Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (also called Super Return of the Jedi) is a 1994 action game for the Super Nintendo/Super Famicom. It was developed by LucasArts and Sculptured Software and published by JVC Musical Industries. This game is the third installment in the Super Star Wars series of SNES games and is based on the 1983 Star Wars movie Return of the Jedi.
It is quite rare for a movie-based game to be as fun as the movie itself, but Super Return of the Jedi for the Super Nintendo manages to pull it off. Instead of copying the movie exactly, the creators made some nice changes, added extra scenes, and left out most of the dialogue. The result is a fun and exciting game.
The Story
Join the Rebellion and destroy The Empire's Death Star in an epic 16-bit adventure packed with all the excitement of the Star Wars finale. Play as five characters—including Wicket the Ewok and Princess Leia and take on the Empire’s biggest villains, from Jabba the Hutt to the Emperor himself. This is the final battle, and you will need all the Force you can unleash!
The Graphics and Sound
The backgrounds and characters in the game are mostly well made. The first level and the Endor level attempt to create a 3D effect, which was quite impressive at the time. The backgrounds, like those of Endor, Jabba's Palace, and the Emperor's Throne Room, are nicely detailed, though they can sometimes feel a little empty, which is why it feels slightly short of perfect. The character designs for the movie's heroes are also well-crafted and look great overall.
The sound in the game is okay. While some levels have their own background music, it is not very loud and starts repeating quickly. On the other hand, the sound effects are mostly just good. The constant blaster/laser firing can get annoying, but the funny "Ooh la!" sound from the alien dancers in Jabba's Dance Hall is funny. Chewbacca's occasional roar adds a good touch as well.
The Gameplay
Unlike the first Star Wars game, where you could pick your character halfway through, and The Empire Strikes Back, where you could not choose at all, this game lets you almost always pick who you play as. However, some choices do not make sense for the story. For instance, in the Rancor battle, you can play as Luke, Chewie, or Han; even though Chewie and Han were in a jail in the movie. Later, you play as Wicket the Ewok, which feels weird. Why would you suddenly play as the alien teddy bear? It is a unique addition, but still crazy.
The bosses, though creative, can be tough. For example, the first boss is the small eyeball camera droid from Jabba's Palace door in the movie, which has somehow grown big and is now armed with guns. Despite these crazy changes, the game is a lot of fun to play, and you will improve as you progress. The game also mixes up the pacing nicely, letting you play as different characters in varied situations like Princess Leia on Endor, Luke in the Emperor’s chamber, and Lando piloting the Death Star as it explodes.
The game has a high replay value. Many levels let you choose between multiple characters, which makes it enjoyable to replay those levels. Additionally, the game offers varying difficulty levels, so you can get a challenge by trying it on harder settings. Super Return of the Jedi is also one of the rare SNES games where you can play as a different character throughout most of the game, adding variety and keeping players entertained for a long time.
My Verdict
If you are a gaming Star Wars fan looking to complete your collection, Super Star Wars: Return of The Jedi is worth adding. It is a solid title with good gameplay, and there is a nice chance you will have fun experiencing the action-packed adventure it offers.
Play it on the desirable Super Nintendo/Super Famicom or play it on a famous emulator.