Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

The Sarlacc pit lurks beneath your feet, Jabba's sail barge floats above the Tatooine desert, and you know this rescue operation won't be a walk in the park. Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi closes out the trilogy of action platformers from Sculptured Software and LucasArts for the Super Nintendo, and it does so with due pomp and the usual dose of frustration.

Mechanically it's a refined continuation of the proven recipe. Jumping, shooting, collecting upgrades, and boss battles all remain, but the roster of playable characters has expanded – alongside Luke, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Leia in disguise, and other faces of the rebellion join the action. Each character has their own combat style, which brings welcome variety to the game.

Visually this installment is considered the most polished of the three. The levels are varied, from the deserts of Tatooine through the forest moon of Endor to the interior of the second Death Star. There's no shortage of flashy Mode 7 sequences either – especially unforgettable is the wild speeder ride among the trees of Endor, which to this day ranks among the best the SNES had to offer.

The difficulty remains traditionally uncompromising. The series built its reputation on rarely forgiving, and Return of the Jedi honors that reputation. Precise jumps, aggressive enemies, and bosses who will test your reflexes and memory alike – all of it makes finishing the game a genuine feat to be rightfully proud of.

The music again draws on John Williams's scores, and the digitized sound effects round out the atmosphere of the film source. As the trilogy's finale, the game closes the story of the classic saga in a way that satisfies fans while reminding them why this series earned its cult status on the SNES among licensed titles.

Why play: A dignified and visually most advanced conclusion to the Super Star Wars trilogy – a must for series fans and lovers of demanding action platformers alike.