Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

"The final showdown in the Star Wars series!"

First, I played the original Star Wars. Then, years later, I played the Empire Strikes Back. Then months after that I finished the trilogy by playing "Return of the Jedi". It's years since I've beaten it, and now here I am reviewing it. My, how time flies.

Story: N/A
Just pretty much follows the storyline of the movie.

Gameplay: 7/10
Unlike the first Star Wars game where you could choose who you played as half way through and unlike the Empire Strikes Back where you never got to choose who you played as, you almost always got to choose who you played as throughout this whole game. However, some of those parts don't match the story. For example, when you're playing the level where you have to battle the Rancor, you can choose Luke, along with Chewie or Han. Strange...I could have sworn they were in a jail cell at that point in the movie... . Also, later on in the game, you play as Wicket, the Ewok Leia makes friends with. Let me ask you something...WHY???!!!!!! Although it adds a unique touch as playing as teddy bear,...never mind. Also, the bosses are a bit difficult to beat. The first one, fought at the door to Jabba's Palace, is that little door droid that greeted C3P-O and R2D2 in the movie. Now, that little door droid has grown massive and even has guns now. Still, playing as an Ewok and facing new improved bosses are my only complaints for the gameplay. The game is very fun to play and you DO get better with it as time goes on. Sometimes, they switch around the narrations like they did in the movie. One level you may be playing as Leia on Endor, the next you're Luke in the Emperor's chamber, and the next you're Lando Calrisian flying out of the Death Star as it's blowing up.

Graphics: 9/10
Most of the backgrounds and characters were well done. The first level in the game and the first level you play on Endor tries to create that 3D feeling. Although we experience gaming in 3D graphics today, those were really rare back then and deserve to be complimented. Also, as I said, the backgrounds look well done. Endor, Jabba's Palace, the Emperor's Throne Room all look well done. Sometimes, they look a little blank though and which is why this section lost a point. Also, the characters are well done. Luke, Chewie, Han, Leia, Wicket, they all look really great.

Sound: 5/10
Well, the sound is only mediocre. Some of the levels have background music, but it wasn't exactly loud and it wasn't exactly long before it started repeating itself. However, the sounds other than that were good for the most part. The lasers firing got a little annoying, but the "OH LA!" sound made by the dancers in Jabba's Dance Hall are pretty humorous to listen to. Sometimes Chewie even roars, and that adds a nice touch to everything.

Multiplayer: N/A

Length: 8/10
This game is a little long. It has a lot of levels and there are lots of different ways to play them. However, having to take part in each story. Luke in the Emperor's Throne Room, Han, Chewia and Leia down on Endor trying to deactivate the Shield Generator and Lando fighting in the Millenium Falcon in outer space are all three separate stories going on at once, and having to take part in all 3 of them can really lengthen the game. Fortunately, there are passwords involved in this game at the end of each level, so that can really cut the time in half.

Replayability: 9/10
Why did this game get such a high replayability value? Well, mainly because most of the levels can have you play as more than one character. It could always be fun going back to levels where you get to choose more than one character and play as them. Or, sometimes you might want to try it on a harder difficulty. This is one of the few SNES games that can have you play as a different character throughout the entire time, so that could keep you busy for quite a while.

Final Score:38/50
Averaged Score: 7.6 (rounds up to 8)

Buy or Rent?
Well, this game, along with the game system it plays for are both disintegrating, so the price should be fairly reasonable for a copy of this if you want one (just be prepared to get a used version) As I state in my other reviews, if you really only want something to keep you busy for a little while, just rent it. If you're a die-hard Star Wars fan though and want to complete your collection, you should go out and get this game. Hey, it's a pretty good game. Maybe you'll have fun playing it.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 12/07/04