Page 38 - OSG Presents Classic Gamer Magazine #2

of forced per- bought. Instead
spective. By of “fights to the
hen George Lucas having the finish” duels a la
W unleashed Star Wars mountains in Vader vs. Obi
into theatres in 1977, he created more the background Wan, the player
than a great film. He forever changed move at a was instead (mis)
how Hollywood would design and mar- slower pace treated to try
ket movies, particularly on the mer- than the valley blocking laser
chandising front. After an avalanche of in the fore- bolts from a
Star Wars action figures, T-shirts, plas- ground, an illu- Seeker sent by
tic light sabers, and comic books hit the sion of depth your opponent on
stores, what better way to immerse the was created. the other side of
Star Wars junkie into the film than to Being hit by the arena. The
actually let them be a part of the ac- a Walker’s mis- SW: Jedi Arena for the Atari 2600 Lightsabers never
tion? Naturally, video games were the sile may damage got within 10 feet of
next logical extension in the Star Wars your ship but won’t each other, which
merchandising juggernaut. necessarily remove you from the ac- was a major disappointment. If you
tion; the Snowspeeder can sustain up destroyed your opponent’s force field
Use the to five hits. If it is with the laser bolts in three separate
Joystick, damaged, it can matches, you were declared the win-
Luke land on one of the ner. Big deal.
In 1982, valley’s many crev- Perhaps thinking the way to a true
Parker ices for quick repair Jedi’s heart was through the cockpit,
Brothers and be back in ac- Parker Brothers followed up Jedi Arena
released tion in no time. with Return of the Jedi: Death Star
the first The Imperial Walk- Battle. This game re-enacts the final
Star Wars ers also have ran- Death Star Battle in Return of the Jedi.
video domly placed bomb Manning the Millennium Falcon, you
game, hatches, but they must battle Tie Interceptors and fight
Star can be destroyed your way through a force field in order
Wars: The with one well to get close enough to the Death Star
Empire SW: Empire Strikes Back for the placed shot. to destroy it. Once close enough, you
Strikes Back, Atari 2600 Sensing a good thing must chip away at the reconstructing
for the Atari when they saw it, Parker Death Star while avoiding its Death
2600. The Brothers saw fit to re- Ray. This is a fast paced, challenging
premise is simple: Stop the advancing lease another title under the Star Wars game. Unfortunately, the cartridge is a
Imperial Walkers from reaching the banner. They also quickly learned that bit on the rare side and can be difficult
shield generator by hitting them 48 simply placing the Star Wars moniker to find. Keep scouring the flea markets
times with laser fire from your Rebel on a cartridge does not a good game and garage sales for this one.
Snowspeeder. The Imperial Walkers make. Star Wars: Jedi Arena had Speaking of rare, Parker Brothers
are equipped with tracking missiles, “hit” written all over it. The promise of had intentions of releasing another Star
which can be fired from the front as wielding a Wars
well as from the rear. If you can keep light saber game enti-
your Snowspeeder alive for 2 minutes, to battle tled Re-
“The Force Will be With You,” the Star opponents turn of
Wars “Main Theme” will play, and you could the Jedi:
will be indestructible for 20 seconds. make the Ewok Ad-
The Imperial Walker is also capable of heart skip venture.
launching smart bombs, which will fol- a beat. This game
low your Snowspeeder unless you are Players’ was touted
able to out maneuver or shoot it down. hearts in the
Empire Strikes Back was a huge hit skipped Parker
for Parker Brothers. By offering new alright, Brothers
game play on older themes, the replay when they catalog as
value remained high. The pace was realized being
kept fast and furious, and the simple what they available
graphics were enhanced through use had SW: Death Star Battle for the Atari 2600 in Fall of
Classic Gamer Magazine Winter 2000 38