Summary
- Genres: Shooter
- Platforms: Atari 2600, Atari 7800, ColecoVision, Intellivision
- Developers: Atari Games
- Publishers: Parker Brothers
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi – Ewok Adventure: The Unreleased Atari Classic
In the vast annals of video game history, there are countless tales of unreleased games, tantalizing glimpses of what could have been. One such game is Star Wars: Return of the Jedi – Ewok Adventure, a cancelled shoot ’em up video game based on the iconic Star Wars film. Developed by Atari Games in 1983, Ewok Adventure was poised to be one of the first Star Wars games ever released, but it was ultimately shelved due to its challenging controls.
Development and Cancellation
Ewok Adventure was developed by Atari Games, a subsidiary of Atari, Inc. The game was intended to be released on the Atari 2600, Atari 7800, ColecoVision, and Intellivision video game consoles. It was one of several Star Wars games in development at the time, including Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Jedi Arena.
Ewok Adventure was completed in 1983, but it was never released for sale. According to former Atari executive Alan Miller, the game’s marketing department felt that the controls were too difficult for most players to master. As a result, the game was shelved indefinitely.
Gameplay
Ewok Adventure is a shoot ’em up game in which the player takes control of an Ewok in the hang glider corps. The player’s mission is to destroy a shield generator of the Imperial army. The player can control the hang glider with the joystick and has to evade enemy fire.
Depending on the game mode, the player can either make the hang glider climb and descend by pulling back and forth on the joystick, or he can reverse the vertical directions. Hitting the ground results in a game over.
In addition to evading enemy fire, the player can also pick up rocks to drop on enemies when flying over them. The rocks can be used to destroy enemy ships or to damage the shield generator.
Legacy
Despite never being released, Ewok Adventure has become a cult classic among Star Wars fans. In the early 2000s, a prototype cartridge of the game surfaced, and it has since been circulated among collectors.
In 2015, a group of fans released a ROM image of the game, making it playable on emulators. This has allowed a new generation of gamers to experience the unreleased classic.
Conclusion
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi – Ewok Adventure is a fascinating glimpse into what could have been. It is a testament to the creativity and innovation of the early video game industry. While it is残念 that the game was never released, it remains a beloved cult classic among Star Wars fans.
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