Shadows of the Empire riding the 1996 Star Wars wave. Hoth's speeder-bike battle, varied levels across Hoth, Coruscant and the asteroid, cinematic ambitions. The visuals have aged badly and the pacing swings between sublime and laboured, but the adventure remains a historical milestone on the N64.
Your verdict
Category
Action Adventure1 player12+
Description
Japanese version of Star Wars Shadows of the Empire, a third-person action game following Dash Rendar between Episodes 5 and 6. Published by Nintendo, released in Japan in 1997. Combat missions on Hoth and in varied environments, diverse arsenal, and pioneering N64 3D visuals.
Star Wars - Teikoku no Kage review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
Gameplay
"Solid"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Engaging"
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Average"
Technical info
💾0,01 GB📅27/06/1997
Published by LucasArts
Star Wars - Teikoku no Kage (N64) price, value & rarity
Japanese version of Shadows of the Empire, renamed Teikoku no Kage and released in 1997 with box, manual and titling fully adapted to the local market. With Japanese enthusiasm for Star Wars staying moderate, the run was small against the massive Western pressings, inverting the game's rarity in this territory. Desirability rests on that regional contrast: a global blockbuster turned sought-after import precisely because Japan consumed so little of it.
Is Star Wars - Teikoku no Kage still worth playing in 2026?
A third person action adventure from LucasArts, Shadows of the Empire takes place between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, following the mercenary Dash Rendar in an adventure blending shooting, platforming and piloting. The famous opening Battle of Hoth and the variety of sequences made it an N64 showcase at launch. The handling and the camera have aged, but the ambition remains. For a Star Wars fan or a fan of retro action, the title keeps an epic character and a strong heritage value.
