Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
Third Super Star Wars game based on Return of the Jedi.
Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, also called Super Return of the Jedi, is a 1994 action game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It was made by LucasArts and Sculptured Software, and published by JVC Musical Industries. As the third game in the Super Star Wars series, it follows 1992's Super Star Wars and 1993's Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, and is based on the 1983 film Return of the Jedi. Handheld versions for the Game Boy and Game Gear came out in 1995, developed by Realtime Associates and published by THQ. The game was later released on the Wii Virtual Console in North America on September 7, 2009, and in PAL regions on October 16, 2009, alongside the other two Super Star Wars titles.
The game keeps the same structure as its predecessors, with selectable characters on certain levels, multiple playable heroes, and Mode 7 quasi-3D vehicle sections. Controls are identical to the second game, and it again uses a password save system. The plot loosely follows Return of the Jedi, adding extra scenes like Luke Skywalker fighting through the Death Star to reach the Emperor. Besides the usual Luke, Han Solo, and Chewbacca, Princess Leia and Wicket are playable. Bosses include Jabba the Hutt, the Rancor, Darth Vader, and the Emperor. Vehicle sequences feature the Endor speeder bike chase and a Millennium Falcon flight. Luke now has five Force powers instead of nine, and it is easier to recharge them; he cannot use any blaster in this game. Princess Leia changes appearance and playstyle with the story: she uses a staff as bounty hunter Boushh near Jabba's palace, fights with a broken chain as Jabba's slave on his sail barge, and wields a blaster as a Rebel leader on Endor.
LucasArts released the game at the same time as their other SNES title Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures. In 1996, THQ announced they would re-release Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in February 1997 to coincide with the "Special Edition" theatrical releases of those films. The re-release is identical to the original.
Upon release, GamePro gave the SNES version a mostly negative review, praising the music but criticizing frustrating controls, overly easy bosses, and repetitive level designs that felt like retreads from the earlier games.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- LucasArts (SNES)
- Sculptured Software (SNES)
- Realtime Associates Seattle (GB/GG)
- Director
- Kalani Streicher
- Programmer
- Peter Ward
- Artist
- Harrison Fong; Jon Knoles
- Composer
- Paul Webb
- Series
- Super Star Wars
- Platforms
- Super NES
- Game Boy
- Game Gear
- Genre
- Action
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi follows closely the standard set by the previous two Super Star Wars games, with the return of selectable characters on specific levels, multiple playable characters, and Mode 7 quasi-3D vehicle sequences. The controls are identical to the second game, and this installment includes its predecessor's password save option. It loosely follows the plot of Return of the Jedi, with some added scenes, such as Luke Skywalker having to fight through the Death Star to get to The Emperor. In addition to the standards Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Chewbacca, Princess Leia and Wicket appear as playable characters. Bosses include Jabba the Hutt, the Rancor beast, Darth Vader, and The Emperor. Vehicle sequences include the Endor speeder bike chase and a cruise in the Millennium Falcon. Luke Skywalker no longer has nine Force powers but five, and it is easier for him to recharge his abilities; he also cannot use any variation of the blaster in this game. Princess Leia is unique in that her appearance and playstyle changes in accordance with the plot: she uses a staff as the bounty hunter Boushh when approaching Jabba's palace, fights with a broken chain as Jabba's escaped slave on his sail barge, and wields a blaster when fighting on Endor as a Rebel leader.
Reader's Guide
LucasArts released the game simultaneously with their other SNES title Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures. In 1996, THQ announced they would re-release Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in February 1997 to coincide with the Special Edition of those films appearing in theaters; the re-release is identical to the original version. On release, GamePro gave the Super NES version a mostly negative review, criticizing frustrating controls, overly easy bosses, and repetitious level designs that felt like retreads from the previous games, though they praised the musical score. Electronic Gaming Monthly praised it for excellent graphics and the need to move carefully through the levels. GamePro found flaws in the Game Boy version, such as rudimentary backgrounds, but rated it one of the year's most fun and challenging handheld games due to the diverse gameplay offered by the five playable characters. GamePro gave the Game Gear similar praise, saying the graphics are nearly as good as the SNES version's. Power Unlimited gave the Game Boy version a score of 74%, writing that it is a quality game with long and difficult levels, though the overview on the small screen is sometimes lost. Super Return of the Jedi was awarded Best Movie-to-Game of 1994 by Electronic Gaming Monthly. EGM and GamePro both named it Best Game Gear Game of 1995. IGN placed the game as number 26 on their Top 100 SNES Games of All Time, praising the additional gameplay variety from playing up to five characters compared to its predecessors. In 2018, Complex listed the game at number 67 on its 'The Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time', saying the game is almost as great but not as difficult compared to its predecessors.
Narrative & Player Agency
The single-player campaign casts you as Jaden Korr, a young Padawan arriving at Luke Skywalker's Jedi Academy on Yavin IV in 14 ABY. The story unfolds across three batches of five missions, with the player free to skip one mission per batch or tackle all five in any order. Mandatory training courses and connecting set-pieces—on Hoth and at Bast castle on V'jun—frame these optional sequences. A defining design choice is the light/dark alignment system: at the start of each optional mission, you upgrade one Force skill, whether a light-side power like mind tricks or a dark-side ability like choking grasp. The climactic final battle shifts based on which side you've committed to. Along the way, Jaden befriends fellow student Rosh Penin, witnesses a mysterious woman draining the Temple's energy, and is mentored by both Luke and Kyle Katarn. The narrative also introduces the Disciples of Ragnos, a Dark Jedi cult that serves as the primary antagonist force.
Combat Systems & Customization
Jedi Academy builds on the id Tech 3 engine to blend first- and third-person shooting with melee combat. Players can switch perspectives when using long-range projectile and energy weapons, managing separate health and shield meters. The lightsaber system is the centerpiece: you design a custom blade by choosing a hilt and one of five colors, then progress through fighting styles—starting with a medium baseline, unlocking fast or strong after the Hoth sequence, and ultimately gaining access to dual-wielding or a saber staff reminiscent of Darth Maul's double-ended weapon. Enemies can also wield standard, double-bladed, or dual lightsabers. Beyond the blade, players customize Jaden's species, gender, and clothing. The game also introduces vehicle-based levels and player-controllable mounts, including a tauntaun and an AT-ST, adding variety to the combat loop.
Multiplayer & Community Life
The multiplayer component supports online and LAN play against other humans or AI bots, with six distinct modes including Capture the Flag, Power Duel, Siege, and the most popular and most heavily modded Free For All. Before each match, the server sets a Force ranking that governs how many points players invest in their powers, and can even disable ranged weapons for lightsaber-only bouts. Players can create custom avatars or select from nearly every character in Jedi Outcast and Jedi Academy. The community noted a steep learning curve compared to single-player. Xbox Live support ran until April 2010, though the game later became playable again through the Insignia replacement servers. After the online community gradually declined post-release, the 2019 re-launch aimed to draw in new players and breathe life into the multiplayer scene. Fan-made modifications like Movie Battles II extended the game's lifespan well beyond its original 2003 release.
Development, Platforms & Longevity
Developed by Raven Software with Vicarious Visions handling the Xbox build, Jedi Academy was published by LucasArts in 2003 for Windows, Mac OS X, and Xbox. As the fourth and final entry in the Jedi Knight series, it followed 2002's Jedi Outcast and reused the id Tech 3 engine while layering in technical refinements. The game earned positive critical reception at launch. Its longevity has been remarkable: in September 2009, it returned to digital storefronts via Steam and Direct2Drive alongside the rest of the series. Then in September 2019, Aspyr announced a Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 port, which shipped in March 2020. Voice acting featured Philip Tanzini for a male Jaden, Jennifer Hale for a female Jaden, Bob Bergen as Luke Skywalker, and Jason Marsden as Rosh Penin. The game's repeated re-releases across two decades and multiple platforms underscore its enduring place in the Star Wars gaming catalog.
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