Luke Skywalker
The playable hero, who develops from a lightsaber trainee into a more capable Jedi during the adventure.
Documented for this version
D-pad | Move Luke |
|---|---|
A | Jump |
B | Attack or use the currently selected weapon |
Start | Pause the game |
The exact attack effect depends on the weapon or ability currently selected.
No version-specific button mapping beyond the NES controller is documented here.
How it plays
The game uses a side-view perspective. Luke travels through platforming stages on Tatooine and other locations, defeating enemies with his lightsaber or ranged weapons while avoiding pits, traps, and environmental hazards.
Stages contain branching routes, pickups, hidden areas, and boss encounters. Progression follows the film-inspired adventure, with new weapons and Force abilities expanding Luke's options. Some sequences place the player in vehicles or other special situations.
Plan your run
Learn enemy placement before committing to a jump, since many hazards are positioned immediately after ledges or screen transitions.
Conserve health and ranged ammunition when possible. Explore side paths for pickups, but do not rush into unfamiliar rooms; careful movement is usually more valuable than attacking continuously.
Use the weapon or Force ability that matches the situation. The lightsaber is useful at close range, while ranged attacks reduce the risk from airborne or distant enemies.
Meet the cast
The playable hero, who develops from a lightsaber trainee into a more capable Jedi during the adventure.
A central Rebel leader whom Luke and his allies must help rescue.
A smuggler and pilot who joins the Rebel effort.
Han Solo's Wookiee copilot and companion.
Luke's mentor, who guides him in the Force.
The principal Imperial antagonist and a major confrontation in the story.
Before you begin
Search off-route platforms and side passages for useful pickups.
Approach screen edges carefully because enemies and hazards can appear immediately.
Practice difficult jumps in a safe rhythm instead of holding the direction continuously.
Editorial context
A challenging NES adaptation with recognizable Star Wars locations and a broad sense of adventure.
Its variety is appealing, but stiff movement and uneven difficulty can make progression frustrating.
Star Wars for the Nintendo Entertainment System is a side-scrolling action platformer developed by Beam Software and published by JVC Musical Industries. It follows Luke Skywalker during the events of the original film, beginning on Tatooine and leading toward the assault on the Death Star. Players explore hazardous stages, fight Imperial troops and alien creatures, collect equipment, and use the Force as Luke becomes more capable. The game is structured around platforming, combat, and brief vehicle sections rather than a direct recreation of every film scene. Contemporary and later opinions have been mixed: the game offers varied locations and ambitious presentation for the NES, but its difficult controls, demanding jumps, and uneven collision detection are frequent criticisms.
Catalog entry maintained by EmuGamers Editorial Team
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