| Empire Strikes Back Arcade Game | |
| Many kids growing up during the years in which the Star Wars Trilogy was in theatres never got a chance to see the Empire Strikes Back arcade game. Released around the same time as the Return of the Jedi game, the ESB version was an update of the very popular Star Wars game, which was already installed in arcade machines all over the United States.
Apparently, the new game was available as a kit of sorts, consisting of some new programming "boards", and updated side and header graphics. As you can see in these images, the ESB machines featured unique artwork on their outer casings.
The game itself is very similar to the original Star Wars game, with different scenarios and graphics mapped onto the pre-existing modes of play. The first sequence, for example, features probe droids in place of TIE Fighters, while an asteriod field replaces the Death Star trench during the second phase. Similarites aside, the ESB game is, by far, the rarest of the three video arcade games released by Atari. |
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| Description by: | Ron Salvatore |
| Photo: | Rob Amantea |
| From the collection of: | Rob Amantea |
| Country: | United States |
| Film: | Empire Strikes Back |
| Licensee: | Atari |
| Year: | 1980 |
| Category: | Games / Arcade |
