Retro Review: Star Wars TIE Fighter
A Review of the Classic Space Flight Simulator from Lucasarts
Flight simulators come in two distinct flavours- normal, and gun-laden. TIE Fighter, first released in July 1994, was of the second variety, and possibly one of the best combat flight simulators of all time.
TIE Fighter for the PC- Setting the Bar
Following the success of Lucasarts' X-Wing series, the team at Skywalker ranch decided that it was time to tell a different side of the Galactic Civil War- as featured in the Star Wars films of the 80's. And so, TIE Fighter was born- a chance to step into the flight boots of Maarek Stele- a top Imperial flight-ace- and bring order to the galaxy by wiping out any and all opposition to the might of the Galactic Empire.
The plot of TIE Fighter centres on Stele's Imperial service, and is set roughly in between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
The Rebels have been routed from Hoth and are fleeing into the outer rim, and the Empire is taking the chance to seize as many Rebel strongholds and leaders as possible. They are also working heavily on new weapons and technology, hoping to get an edge over the Alliance before they return to the fore.
TIE Fighter for PC- Space Battle Gameplay
TIE Fighter's plot is built around 'Battles' - similar in form to the tours of duty you would find in other games- and in each Maarek flies in mission after mission, working towards the Empire’s overarching goal. Standout moments include saving the Emperor from a traitor, trying out new TIE models and shooting down hundreds and hundreds of rebel fighters, capital ships and star bases.
The main component of the game is basically a combat flight simulator set in space. As such, there is no worry about gravity or running into a tree. There are however many other dangers facing the gamer- the Rebels will use everything they have against Maarek, and he often finds himself facing squadrons of enemy fighters, fleets of capital ships and even the odd sneaky minefield.
TIE Fighter for PC- Space Fighters and Weapons
The fighters available at first are nimble, yet the TIE Fighter's lack of shielding and weak weapons are no match for an Xwing's armament. Later in the campaign better Imperial craft are available, including the deadly TIE Interceptor, TIE Bomber, TIE Advanced, Missile Boat, Gunship and, eventually, the TIE Defender- the most heavily armed and feared fighter in the Empire's considerable arsenal.
Each fighter only has one source of power, and that power needs to be fed into three different parts- engines, shields and lasers. These three can be adjusted with a button- meaning that if Maarek needs to escape a firefight all the power from the shields and lasers can be transferred to engines, or visa versa- this forces the gamer into a delicate balancing act.
The fighters also feature an innovative Heads Up Display (HUD) that offers an overall view of the field of battle, as well as details on the currently selected target's speed, shields and power.
TIE Fighter for PC- Maarek Stele, the Emperor’s Top Gun
As Stele, the gamer is nothing more than a foot soldier and therefore expected to follow orders, which come thick and fast during the battles. After the mission was complete Stele is given a full debriefing, and a chance to talk to the commander and, occasionally, a dark figure who represented the Emperor's personal interests- completing missions for him would allow you to join the Emperor's secret order, as well as ranking up in the Imperial military.
Overall, TIE Fighter was a fantastic game for its time, and a worthy forefather to many of the modern flight sims. Plus, as it spawned a host of sequels and add-on packs, the magic is still available for the right price.
Score: 9/10
Maarek Stele
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