Star Wars: TIE Fighter

Yesterday was Star Wars Day, and today is the Revenge of the 5th, so to commemorate I want to take some time to go through my favorite Star Wars games, beginning with the first which was, for me, truly absorbing: TIE Fighter.  I cannot remember the occasion, but at some point the TIE Fighter Collector's Edition CD-ROM wound up in my possession as a gift from my parents, and it was the start of something beautiful. TIE Fighter is a space combat simulation that was released as a follow-up to X-Wing, with the major difference being that for once, you played on the Imperial side.  The Collector's Edition provided graphical enhancements (most notably cleaner lines on the 3D models, which are otherwise a bit pixelated) and includes the Defender of the Empire expansion pack.  The storyline has you taking on the role of a common fighter pilot in the Imperial navy in the period of time between The Empire Strikes Back and The Return of the Jedi.  Initially engaging in small missions involving checking freighters for illegal contraband, you quickly rise through the ranks and engage in the full-scale assault on the Rebel Alliance. Making things even more interesting, soon you'll be approached by one of the Emperor's special agents, who will give you additional instructions on the sly. These extra mission objects are often much more challenging, but begin to reveal a thick subplot involving intrigue and treason, and successfully completing the objectives will also see you rising in the ranks of the Emperor's secret society.

On of the things that I enjoyed the most about TIE Fighter is that it really gave you the feeling that you were involved in a serious conflict, and it made the world of Star Wars feel so much bigger. From checking cargo on distant outposts to taking part in major battles and then spying on Imperial officers in rendezvous with Rebel leaders, the missions remained fresh and engaging and tied each aspect in to the grander story of the conflict between the Empire and the Rebels. It also gave you the sense that the rebels are just that: rebels, a comparatively small, out-gunned and technologically inferior force desperately and perhaps laughably attempting to crush the mighty Empire.

Gameplay was particularly exciting. You would often enter the field with ships under your command, and additional groups of fighters would often accompany you with their own orders and command structure.  You could give commands to your companions, and the AI was solid.  True to form, ships like the TIE Fighter and TIE Interceptor were unshielded, meaning you had to be careful and keep your crap together during early missions. By the time things really started heating up, you'd be piloting gunboats, TIE Advanced and the incomparable TIE Defender.  The game forces you to manage your in-ship resources, managing the energy flow to your weapons and shields and selecting the secondary payloads you choose to bring into battle.  There is no hand-holding here, as your head's up display will give you a crosshair, radar and targeting computer, and from there it is all up to you. Managing your resources and leading your shots: that's your job.  The next game of this sort that I would play would be Freespace, and although it is a solid game, I was actually a little pissed off that Freespace's HUD included a target indicator that actually told you where to shoot if you wanted to hit your target, based on his distance, direction and speed.  Coming from TIE Fighter, where if you want to make a shot you have to make it with nothing but your brain and your balls, it felt like the game was condescending to me.  Make no mistake: if you're a good pilot in TIE Fighter, it's because you're a good pilot.  If you're not...well, you die.  Them's the breaks, kid.

Although not as flashy or technologically superior as newer space combat sims, TIE Fighter had a core that was as solid as they come.  It would be great to see a new release that brought the visuals into the current gen, but the bones of the game need no adjustment.  It is a true classic.