Join Luke, Han and the rest of the gang in a battle against the evil Darth Vader. May the Force be with you...

The year was 1977 and film-maker George Lucas had just released his latest masterpiece — Star Wars. Little did he know that his film of galactic battles would become one of the most successful sci-fi adventures of all time. Star Wars has been seen by over one billion people worldwide, with video sales of the trilogy topping two million in the past year!

Now it’s time for die Master System to feel the Force. US Gold’s Star Wars game takes scenes from the original movie and converts them into action-packed platform and shoot-’em-up levels.

You start as Luke Skywalker and by adventuring through side-scrolling levels, you meet other characters and utilise their abilities to reach the ultimate goal — the destruction of the Death Star.

Stars in their eyes

There are five main game styles in Star Wars: The sideways-scrolling platform shooters where you find other characters and have a blast at passing enemies; exploring the desert in a land speeder; a flight through a meteor field in 3D; a battle with TIE fighters in the Millenium Falcon; and a vertically-scrolling shoot-’em-up through the Death Star.

Levels can be completed in any order and you don’t even have to complete all of them to finish the game, but it’s more fun if you do. You’re given the percentage completed at the end of your game — if it isn’t 100%, you don’t get to see the end sequence.

Star Wars is one of the highest-grossing box office hits of all time and is set to weave its magic on the Master -System charts, too!

Nick booms... ‘LIKE THE MOVIE’

Is Star Wars as popular today as it was way back in the late Seventies? It must be because US Gold have just got around to producing the Master System game to go with the film. And what a cool platformer it is, too!

There’s a mixture of side-scrolling platform levels with plenty of shoot-’em-up action and the land speeder bits where you guide the vehicle through the desert. Luke’s the man in charge at the beginning of the game, with a great mop of blonde hair, but as you progress you pick up other characters to control. Everyone’s here — Han Solo, Princess Leia, R2-D2 and C-3PO.

I was stunned by the quality of the graphics. All levels have great backgrounds and sprites, but when you come across another character you get a full-screen picture of them in all their glory. Some of these scenes are animated, too, like when R2-D2 projects the Princess’s message.

All the music from the film has been included but some of the tunes are a little dodgy and screechy. Never mind, though, they create a good game-playing atmosphere. There’s even the music from the Mos Eisley space port as you walk in!

All Star Wars fans should play this great platform game — it’s just like taking part in the classic movie!

NICK 88%

Tim gulps... ‘THE FORCE IS WITH ME!’

Ah... this game takes me back. Me mam took me to see Star Wars at the pictures on my seventh birthday. I loved the film, but little did I know that 15 years later I’d be reviewing the game. Why did it take so long?

Believe me, it’s certainly worth waiting for. Fans of the film will probably wet themselves when they play this cart. It should also prove a favourite with the few of you who aren’t enthralled by the Star Wars trilogy because it’s a brilliant game. There are loads of levels to shoot through and all the main characters of the film have been included.

The visuals are brilliant. Each level’s packed with detail, colour and realistic-looking sprites. My only gripe is the fact that Luke Skywalker looks more like Macaulay Culkin than the Jedis’ chosen one.

The gameplay is pretty tricky at times but this gives it staying power. I couldn’t stomach the first level, as it’s unnecessarily awkward, but later ones are superbly playable.

Sound effects are okay and the music’s great. All the main tunes are included, even the groovy disco jive in the cantina.

Star Wars is one of the best games this month. Gameplay’s entertaining, graphics are cool and the sound’s rather favourable!

TIM 90%

MF Rating

Graphics

92

Sound

88

Playability

91

Lastability

89

89

An excellent conversion from one of the best sci-fi films of all time.

Rating

89

Reviewer

Sega Master Force magazine

Region

UK

Scans

Sega Master Force - Issue 4

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