By Phil Cole
So I come to you today with tidings of Star Wars and joy (Yes I know Christmas was almost a month ago, but dammit it’s stuck in my head!). Today sees wave two of GOG.com’s nostalgiafest of Star Wars gaming continue with its release of six new titles to the digital world.
To go alongside the previously released X-wing and TIE fighter games comes… well… X-Wing vs TIE Fighter: Balance of Power and the newest (at the time of writing… come oooon Disney) title in the franchise, X-Wing Alliance. Personally I spent many an hour aiding the Azzameen family as they try to survive in a galaxy beset by war in a story arc that covers some of the best moments of the original trilogy, culminating in a jaw-dropping Battle of Endor (The first time you see a Super Star Destroyer is really quite something).
Alongside these space based adventures are some more down to earth titles. Battlefront 2 is a welcome re-release that takes the well-loved Battlefield formula but gives it a Star Wars sheen (and hopefully we’ll see some news on a third game soon!), Galactic Battlegrounds was one of the Star Wars franchises few RTS games, coming in between the lovely Force Commander and the brilliant Empire at War and is, like X-wing v TIE figher and X-wing alliance, available via digital distribution for the first time! There’s also something for the RPG fan out there, in the shape of the, often confusing and sadly a bit broken, Knights of the Old Republic II: Sith Lords. Despite its flaws however it offer a solid slice of classic Bioware gaming and there are ways of restoring it to the glory that it should have been.
Amidst all these titles however, comes a game that truly holds a special place in my heart - Star Wars: Dark Forces. For those of you that like those sorts of things and have read our “Meet the team” section, you’ll that this game is pretty much what got me into gaming in the first place. It was a classic FPS game that featured numerous location within the Star Wars galaxy, with a cracking plot that let you take part in some classic Extended Universe action whilst also embarking on Kyle Katarn’s journey from wise-cracking merc to saviour of the Rebel Alliance (remind you of anyone?). I’m sure that it will be just as fun, and pant-wettingly scary (those dianogas and dark troopers man…. *shudder*) as it was the first time round. Fingers crossed for Star Wars: Dark Forces 2: Jedi Knight getting a similar treatment, as everyone needs some live action cut-scenes in their life.
All of these titles are, of course, DRM free, and GOG.com has hinted that it’s not finished yet with even more classic Lucasfilm games in the pipeline over 2015.
To go alongside the previously released X-wing and TIE fighter games comes… well… X-Wing vs TIE Fighter: Balance of Power and the newest (at the time of writing… come oooon Disney) title in the franchise, X-Wing Alliance. Personally I spent many an hour aiding the Azzameen family as they try to survive in a galaxy beset by war in a story arc that covers some of the best moments of the original trilogy, culminating in a jaw-dropping Battle of Endor (The first time you see a Super Star Destroyer is really quite something).
Alongside these space based adventures are some more down to earth titles. Battlefront 2 is a welcome re-release that takes the well-loved Battlefield formula but gives it a Star Wars sheen (and hopefully we’ll see some news on a third game soon!), Galactic Battlegrounds was one of the Star Wars franchises few RTS games, coming in between the lovely Force Commander and the brilliant Empire at War and is, like X-wing v TIE figher and X-wing alliance, available via digital distribution for the first time! There’s also something for the RPG fan out there, in the shape of the, often confusing and sadly a bit broken, Knights of the Old Republic II: Sith Lords. Despite its flaws however it offer a solid slice of classic Bioware gaming and there are ways of restoring it to the glory that it should have been.
Amidst all these titles however, comes a game that truly holds a special place in my heart - Star Wars: Dark Forces. For those of you that like those sorts of things and have read our “Meet the team” section, you’ll that this game is pretty much what got me into gaming in the first place. It was a classic FPS game that featured numerous location within the Star Wars galaxy, with a cracking plot that let you take part in some classic Extended Universe action whilst also embarking on Kyle Katarn’s journey from wise-cracking merc to saviour of the Rebel Alliance (remind you of anyone?). I’m sure that it will be just as fun, and pant-wettingly scary (those dianogas and dark troopers man…. *shudder*) as it was the first time round. Fingers crossed for Star Wars: Dark Forces 2: Jedi Knight getting a similar treatment, as everyone needs some live action cut-scenes in their life.
All of these titles are, of course, DRM free, and GOG.com has hinted that it’s not finished yet with even more classic Lucasfilm games in the pipeline over 2015.
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