Star Wars: Yoda Stories
A procedurally generated point-and-click adventure with no central plot.
Star Wars: Yoda Stories is a 1997 adventure game set in the Star Wars universe, created by LucasArts. It was the second and final installment in the company's Desktop Adventures line, following Indiana Jones and His Desktop Adventures. The game launched for Microsoft Windows in March 1997, with a Game Boy Color version developed by Torus Games arriving in December 1999.
The game is a short, procedurally generated point-and-click adventure designed to be completed in about an hour. It has no overarching story or ultimate objective. Each new game presents a random mission, such as rescuing a Star Wars character, retrieving an item, warning the Rebel Alliance of an attack, or destroying an Imperial base. Players control Luke Skywalker from a top-down view, moving him across a 2D grid. Actions include equipping and using weapons to fight enemies, pushing or pulling objects, and collecting items for later use. Every mission takes place on a randomly generated planet and requires solving a series of item-based puzzles—by moving obstacles to reveal items, using one item to unlock another, or defeating enemies in an area. After completing the final puzzle and mission, the player receives a score and can replay the mission or start a new game.
The PC version received poor reviews. Robert Coffey of Computer Gaming World called it "really bad," criticizing its dated graphics, repetitive worlds, and "cutesified" characters. A 2003 mention described it as making "solitaire, or death, look like a good time." GameSpot labeled it a "half-hearted product," noting awkward combat and flat, lifeless backgrounds. However, Gareth Jones of PC PowerPlay praised it as "cute (and) fun, with plenty of lastability," citing its addictive quality.
The Game Boy Color version fared even worse. Craig Harris of IGN called it "one of the technically lamest and structurally annoying Game Boy games ever developed," singling out poor graphics, animations, sound, and controls. It remains IGN's lowest-rated Game Boy Color title.
Retrospective opinions are mixed. Inverse's Brian Vanhooker described the game as "easygoing and accessible," and lead designer Hal Barwood felt it was "ahead of its time" and that its harsh reception was unwarranted, as reviewers misunderstood its casual nature.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- LucasArts; Torus Games (Game Boy Color)
- Publisher
- LucasArts; THQ (Game Boy Color)
- Director
- Hal Barwood
- Designer
- Hal Barwood; Mark Crowley
- Programmer
- Mark Crowley
- Series
- Star Wars
- Platforms
- Windows, Game Boy Color
- Genre
- Adventure
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Yoda Stories is a short, procedurally generated point-and-click adventure game designed for players to finish in an hour. The game has no central plot or ultimate goal. Each time a new game is started, the player is tasked to complete a random mission, which may include rescuing another Star Wars character, obtaining an object, warning the Rebels of an attack, or destroying an Imperial facility. The player controls Luke Skywalker from a bird's eye perspective, moving him across a 2D grid, equipping and using weapons to defeat enemies, pushing and pulling certain objects, and collecting items into an inventory for later use. Each mission takes place on a new procedurally generated planet and requires the player to complete a series of item-based puzzles, either by pushing or pulling obstacles to reveal items, using items acquired elsewhere to unlock a new item, or defeating enemies in an area. Once the final puzzle is solved and the mission is accomplished, the player is given a score based on their performance and may choose to replay the mission or start a new game.
Reader's Guide
The PC version of Yoda Stories was received poorly. Robert Coffey of Computer Gaming World derided the game as 'really bad' and 'graphically dated, featuring cookie-cutter worlds filled with big-headed, cutesified characters and silly monsters that are (almost) flat-out embarrassing'; a 2003 mention opined that 'Yoda stories makes solitaire, or death, look like a good time.' GameSpot provided similar criticisms of the game as a 'half-hearted product', stating 'combat is awkward and in no way satisfying' and 'the backgrounds are as flat and lifeless as the gameplay'. Gareth Jones of PC PowerPlay provided some praise for the game as 'cute (and) fun, with plenty of lastability', praising its addictive nature. The Game Boy version received more negative reviews. Craig Harris of IGN stated the game was 'one of the technically lamest and structurally annoying Game Boy games ever developed', singling out the poor graphics, animations, sound, and controls. Yoda Stories remains IGN's lowest-rated Game Boy Color title. Retrospective assessments have been mixed. Inverse writer Brian Vanhooker supported the game as 'easygoing and accessible', and interviewed lead designer Hal Barwood, who considered that the game was 'ahead of its time and (that) its rough reception was unwarranted', as reviewers misinterpreted its purpose as a casual game. Richard Cobbett of PC Gamer noted that the Desktop Adventures series '(had) a fair amount of promise', although the game suffers from 'a lack of assets and a lack of content'.
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