Star Wars (Arcade)
1983 · Space Shooter · Arcade
Overview
Star Wars is a first-person rail shooter designed by Mike Hally and released as an arcade video game in 1983 by Atari, Inc. It uses 3D color vector graphics to simulate the assault on the Death Star from the 1977 film Star Wars. There are three connected gameplay sequences: combat against TIE fighters in space, flying across the surface of the Death Star, and the final trench run.
Deep Dive
Star Wars is a first-person rail shooter designed by Mike Hally and released as an arcade video game in 1983 by Atari, Inc. It uses 3D color vector graphics to simulate the assault on the Death Star from the 1977 film Star Wars. There are three connected gameplay sequences: combat against TIE fighters in space, flying across the surface of the Death Star, and the final trench run. The sequence then repeats with added complications and the Death Star regenerating. The player's X-Wing fighter has a shield which only protects against damage a certain number of times, then the next hit ends the game. Speech synthesis emulates actors from the film.
Developer Story
The Star Wars arcade game was developed by Atari in 1983 under the design leadership of Mike Hally. The vector graphics cockpit game recreated three phases of the Battle of Yavin from the original film. Audio samples from the film including John Williams' score were used. The game was commercially very successful and well-received as one of the best licensed arcade games of its era.
Did You Know?
- Atari used actual voice clips from the film — Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Alec Guinness all appear as audio samples.
- The trench run recreation was faithful enough to the film's climax that players who had seen the film felt genuinely immersed.
- Vector graphics gave the TIE fighters and Death Star structures a clean, sharp appearance impossible with raster technology of 1983.
- The game's sit-down cockpit cabinet enclosed the player in a pod matching the X-Wing cockpit aesthetic.
