Home :: Software :: PC Games :: Action  

Action

Adventure
Cards & Casino
Classic Games & Retro Arcade
Collections
Online
PC Games
Role-Playing
Simulation
Sports & Outdoors
Strategy
Star Wars: Dark Forces (Jewel Case)

Star Wars: Dark Forces (Jewel Case)

List Price:
Your Price:
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 2 3 >>

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: An oldie, but not neccessarily a baddie
Review: "Dark Forces" (or as fans say, "DF") was the prequel to "Star Wars: Jedi Knight" (JK), the game which LucasArts and Raven software expect to follow up this spring with "Star Wars Jedi Outcast". Though all of these games fit the so-called "first person shooter" category, the difference in time is marked by the relative advances in graphics, sound and overall gameplay. Unfortunately, because DF is the oldest, these weaknesses are most obvious in that game. DF introduces the character of Kyle Katarn, a former Imperial Commando who went solo rather than torture captured rebel spy Jan Ors. Not entirely won over by the rebel cause, Katarn nevertheless carries out certain high-priority, low-profile missions that require him to sneak and shoot (actually run and blast) his way into highly fortified areas. In the opening mission, Kyle breaks into an imperial fortress to steal plans for the first Death Star, allowing Princess Leia to obtain them on her way home to Alderaan. The meat of the story that forms the rest of the game has Kyle tracking down a new Imperial weapon - the "Dark Trooper", a sort of souped up version of the regular stromtroopers who've been dropping like flies since May of 1977. When a rebel outpost is mysteriously wiped out, Kyle goes in to investigate. Further levels send Kyle to other planets - ice planets, completely urbanized planets (Coruscsant is a stop), planets that appear to be all cliffs, and one planet where you spend a lot of time floating in a sewer (Anoat, which I think was the planet that Han and Leia decided not to go to in "Empire"; despite what happened in Bespin, it was still a wise choice). You also travel to Nar Shadaa (the floating city) get captured by Jaba the Hutt (you escape, but not with your weapons), and slink around various spaceships. The story doesn't carry that well into the game - if not for cutscenes and mission briefs, you wouldn't know what the point of all the shooting was. The missions themselves seem hodge-podge (you go to various planets to get clues about the new weapon and where it can be located, but little else links one level to another) but come together to form a more cohesive story by the end (the final levels are more closely linked, hinting of the climax). Though a shooter, DF is also a puzzle game, requiring you to drop your blaster and think for a moment (the power to destroy a wave of stormtrooper is nothing compared to the power you'll need to reach the center of the maze they were guarding).

Time hasn't been kind to this game, and anybody raised on the likes of "Quake 2" or DF's own sequel, JK, will likely be appalled by its low-end graphics (this game is circa 1994, and has a minimum hardware req. of a 386!) and MIDI sound (which is similarly unkind to John Williams famous music). What really kills it is how the game simulate the first-person perspective - there are separate controls for turning Kyle's head sideways AND for looking up and down. That is problematic enough when having to deal with dangers above (probe droids and mind-probe droids) and below (the sewer monsters). Combine that with the artificial feeling of Kyle's movements, and you'll feel like you're seeing the world less through his eyes and more through the windshield of a car he's driving (sustained gameplay reportedly induces nausea). Nevertheless, the thinking-shooter's aspect of the game is more than enough to warrant a shot at this pre-modern game. Those who complete the game and tire of its levels can download third-party levels designed by fans as well as mods (you can play Boba Fett). If you are stuck with something lower than a 100 Mhz Pentium and will do anything short of buying one to get the Star Wars experience, this may be the game for you.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Classic
Review: Dated now I know, but games are about so much more than high-end graphics. This game was revolutionary in it's time, and is still even 10 years later, great fun to play. Very challenging and so engaging that you forget about the low quality graphics after a while.

Very little that I can criticize about the game, seeing as they pretty much put together the best they could with the technology of the time. A lot of people might be put off by the fact the background music is tinny MIDI files, but I find them amusing. They are rather *good* MIDIs at any rate.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great Game
Review: Great game for its day but can be anoying when you get stuck.
My advice to you is if you have Jedi Outcast don't buy this becuase dark forces is currently be remade with jedi outcast engine as a mod for jedi outcast. It is rumored though that the mod may be completed for jedi academy. For more information on dark forces mod go to www.darkforces.jediknight.com

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Action Game
Review: I absolutely love this game, its one of the best action games I've ever played. The levels are scary, challenging, and fun. If you like action games, and you like star wars buy it.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Fun, but be warned.
Review: I am a big fan of FPS games so I bought this. I had played Jedi Knight (An awesome game) and thought this would be similar. I was very wrong. The graphics were lo-res sprites, I was stuck firing at a blob of black and white dots that was supposedly a storm trooper, and I was stuck with "find the key, open the door" game mechanics. Once I got used to the game It wasn't so bad. An okay game, but know what you're buying...

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Dark classic
Review: I can't believe this game is still in circulation! It couldn't have been any earlier than seven years ago that I last played this. Therefore.... my memory is a bit sketchy. But what I do remember I really liked. If you enjoyed Doom or Duke Nukem, or any kind of first-person shooter, here's one that utilizes the Star Wars name in a very effective way. While it plays no relative plot to the Star Wars trilogy, it's fun (and satisfying) to kill familiar enemies with familiar weapons. I did notice that while levels grew progressively harder, the game itself grew progressively easier. This is because you collect so much armor along the way that only direct attacks (like bites or punches) tend to hurt you. Regardless, Dark Forces is an expansive game with a large variety of weapons and gameplay. A little outdated, yes, but I always did like the classics.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Very Very Fun
Review: I had bought this game ooo a bunch of years back, when it first came out, but at the time i was pritty young so i never really got into it. Now that im older i can see what a fun game this is. Its a first person shooter and the controlls are very easy. The sound is amazing and the enimies guns ect. are awsome. The only thing i have to warn you about is the graphics suck major, sometimes if your foe is to far away it looks like just a rock. Putting graphics aside you will find underneath the pixels and polygons a very unique and fun game with a good plot may i add.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Star Wars: Dark Forces
Review: I love Dark Forces. I like the graphics--not as sharp as Jedi Knight, but not as 'conical' either. I enjoy the music. But, more than anything, I love the storyline. Dark Forces is lively and fun, with interesting puzzles.

My only complaint with Dark Forces was that they never offered an expansion pack. I'm currently installing a second OS on my computer so I can run Dark Forces again--it won't run under Windows XP.

I have no interest in "Jedi: Outcast."

And since it seems to be standard in these reviews... The Empire Strikes Back--best story, best visuals. Star Wars--great story, good action. Attack of the Clones--best action, decent visuals (more is not better), ok story. Phantom Menace--good visuals, good story. Return of the Jedi--good story.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: If you're a fan of Star Wars, this is you pick....
Review: If you love FPS (First Person Shooter) games and you love Star Wars, this game is for you. Although it's old(made with the same old engine as Duke Nukem and Shadow Warrior), it's still a cool game. Base on the comics Dark Forces--Rebel Agent, is the story of Kyle Katarn, a once Imperial officer is now a mercenary for the rebels. It's the prequel to the famous Jedi Knight games.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Not bad for it's day.
Review: It was very cool when it first came out, and would be a good buy for any fan who wants to experience the thrill of blasting stormtroopers, especially for it's current price.


<< 1 2 3 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates