Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

SNES 0 plays 0.0 (0) Action Platformer

Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back is LucasArts' epic SNES sequel with Hoth AT-AT battles, Luke's Force powers, and the Cloud City duel with Vader.

About Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (SNES)

Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back is a 1993 run and gun game developed by Sculptured Software and LucasArts and published by JVC for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It reached North America in 1993 as the second game in the Super Star Wars trilogy, following the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back. The game is bigger, darker, and harder than its predecessor.

Luke Skywalker trains on Dagobah, Han Solo flees the Empire, and the Rebel base on Hoth falls under attack. You battle AT-AT walkers on snowspeeders, duel Darth Vader on Cloud City, and face the film’s famous twist. With Force powers added for Luke and more vehicle stages, it deepens the trilogy while keeping its punishing action.

Detailed Gameplay

Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back is a side-scrolling run and gun game with platform stages, vehicle battles, and boss duels. It follows the film from Hoth to Bespin.

Combat and Force Powers

Shoot Stormtroopers, probe droids, and snow creatures with Luke’s blaster across Hoth and Dagobah.
Unlock Force powers for Luke, including healing, speed, and a protective shield for tough fights.
Use the lightsaber in close combat and duels, timing swings against Vader and other foes.
Collect power-ups and health in hidden rooms to survive long stages with few checkpoints.

Vehicle Stages

Pilot a snowspeeder on Hoth and tow-cable the legs of towering AT-AT walkers.
Fly through asteroid fields, dodging rocks and TIE fighters while protecting the Millennium Falcon.
Ride a tauntaun across icy plains in fast chase sections.
Master vehicle steering quickly, since these stages demand sharp turns and steady fire.

Playable Heroes

Play as Luke for Force powers and lightsaber combat in key story stages.
Switch to Han Solo for fast blaster action and Chewbacca for heavy bowcaster damage.
Choose the right hero for each stage, since some areas favor speed while others need power.

Bosses and Progression

Battle the wampa on Hoth, bounty hunters, and Imperial officers across the story.
Face Darth Vader in a multi-stage Cloud City duel that tests jumps, blocks, and timing.
Use passwords to continue, since the SNES game does not use a battery save.
Revisit early stages to gather lives and upgrades before the final Bespin gauntlet.

Game Highlights

Force powers debut: Luke gains healing, speed, and shielding powers that change combat tactics.
Hoth battle: Snowspeeder runs against AT-AT walkers recreate the film’s most iconic battle.
Vader duel: The Cloud City lightsaber fight delivers the trilogy’s most dramatic boss battle.
Bigger scope: Dagobah, Hoth, and Bespin stages expand the world far beyond the first game.

Controls

Play Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back on the SNES controller as follows:

D-Pad: Move, crouch, and aim your weapon in different directions.
B: Jump over pits, ice hazards, and enemy shots.
Y: Fire your blaster, or swing the lightsaber in duel stages.
Button A: Activate a selected Force power when playing as Luke.
X: Switch weapons or cycle through Force powers.
L/R: Change playable character or weapon in supported stages.
Start: Pause the game and check passwords and options.

Tips and Strategies to Win

Use Force healing between fights rather than during a boss attack, when you are exposed.
On Hoth, circle AT-AT legs carefully and fire the tow cable only when your speed is steady.
Against Vader, dodge first and attack second, since greedy swings lead to heavy damage.
Save powerful weapons for bounty hunter rooms, where enemies attack from multiple angles.
Record every password, especially before Cloud City, so you can retry the finale without replaying all stages.