Star Wars: X-Wing
Developer: LucasArts
Publisher: LucusArts
Release Date: 02/1993
Format: PC
This game is still possibly one of the best and most authenticated games to bring the feel of the force to the gaming world. Classed more as a simulator, you played from a first person perspective in the cockpit of the chosen craft. Players had to prove themselves worthy to pilot a rebel star fighter, train in vigorous space combat exercises. Then take part in tours of duty against the empire before finally landing the final blow to the first death star.
Starting the game was boring, I will admit. Simply flying thou endless gates in space, wasn’t challenging, but proved useful to learn the skills needed to pilot the Y-Wing, A-Wing and the much loved X-Wing before combat. Once you had proven yourself here you could take part in the trainning simulator and this is quite possibly where I spent most my time. Here you took part in missions with no fear of dying or being captured by the empire. Missions started easy and became progressively harder, each offering something different, learning the strengths and weakness of each the star fighters.
There were that many missions, ranging from destroying everything, escort, dog fights, disabling freighters all against Tie fighters, Bombers and sometimes Star Destroyers. A few extra star vehicles were added like transports and gunships, but 98% of the game was accurate. Apart from flying and shooting, you have a lot of cockpit controls too. You could fold the wings for better speed. Regulate power between shields and lasers, select how many lasers fired at a time. Having the X-Wing fire all 4 laser cannons at a time improved the chances of hitting the fast moving targets, but having to wait a few seconds for the to recharge meant fast follow up shots weren't there.
Publisher: LucusArts
Release Date: 02/1993
Format: PC
This game is still possibly one of the best and most authenticated games to bring the feel of the force to the gaming world. Classed more as a simulator, you played from a first person perspective in the cockpit of the chosen craft. Players had to prove themselves worthy to pilot a rebel star fighter, train in vigorous space combat exercises. Then take part in tours of duty against the empire before finally landing the final blow to the first death star.
Starting the game was boring, I will admit. Simply flying thou endless gates in space, wasn’t challenging, but proved useful to learn the skills needed to pilot the Y-Wing, A-Wing and the much loved X-Wing before combat. Once you had proven yourself here you could take part in the trainning simulator and this is quite possibly where I spent most my time. Here you took part in missions with no fear of dying or being captured by the empire. Missions started easy and became progressively harder, each offering something different, learning the strengths and weakness of each the star fighters.
There were that many missions, ranging from destroying everything, escort, dog fights, disabling freighters all against Tie fighters, Bombers and sometimes Star Destroyers. A few extra star vehicles were added like transports and gunships, but 98% of the game was accurate. Apart from flying and shooting, you have a lot of cockpit controls too. You could fold the wings for better speed. Regulate power between shields and lasers, select how many lasers fired at a time. Having the X-Wing fire all 4 laser cannons at a time improved the chances of hitting the fast moving targets, but having to wait a few seconds for the to recharge meant fast follow up shots weren't there.
View from the X-Wing cockpit, with Tie Fighter in its sights.
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The A-Wing was more of a dog-fighter, but still able to destroy frigate's.
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Once enough of the training missions had been done, you then had the chance to fly and fight against the empire itself. The missions and styles didn’t vary much from the training but, if your craft was destroyed you either died and it was Game Over or was captured by the empire and had a slim chance of being saved. Because you could have several names on the roster, you could play as more than one person and there
was a mission that saved prisoners. It was a very tough mission, but if completed any captured pilot was able to be played again.
There were several tours to complete, all offering medals and ribbons. The story was built before Episode 4, plans regarding the Death Star were introduced in later missions and the final few missions you flew above the Death Star, destroying capital ships and tying up enemy fighters ready before landing the final blow against it. We all knew Luke Skywalker did this. But to deny us ourselves would have criminal with all the training and hours spend playing.
Two expansion parks were made, Imperial Pursuit continued to story after Episode4 and before 5, with the Empire hot on the rebel’s tails and setting you on the Planet Hoth. But the best was B-Wing, it offered more training mission and tours with the newest edition to the rebel fleet. Not long after Tie Fighter was released, basically the same set-up as X-Wing but from the empires point of view. This offered better graphics but was very difficult in terms of gameplay. The Tie Fighter, Interceptors and Bomber have No shields, so a few hits and it was Mission Over. X-Wing vs Tie Fighter was the third and final instalment and quite possibly the worst. With limited training missions and geared towards online multiplayer it lacked what had made X-wing a hit. Later the Expansion Pack Balance of Power offered a story for each side, but limited to 15missions each saved the game little.
Most my time was spent in the training simulator, the tours became very difficult and being destroyed was a massive risk with losing the player you had gained all the ribbons for. The whole experience made you believe you were a part of the Star Wars universe only possible thing missing was meeting Luke or Princess Leia, but that’s not what the game was about. It was flying those space craft and blowing stuff
up.
Chris Sowry 8/10
was a mission that saved prisoners. It was a very tough mission, but if completed any captured pilot was able to be played again.
There were several tours to complete, all offering medals and ribbons. The story was built before Episode 4, plans regarding the Death Star were introduced in later missions and the final few missions you flew above the Death Star, destroying capital ships and tying up enemy fighters ready before landing the final blow against it. We all knew Luke Skywalker did this. But to deny us ourselves would have criminal with all the training and hours spend playing.
Two expansion parks were made, Imperial Pursuit continued to story after Episode4 and before 5, with the Empire hot on the rebel’s tails and setting you on the Planet Hoth. But the best was B-Wing, it offered more training mission and tours with the newest edition to the rebel fleet. Not long after Tie Fighter was released, basically the same set-up as X-Wing but from the empires point of view. This offered better graphics but was very difficult in terms of gameplay. The Tie Fighter, Interceptors and Bomber have No shields, so a few hits and it was Mission Over. X-Wing vs Tie Fighter was the third and final instalment and quite possibly the worst. With limited training missions and geared towards online multiplayer it lacked what had made X-wing a hit. Later the Expansion Pack Balance of Power offered a story for each side, but limited to 15missions each saved the game little.
Most my time was spent in the training simulator, the tours became very difficult and being destroyed was a massive risk with losing the player you had gained all the ribbons for. The whole experience made you believe you were a part of the Star Wars universe only possible thing missing was meeting Luke or Princess Leia, but that’s not what the game was about. It was flying those space craft and blowing stuff
up.
Chris Sowry 8/10
One of the B-Wing training missions saw you flying the trench run with the new craft.
