It would not be much of a stretch to call Star Wars the most iconic movie franchise in the world. The movies changed modern culture forever and are a towering achievement in cinema. These beloved films are certainly the first things that come to mind when someone thinks of Star Wars. That said, the franchise has branched out into just about every other form of media you can imagine. Books, TV shows, graphic novels, and, of course, video games all offer new ways to explore the Star Wars galaxy. One of the earliest video games to adapt the Star Wars universe is Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. This is part of a trilogy of SNES platformers based on the original trilogy of movies.
Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Premise
Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi is a loose adaptation of the plot of Return of the Jedi, the final installment of the original trilogy and the sixth movie chronologically. In the movie, protagonist Luke Skywalker and his friends lead the Rebel Alliance in a final stand against the Empire. The rebels destroy the Empire over Endor while Luke confronts his father, Darth Vader. The plot has changed a little in order to more easily support the format of an action-adventure game. For instance, Luke now has to fight through the Death Star in order to reach the Empire. In the movie he was brought before the villain in chains after letting himself get captured on Endor.
In terms of gameplay, Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi is a 2D action-platformer, like its two predecessors. You swap between multiple protagonists as the game progresses, and each has different abilities and movesets. Princess Leia’s weapon actually changes based on which level you’re in, befitting her development through the story. There are vehicle segments as well. These allow you to get behind the wheel of some of the movie’s most iconic vehicles, such as the Millenium Falcon.
Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Main Characters
The cast of characters in the Star Wars original trilogy is just as iconic as everything else about the films. Summarizing them almost feels superfluous. That said, here’s some of the most important figures in Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. You’ll also find some info about what you can expect from their pixelated versions in this SNES title.
- Luke Skywalker: By the time the events of Return of the Jedi roll around, protagonist Luke Skywalker has fully matured into the role of Jedi Knight. To that end, he exclusively uses a lightsaber in his levels. Previous games saw him using a blaster, but those days are over.
- Han Solo: Fan-favorite Han Solo is a lovable rogue and smuggler whose secret heart of gold finds him deeply entrenched in the struggles of the Rebel Alliance and in a growing romance with Princess Leia. He is a playable character in some levels, and he uses a blaster like in the movies.
- Chewbacca: Han’s first mate Chewie is another playable character in this game. His bulky frame lets him use heavier weapons than his allies, making him a good choice for more combat-oriented levels.
- Princess Leia: Leia is a unique protagonist in that her appearance and choice of weapon changes depending on where she is in the story. While in disguise as the bounty hunter Boussh, she fights with a spear. She switches to a broken chain while escaping Jabba’s captivity, and uses a blaster when she fights on Endor.
- Wicket: The wily Ewok Wicket is an indispensable ally to the team when they arrive on Endor. He helps them navigate the dense foliage of the forest moon and foil the stormtroopers patrolling it. In the game, he is also a playable character, fighting with a spear to repel the Imperial invaders.
- Jabba the Hutt: The imperious crime lord Jabba serves as a major antagonist in the film, having kidnapped Han to collect on a debt he owes. The rest of the protagonists get captured in their attempts to save him, and must fight their way out. In order to escape Tatooine in the game, the heroes must defeat him directly.
- Darth Vader: Arguably the most iconic character in the series, Darth Vader is a primary antagonist throughout the Original Trilogy. His famously terrifying appearance and the legendary voice work of James Earl Jones made him a legend, and his tragic backstory as fallen Jedi Anakin Skywalker made him a truly enduring character. Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi is far from the only game to use this legend as a boss; Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order ends with a particularly memorable encounter with the terrifying sith lord.
- Emperor Palpatine: The evil Palpatine is the ruler of the Galactic Empire and the overarching antagonist of the entire trilogy. It’s only fitting that the game culminates in a showdown with this diabolical Sith mastermind and his terrifying force power.
Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Titles In The Series
In the 47 years since the first Star Wars movie exploded onto the screen, there have been countless attempts to bring the franchise into the video game sphere. A complete list of every single Star Wars video game would be a massive undertaking, worthy of its own separate article. Instead, here’s the full list of every Super Star Wars game that came out during the heyday of the SNES. Each game covered a different movie in the original trilogy, so if you’re a fan of the first three games, you have three whole games to explore.
- Super Star Wars (1992)
- Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1993)
- Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1994)
Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Cheat Codes
There are a few secret codes you’ll be able to enter while playing Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Some of these require you to first activate Debug Mode, which can be done in-game at the main menu. Once that’s been done, you should be able to use the Debug codes on any side-scrolling level. In addition to these cheats, the game uses a password system which you can use to start at any level you want. This antiquated method of saving your progress means that you can effectively skip to whatever part of the game you feel like playing. You can find the level passwords at GameFAQs, which is also the source for the cheat codes below.
- Turn on Debug Mode: Press A, A, B, B, X, X, Y, Y, A, B, X, Y, A, B, X, Y on the Main Menu.
- Debug Menu: Press L and R together on Controller 2 while Debug Mode is enabled.
- Invincibility and Player Coordinates: Press A, B, X, Y, and Select on Controller 2 while Debug Mode is enabled.
- Skip a Stage: Hold B and press Start on Controller 1 while Debug Mode is enabled.
- Turn on the Sound Test Menu: Hold down A, X, Y, and Down and press Start.
- Gain 7 Continues: Press A, B, A, Y, A, X on the title screen.
- Gain 99 lives: Press X, X, B, A, Y.
- Unlock Infinite Thermal Detonators: Press B, X, B, X, B, X, B, B, B, Y.
- Manipulate Star Wars logo and intro text: Press Y four times on the main menu. You can then move the text around in-game using L and R.
- Skip to the Next Stage: Press Y, A, Y, A, B, X, B, X, B, X on the title screen, then hold B and press Start in-game.
- View Credits: Press A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B.
Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Cheat Codes FAQ
How long does it take to beat Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi? Like many SNES games, Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi is considerably shorter than most modern titles. HowLongToBeat has it taking around 2 and a half to 4 hours. That said, like many games of its era, Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi has a bit of a reputation for difficulty. It could take you significantly longer than this to master some of its more challenging levels.