Pixel artist Brandon James Greer (@BJGpixel on Twitter) has uploaded a series of art showcasing their painstakingly handcrafted rendition of the best Star Wars movie in glorious pixel form.
Greer recreated three iconic scenes from the film: the speeder chase, Jabba's throne room, and the film's climactic lightsaber duel.
'Return of the Jedi' in Game Boy Color style: Lightsaber Duel! pic.twitter.com/ZglumdyT2N
— Brandon James Greer (@BJGpixel) February 7, 2023
Video game design has changed a lot in the two-odd decades since the Game Boy Color was first launched, and it'd be fascinating to see what a Game Boy game would look like with modern mechanics. From the interface and button indicators, it looks to be inspired by A Link to the Past but with force moves.
Versed retro gaming fans will know that a Return of the Jedi game already exists for the Game Boy. Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi was a subpar port of the excellent Super Nintendo game. I think it's fair to say that Greer's version looks a fair bit more palatable — to modern standards, at least.
The famous speeder chase scene in Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi versus the same scene in James Brandon Greer's version.
Unfortunately, as is always the case with the most exciting demakes, Greer's Return of the Jedi will not be taken further than a few proofs of concept. Honestly, with the famously litigious Disney now in charge of all things Star Wars, I really shouldn't have expected anything more.
For those who love a good behind-the-scenes look at how cool pixel art like this is made, watch this video where Greer explains their process: