30 years on, Star Wars: Dark Forces remains one of the galaxy’s finest FPS games

Nostalgia can sometimes be hit or miss when returning to an old, much-loved game. Did we remember it right? Were those bosses really that hard? Have our reactions sharpened over the years? Have we flown too close to the git-gud sun to really appreciate a simpler time? Turns out no, particularly when it comes to Star Wars: Dark Forces as it turns 30 years old. This iconic FPS game came out all the way back in 1995 when any title that dared to run-and-gun in first-person was automatically thrown into the DOOM knockoff pile. But the thing that shone a light on Star Wars: Dark Forces, when the rest of its competitors were trying to find their feet in an infant FPS genre, was the inclusion of an engaging narrative and a story that you actually found yourself caring about. As much as you wanted to mow down every Stormtrooper you came across. Looking back, Star Wars: Dark Forces bridged the gap between shooting bad guys in the head and playing in a lived-in, fully realized world with lore that you want to learn more about. Even looking at some of the current biggest FPS games, they’re all packed with nuanced characters, storylines, and arcs that wouldn’t be out of place on the big screen. Look at Apex Legends characters Bloodhound and Fuse, who, despite the battle-torn arena they met in, have finally consummated their seasons-long romance. Hell, even each Fortnite chapter has a fleshed-out storyline to enjoy as you dive out of the battle bus. Continue reading 30 years on, Star Wars: Dark Forces remains one of the galaxy’s finest FPS games

Feb 28, 2025 - 18:48

30 years on, Star Wars: Dark Forces remains one of the galaxy’s finest FPS games

Nostalgia can sometimes be hit or miss when returning to an old, much-loved game. Did we remember it right? Were those bosses really that hard? Have our reactions sharpened over the years? Have we flown too close to the git-gud sun to really appreciate a simpler time? Turns out no, particularly when it comes to Star Wars: Dark Forces as it turns 30 years old.

This iconic FPS game came out all the way back in 1995 when any title that dared to run-and-gun in first-person was automatically thrown into the DOOM knockoff pile. But the thing that shone a light on Star Wars: Dark Forces, when the rest of its competitors were trying to find their feet in an infant FPS genre, was the inclusion of an engaging narrative and a story that you actually found yourself caring about. As much as you wanted to mow down every Stormtrooper you came across.

Looking back, Star Wars: Dark Forces bridged the gap between shooting bad guys in the head and playing in a lived-in, fully realized world with lore that you want to learn more about. Even looking at some of the current biggest FPS games, they’re all packed with nuanced characters, storylines, and arcs that wouldn’t be out of place on the big screen. Look at Apex Legends characters Bloodhound and Fuse, who, despite the battle-torn arena they met in, have finally consummated their seasons-long romance. Hell, even each Fortnite chapter has a fleshed-out storyline to enjoy as you dive out of the battle bus.

Continue reading 30 years on, Star Wars: Dark Forces remains one of the galaxy’s finest FPS games