Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1985 video game)

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back is a side-scrolling shooter video game released in 1985 for various platforms including the Atari 2600, Atari 8-bit family, Apple II, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum. It is based on the 1980 film of the same name, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back.

The gameplay generally involves piloting a snowspeeder on the ice planet Hoth, battling AT-AT walkers and other Imperial vehicles. Different versions of the game offer varying gameplay mechanics and levels, some including bonus stages or boss encounters. Players typically need to destroy the AT-AT walkers using tow cables, wrapping the cables around their legs to bring them down.

The game was developed and published by Parker Brothers, who held the license for Star Wars video games at the time. Though the core concept remained consistent across platforms, the graphical fidelity and gameplay features differed significantly depending on the hardware limitations of each system. It represents an early example of video game adaptations of popular film franchises. Reception to the game varied depending on the platform, with some versions being praised for their faithfulness to the source material and challenging gameplay, while others were criticized for their simplistic graphics and repetitive nature.