A Brief History of Star War Games, Part 1

In the NES Star Wars game, players also get to pilot the Millennium Falcon through an asteroid field, which is actually taken from a scene in "The Empire Strikes Back."

In the NES Star Wars game, players also get to pilot the Millennium Falcon through an asteroid field, which is actually taken from a scene in "The Empire Strikes Back."

Luke and Han Solo meet up at the Mos Eisley Cantina in the NES Star Wars game.

Luke and Han Solo meet up at the Mos Eisley Cantina in the NES Star Wars game.

"X-Wing" featured an in-cockpit view and the familiar jump to hyperspace.

Despite using a 3D engine, the objects in X-Wing received very little texturing.

Despite using a 3D engine, the objects in X-Wing received very little texturing.

The X-Wing control panel displays target information, shield levels, munitions, speed, and energy allocations.

The X-Wing control panel displays target information, shield levels, munitions, speed, and energy allocations.

A scene from an "X-Wing" cutscene.

A scene from an "X-Wing" cutscene.

Rebel Assault played and looked much more like an arcade game.

Rebel Assault played and looked much more like an arcade game.

The backgrounds of Rebel Assault were pre-rendered giving the illusion that the game engine was more powerful.

The backgrounds of Rebel Assault were pre-rendered giving the illusion that the game engine was more powerful.

A view from the cockpit of an A-Wing during Rebel Assault.

A view from the cockpit of an A-Wing during Rebel Assault.

Rebel Assault sported some attacks on Star Destroyers, but the flight path was predetermined.

Rebel Assault sported some attacks on Star Destroyers, but the flight path was predetermined.