Star Wars Trilogy: Apprentice of the Force
Side-scrolling platformer following Luke Skywalker through the original trilogy.
Star Wars Trilogy: Apprentice of the Force is a side-scrolling action-platform game for the Game Boy Advance, created and released by Ubisoft in September 2004. Players control Luke Skywalker across the original trilogy, starting on Tatooine and ending with his rise as a Jedi Master.
The core gameplay is platforming, with Luke initially relying on jumps and a blaster. As he learns the Force, he gains a lightsaber for melee combat and the ability to deflect projectiles. The game includes minor puzzles, and some stages require protecting NPCs like R2-D2 or Princess Leia. Vehicle-based levels have Luke piloting a ship, dodging obstacles and fighting enemies. Boss fights include encounters with Boba Fett and Darth Vader.
The game uses the same engine as the Game Boy Advance version of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, which allows for a time-slowing ability called "Force Blitz." After completing the game, players can replay most ship and boss levels, and access an arcade survival arena mode where they fight waves of enemies until defeated.
Reception was average to mixed. Aggregator GameRankings scored it at 65.32%, and Metacritic at 60 out of 100. GameSpot gave it a 6.4/10, praising the audio and visuals but criticizing the repetitive combat and short length, noting that while there are some strong moments, they are too infrequent for such a brief game.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Ubisoft Montreal
- Publisher
- Ubisoft
- Producer
- Jean-François Mailloux
- Programmer
- Rachel Potvin
- Designer
- Annick Dumais
- Composer
- Jocelyn Daoust; Clint Bajakian
- Writer
- Eva Bunodiere; Philippe Morin
- Series
- Star Wars
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The game's gameplay is primarily side-scrolling platforming, with the player controlling Luke Skywalker. Initially, Luke has only basic jumps and blaster combat, but as he learns the Force, he gains a lightsaber for melee combat and the ability to deflect projectiles. Minor puzzles are required to progress, and some stages involve protecting NPCs like R2-D2 or Princess Leia. Vehicle-based combat stages also appear, where Luke pilots a ship while avoiding obstacles and defeating foes. Boss fights include encounters with Boba Fett and Darth Vader.
The game uses the same side-scrolling engine as the Game Boy Advance version of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, which enabled the implementation of a temporary time-slowing ability called "Force Blitz." After beating the game, players can replay most ship and boss levels, and access an arcade survival arena mode where they defeat as many enemies as possible before being defeated.
The plot covers the entire original trilogy, beginning with Luke on Tatooine in A New Hope and concluding with his role as a Jedi Master in Return of the Jedi.
Reader's Guide
Apprentice of the Force received average to mixed reception upon release. Review aggregation site GameRankings gave it an average score of 65.32%, while Metacritic assigned a score of 60 out of 100. GameSpot rated it 6.4 out of 10, praising its audio and visuals but criticizing its repetitive combat and short length. The reviewer noted that while there were some "choice moments" in the game, they did not occur as often as they should in such a short action game. The game's significance lies in its attempt to adapt the entire original Star Wars trilogy into a side-scrolling platformer for the Game Boy Advance, using the engine from Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time to introduce the unique "Force Blitz" time-slowing mechanic. Its legacy is that of a competent but flawed adaptation, remembered more for its technical foundation and brief highlights than for sustained quality.
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