STAR WARS™: TIE Fighter Special Edition

To me, this game is flawless. My love for it comes from experiencing the excitement first hand, in 1994 when I played the floppy version. I had already put a fair bit of my time in X-Wing before that, but Tie Fighter was a real improvement over it's predecessor. The Collector's CD version was even more of an improvement, and it's the definitive version of this game. I keep coming back to Tie Fighter periodically, and it doesn't get old. Tie Fighter hits the perfect balance between story, atmosphere and gameplay. The plot is set up in classic Star Wars fashion, with some rolling text and a cool intro where the emperor swears to crush the rebel uprising. That's it. There's no emotional backstory about you being the unlikely hero, called upon to save the empire. You're just a pilot among others, putting in the work just like everybody else. You rise through the ranks as the campaign progresses, and by completing optional mission objectives, can get you into the emperor's inner circle. The story get's subtly explained in mission briefings/debriefings, and with a few cutscenes. The art and sounds of the game, really set the mood and give it that classic Lucas Arts/Star Wars feel that I've grown to love. The exceptional IMUSE midi music changes based on what's happening on the screen, and it harkens back to a time when game music was composed with the game in mind. The missions are usually pretty long and often times unforgiving, but they're never unnecessarily hard. Usually there's a tactic that you just have to figure out by replaying the mission a few times. It's just the way games were made back then. You can also manage the difficulty level, by how badly you want to complete all the optional mission objectives. Tie Fighter is an oldschool GAME, that has the right amount of everything. It's a simulation, but it's not overly complicated. There's a learning curve, but when you get the hang of it, you'll get so immersed that you can't stop playing.

This is, by far, the best thing that Star Wars has brought us: The team of Lawrence Holland has created the best space-combat-simulator to date. The storyline is dense, the mechanics are complex, but intuitive, the games is pure awesomeness. You even start going to bed thinking, "I'm on duty". I should stay half-awake, in case we get attacked. :) Yes, it is that intense. They used X-Wing as an basis and upgraded the game by every aspect. Buy it. Play it. Feel it. PS: Do not event try to attempt playing this game without a joystick.

One of the best space sim games ever made as well as one of the best star wars games. Was a time when these games ruled gaming. It's age does show but there are tons of mods available and more to come with this re-release I'm sure. If you don't have a joystick to play the collectors edition versions with just use a standard pc/xbox/ps controller. The game(s) recognize both.

This was one of my favorite games as a teenager and I was extremely happy to find a version I could play on a modern computer. This game ends with Battle 10. The game (special edition) I played back in the 90's included three more missions. As someone who LOVED the battles between Thrawn & Zaarin, this game is extremely disappointing because those missions aren't included. Otherwise, the gameplay is exactly as I remembered and that part was great.... just wish it included ALL of the battles.

NB version reviewed is the 1995 DOS CD (with voice acting) version. This game is a masterpiece. Along with X-Wing, they set the standard for future space sim games such as X-Wing Alliance, Wing Commander Prophecy and Descent Freespace. The story is a most exquisite space opera. The gameplay is enjoyable, and challenging - often like solving a puzzle, where the puzzle is where to be and what to shoot to complete your objectives. (The difficulty is somewhat more fair than X-Wing too!) The event driven iMuse music matches in-game events closely, and in combination with the in-flight voice-acted dialogue improves the immersion into this fantasy galaxy. Few games induce tremors or cause me to sweat because, after playing a mission 10 times, you are further than you ever got before. Such are the emotions that Tie Fighter induces. Alongside the main story arc are bonus objectives that the Secret Order (mysterious cult under direct command of the Emperor) ask you to complete - adding an extra layer of challenge. Despite its age, the 1995 version looks acceptable in 640 * 480 graphics resolution. Only a few nit-picking critisms: I personally would have preferred more missions depicting the struggling factions as portrayed in the films (but this is a matter of taste). Sometimes missions were difficult to beat - but then this game was made in an era that really made you work to make progress - completing certain missions was a real achievement. Unfortunately you cannot assign wingment to defend targets - only attack. (Perhaps a feature rather than a flaw?) If an Advanced Concussion Missile is fired at you, it is *very* difficult to shoot down! Beware. It has been an enjoyable two years (playing on-and-off) playing Tie Fighter. Let's hope that the resurgence in the popularity of the Star Wars films will lead this game series to be revived!