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This is the second and last LucasArts Desktop Adventure title released. In the Star
Wars timeline, it's placed between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of Jedi, where
Luke Skywalker is completing his training with Jedi Master Yoda. Unlike other titles,
it has no central plot or definitive goal - it's a mere collection of games where the
player, controlling Luke Skywalker has to complete an objective like rescuing Han
Solo or Princess Leia, obtaining an object or warning the Rebellion in several
locations in the Star Wars universe like Hoth, Tatooine or the Forest moon of Endor.
The game received poor reviews at the time of its release, mostly because critics
decided to review it as a regular game, rather than a "quick break" replacement to
games like Solitaire or Hearts. Graphics are simple bitmaps and regular 32x32 icons,
with few animations. Each game starts with Luke arriving at Dagobah in a X-Wing. If
the player is still a rookie, R2-D2 can be picked up, and dropped anytime for hints.
After finding Yoda, he gives Luke one assignment and one object that will be required
to complete it, and the game begins. Each gameworld is composed by 100 screens, but
how many are active can be set in the options. To progress in the game, the player
has to make errands, such as finding a key, or an object, until he reaches the final
puzzle. The Force is also present, but in the beginning it must be obtained from the
ghost of Obi-Wan Kenobi. It stops all enemies from moving, and is occasionally
required to complete a puzzle. There are several enemies, from Imperial Stormtroopers
and Tusken Raiders to animals, and all can be dealt accordingly with Luke's lightsaber,
blasters or thermal detonators (that destroy any enemies in a 3-diameter plus sign
pattern). As Luke can be also hurt, there are several ways to replenish his health
(measured by a pie chart) from health kits and bacta canisters to plants. In the fifth
game, Luke battles Darth Vader, and if successful, the next game he starts with a
green lightsaber instead of his father's blue; after 10, he starts with the Force and
finally, after 15 times, with a "Spirit Heart", which gives the player a second life.
Unlike Indiana Jones and his Desktop Adventures, Yoda Stories keeps the number of
games beaten and also the highest score. |
