Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire

59%
Game Brain Score Based on 939 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire Game Cover
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In "Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire" , players assume the role of Dash Rendar, a skilled pilot hired by the Rebel Alliance, in a plotline that unfolds between "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi." The game features five diverse gameplay modes across various Star Wars locales, such as Mos Eisley, Hoth, Imperial City, and Xizor's palace, with an array of vehicles and weapons to confront enemies like stormtroopers and bounty hunters. The mission: protect Luke Skywalker and help the Alliance defeat the cunning Dark Prince Xizor.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Nintendo 64
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

59%
Audience ScoreBased on 939 reviews
story67 positive mentions
stability16 negative mentions
  • Nostalgic experience for fans of the original N64 game, bringing back fond childhood memories.
  • Variety of gameplay styles, including vehicle combat, on-foot shooting, and platforming, keeps the experience engaging.
  • The story adds depth to the Star Wars universe, featuring beloved characters and new ones like Dash Rendar.
  • Controls are clunky and frustrating, especially with mouse and keyboard, leading to frequent accidental deaths.
  • Graphics and animations have not aged well, making the game feel outdated compared to modern titles.
  • Technical issues, such as the game running too fast and bugs in certain levels, detract from the overall experience.
  • story215 mentions

    The story of "Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire" is generally praised for its engaging narrative that fills the gap between "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi," featuring the character Dash Rendar on a mission to rescue Han Solo and confront a dark conspiracy. While some reviews note pacing issues and a lack of depth compared to the accompanying novel and comics, the game is recognized for its nostalgic value and the introduction of new characters and lore within the Star Wars universe. Overall, it is considered a fun experience for fans, despite its gameplay flaws and dated graphics.

    • “Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire is a fun and classic Star Wars game with a surprisingly strong story and characters.”
    • “The fantastic story was meant to bridge the gap between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi and does so well.”
    • “Telling the story of the mercenary, like-Han-Solo-but-cooler freighter captain Dash Rendar, his droid sidekick Leebo and their ship, the Outrider, Shadows weaves a critical piece of what is now known as the 'Legends' continuity, pitting him against the Imperials, the bounty hunters IG-88 and Boba Fett, and the powerful underworld syndicate known as Black Sun.”
    • “Story-wise, it's a completely forgettable aside starring a Han Solo surrogate with a different model YT ship, and a robot butler instead of Wookiee slave labor.”
    • “The story is too short and simple, sadly. They could've had the same great story like the other media of the Shadows of the Empire series, but no, they didn't.”
    • “The controls are clunky, the difficulty is all over the place, it is a hodgepodge of levels and mechanics, there is no real story...”
  • gameplay147 mentions

    The gameplay of "Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire" offers a mix of third-person shooting and various other styles, including vehicle combat and platforming, which provides a nostalgic experience for fans. However, many players find the execution to be clunky and dated, with uneven mechanics and frustrating controls that reflect its 1997 Nintendo 64 origins. While the game has its charms and a solid story, the overall gameplay experience is often criticized for being repetitive and plagued by technical issues.

    • “It features full-polygonal 3D gameplay, with various styles of ship, shooter, and speeder combat that shifts between settings.”
    • “Gameplay: the game is primarily a 'third-person shooter' but it blends a surprising amount of varied gameplay styles within different segments.”
    • “Its variety of gameplay and settings capture the feeling of an adventure in a galaxy far, far away.”
    • “While it offers a variety of gameplay styles (from third-person shooting to vehicle combat), the execution is dated and uneven.”
    • “The controls are clunky, the difficulty is all over the place, it is a hodgepodge of levels and mechanics, there is no real story...”
    • “The gameplay is completely outdated: you will spend most of your time dancing around the corner of a wall to maximize your killing potential on the enemies behind the corner and minimize the damage they can deal to you.”
  • graphics120 mentions

    The graphics of "Shadows of the Empire" are widely regarded as dated and poor, even for its time, with many players noting blocky textures and visual glitches. While the PC version offers some improvements over the N64 version, such as better reflections and frame rates, the overall aesthetic fails to impress by modern standards. Despite these shortcomings, the game's nostalgic value and recognizable Star Wars art style still resonate with long-time fans.

    • “Graphics were great for its time and its cutscenes still hold well.”
    • “It's still graphically quite nice to look at, but then again it is a Star Wars game and LucasArts were always known for decent art assets.”
    • “Graphics & performance: compared to the N64 version, the PC port has better reflections, textures, sound quality, frame rate, etc. while you may still come across some technical difficulties, I for one did not.”
    • “The graphics look bad even for a '98 game; everything is very blocky and ugly, the textures are completely lackluster, and a lot of the stages are made up entirely of the same 5 or 6 jpegs slapped across the entire map.”
    • “Nostalgia aside, this is a terrible game with slippery controls, stale level design, and bland choppy graphics.”
    • “Its clunky controls, dodgy camera, and horrific graphics are just a few of the things that will grind at you as you play this.”
  • music90 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its quality, featuring a mix of iconic tracks from the original Star Wars trilogy composed by John Williams, alongside original pieces by Joel McNeely. While some users noted discrepancies between versions, particularly with the absence of music in the Steam version, the overall sentiment highlights the nostalgic and immersive experience the soundtrack provides, enhancing the game's connection to the Star Wars universe. Despite some audio issues and changes from previous iterations, the music remains a standout element that keeps players engaged.

    • “Naturally, it has the great original Star Wars music and sound effects, and even the voice acting is really not that bad.”
    • “The sound design and soundtrack live up to the Skywalker sound legacy.”
    • “Its secret strength (after all these years) remains the soundtrack... you keep playing because something in the music forces you to keep going with its rhythm and beat.”
    • “The big letdown is no sound effects and no music while in the menu.”
    • “Even the 'original' music during the 'chapter 1-4 scroll' was removed and replaced with the standard Star Wars theme.”
    • “Some of the music and even the sound effects were not the same from the original.”
  • atmosphere18 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, effectively capturing the menacing essence of the Star Wars universe through strong level design and fitting soundtracks. While some visuals and level designs may feel dated or simplistic, the overall ambiance remains engaging and nostalgic, appealing particularly to fans of the franchise. Despite minor control and camera issues, the atmosphere successfully enhances the storytelling experience.

    • “However, the developers managed to create a believable atmosphere that was eerie and overwhelming at the same time, which made you feel the menacing deadly superiority of the empire and the threat of the black sun crime syndicate.”
    • “The new tracks fit really well and create a perfect atmosphere for its respective locations and moods.”
    • “Overall, the game has aged poorly, but still retains enough charm in its atmosphere and gameplay segments to attract an audience, specifically those attached to the Star Wars franchise.”
    • “The game was brilliantly staged in terms of story and sound atmosphere; the only weak points were the controls and the sometimes strange camera angles.”
    • “Gameplay and atmosphere stand the test of time.”
  • stability16 mentions

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and poor controls, particularly regarding keybinds and aiming mechanics. Many players find the experience frustratingly unplayable at times, with significant issues like terrible jumping physics and the need to replay large sections after dying. Despite these flaws, some players still appreciate the game's nostalgic value and engaging story.

    • “It's so buggy and glitchy that it's nearly unplayable.”
    • “In my less than 2 hours, I experienced weird glitches, truly terrible jumping physics, and the joy of having to replay huge chunks of a game after you run out of lives.”
    • “Terrible port, buggy to hell and back. Not one changeable setting besides inverted or not; can't remap buttons or sensitivity. So good luck with Dark Souls 64 edition, and if you're just dying to replay, it's possible but stressful.”
  • replayability14 mentions

    The game's replayability is considered moderate, with a score of 6/10, primarily due to the presence of secrets and extra difficulty levels. However, issues with collision and AI can lead to frustration, particularly on higher difficulties, and the game's relatively short length (around 4 hours) may limit long-term engagement. Overall, it offers enough value for nostalgic players but may not appeal as strongly to newcomers.

    • “Basically, it is a bit short, but it is an incredible game with replay value.”
    • “Shadows of the Empire is short (I beat it after I bought it in about 4 hours), but there's enough replay value.”
    • “The replayability is there for those who had played this when it came out back then.”
    • “If the collision and the AI were fixed or tweaked, I would say the game's extra difficulties would create some replayability, but without that, it can be frustrating to try and take the game seriously beyond medium.”
    • “Shadows of the Empire is short (I beat it after I bought it in about 4 hours), but there's not enough replay value.”
    • “The replayability is limited for those who had played this when it came out back then.”
  • optimization10 mentions

    The optimization of the game for PC is generally well-received, with improved graphics, sound quality, and frame rates compared to the N64 version, allowing for a smoother experience despite some minor technical issues. However, the controls are criticized for being difficult to re-bind, making gameplay challenging, and some players recommend using a USB N64 controller for better control. Overall, while the game runs well, its performance is somewhat hindered by the twitchy controls.

    • “Graphics & performance: compared to the N64 version, the PC port has better reflections, textures, sound quality, frame rate, etc. While you may still come across some technical difficulties, I for one did not.”
    • “With the drawbacks eliminated, the game runs smoothly (a bit allergic to alt-tab, so don't do that), and you can enjoy the greatness that is this Nintendo-hard (depending on framerate) game.”
    • “The game fundamentally isn't bad... or good, it just kinda 'is' and that is largely because of the optimization of the game for PC and how twitchy the controls feel.”
    • “The controls are nightmarish, and nearly impossible to re-bind adequately (get a USB N64 controller...you'll thank yourself later) but as far as performance goes?”
    • “Graphics & performance: compared to the N64 version, the PC port has better reflections, textures, sound quality, frame rate, etc. while you may still come across some technical difficulties.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, reminiscing about childhood experiences and the joy of exploration. However, some technical issues, such as slipping off ledges, detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration amidst the nostalgia.

    • “10/10 made me feel like when I was a kid”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the reviews highlights the amusing quirks of gaming, particularly the instinctive habits players develop with their controls, such as reaching for the wrong button despite having customized setups. This lightheartedness reflects a broader appreciation for the game's enjoyable features, like achievements and mod support.

    • “The funny thing is, while I programmed my gamepad to a more convenient setup, I love how I keep instinctively reaching for the 'X' button on my controller instead of the one I had assigned it to, like if it were the left C button.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and occasionally lazy, particularly during boss fights. While some may adapt to the clunky mechanics over time, the initial experience can feel frustrating and cumbersome.

    • “The boss fights feel lazy and tedious sometimes.”
    • “You'll definitely get used to it in due time if you're used to clunky games... doesn't make it less tedious to fiddle around with at the start, however.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

65% average critic score

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