Star Wars: Masters of Teräs Käsi
Encyclopedia
Star Wars: Masters of Teräs Käsi is a Lucasarts
fighting game
released in 1997 and set in the fictional universe of Star Wars
. "Teräs Käsi" refers to a martial art used in the game; and, while being in grammatically incorrect form, is Finnish
for "steel hand".
and Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
. The destruction of the Death Star
at the hands of Luke Skywalker
severely crippled the Galactic Empire
. The Emperor
wanted retaliation against him and all of the Rebel Alliance and sought the services of assassin, Arden Lyn, to eliminate the Alliance's key members. Luke and the others find out about the Empire's plot and challenge Arden, face to face.
and Tekken
. Players were also disappointed that lightsaber
s, which are usually depicted as capable of slicing off limbs, were treated much like baseball bat
-type weapons in the game. While characters with guns would need to charge the weapon up before being able to fire by which time they could have been defeated by a lightsaber character.
One main glitch was "Ring out", in which a player would be instantly defeated if knocked out of the ring/stage. Unfortunately the stages were so small that it was almost impossible to achieve a flawless victory as the amount of attacks needed would have knocked the opponent off the stage before defeating him.
In March, 2004, GMR
magazine rated Masters of Teräs Käsi number 3 on its list of five worst Star Wars games, stating that the characters in the game were grossly imbalanced.
In 2007, ScrewAttack
placed the game at #10 on their list of Top 10 Worst Fighters.
LucasArts
LucasArts Entertainment Company, LLC is an American video game developer and publisher. The company was once famous for its innovative line of graphic adventure games, the critical and commercial success of which peaked in the mid 1990s...
fighting game
Fighting game
Fighting game is a video game genre where the player controls an on-screen character and engages in close combat with an opponent. These characters tend to be of equal power and fight matches consisting of several rounds, which take place in an arena. Players must master techniques such as...
released in 1997 and set in the fictional universe of Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
. "Teräs Käsi" refers to a martial art used in the game; and, while being in grammatically incorrect form, is Finnish
Finnish language
Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
for "steel hand".
Story
Masters of Teräs Käsi takes place between the Star Wars movies, Episode IV: A New HopeStar Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars, is a 1977 American epic space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It is the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films complete the original trilogy, while a prequel trilogy completes the...
and Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner. The screenplay, based on a story by George Lucas, was written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan...
. The destruction of the Death Star
Death Star
The Death Star is a fictional moon-sized space station and superweapon appearing in the Star Wars movies and expanded universe. It is capable of destroying a planet with a single destructive super charged energy beam.-Origin and design:...
at the hands of Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the original film trilogy of the Star Wars franchise, where he is portrayed by Mark Hamill. He is introduced in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, in which he is forced to leave home, and finds himself apprenticed to the Jedi master...
severely crippled the Galactic Empire
Galactic Empire (Star Wars)
The Galactic Empire is one of the main factions in the fictional universe of Star Wars. It is a galaxy-spanning regime established by the series' lead villain, Palpatine, to replace the Galactic Republic in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. The Galactic Empire is introduced in Star Wars...
. The Emperor
Palpatine
Palpatine is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the Star Wars saga, portrayed by Ian McDiarmid in the feature films.Palpatine first appeared as the unnamed Emperor of the Galactic Empire in the 1980 film Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back...
wanted retaliation against him and all of the Rebel Alliance and sought the services of assassin, Arden Lyn, to eliminate the Alliance's key members. Luke and the others find out about the Empire's plot and challenge Arden, face to face.
Reception
Masters of Teräs Käsi received generally mediocre reviews from the gaming press. Most were disappointed in the fighting engine, which was inferior compared to competing games such as Soul EdgeSoul Edge
is a 3D arcade fighting game developed by Project Soul and published by Namco. It is the first installment in the Soul series of fighting games...
and Tekken
Tekken (video game)
Tekken is a fighting game and is the first of the series. It was released at arcades in late 1994 and on the PlayStation in 1995. A simplified "arcade" version of the game was later released in Tekken 5s Arcade History mode. It was developed and published by Namco...
. Players were also disappointed that lightsaber
Lightsaber
A lightsaber is a fictional weapon in the Star Wars universe, a "laser sword." It consists of a polished metal hilt which projects a blade of light about 1.33 metres long. The lightsaber is the signature weapon of the Jedi order and their Sith counterparts, both of whom can use them for close...
s, which are usually depicted as capable of slicing off limbs, were treated much like baseball bat
Baseball bat
A baseball bat is a smooth wooden or metal club used in the game of baseball to hit the ball after the ball is thrown by the pitcher. It is no more than 2.75 inches in diameter at the thickest part and no more than 42 inches in length. It typically weighs no more than 33 ounces , but it...
-type weapons in the game. While characters with guns would need to charge the weapon up before being able to fire by which time they could have been defeated by a lightsaber character.
One main glitch was "Ring out", in which a player would be instantly defeated if knocked out of the ring/stage. Unfortunately the stages were so small that it was almost impossible to achieve a flawless victory as the amount of attacks needed would have knocked the opponent off the stage before defeating him.
In March, 2004, GMR
GMR (magazine)
GMR was a monthly magazine on video games that was published by Ziff-Davis — the publisher of such magazines as PC Magazine, Electronic Gaming Monthly, and Computer Gaming World . GMR was launched in February 2003, being sold in only the Electronics Boutique chain of video game stores...
magazine rated Masters of Teräs Käsi number 3 on its list of five worst Star Wars games, stating that the characters in the game were grossly imbalanced.
In 2007, ScrewAttack
ScrewAttack
ScrewAttack . is a video game-related website that showcases original entertainment for an audience of video game enthusiasts. Its content is also shown on GameTrailers and IGN...
placed the game at #10 on their list of Top 10 Worst Fighters.
Characters
- Luke SkywalkerLuke SkywalkerLuke Skywalker is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the original film trilogy of the Star Wars franchise, where he is portrayed by Mark Hamill. He is introduced in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, in which he is forced to leave home, and finds himself apprenticed to the Jedi master...
- Darth VaderDarth VaderDarth Vader is a central character in the Star Wars saga, appearing as one of the main antagonists in the original trilogy and as the main protagonist in the prequel trilogy....
(must be unlocked) - Han SoloHan SoloHan Solo is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise played by Harrison Ford. Introduced in the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope , Solo and his Wookiee co-pilot, Chewbacca , become involved in the Rebel Alliance against the Galactic Empire...
- Princess Leia OrganaPrincess Leia OrganaPrincess Leia Organa of Alderaan is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe...
- ChewbaccaChewbaccaChewbacca, also known as Chewie, is a character in the Star Wars franchise, portrayed by Peter Mayhew. In the series' narrative chronology, he appears in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Episode IV: A New Hope, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi...
- Arden Lyn, a master of Teräs Käsi hired by the Emperor
- Boba FettBoba FettBoba Fett is a character in Star Wars. A bounty hunter hired by Darth Vader to find the Millennium Falcon, he is a minor villain in both Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi....
- StormtrooperStormtrooperStormtroopers were specialist soldiers of the German Army in World War I. In the last years of the war, Stoßtruppen were trained to fight with "infiltration tactics", part of the Germans' new method of attack on enemy trenches...
(must be unlocked) - Hoar, a Tusken RaiderTusken RaidersTusken Raiders are fictional creatures in the Star Wars universe. They are characterized as a nomadic warrior race that lives on the planet Tatooine.-Appearances in Star Wars media:...
- Thok, a Gamorrean guard
- Princess LeiaPrincess Leia OrganaPrincess Leia Organa of Alderaan is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe...
(in Jabba'sJabba the HuttJabba the Hutt is a fictional character in George Lucas's space opera film saga Star Wars. Designed as a large, slug-like alien, his appearance has been described by film critic Roger Ebert as "Dickensian," a cross between a toad and the Cheshire Cat....
slave outfit) - Mara JadeMara JadeMara Jade Skywalker is a fictional character in Star Wars Expanded Universe books, comic books, and computer games. She is also wife to Luke Skywalker, and mother to Ben Skywalker. In the different video games, she is voiced by Heidi Shannon and Kath Soucie.-Concept and development:Mara Jade was...
- Jodo Kast