Star Wars Computer Games
Star Wars Computer Games
Star Wars Computer Games
There were a number of official (and unofficial) Star Wars Computer Games released on the ZX Spectrum (and other retro computers) over the years.
Some good, some bad, some truly awful - this article is an attempt to round as many of them up as possible.
So, let's start with some unofficial Star Wars Computer Games that made it on to the ZX Spectrum (and also the Commodore Amiga and Atari ST) - with a little selection of Star Wars Spectrum Games.
Sadly only one of these was given the 128 treatment (Return Of The Jedi)- so this is the only one of these games that features any AY Music or sound effects.
A long time ago on some computers far, far away in the memory...
Custom Cables Logo
3D Star Wars on the ZX Spectrum
Unofficial Star Wars Games
3D Star Wars
3D Star Wars from a software house called Custom Cables International.
The company with the strange name (and strange logo) released an even stranger 'Star Wars' game.
I'm afraid this one goes down as an all time turkey, even for 1983 when it was released.
The instructions added to the hilarity with statements such as 'The graphical effects make it a truly 3 dimensional mind-blowing game. There are meteorite storms which really do appear to be coming at you. Your proton bombs do seem to be travelling off in the distance'....
The inlay even referred to the hero of the game as Luke Clearthinker (honest!) yet within the game he was called Luke Skywalker.
Bizarre, just bizarre.
Minblowing virtual reality graphics in 3D Star Wars
3D Starstrike on the ZX Spectrum
3D Starstrike on the ZX Spectrum
Now we're talking!
3D Starstrike from Realtime Software was basically a copy of the ultra famous, ultra popular and extremely great Star Wars arcade game.
Back in 1984 you could basically take inspiration from a game and release it under a different title without worrying about copyright infringement. Well, Realtime Software's first foray into the ZX Spectrum gaming market was a superb effort.
3D Starstrike was, at the time, an excellent 'conversion' (or clone) of the Star Wars game and is actually reviewed in depth at our brother blog.
One of the better Star Wars computer games on any home computer.
3D Starstrike on the ZX Spectrum by Realtime Software
Star Wars Droids Computer Game
Star Wars Droids Game
Let's start weakly and hopefully finish strongly...
Star Wars droids was released in 1988 by good old Mastertronic.
This game was aimed more at children than the serious games player.
Featuring everyones' favourite droid double act C3PO and R2D2, the game involved ensuring our hero's escaped from a prison planet.
With clunky controls, poor sub-games and repetitive screens, Star Wars Droids really was one to avoid. If you have a copy send it directly to Hoth.
Domarks conversion of Star Wars arcade game
Official Star Wars Games - Star Wars
Domark grabbed the official license for Star Wars computer games, and started off (unsurprisingly) with Star Wars.
Released in 1987, Domark (and Vektor Grafix) managed to create a very good conversion of the Star Wars arcade game on the ZX Spectrum.
The only downside to the game was the fact the Realtime had already created a very similar (and very good) version in 1984 with 3D Starstrike, so by 1987 it was a case of too little, too late.
The game is reviewed in depth at our brother blog
The Empire Strikes Back Game
Official Star Wars Games - The Empire Strikes Back
Domark, in collaboration with Vektor Grafix, converted the official Empire Strikes Back arcade game in 1988.
Once again it was a pretty impressive and faithful conversion of the wire-frame style arcade game.
Fans of all things Star Wars loved it and it did well. The game is reviewed in depth on our brother blog.
Return of the Jedi Game
Official Star Wars Game - Return Of The Jedi
Busy Domark got around to the final game in the original trilogy in 1989.
In a departure from vector graphics and 3D gaming, the final title went all isometric on us.
Some gamers missed the traditional wireframe style of gameplay, but the arcade game was popular nonetheless. The game is reviewed in depth at our brother blog - ZX Spectrum Games.
Death Star Battle Game
Official Star Wars Game - Death Star Battle
Return of the Jedi: Death Star Battle was released by Parker Software in 1984. Popular on Atari machines, the conversion to the ZX Spectrum didn't quite work.
The gameplay was pretty basic, as was the sound and graphics.
It should also be noted that Parker Software worked on a version of the original Star Wars game which was never released. Prototype ROM's for a Spectrum emulator can be obtained at World Of Spectrum.
So that concludes our round-up of Star Wars computer games for the ZX Spectrum. It's funny to think that these humble games led to more recent titles for the PC such as Rebel Assault 1 & 2 and Rogue Squadron.
The excellent Rogue Squadron 2 for the GameCube obviously took inspiration from the original 1983 arcade game and brought it up to date superbly.
With the Dark Forces titles doing well and various Star Wars computer games being released all the time, we'll probably be looking back in another 25 years time at those!
Star Wars on the ZX Spectrum
Return Of The Jedi on the ZX Spectrum by Domark
Useful Links
- Acorn Atom
The Atom was the ancestor to the BBC series of computers manufactured by Acorn - Acorn Electron
The Acorn Electron was an 8-bit Micro - Aliens: Infestation
It's a bug hunt - Amiga CD 32
Commodore's attempt to enter the console market - Amiga Games
Plenty of Star Wars games made it onto the Amiga. More screenshots, videos and reviews here. - Amstrad CPC 464
During the 1980s entrepeneur Alan Sugar made a foray into the home computer... - Asteroids Game
Asteroids (along with the seminal Space Invaders) must be one of the most famous arcade games of all time - Astro Blaster
A table-top scramble clone from Hales - Astro Wars
It's not Star Wars - but it is Astro Wars. Nearly as good ;-) - Atari 2600
A true bona-fide classic console - Atari 5200
The follow up to the 2600 - Atari Falcon
The Atari Falcon, not the Millennium Falcon... - Atari ST
The Atari ST was a 16-bit home computer that was nearly as good as the Miggy - AY Sound
Ay Sound is very, very nice - Bagman
Bagman was an arcade game released in 1982 by the lesser known Valadon Automation - BBC Micro
The BBC, known as the BBC micro - Best PC Games
Get some good PC Games - Commodore 16
Intended to be an entry-level computer to replace the 'friendly' VIC-20 - Commodore 64
The C64 was the flagship of Commodores 8-bit fleet - Commodore 65
A rare machine from CBM that never made it into production - Commodore 128
The last of Commodore's 8-bit machines - Commodore Amiga
We love the Commodore Amiga. We do. - Crash Magazine
Crash magazine was one of the most popular monthly magazines available covering the Sinclair ZX Spectrum and it's games - Frogger
Frogger was an arcade game released back in 1981 - Funny Games
Funny games on a variety of machines - Games Online
Play games - Miniclip Games
Just what are Miniclip games? Well, if you are into games online then you may just like them... - Missile Command Games
Missle Command - a world famous arcade game - Movie Soundtracks
A fine collection - Ocean Software
Ocean Software was one of the biggest developers of arcade games within Europe during the 1980s and 1990s - Oric 1
The Oric 1 was a British computer - Oric Atmos
The Oric Atmos was a British computer - Pacman Game
Have a game of Pacman - Parkers incomplete version of Star Wars
The prototype ROM's are here and can be played on a Spectrum emulator - Punch Out Arcade Game
Punch Out is a boxing game from 1984 by Nintendo. Featuring a 3rd person view of your fighter and various characters it was a big hit in the amusement arcades - Retro Computers
Like retro systems? From Sinclair, to Atari to Commodore they are all in here. Geek-tastic! - Rolling Thunder Arcade Game
Rolling Thunder Arcade Game by Namco. Released in 1986. - Scramble games
Scramble must be one of the most famous arcade shoot em ups ever - Space Harrier
Welcome to the Fantasy Zone! - Space Invaders
Space Invaders, an all time classic that really launched the genre of the shoot em up arcade game - Spectrum emulator
Play those classics again - Spectrum Programmers
Cecco, Jof, Turner... they are all in here! - Tetris
Dr Spin had a hit - Tomy Sky Attack
One of the first games released by Tomy - Vectrex
A cult classic arcade console - VIC 20
The Commodore VIC-20 - ZX Spectrum Games
These star wars games (and many others!) are reviewed in depth here including screen shots and videos. We also have interviews with Spectrum programming legends! Star wars and retro fans will enjoy it! - ZZap 64
The C64's monthly gaming bible - 80s theme tunes
If you were a child during the 1980s there must be lots of television theme tunes that stick in your mind... - 8-bit to 16-bit
A giant leap for geek-kind!