularizing the use of microprocessor-based hardware and cartridges containing game code, instead of having non-microprocessor dedicated hardware with all games built in...
and in 1983
1983 in video gaming
-Events:* A major shakeout of the video game industry begins. By 1986, total video games sales will decrease from US$3.2 billion to US$0.1 billion.* MCA Universal files suit against Nintendo, claiming that the latter company's video arcade hit Donkey Kong violated Universal's copyright on King Kong...
for the Mattel Intellivision
Intellivision
The Intellivision is a video game console released by Mattel in 1979. Development of the console began in 1978, less than a year after the introduction of its main competitor, the Atari 2600. The word intellivision is a portmanteau of "intelligent television"...
. It was the first Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
video game.
Gameplay
Snowspeeder
A snowspeeder is a Rebel Alliance vehicle featured in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and several books, comics, and video games in the Star Wars Expanded Universe...
to battle against Imperial AT-AT walkers on the planet Hoth
Hoth
In the fictional universe of Star Wars, Hoth is the sixth planet of a remote system of the same name. It is a terrestrial planet blanketed by snow and ice. Many meteorites from a nearby asteroid belt pelt the planet's surface, making temporary craters in the planet's ever-moving snow drifts. 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
Difficulty level
In general usage, difficulty level refers to the relative difficulty of completing a task or objective.In computer and video games, the term specifically delineates the ease or difficulty with which an average user may complete a game or a part of a game. Arcade games as well as many early console...
.