Star Wars : Shadows of the Empire ( video game ) Star Wars : Shadows of the Empire is an action / adventure third / first - person shooter game set between the time of " " and " " . In conjunction with other " " releases , the game was released on the Nintendo 64 platform in 1996 . Later , in 1997 , it was released on the PC platform for Microsoft Windows . Story . The game is divided in four parts ( or chapters ) . The first chapter takes place during the beginning of " The Empire Strikes Back " . Dash Rendar is trapped on Hoth when the Imperial forces attack . As the player , you have to pilot a snowspeeder in the Battle of Hoth destroying AT - ATs , AT - STs and Imperial probes . Then you must fight your way through Echo Base back to your ship the " Outrider " . After escaping Hoth you must fight your way through the Hoth asteroid field and the several waves of TIE Fighters before escaping into hyperspace . In the second chapter , Dash tracks down some of the bounty hunters that had been dispatched to capture Han Solo . Fighting his way through several trains and finally confronting IG - 88 on Ord Mantell and assaulting Imperial outposts throughout canyons , on Gall to finally find and attack Boba Fett . In the third chapter , Boba Fett has escaped and the player ' s mission changes : you must now protect Luke Skywalker from an assassination attempt ordered by the Black Sun ' s Prince Xizor , by fighting a deadly gang of swoop bikers through Mos Eisley and Beggar ' s Canyon . Dash then recovers Imperial secret plans of the second Death Star , that are being carried aboard the freighter " Suprosa " . Finally , in the last chapter , Dash , along with Luke and Lando Calrissian , travels to Imperial Center to rescue Princess Leia from Prince Xizor ' s stronghold by infiltrating Xizor ' s palace through the sewers below Imperial City , fighting their way through the castle and eventually engaging in a space battle above the planet . The game ' s greatest surprise comes at the end , when Dash flies within Xizor ' s space station to destroy it . In the game the player is led to believe that Rendar perishes in the blast , with a secret ending on harder difficulties revealing he secretly survived ; however in the book Rendar does not participate in the stations destruction , remaining outside in his ship with the rest of the fleet . Game levels . Part I : The Battle of Hoth . Battle of Hoth . Here , the player is introduced with the famous Battle of Hoth , and this is the only time the player will use the snowspeeder in the game . Escape from Echo Base . The wampas make their first appearance of the game here . This level introduces the game ' s most numerous 3rd / 1st person shooting levels , along with its first boss : an Imperial AT - ST . Asteroid Chase . This level introduces the flying aspect of the game , where players take control of the " Outrider ' s " gun turrets to destroy asteroids and TIE Fighters . Part II : In Search of Boba Fett . Ord Mantell Junkyard . Another running around mission , made much more difficult with the addition of a narrow moving train and a difficult boss : IG - 88 . Gall Spaceport . The wampas make their second appearance of this game here appearing brown . This level introduces the jetpack and pits the player against three bosses , an Imperial AT - ST , Boba Fett and the Slave I . Part III : Hunting the Assassins . Mos Eisley and Beggar ' s Canyon . The player is challenged with another variety in the form of a race / chasing stage , and they must navigate narrow paths at breakneck speeds or face death . The Sarlacc also makes its only appearance in this game during this level . Imperial Freighter " Suprosa " . Back on his feet , Dash must make his way through strange terrains consisting of hallways , offices and engine rooms , finally ending with a duel with the level ' s boss : the Imperial loader droid . Although the level ' s icon depicts Dash wearing his jetpack , it is not actually featured in this level . Part IV : Lair of the Dark Prince . Sewers of Imperial City . The jetpack returns for this level and is put to good use as Dash must navigate through the maze of pipes and creepy dianogas , including the boss : the Giant Dianoga . Xizor ' s Palace . This strange level forces the player to negotiate poor building planning with the jetpack , as the entire level is teeming with enemies and the final boss : the Gladiator droid . Skyhook Battle . The final level ends with the dogfight over Coruscant . Music . Selections from the " Shadows of the Empire " soundtrack score were later used in the game along with a number of cues from John Williams ' " " soundtrack : Differences with novel and comics . There are many notable differences between the game , novel , and comics .