24 replies to this topic

[Rhindle The Red]

So I pre-ordered the R2-D2 Xbox360 Kinect bundle.  I know I already have an Xbox360 (a nifty red Resident Evil model that available for sale if anyone's interested), but I could not turn it down.

That, plus the upcoming Blu-ray set has got Star Wars games on my mind.  I checked the archives and we haven't tackled this one before.

What's the best Atari-related Star Wars game?  Now, to qualify the games have to either be produced/published by Atari (basically the arcade titles) or be available on an Atari machine.  The countless adaptations/ports of the arcade games don't count.  (Not even the fairly direct ones like the GameCube.)

So, to recap, here they are.  Be sure to let me know if I missed one. (Highlighted titles link to the AtariAge database.)

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Atari 2600, Parker Bros.)
Star Wars: Jedi Arena (Atari 2600, Parker Bros.)
Star Wars: The Arcade Game (Atari 2600, Parker Bros.)
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - Death Star Battle (Atari 2600, Parker Bros.)
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - Ewok Adventure (Atari 2600, Parker Bros. - unreleased)
Star Wars: The Arcade Game (Atari 5200, Parker Bros.)
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - Death Star Battle (Atari 5200, Parker Bros.)
Star Wars (Arcade, Atari)
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Arcade, Atari)
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (Arcade, Atari)
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - Death Star Battle (Atari 8-Bit, Parker Bros.)
Star Wars: The Arcade Game (Atari ST, Domark)
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Atari ST, Domark)
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (Atari ST, Domark)

[Christophero Sly]

I'm going with arcade Star Wars.

[AtariLeaf]

The original Star Wars Arcade. No contest for me.

[ComputerSpaceFan]

I'm going to go with Parker Brother's Empire Strikes Back. Although the Arcade game is very impressive, I find it too flickery. The Empire graphics are pretty nice looking, especially for the first home Star Wars game (TRS-80 games notwithstanding). I also really love the theme song when you get the big invincibility thing.

Edited by ComputerSpaceFan, Thu Aug 25, 2011 11:19 AM.

[raskar42]

the original star wars arcade was the best.

the home version i liked the most was the colecovision version.

[Mxyzptlk]

Well the worst Is Jedi Arena and the best is easily, 'Star Wars: The Arcade Game'.

[moycon]

I voted for the Arcade Star Wars. Loved that game. The controller really made that game.
If it was home version only, I probably would have went for Parker Brothers ESB.

BTW Rhindle The Red, Did you hear the R2-D2 Xbox360 Kinect bundle got pushed back to next year?
I may snagged the R2-D2 version, pretty snazzy.

[thegoldenband]

The Star Wars arcade game takes it easily, and is more fun than the sequels.  As for the home versions, I've only played the VCS games, but I actually like Jedi Arena and think it's underrated.  Never got into Empire Strikes Back, though the VCS version is better than the dire Intellivision port.

[Christophero Sly]

thegoldenband, on Thu Aug 25, 2011 11:52 PM, said:

I actually like Jedi Arena and think it's underrated.

I too think it's underrated.

[BydoEmpire]

Star Wars Arcade for me.   For consoles I have a hard time deciding between ESB on the 2600 and Star Wars Arcade on the 5200.  Haven't played the latter in a little while.

[doctorclu]

Jedi Arena... LOL!    I still remember the commercials for that.

Star Wars arcade... 5200 or 800 version, I played that for hours.

Empie Strikes Back... played the 2600 version for hours and hours.  

BUT... I chose the Atari 800 Empire Strikes Back for one reason, the added things.   You fly along, take out the At-At's, but when you get shot down sometimes you survive and can run along underneath and fire at the At-At's from underneath.  Thought that was cool.

Always loved how Luke took out the At-At by himself and that captured that part of the movie.

As for Return of the Jedi, haven't gotten into those much yet.

ST versions of games generally stink.

[Emehr]

This is a tough call. I grew up on Empire Strikes Back for the 2600 but I also love the arcade Star Wars (the 2600 port is pretty fine too). I guess I'll go with Empire because I've clocked the most hours on it.

[high voltage]

And why is Star Wars for the Atari 8-bit not included?

Choose from Parker Bros version:



or Domark version:

Edited by high voltage, Sun Aug 28, 2011 3:46 PM.

[Shawn Sr.]

Star Wars Arcade if being played on the real arcade machine and then Ewok Adventure for the home console IMO.

[pixelated]

Ah1 I wanna change my vote. I thought it was for Atari 2600 SW games! So I voted for The Empire Strikes Back. But actually, I love the 1983 Star Wars groovy vector arcade game WAAY better. Oh well! Both are terrific games anyway.

[marcfrick2112]

Well, I was torn with my vote....

On the list, I'd say the original Star Wars arcade game... yup, only on the original machine, please ... It was actually the high score music that really moved me on this game... beyond the fact it;s a killer game anyway! ...

BUT, Empire Strikes Back, 2600, Parker Bros. is really my fave. home version.... so much so, my dad ORDERED me to get carts. for all the most-used 2600's in the house, even making sure HE had one, because he knew I loved the game! I try to be careful with my carts. but my original Empire cart. for the 2600 is BEAT-UP from so much use... 30% of the label is missing... good thing those Parker Bros. carts. had such a funky shape.. otherwise, I may never find it late at night. LOL!

[Stephen Moss]

Not sure I am qualified to vote having only played the arcade and ST versions but I voted for the Star Wars Arcade version as it was the first time I played it. It was always a popular machine in the acrades when I was on holiday and so not easy to get on, plus sitting in the cabinet was quite cool. IIRC the stand up versions weren't as good as I found rotating the end controllers (up/down) trickey as they were too close to the panel.

However I really think it should be a TIE with the Domark ST version which was more convient to play (no local arcades for me) and as far as I could tell appeared to be an exact reproduction of the arcade version, although I don't think the mouse control was not quite as good as using the arcade controls.

[geosteve]

I had the Atari ST version by Domark, impressive as they even captured the voices with decent graphics and speed.

But I had to cast my vote for the original arcade version, love those vector graphics!

[TwiliteZoner]

doctorclu, on Sun Aug 28, 2011 7:53 AM, said:

Jedi Arena... LOL!    I still remember the commercials for that.

Star Wars arcade... 5200 or 800 version, I played that for hours.

Empie Strikes Back... played the 2600 version for hours and hours.  

BUT... I chose the Atari 800 Empire Strikes Back for one reason, the added things.   You fly along, take out the At-At's, but when you get shot down sometimes you survive and can run along underneath and fire at the At-At's from underneath.  Thought that was cool.

Always loved how Luke took out the At-At by himself and that captured that part of the movie.

As for Return of the Jedi, haven't gotten into those much yet.

ST versions of games generally stink.

Wow. No love for the ST versions of Star Wars arcade and Empire? I thought they were pretty spot on not only visually but audibly. I suggest those of you without an actual ST download the games and fire up STeem and take another look.  


EDIT: Just realized that I missed the fact that the actual arcade machines were part of the poll and not just the home versions. Of course the arcade machines would be better than anything a console or computer of the day could muster.

Edited by TwiliteZoner, Mon Sep 5, 2011 11:59 AM.

[JacobZu7zu7]

The Star Wars arcade, is outdoing all the console and computer versions!

A better poll would be if they were seperated like,

-Best Arcade Star Wars game
-Best Home version Star Wars game

So they wouldn't be as lumped all together.

[bloodreptile]

Star Wars return of the jedi arcade game...
I loved that game...

[simbalion]

I went for the Star Wars Arcade Game myself. ESB is great on the 2600, but I can always remember when I first played the arcade game in high school in the early 90's. Even with all the new systems and games out there, the arcade game just blew me and my friends away!

[rmaerz]

So far the poll results show that Death Star Battle is an underrated gem.

I reviewed this game for the first issue of Retrocade Magazine.

[R.O.T.S]

Star Wars (Arcade),nice easy decision although The Empire Strikes Back (2600) would be not far behind in 2nd

[telengard]

As many others have voted, Arcade SW vector game, preferably the cockpit version w/ the HUGE fresnel lens!  

~telengard

Edited by telengard, Thu Dec 1, 2011 12:19 PM.