That's no moon, that's a top six list
I love Star Wars, and I have since I was little. Return of
the Jedi is, and will probably always be my favorite episode in the Saga, but I really love almost
(I’m looking at you, Attack of the Clones) all the films. Not only have I seen
all the movies countless times, but I’ve seen almost every TV show, read 1000s
of pages of Star Wars fiction and encyclopedias, and collected boxes upon boxes
of Star Wars toys. However, sometimes that just isn’t enough: sometimes I want
to get right in the action. Thankfully, there are a copious amount of Star Wars
games in the galaxy, and I’ve played many of them. So, in honor of The Last
Jedi’s release let’s take a look at some
of my favorite Star Wars games to appear on a Nintendo console.
Honorable Mention:
Star Wars Battlefront II (Xbox/PS2/PC)
Unfortunately, in several cases, Nintendo fans have missed
out on some fantastic games, such as Star Wars Battlefront II (2005), which is far and
away my favorite Star Wars game. The sense of scale, attention to detail, and complexity of
gameplay really makes this title stand the test of time. Whether I’m running
across the Kashyyyk beach head with the 501st, or flanking an AT-AT with my fellow Rebels, no game throws you in
the action like Battlefront II. I don’t think I’ve put more time into any other
video game than Battlefront II, and I still play it to this day. The PS2
version was my bread and butter, however, it hasn’t aged that gracefully,
considering how much shooter controls have changed over the last twelve years.
I’d recommend the Steam version, as mouse and keyboard controls are an elegant
and modern alternative to the PS2 edition. And by some outside chance, the
multiplayer servers are back and are fully operational.
Honorable Mention:
Star Wars Dark Forces (PC/MS-DOS/PS1)
Much like Battlefront II, Star Wars Dark Forces never made
it over to Nintendo consoles. It’s unfortunate, as Dark Forces is not only a
lot of fun, but offers a glimpse into the events directly before A New Hope, long before Jyn Erso and her friends came along. The game stars Kyle
Katarn, a bounty-hunter turned Rebel commando as he steals the plans for the
Death Star, and then discovers a top-secret imperial program which he must
dismantle. The game is a classic FPS from the era of the original DOOM, so
expect to be fiddling with controls before this one plays like a modern title.
However, this game has such a classic feel, and the gunplay is very satisfying.
Blasting two stormtroopers, then taking out the officers before they can react is
an unparalleled experience. Does the game look our sound as good as, say DICE's Star
Wars Battlefront games? No, but it’s a classic for a reason.
Honorable Mention:
Super Star Wars (SNES, Wii, Wii U)
I’ve always wanted to like the Super Star Wars series more
than I do. Initially released on the SNES, the trilogy of releases have you
platforming and fighting through the events of A New Hope, The Empire Strikes
Back, and Return of the Jedi respectively. These games look and sound great,
and to that effect, play very well too. However, I simply find them too hard.
Their old-school sensibilities and occasionally frustrating enemy AI leave
these games feeling like a relic of the past. They’re still worth checking out,
and I still hope to be beat them someday, but as of now, I can’t put them in
the list of my favorite Star Wars games.
Lego Star Wars: The
Complete Saga (Wii)
Undoubtedly my favorite Lego game, Lego Star Wars: The
Complete Saga is an absolute gem. Taking place across all six Star Wars
Episodes, The Complete Saga humorously recreates every beat from the series,
only in Lego. Whether you’re flying above Coruscant, recreating the iconic opening
to Revenge of the Sith, or rescuing Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt’s sail-barge,
The Complete Saga perfectly captures the feeling from the movies. I’ve played
this game at least five times to completion, and it never gets old. The
simplicity of the gameplay, copious fan-service, and genuine humor makes this a
timeless Star Wars game, and one that is even better in Co-Op. This game also
released back before Lego games got needlessly complex, so don’t worry about
tearing your hair out over the (seemingly) simple puzzles that bring down so
many of the recent Lego releases. Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga is a
must-play.
Star Wars Episode III-
Revenge of the Sith (GBA)
I haven’t played this game in many years, but I can almost
guarantee, that unlike the other games on this list, Star Wars Episode III
probably isn’t very good. That doesn’t make me like it any less, however. To
understand why this game holds so much nostalgia for me, it’s necessary to look
at the time when I got it. Episode III released when I was five years old. I
had DVD copies of episodes I, IV, V, and VI that I watched religiously.
However, I never got to experience the release of a brand-new Star Wars film
before Revenge of the Sith. I still remember seeing commercials, getting the
toys, and anxiously waiting to see the movie myself. The GBA port of Revenge
of the Sith is little more than your average 2.5D beat-‘em-up, but it released
at the height of my Episode III fever and the start of my gaming career. The
graphics were nice, and the sound quality was good, but the gameplay was as
simple as it got. I also remember this game being quite difficult, but to be
fair, that could most likely be chocked up to my relative inexperience at the
time. I don’t particularly recommend that you go and hunt down a copy of this
game, but I can’t deny that it is very special to me.
Star Wars: The Force
Unleashed (Wii)
The Force Unleashed is, in my opinion, the best Star Wars
game of all time. The story of Vader’s apprentice-turned-enemy Starkiller is
one of the most interesting pieces of Expanded Universe storytelling ever. The
journey takes you through so many fantastic Star Wars locations, both new and
familiar, all the while setting up unforgettable moments along the way. And,
just as all good EU stories do, The Force Unleashed legitimately impacted the
Star Wars cannon, filling holes that the movies did not. However, beyond the
narrative, The Force Unleashed excelled in making you feel like a true badass.
Whether that is slicing through Wookies as Darth Vader in the iconic opening,
or throwing your enemies out the windows of Cloud City with a force push, The
Force Unleashed empowered me like no other Star Wars game before, or since.
Motion controls just made sense for this title, and while it did feature the
waggle controls that we’ve all come to hate, I’d be lying if I said that swinging
the Wii remote to perform Lightsaber strikes or force abilities wasn’t a ton of fun. If
you’ve never played The Force Unleashed, stop reading this right now, and track down a copy of
the game: you won't be disappointed.
There are some major holes in my Star Wars gaming
experience. The Rogue Squadron series, for example, is one that I missed out on
entirely. However, what I have played, I’ve absolutely loved. Yet, I’m a bit
saddened by the Star Wars games releasing now. Lego Star Wars: The Force
Awakens was quite fun, but at its core, it was just another Lego game. I liked
the 2015 Battlefront fine, and I really love Battlefront II. However, on the
whole, this crop of games lacks that creative spark of titles like Star Wars:
The Force Unleashed, or the classic PC and Xbox Star Wars titles like Dark
Forces, or Knights of the Old Republic. I long for expanded universe single-player
narratives. The release of both films, Star Wars The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi open
up even more story-telling opportunities that probably will never be explored in a video
game. Especially with the cancellation of both Star Wars 1313 and Viceral’s
Star Wars game, the future of narrative-based Star Wars games is in jeopardy.
However, Respawn is working on an “Action-Adventure” Star Wars game, so there
is still a chance. I believe I speak for the whole community when I say, help us Respawn Entertainment, you’re our only
hope!
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