Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (NES)

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Also known as: Star Wars: Teikoku no Gyakushuu (JP) Developers: Lucasfilm Games, Sculptured Software Publishers: JVC Music (US/EU), Victor Musical Industries (JP) Platform: NES Released in JP: March 12, 1993 Released in US: March 1992 Released in EU: 1993 This game has uncompiled source code. This game has hidden developer credits. This game has a hidden sound test. This game has a Data Crystal page

To do: Document the prototype. https://archive.org/details/star-wars-empire-strikes-back-nes-prototype

The NES version of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back is a ridiculously difficult side-scroller based on the classic 1980 movie.

"Choose the force!"

Sound Test

Press Left + Select simultaneously at the "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far, away..." screen. Press Select to cycle between "musical sequences", "empire soundfx", and "digital sounds".

Developer Credits

In the first level, head leftward through the caves until you reach a large textureless wall of ice. This wall can be destroyed in places with your blaster or lightsaber. Once through, climb all the way up until you reach a Force Power item. Collecting this item will trigger a brief credits sequence featuring pictures of the developers.

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Uncompiled Code

The US and European version have some code starting at 0xFEE5, while the Japanese version has some different code starting at 0x13E1A. These fragments have been combined here for the sake of completeness.

BESPIN.CHR 	;BANK $C4
	ORG $1DE0,12,C
	INCL 'FONTC.CHR 






	;************************************
	;*
	;* SPEEDER SCENE BACKGROUNDS
	;*
	;************************************





	ORG $2000,12,C 	;BANK $C8
	INCL 'LUKEK.CHR 		;LUKE ATTACKING WALKER
	ORG $2400,12,C 	;BANK $C9
	INCL 'REBE


                 H.2001		;SETUP LEFT SIDE SCREEN BLANKING
	LDA #$FF
	STA SPEEDER.INT		;ACTIVATE SPLIT SCREEN MODE
	JSR SET.DO.UNBLANK
	JMP SPEEDER.SCENE




	RTS




	BEQ .10			;- NO
	JMP .RESTART


.10
	LDY #0
	JSR SET.CAPOS
	JSR MOVE.CAMERA

	LDA #0
	STA XOFFSET+1
	LDA #1
	STA YOFFSET+1
	LDX #0
	JSR MOVE.OBJECT

	LDA OBJ.YPOSHI
	LDX OBJ.YPOSLO
	CMP #5
	BNE .15
	CPX #$A0		;TIME FOR TILE SET SWITCH?
	BNE .15			;- NO

	LDA CHANGE2
	STA TILE.LIST
	LDA CHANGE2+1
	STA TILE.LIST+1
	LDA CHANGE2+2
	STA SCREEN.LIST
	LDA CHANGE2+3
	STA SCREEN.LIST+1
	LDA CHANGE2+4
	STA TILE.INFO
	LDA CHANGE2+5
	STA TILE.INFO+1
	JMP .LOOP2

	
.15
	CMP #6
	BCC .LOOP2
	CPX #$30		;TIME FOR COLOR PALETTE

$74,$20 ; 137
 DB $20,$3C,$60,$94,$C8,$B8,$50,$A0,$74,$40,$B4,$68,$10,$50,$E0,$40 ; 138
 DB $28,$54,$2A,$76,$55,$3F,$15,$0E,$74,$20,$74,$00,$3A,$08,$0F,$01 ; 139
 DB $80,$C0,$A0,$A8,$AF,$A9,$A8,$A9,$00,$00,$40,$40,$40,$46,$47,$47 ; 140
 DB $01,$03,$03,$05,$07,$C5,$25,$25,$00,$00,$00,$02,$00,$02,$C2,$C2 ; 141
 DB $02,$02,$87,$05,$44,$A2,$31,$D0,$0C,$04,$08,$08,$08,$04,$02,$C0 ; 142
 DB $72,$2A,$34,$1D,$1F,$0F,$04,$00,$40,$40,$40,$20,$20,$10,$08,$05 ; 143
 DB $80,$90,$D8,$48,$28,$48,$28,$08,$

(Source: Original TCRF research)