Posted in: Games, Nintendo | Tagged: Lauren Looks Back, nintendo 64, star wars, Star Wars N64

Lauren Looks Back: The Nintendo 64 Star Wars Games

Published Thu, 25 May 2017 15:45:37 -0500

The Nintendo 64 is one of Nintendo's greatest consoles. The system was a huge part of my childhood, since it helped me get through my back operation I had when I was 11 (thanks, scoliosis).

I've had a working N64 since then, and I'm still buying games for it. The games I did get as a kid were the Star Wars games, of which there are only four. So in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the first Star Wars film's release, let's take a quick look back at them!

Star Wars: Shadow of the Empire was the first SW game for the N64. It's a shooter game with four chapters, set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi. I've always appreciated how other SW media ties into the overall universe without bogging the story down.

The graphics were good for the time, but subsequent plays since then is a good reminder of how far we've come. The overall reception to the game was lukewarm, but it was one of the top-selling N64 games.

Star Wars: Rogue Squadron is set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, and I can only describe it as an action game. There are 16 levels, so you'll be invested in this game for a while. The graphics were a huge improvement thanks to the N64's expansion pack, and the game is admittedly a lot of fun.

Personally, I never beat it since I couldn't get into it, but it's still a good game. Reception was great — most gamers I talk to still enjoy playing it even today.

Star Wars: Episode 1 Racer should be ashamed for coming from the shit-tastic Episode 1 movie, but the game is actually good. It's a straightforward racing game, so you can't really go wrong with it. Graphics are solid, and it's an easy game to get through during a summer afternoon.

Star Wars: Episode 1 Battle for Naboo is the last of the N64 Star Wars games, and I'm genuinely sad they had to stop with an Episode 1 game. It's a single-player flight simulator, and from what I remember of it, it wasn't bad, but didn't wow me. The graphics are the best out of all the N64 SW games, and it's another great game to kill an afternoon with.

There are countless Star Wars games out there for a myriad of platforms, which means there's a game for pretty much everyone regardless of skill level. And that's one of the best things about Star Wars — there's something for everyone!

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