Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire

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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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

72%

Audience ScoreBased on 471 reviews

story34 positive mentions

stability8 negative mentions

Nostalgic experience for fans of the original N64 game, bringing back fond memories.
Variety of gameplay styles, including on-foot shooting, vehicle combat, and platforming.
Interesting story set between 'The Empire Strikes Back' and 'Return of the Jedi', with familiar characters.

Controls are clunky and frustrating, especially with mouse and keyboard; better suited for a controller.
Graphics and mechanics have not aged well, leading to a less enjoyable experience for new players.
Technical issues such as game speed running too fast and problems with cutscenes rendering.

story
108 mentions
31 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The story of "Shadows of the Empire" is generally praised for its engaging narrative that fills in the gaps between "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi," featuring the character Dash Rendar on a mission to rescue Han Solo. While some reviews note pacing issues and a lack of depth compared to the accompanying novel, many appreciate the nostalgic elements and the introduction of new characters and lore within the Star Wars universe. Overall, the story is considered a strong point of the game, despite its flaws in gameplay mechanics and execution.
- “The story of the game isn't nearly as in-depth as the book was, but is still fun as Dash tries to help find Han Solo and stop Prince Xizor's plot to kill Luke Skywalker.”
- “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.”
- “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...”
- “Very few plot points actually make a lick of sense.”
gameplay
73 mentions
22 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire" is characterized by a mix of various styles, including third-person shooting and vehicle combat, which offers a nostalgic experience for fans of the franchise. However, many players note that the execution feels clunky and dated, with uneven mechanics and frustrating controls that can detract from the overall enjoyment. While the game has its charms and a solid story, it struggles with outdated gameplay elements and difficulty spikes, making it a mixed experience for both new and returning players.
- “It features full-polygonal 3D gameplay, with various styles of ship, shooter, and speeder combat that shifts between settings.”
- “Gameplay-wise, there's fun to be had.”
- “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.”
graphics
60 mentions
20 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated and subpar, even for its release period in the late 90s, with many users noting issues like blocky textures, graphical glitches, and a lack of polish. While some appreciate the nostalgic value and the game's distinct Star Wars aesthetic, others criticize the visuals for being bland and unappealing by modern standards. Overall, the graphics are seen as a significant drawback, overshadowing the otherwise enjoyable gameplay and story elements.
- “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.”
- “While the graphics are now quite dated, the core gameplay is solid, the story is still terrific, and there's some major substance here for any Star Wars fan to enjoy, or anyone interested in a retro Star Wars classic.”
- “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.”
music
45 mentions
38 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality, featuring 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 the absence of music in the Steam edition, the overall sentiment highlights the nostalgic and immersive experience the soundtrack provides, enhancing the game's connection to the Star Wars universe. Additionally, the sound design is recognized for its high quality, contributing to the game's appeal despite some gameplay shortcomings.
- “The music, gameplay, it's just great.”
- “Presentation is king here, with music pulled from the movies as well as original pieces, and some delightfully campy cutscenes.”
- “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.”
- “Some of the music and even the sound effects were not the same from the original.”
- “I've had some audio problems with the music.”
atmosphere
9 mentions
56 % positive mentions
11 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, effectively conveying the menacing presence of the empire and the threat posed by the black sun crime syndicate. While the visuals may feel dated, the level design and soundtracks contribute to a believable and engaging environment that resonates well with fans of the Star Wars franchise. Despite some inconsistencies in level design, the overall atmosphere remains a strong point of the game.
- “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 their 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.”
stability
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and poor control mechanics that significantly hinder gameplay. Keybind issues and frustrating jumping physics contribute to a sense of frustration, making the experience feel nearly unplayable at times. Despite these flaws, some players still appreciate the game's story and nostalgic elements.
- “Keybinds are bad, maps are long and difficult due to the bad key-binds, and aiming and firing of the gun is essentially buggy.”
- “It's so buggy and glitchy that it's nearly unplayable.”
- “Terrible port, buggy to hell and back. Not one changeable setting besides inverted or not; can't remap buttons or sensitivity. Good luck with Dark Souls 64 edition.”
replayability
7 mentions
29 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is somewhat limited due to its short length and issues with collision and AI, which can frustrate players at higher difficulties. However, it offers enough secrets and nostalgic value for those familiar with it, resulting in a moderate replayability score of 6/10. Overall, while it may not provide extensive replay value, it still has elements that encourage players to revisit it.
- “Basically, it is a bit short, but it is an incredible game with replay value.”
- “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 enough replay value.”
- “The replayability is there for those who had played this when it came out back then.”
optimization
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game varies significantly between the N64 and PC versions, with the latter offering improved graphics, sound quality, and frame rates, leading to a smoother experience overall. However, players have noted issues with control responsiveness and rebinding, suggesting that using a USB N64 controller may enhance gameplay. While some technical difficulties may persist, many users report a generally stable performance on PC.
- “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, I for one did not.”
emotional
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users express a strong emotional connection to the game, reminiscing about childhood experiences and the nostalgia it evokes. However, some technical issues, such as slipping off ledges, detract from the overall experience, impacting immersion.
- “10/10 made me feel like when I was a kid”
humor
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users find humor in the quirks of gameplay, such as the instinctive button pressing habits that lead to amusing moments, highlighting the game's engaging mechanics and nostalgic elements. The mention of achievements and mod support adds a lighthearted touch to the overall experience, showcasing the fun in both gameplay and customization.
- “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.”
grinding
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative 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, but it doesn't make it any less tedious to fiddle around with at the start.”