Star Wars: Yoda Stories

Star Wars: Yoda Stories
Windows cover art
Developer(s)	LucasArts Torus Games(Game Boy Color)
Publisher(s)	LucasArts THQ(Game Boy Color)
Director(s)	Hal Barwood
Designer(s)	Hal Barwood Mark Crowley
Programmer(s)	Mark Crowley
Writer(s)	Hal Barwood
Platform(s)	Windows,Game Boy Color
Release	March 12, 1997 (Windows) December 23, 1999 (Game Boy Color)
Genre(s)	Adventure
Mode(s)	Single-player

Star Wars: Yoda Storiesis a 1997adventurevideo gamebased on theStar Warsfranchise developed byLucasArts.The game is the second and last title in LucasArts'Desktop Adventuresseries, preceded byIndiana Jones and His Desktop Adventures.The game was released in March 1997 forMicrosoft Windowsand ported toGame Boy ColorbyTorus Gamesin December 1999.

Gameplay

Yoda Storiesis apoint and click adventuregame designed in the vein of early Windows titles.

Yoda Storiesis a short,procedurally generatedpoint-and-click adventuregame designed for players to finish in an hour.The game has no central plot or ultimate goal. Each time a new game is started, the player is tasked to complete a random mission. This may include rescuing anotherStar Warscharacter, obtaining an object, warning the Rebels of an attack, or destroying an Imperial facility.

The player controlsLuke Skywalkerfrom a bird's eye perspective. Players move Luke across a 2D grid, equip and use weapons to defeat enemies; push and pull certain objects; and collect items into their inventory to be used later on. Each mission takes place on a new procedurally generated planet, and requires the player to complete a series of item-based puzzles, either by pushing or pulling obstacles to reveal items, using items acquired elsewhere to unlock a new item, or defeating enemies in an area. Once the final puzzle is solved and the mission is accomplished, the player is given a score based on their performance, and may choose to replay the mission or start a new game.

Due to the limitations ofGame Boy Colorhardware, its port ofYoda Storiesis reduced to fifteen fixed missions, with simplified graphics.

Reception

Reception

Review scores

Publication	Score
Computer Gaming World	(PC)
IGN	2/10 (GBC)
PC PowerPlay	64% (PC)
Science Fiction Weekly	A−

The PC version ofYoda Storieswas received poorly. Robert Coffey ofComputer Gaming Worldderided the game as "really bad" and "graphically dated, featuring cookie-cutter worlds filled with big-headed, cutesified characters and silly monsters that are (almost) flat-out embarrassing".GameSpotprovided similar criticisms of the game as a "half-hearted product", stating "combat is awkward and in no way satisfying" and "the backgrounds are as flat and lifeless as the gameplay".Gareth Jones ofPC PowerPlayprovided some praise for the game as "cute (and) fun, with plenty of lastability", praising its addictive nature.

TheGame Boyversion ofYoda Storiesreceived more negative reviews. Craig Harris ofIGNstated the game was "one of the technically lamest and structurally annoyingGame Boygames ever developed ", singling out the poor graphics, animations, sound, and controls.Yoda StoriesremainsIGN's lowest-rated Game Boy Color title.

Retrospective assessments of the game have been mixed.Inversewriter Brian Vanhooker supported the game as "easygoing and accessible", and interviewed lead designer Hal Barwood, who considered that the game was "ahead of its time and (that) its rough reception was unwarranted", as reviewers misinterpreted its purpose as acasual game.Richard Cobbett ofPC Gamernoted that theDesktop Adventuresseries "(had) a fair amount of promise", although the game suffers from "a lack of assets and a lack of content".

External links

• Yoda Storiesreviews at GameRankingsat theWayback Machine(archived April 9, 2016)
• Yoda Storiesfor Game Boy Color reviewonGameSpot
• Star Wars: Yoda StoriesatMobyGames