A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, there was a cancelled Star Wars video game that never got the chance to grace the world of gamers. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - Ewok Adventure, also known as Revenge of the Jedi: Game I, was set to be released in 1983, but it sadly never made it to store shelves.
Developed by Atari Games and intended to be published by Parker Brothers, this shoot 'em up video game was meant for the Atari 2600, Atari 7800, ColecoVision, and Intellivision consoles. Its premise was simple but exciting - as an Ewok in the hang glider corps, your mission was to destroy the shield generator of the Imperial army.
The game was completed and ready for launch, but the marketing department at Parker Brothers had other ideas. They deemed the controls too difficult for players to master, thus deciding to shelve the project indefinitely. And so, the world was deprived of the chance to join the Ewoks in their high-flying adventure.
Decades later, in the early 2000s, a glimmer of hope emerged for Star Wars and gaming enthusiasts. A prototype cartridge of Ewok Adventure surfaced, giving fans a glimpse into the game that never was. The discovery reignited curiosity and excitement among collectors and enthusiasts alike.
In Ewok Adventure, players would have taken control of a hang glider, maneuvering it through treacherous obstacles and evading enemy forces. The joystick would have been the weapon of choice, allowing players to soar through the skies with their Ewok avatars. Climbing and descending would have been achieved by manipulating the joystick, while the option to reverse the vertical directions added an extra layer of challenge.
But that's not all - our furry Ewok heroes would have had access to a unique arsenal. While flying overhead, players could pick up rocks to rain down on their enemies below. Talk about an unconventional combat technique! It would have been an exhilarating and action-packed experience, with players constantly on their toes, dodging enemy fire and strategically dropping rocks.
Despite the cancellation, there is a glimmer of hope for those who yearn to experience Ewok Adventure for themselves. Only one physical copy of the game is currently known to exist. Larry Gelberg, the game's designer, proudly gave the prototype to his son, carrying the legacy of this lost gem forward.
In the early 2000s, Gelberg's son made the difficult decision to part with this unique piece of gaming history. The prototype was sold for a whopping $1,680, leaving collectors and Star Wars enthusiasts yearning for a chance to play this elusive game.
For now, Ewok Adventure remains a delightful yet mysterious piece of Star Wars lore. The game that never made it to the gaming masses, the lost adventure of the Ewoks, and the shield generator that remains intact. Perhaps one day, fate will allow this forgotten gem to see the light of day once more.
After all, in the vast universe of video games, anything is possible. Until then, we can only imagine the excitement and joy that Star Wars fans and gamers alike could have experienced with Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - Ewok Adventure.
May the Force be with us all, as we dream of swooping through the skies with our Ewok friends and taking down that shield generator, one gliding adventure at a time.
