Star Wars

From Sega Retro

This article is about the 1993 game. For other Star Wars games, see Star Wars.

n/a

  • Master System
  • Game Gear

StarWars SMS title.png

StarWars GG Title.png

Star Wars
System(s): Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear
Publisher: U.S. Gold
Developer:
Genre: Action[1]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Master System
EU
29014-50
Sega Master System
EU
(Kixx)
29014-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Master System
PT
Sega Master System
UK
£34.9934.99[3] 29014-50
Sega Master System
AU
$79.9579.95[4] FSTA05SEC
Sega Master System
BR
028260
Sega Game Gear
US
$39.9539.95[5] T-79098
Sega Game Gear
EU
79098-50
Sega Game Gear
EU
(Kixx)
Sega Game Gear
PT
Sega Game Gear
UK
79098-50
Sega Game Gear
UK
(Kixx)
Sega Game Gear
AU
$79.9579.95[9]
Non-Sega versions

Star Wars is a platform game based on the 1977 Star Wars film, and was originally released for the NES in 1991 and developed by Beam Software. In 1993 the game was ported to the Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear by US Gold and Tiertex, with the Game Gear one being the only one of the two versions to see release in North America.

Gameplay

Star Wars GG, Pause Menu.png

Pause menu

The game is a side-scrolling platformer played as one of three characters: Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, or Leia Organa. The character can be moved with Left and Right, can jump with 2, and can crouch with Down. Each character has a weapon that can be used with 1. Weapons can be used while jumping or crouching. Holding 1 while holding Left or Right makes the character run. Characters can jump much higher and farther when running. The game has many areas that must be cleared with running jumps. Ladders are climbed with Up and descended with Down. Doorways and elevators can be entered with Up.

Luke is the only character that is mandatory (with the exception of Leia in the introductory stage of the Game Gear version). It is optional to find the others (despite that this can confound the plot). In addition to the three playable characters, there are three support characters that provide their own benefits: C-3PO, R2-D2, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Characters can be switched by pausing the game with  PAUSE  on the Master System or  START  on the Game Gear. The current character must be standing still to bring up the pause menu. This menu can also be used to switch Luke's weapon between his blaster and his lightsaber (once acquired).

Each character has 16 hit points and loses hit points when taking damage from enemies or environmental hazards. Hit points can be restored by finding items. When a character loses all of his or her hit points, he or she dies. Luke has a life system and loses a life when he dies; extra lives for him are found in the stages. When Han or Leia die, they can be revived by Obi-Wan, but only up to five times. Each character has a separate hit point meter; hit points are retained from stage to stage. The game ends when Luke runs out of lives, but it can be continued as long as there are continues remaining.

A few stages offer different gameplay styles. When controlling the landspeeder in the Tatooine hub world of the Master System version, the D-pad moves it around the map, and it can be accelerated with 1. When piloting the Millennium Falcon in the asteroid field, the D-pad moves the ship; the vertical controls are inverted, so Down climbs and Up descends. In the first-person shooting stages for the Millennium Falcon and Luke's X-Wing, the D-pad moves the targeting reticle and 1 or 2 fires the lasers (which can be held for continuous fire). In the final stage, played as Luke's X-Wing from an overhead perspective, the D-pad moves the ship around, 1 fires the torpedoes, and 2 fires the lasers.

There are two difficulty levels, Cadet and Jedi. There are fewer enemies on Cadet, and characters take no damage falling from heights (though exceptionally great heights kill the character regardless of difficulty). Healing items are also more beneficial on Cadet than on Jedi.

Characters

Star Wars GG, R2D2 Map.png

R2-D2's Death Star map
Star Wars SMS, Pause Menu.png
Luke Skywalker
Main character. Can be team leader (playable). Armed with a blaster. Can also receive a lightsaber from Obi-Wan Kenobi, which is melee range but the most powerful weapon in the game.
Star Wars SMS, Pause Menu.png
Han Solo
Smuggler and captain of the Millennium Falcon. Can be team leader (playable). Armed with a blaster. His blaster is the most powerful of the playable characters. Finding Han is optional, though Luke can take the Millennium Falcon regardless.
Star Wars SMS, Pause Menu.png
Leia Organa
Princess of Alderaan and Rebel leader. Can be team leader (playable). Armed with a blaster. Finding Leia is optional, though she is always played in the first stage of the Game Gear version.
Star Wars SMS, Pause Menu.png
C-3PO
Protocol droid. He occasionally offers hints or advice when selected in the pause menu. He is initially available at the beginning of the game along with Luke.
Star Wars SMS, Pause Menu.png
R2-D2
Astromech droid. R2 can tap into the Imperial computer network and display a map of the interior of the Death Star. R2 can also repair Luke's X-Wing fighter. R2 is found in the Jawa sandcrawler on Tatooine. Finding R2-D2 is optional in the Master System version of the game.
Star Wars SMS, Pause Menu.png
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Exiled Jedi Knight. When he is found, Obi-Wan gives Luke a lightsaber. He can resurrect Han and Leia up to five times by selecting him in the pause menu when either of them is defeated. Obi-Wan is found in a cave on Tatooine. Finding Obi-Wan is optional in the Master System version of the game.

Items

Star Wars SMS, Items.png
Small Health Ball
Partially heals the current character for 8 hit points on Cadet difficulty and 3 hit points on Jedi difficulty. This item is only found in the Master System version.
Star Wars SMS, Items.png
Big Health Ball
Fully heals the current character on Cadet difficulty and partially heals the current character for 9 hit points on Jedi difficulty.
Star Wars SMS, Items.png
Faster Blaster
Gives Luke a faster-firing blaster. This item is found on the first stage with Luke in both versions.
Star Wars SMS, Items.png
Millennium Falcon Shield
Gives the Millennium Falcon an additional point of shielding, up to 8 maximum. The player can collect these in the early part of the game to give the Millennium Falcon more survivability in its stages.
Star Wars SMS, Items.png
1-Up
Gives Luke an extra life. Han and Leia do not use Luke's lives and can instead be revived by Obi-Wan.

Stages

Master System version

After the first cave and before Mos Eisley, all of the Tatooine stages are optional and can be played in any order. There is a hub world where Luke can navigate his landspeeder between the stages. The player can find R2-D2 and Obi-Wan Kenobi and collect shield upgrades for the Millennium Falcon in these early stages.

After Mos Eisley, all of the stages are played in order. The Death Star computer room is optional and gives R2-D2 the ability to display a map of the hallway area. Princess Leia can be found in the detention block stage, but it is not required to find her to complete the game.

Star Wars SMS, Tatooine.png

Tatooine
Star Wars SMS, Tatooine.png

Star Wars SMS, Stage 1.png

Cave 1
Star Wars SMS, Stage 1.png

Star Wars SMS, Stage 2.png

Sandcrawler
Star Wars SMS, Stage 2.png

Star Wars SMS, Stage 3.png

Cave 2
Star Wars SMS, Stage 3.png

Star Wars SMS, Stage 4.png

Cave 3
Star Wars SMS, Stage 4.png

Star Wars SMS, Stage 5.png

Cave 4
Star Wars SMS, Stage 5.png

Star Wars SMS, Stage 6.png

Cave 5
Star Wars SMS, Stage 6.png

Star Wars SMS, Stage 7.png

Cave 6
Star Wars SMS, Stage 7.png

Star Wars SMS, Stage 8-1.png

Mos Eisley
Star Wars SMS, Stage 8-1.png

Star Wars SMS, Stage 8-2.png

Cantina
Star Wars SMS, Stage 8-2.png

Star Wars SMS, Stage 9.png

Docking Bay 94
Star Wars SMS, Stage 9.png

Star Wars SMS, Stage 10.png

Asteroid Field
Star Wars SMS, Stage 10.png

Star Wars SMS, Stage 11.png

Death Star Hangar
Star Wars SMS, Stage 11.png

Star Wars SMS, Stage 12-1.png

Death Star Hallways
Star Wars SMS, Stage 12-1.png

Star Wars SMS, Stage 12-2.png

Control Room
Star Wars SMS, Stage 12-2.png

Star Wars SMS, Stage 13.png

Tractor Beam
Star Wars SMS, Stage 13.png

Star Wars SMS, Stage 14.png

Detention Block
Star Wars SMS, Stage 14.png

Star Wars SMS, Stage 15.png

Death Star Escape 1
Star Wars SMS, Stage 15.png

Star Wars SMS, Stage 16.png

Trash Compactor
Star Wars SMS, Stage 16.png

Star Wars SMS, Stage 17.png

Death Star Escape 2
Star Wars SMS, Stage 17.png

Star Wars SMS, Stage 18.png

Falcon Gunner
Star Wars SMS, Stage 18.png

Star Wars SMS, X-Wing Interlude.png

X-Wing Interlude
Star Wars SMS, X-Wing Interlude.png

Star Wars SMS, Stage 19.png

X-Wing Fighter
Star Wars SMS, Stage 19.png

Star Wars SMS, Stage 20.png

Death Star Trench
Star Wars SMS, Stage 20.png

Game Gear version

This version begins with an additional stage with Princess Leia on her Alderaan cruiser. It has been forcefully boarded by Imperial forces, and she must find R2-D2 to record a message for Obi-Wan Kenobi. Unlike the Master System version, all of the Tatooine stages are played in order, and there are short, linear transition stages in between them. The cave stages have been consolidated into a single stage. There is a brief, unplayable interlude with Luke in his landspeeder before the Mos Eisley stage.

The computer room on the Death Star is again optional. The detention block has been redesigned in this version and no longer resembles the preceding hallways stage.

Because none of the Tatooine stages are optional, the player always finds R2-D2 and Obi-Wan Kenobi in this version, though it is still not mandatory to find Han Solo or Princess Leia.

Star Wars GG, Stage 1.png

Alderaan Cruiser
Star Wars GG, Stage 1.png

Star Wars GG, Stage 2.png

Tatooine 1
Star Wars GG, Stage 2.png

Star Wars GG, Stage 3.png

Sandcrawler
Star Wars GG, Stage 3.png

Star Wars GG, Stage 4.png

Tatooine 2
Star Wars GG, Stage 4.png

Star Wars GG, Stage 5.png

Cave
Star Wars GG, Stage 5.png

Star Wars GG, Stage 6.png

Tatooine 3
Star Wars GG, Stage 6.png

Star Wars GG, Landspeeder Interlude.png

Landspeeder Interlude
Star Wars GG, Landspeeder Interlude.png

Star Wars GG, Stage 7-1.png

Mos Eisley
Star Wars GG, Stage 7-1.png

Star Wars GG, Stage 7-2.png

Cantina
Star Wars GG, Stage 7-2.png

Star Wars GG, Stage 8.png

Docking Bay 94
Star Wars GG, Stage 8.png

Star Wars GG, Stage 9.png

Asteroid Field
Star Wars GG, Stage 9.png

Star Wars GG, Stage 10.png

Death Star Hangar
Star Wars GG, Stage 10.png

Star Wars GG, Stage 11-1.png

Death Star Hallways
Star Wars GG, Stage 11-1.png

Star Wars GG, Stage 11-2.png

Control Room
Star Wars GG, Stage 11-2.png

Star Wars GG, Stage 12.png

Tractor Beam
Star Wars GG, Stage 12.png

Star Wars GG, Stage 13.png

Detention Block
Star Wars GG, Stage 13.png

Star Wars GG, Stage 14.png

Death Star Escape 1
Star Wars GG, Stage 14.png

Star Wars GG, Stage 15.png

Trash Compactor
Star Wars GG, Stage 15.png

Star Wars GG, Stage 16.png

Death Star Escape 2
Star Wars GG, Stage 16.png

Star Wars GG, Stage 17.png

Falcon Gunner
Star Wars GG, Stage 17.png

Star Wars GG, X-Wing Interlude.png

X-Wing Interlude
Star Wars GG, X-Wing Interlude.png

Star Wars GG, Stage 18.png

X-Wing Fighter
Star Wars GG, Stage 18.png

Star Wars GG, Stage 19.png

Death Star Trench
Star Wars GG, Stage 19.png

Completion

The game rates the player on how much of the game has been completed since much of it is optional. This score can be viewed by pausing the game. It is also shown after completing the final stage.

Task Score
Picking up Faster Blaster 3%
Picking up Han Solo 3%
Picking up Lightsaber 3%
Picking up R2-D2 3%
Picking up Obi-Wan Kenobi 5%
Completing the Asteroid Field stage 10%
Hooking up R2-D2 to the Control Room 3%
Destroying the Tractor Beam 10%
Rescuing Princess Leia 5%
Defeating the Trash Monster 10%
Surviving Falcon Gunner 10%
Surviving X-Wing Fighter 10%
Completing Death Star Trench 15%
Completing game with all items collected and characters found 10%

Magazine articles

Main article: Star Wars/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Game Gear print advert in Sega Visions (US) #15: "October/November 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Mega Force (FR) #21: "Octobre 1993" (1993-10-08)
Logo-pdf.svg

Artwork

Physical scans

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Consoles + (FR) PAL
85
[12]
Game Power (IT) PAL
79
[13]
Joypad (FR) PAL
83
[14]
Mega Force (FR)
82
[15]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
73
[16]
Player One (FR) PAL
70
[17]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
59
[2]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
89
[18]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
72
[19]
Sega Master Force (UK) PAL
89
[20]
Todo Sega (ES)
85
[21]
Video Games (DE) PAL
55
[22]
Sega Master System
77
Based on
12 reviews

Star Wars

Master System, EU
StarWars SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
StarWars SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Star Wars SMS EU Manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, EU
(Kixx Re-release)
StarWars SMS EU Box Kixx.jpg
Cover
StarWars SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, PT

Master System, AU
StarWars SMS AU cover.jpg
Cover
StarWars SMS AU cartback.jpgStarWars SMS AU cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, BR
StarWars SMS BR Box A.jpg
Cover
StarWars SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Starwars sms br manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, BR (Alt)
StarWars SMS BR Box B.jpg
Cover
StarWars SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
78
[23]
Game Power (IT) PAL
84
[13]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
93
[5]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
90
[24]
Joypad (FR) PAL
74
[25]
Mega Force (FR)
78
[26]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
73
[16]
Player One (FR) PAL
72
[17]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
57
[27]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
90
[28]
Sega Force (SE) PAL
74
[29]
Todo Sega (ES) PAL
93
[30]
Video Games (DE) PAL
61
[22]
Sega Game Gear
78
Based on
13 reviews

Star Wars

Game Gear, US
StarWars GG US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngStarWars GG US Box Front.jpg
Cover
StarWars GG US Cart.jpg
Cart
Star Wars GG US Manual.pdf
Manual
Game Gear, EU
StarWars GG EU Box Back.jpgStar Wars GG EU BoxSpine.jpgStarWars GG EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
StarWars GG EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Star Wars GG EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Game Gear, EU (Kixx)
Star Wars GG EU KIXX BoxBack.jpgStar Wars GG EU KIXX BoxSpine.jpgStarWars GG EU Box Front Kixx.jpg
Cover
StarWars GG EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Star Wars GG EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Game Gear, PT
StarWars GG PT Box Front.jpg
Cover
StarWars GG EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Star Wars GG PT Manual.jpg
Manual
Star Wars GG EU Manual.jpg
EU Manual

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 d4b8f66d
MD5 2012a00d2ef01285e7bf077f78e975f5
SHA-1 be75ca8ace66b72a063b4be2da2b1ed92f8449b0
512kB Cartridge (EU)
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 db9bc599
MD5 b1b543a313bf406d1cd049ac84b31f26
SHA-1 682df750f372134734d8668f08b9a5acbb4f2cfd
512kB Cartridge (EU)
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 0228769c
MD5 5330216b69cfd046abcc209cbc22d07e
SHA-1 48c14c0c2b4e38ac122d9ccdcdc8b194e15ef032
512kB Cartridge (US)

References

  1. File:StarWars GG EU Box Back.jpg
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Sega Power, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-02), page 58
  3. Sega Master Force, "Autumn 1993" (UK; 1993-09-16), page 27
  4. Megazone, "February 1994" (AU; 1994-01-26), page 30
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 GamePro, "October 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 62
  6. VideoGames, "October 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 35
  7. Sega Power, "March 1993" (UK; 1993-02-04), page 17
  8. Sega Pro, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-08-12), page 29
  9. Megazone, "February 1994" (AU; 1994-01-26), page 32
  10. Sega Visions, "December/January 1993/1994" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 76
  11. Sega Visions, "February/March 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 6
  12. Consoles +, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 178
  13. 13.0 13.1 Game Power, "Gennaio 1994" (IT; 199x-xx-xx), page 50
  14. Joypad, "Octobre 1993" (FR; 1993-xx-xx), page 154
  15. Mega Force, "Octobre 1993" (FR; 1993-10-08), page 121
  16. 16.0 16.1 Mega Fun, "12/93" (DE; 1993-11-24), page 111
  17. 17.0 17.1 Player One, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 142
  18. Sega Pro, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-08-12), page 46
  19. Sega Zone, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-xx), page 57
  20. Sega Master Force, "Autumn 1993" (UK; 1993-09-16), page 26
  21. Todo Sega, "Enero 1994" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 82
  22. 22.0 22.1 Video Games, "12/93" (DE; 1993-11-22), page 125
  23. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "November 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 50
  24. Game Informer, "October 1997" (US; 1997-xx-xx), page 82
  25. Joypad, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 106
  26. Mega Force, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-11-10), page 134
  27. Sega Power, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-06), page 66
  28. Sega Pro, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-09), page 64
  29. Sega Force, "1/94" (SE; 1994-01-12), page 27
  30. Todo Sega, "Octubre 1993" (ES; 1993-xx-xx), page 46


Star Wars

StarWars SMS title.png

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Star Wars games for Sega systems / published by Sega
Arcade
Star Wars Arcade (1993) | Star Wars Trilogy Arcade (1998) | Star Wars Racer Arcade (2001)
Sega Master System
Star Wars (1993)
Sega Game Gear
Star Wars (1993) | Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1995)
Sega Mega-CD
Star Wars: Rebel Assault (1993) | The Software Toolworks' Star Wars Chess (1994) | Super Star Wars (unreleased)
Sega 32X
Star Wars Arcade (1994)
Sega Saturn
Rebel Strike (unreleased) | Alien Hive (unreleased)
Pinball
Star Wars (1987) | Star Wars Trilogy (1997)
Sega Dreamcast
Star Wars: Episode I Racer (2000) | Star Wars: Episode I Jedi Power Battles (2000) | Star Wars Demolition (2000) | Star Wars: Episode I Obi-Wan (unreleased) | Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing (unreleased)
Windows PC
Sony PlayStation 4
PlayStation 5
Xbox One
Nintendo Switch
LEGO Star Wars: Skywalker Saga (2022)
Star Wars related media
Toy
Homestar R2-D2 (2011) | Homestar R2-D2 EX (2013) | Homestar Darth Vader (2013)