About

<h2>Overview</h2><figure data-align="right" data-size="small" data-img-src="https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/2/23093/2661053-superstarwarsempire002.png" data-ref-id="1300-2661053" data-ratio="0.59635416666667" data-width="768" data-embed-type="image" style="width: 768px"><a class="fluid-height" style="padding-bottom:59.6%" href="https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/2/23093/2661053-superstarwarsempire002.png" data-ref-id="1300-2661053"><img alt="No Caption Provided" src="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/2/23093/2661053-superstarwarsempire002.png" srcset="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/2/23093/2661053-superstarwarsempire002.png 768w, https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/scale_medium/2/23093/2661053-superstarwarsempire002.jpg 480w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" data-width="768"></a></figure><p>Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (known in Japan as <em>Super Star Wars: Teikoku no Gyakushuu</em>, the sub-title loosely translated to "Counterattack of the Empire") is a sci-fi side-scrolling action platformer (with <a href="https://www.giantbomb.com/vehicular-combat/3015-482/" data-ref-id="3015-482">vehicular combat</a> levels) developed by <a href="https://www.giantbomb.com/acclaim-studios-salt-lake-city/3010-1301/" data-ref-id="3010-1301">Sculptured</a> and published by <a href="https://www.giantbomb.com/jvc-digital-studios/3010-4849/" data-ref-id="3010-4849">JVC</a> for the <a href="https://www.giantbomb.com/snes/3045-9/" data-ref-id="3045-9">Super Nintendo Entertainment System</a> in June 1993.</p><p>The sequel to the original <a href="/super-star-wars/3030-14450/" data-ref-id="3030-14450">Super Star Wars</a>, The Empire Strikes Back is based on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Empire_Strikes_Back" rel="nofollow ">the 1980 film of the same name</a>. After <a href="/rebel-alliance/3015-1006/" data-ref-id="3015-1006">Rebel Alliance</a> hero <a href="/luke-skywalker/3005-1062/" data-ref-id="3005-1062">Luke Skywalker</a> scouts through the icy wastelands of <a href="/hoth/3035-291/" data-ref-id="3035-291">Hoth</a>, he (along with <a href="/han-solo/3005-3260/" data-ref-id="3005-3260">Han Solo</a> and <a href="/chewbacca/3005-2828/" data-ref-id="3005-2828">Chewbacca</a>) must evade a full-scale assault from the <a href="/galactic-empire/3015-1007/" data-ref-id="3015-1007">Galactic Empire</a>. Later levels are split between Luke's <a href="/the-jedi/3015-655/" data-ref-id="3015-655">Jedi</a> training on <a href="/dagobah/3035-884/" data-ref-id="3035-884">Dagobah</a> and Han's search for his friend <a href="/lando-calrissian/3005-1769/" data-ref-id="3005-1769">Lando Calrissian</a> in the floating <a href="/bespin/3035-5114/" data-ref-id="3035-5114">Bespin</a> colony of <a href="/cloud-city/3035-1595/" data-ref-id="3035-1595">Cloud City</a>.</p><p>The game was later published by <a href="https://www.giantbomb.com/lucasarts-entertainment-company-llc/3010-644/" data-ref-id="3010-644">LucasArts</a> in <a href="https://www.giantbomb.com/europe/3035-289/" data-ref-id="3035-289">Europe</a> and <a href="https://www.giantbomb.com/victor-interactive-software-inc/3010-498/" data-ref-id="3010-498">Victor Interactive</a> in <a href="https://www.giantbomb.com/japan/3035-37/" data-ref-id="3035-37">Japan</a>, as well as re-released in North America years later by <a href="/thq/3010-15/" data-ref-id="3010-15">THQ</a>. It was digitally re-released for the <a href="https://www.giantbomb.com/wii/3045-36/" data-ref-id="3045-36">Wii</a> (via <a href="https://www.giantbomb.com/virtual-console/3015-2925/" data-ref-id="3015-2925">Virtual Console</a>) by <a href="https://www.giantbomb.com/lucasarts-entertainment-company-llc/3010-644/" data-ref-id="3010-644">LucasArts</a> on October 2, 2009. The game received <a href="/super-star-wars-return-of-the-jedi/3030-4692/" data-ref-id="3030-4692">a direct sequel</a> (that ties in with the movie's sequel).</p><h2>Gameplay</h2><p><a href="/han-solo/3005-3260/" data-ref-id="3005-3260"> Han Solo</a>, <a href="/chewbacca/3005-2828/" data-ref-id="3005-2828"> Chewbacca</a>, and <a href="/luke-skywalker/3005-1062/" data-ref-id="3005-1062"> Luke Skywalker</a> all return as playable characters but each level has only one available character. Each character has a secondary weapon in addition to the upgradeable <a href="/blaster/3055-478/" data-ref-id="3055-478"> blaster</a>: a <a href="/lightsaber/3055-70/" data-ref-id="3055-70"> lightsaber</a> (Luke), a handful of grenades (Han) or a spin attack (Chewie). Also new to the game is the ability for Luke to block blasters with his lightsaber and the double jump. During the Dagobah missions, Luke can collect 8 different <a href="/the-force/3015-172/" data-ref-id="3015-172"> Force</a> powers: elevation, mind control, slowdown, saber control, saber deflect, invisible, heal and freeze.</p><p>There are again three difficulty levels: Easy, Brave and Jedi. To compensate for the intense difficulty, a password system was introduced to prevent players from having to beat the game in one sitting.</p>