Retrospective: Dark Forces Comments by John Walker
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Starting to enjoy the FPS genre more and more, I think it's weird that LucasArts have a way of avoiding that genre, when it's obviously the genre that would fit Star Wars the most. Imagine Dark Forces 3 on the Killzone 2 engine!
Coincidently I just recently got into DOSbox and have so far tried out a few classics that I missed out on, due to being a 100% pure Amiga fan back then (and admittedly, I still am). It's been a fun trip down memory lane to see what the fuzz was about. I'm actually more convinced I walked the right path, though it's still fun to try out a few old DOS games - Dark Forces was one of them. I even got to try Under a Killing Moon for the very first time, as well as the 7th Guest (via ScummVM). |
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Ronan_Crawford
15/03/09 @ 01:07
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I remember playing this years ago. It was great but I only had a 3 level edition that came with some Star Wars PC collectors Pack.
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Heh, I still get this out every year or so. Utterly amazing game, I think the sequel may just about be better though. Love them both and would definitely count them in my "top ten" bla bla bla.
The soundtrack is even sitting on my itunes. And yes, I know it's horrendous midi. I can't get enough! Only flicked through the article I am loathe to admit as I'm knackered and heading to bed, but will get up and relish every single word tomorrow, I promise. Hurrah!
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most recently on 15/03/09 @ 01:12
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The first 6 levels of Dark Forces have been remade as a mod for Jedi Academy (which used a modified Quake III: Team Arena engine).
You can download it here, but obviously you'll need Jedi Academy to play it: http://darkforces.jediknight.net |
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As a sidenote, I believe this is the first FPS to have guns that didn't fire exactly where you wanted them to (the stormtrooper's rifles). That simple feature made the game much more enjoyable for me.
But Jedi Knight was so much better, especially at creating vertigo, that I can't ever see myself ever re-playing Dark Forces, no matter how much fun I had at the time. |
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cyber_nicco
15/03/09 @ 05:25
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I played this with a Flightmaster joystick (or is that Thrustmaster?). If I remember correctly the main joystick moved me around, whilst the hat aimed in the different directions. Something like that. I was very into this game when it came out.
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most recently on 15/03/09 @ 05:26
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cubbymoore
15/03/09 @ 07:45
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Yeah this game rocked, much much much better than doom, doom seemed completely mindless and infantile in comparison. Dark Forces II didn't quite grab the same atmosphere but the lightsabers were amazing.
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superjag86
15/03/09 @ 08:20
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I never played Dark Forces, but I remember really really enjoying it's sequel - Jedi Knight. That was probably the best Star Wars game I've ever played.
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dominalien
15/03/09 @ 10:28
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Weekends with EG - who could want more?
Never played Dark Forces, but like a few commenters before me, immensely enjoyed Jedi Knight. Played Jedi Academy recently - it's still ace (I know it's much newer). Bring back the Lucasarts of old! |
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StringBeanJean
15/03/09 @ 11:13
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I really enjoyed this article. Great to see lesser-praised retro games getting a reappraisal. I used to love playing this game on my old 486 - more reviews of forgotton gems please!
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Der_tolle_Emil
15/03/09 @ 11:15
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This game was awesome. I really enjoyed it back then. I should play it again, haven't touched it for years.
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Ignatius_Cheese
15/03/09 @ 11:29
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Cheers for this, John. Ignore the moaners. This gave me quite a nostalgic trip whilst reading it to a more innocent (younger) time of gaming.
Often written-off as a Doom clone, I always felt this stood alone on its own merits. And the MUSIC!! The beautiful music... "sigh" |
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I loved this on the PSX. I liked it even more than its sequel Jedi Knight.
About the lives system, I remember thinking at the time that it was part of the reason I was enjoing the game so much compared to other shooters on the pc. The excitement and challenge of finishing those huge levels was very rewarding and being able to quick save before each tricky jump would have made it a lot less memorable. Great article! |
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Ignatius_Cheese
15/03/09 @ 11:49
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Even a blinkered Lucasarts fanboy such as myself will freely admit that LA gaming died after the swansong that was Grim Fandango. Wouldn't want it to be recreated today as it just wouldn't survive in the current gaming market.
Still, I'll probably buy the new Indiana Jones game... ;_; |
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D_arkTrooper
15/03/09 @ 12:14
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This and the X-Wing/TIE Fighter titles were the first games I "got into" when I had my very first PC back in the day.
It also inspired my username :) |
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LlamaFarmer
15/03/09 @ 12:16
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Great article. Jedi Knight was one of the first games I properly got into, for the same reasons as John liking DF, the levels were amazing. Sometimes you felt like you were breaking the game somehow by working your way precariously across a ledge or pipe, unsure of where they'd lead. They felt more like places to explore than levels. The force powers just added to this, allowing you to jump ridiculous heights and distances. Great multiplayer too, and I only played the Battleground level repeatedly...
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I completely loved Jedi Knight as well, but Dark Forces is one of those watershed games in my brain. I'm very tempted to replay JK now, but when picking one to write about, it had to be DF.
However, you know which game was better than Jedi Knight? The Mysteries of Sith expansion pack. That was absolutely stunning. If I can convince Tom to give that game a retro spin, I'll jump at it. brendor - your comment is my favourite of all the comments ever. |
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LlamaFarmer
15/03/09 @ 12:24
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MotS was amazing, I was still fairly young when I played that, a group of my friends had a sleepover and we aimed to complete the game in that night. We got to the last level, in the old temple or something and we were absolutely terrified. I took the controls briefly, but being, at that point, rubbish at shooters, I was even more tense and scared. A swamp wompa or whatever they were leapt out at me, and I jumped, gave a little scream and hammered the keyboard in surprise and desperation....it fell down dead in front of me. Somehow I had managed to destruction and power slash it, as well as a few other dark powers. I collapsed from the chair and let someone else take over :)
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Such an awesome game. It used to scare me immensely though, coming up against the bosses :[
I can't believe how terrible it looks it the screenies. At one point I thought it looked amazing. It's just blocks of pixels! :D I think it stood out from Doom mainly because of the narrative, and also because the guns were so different to that. Like someone said, the spray was cool. I also remember the grenades being great fun to use. Good times. |
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thesombrerokid
15/03/09 @ 13:44
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dark forces was the first pc game i owned and the one that convinced me PC was the way to go, i never looked at my megadrive again after this, incidently the PC version came out 2 years before the Playstation version and a year before the plastation in europe i remember because the playstation had only just came out in japan when i got this.
EDIT: as awesome as JK & MotS where i think the beauty of this game is that it was a star wars game not about being a jedi, that and that they weren't just rehashing the films which is true for JK & MotS too.
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most recently on 15/03/09 @ 13:47
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stuarty_2003
15/03/09 @ 14:22
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If only there was a way to run this is Mac OS 10.5....but no classic support.
Hmm...bootcamp! |
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RedSparrows
15/03/09 @ 14:44
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I really enjoyed this years ago. The music was great, all midi awesomness.
I also remember the sewer level, and the red-planet mining level, when the first psychotic dark trooper prototype charges at you in the infinite depths of the mine, scaring the crap out of me. Was great fun.
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most recently on 15/03/09 @ 14:46
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DF was one of the most enjoyable SW games I ever played. Jedi Knight, while great games) never really topped it for me as the series moved more into Jedi, and while blasters were still a big part there was more of a push to force powers and lightsabres.
Like Syon, I would LOVE a shiny new version with some online action over XBLA, but lets worry about getting BF3 out the door first Lucasarts! |
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This was the first game I got on my PC all those years ago, it blew me away. Ahh the golden days of shareware, midi soundtracks, secret rooms, annoying DOS installation problems...good times.
Still remember it now, trying to kill Boba Fett with that uber huge gun that took up half of the screen. It was somewhat of a novelty when it came out too, as it predated the star wars revival/cash in that has happened lately. |
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thesombrerokid
15/03/09 @ 16:24
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yeah the sam & max isn't a rights issue they just liked sneaking him in, he's in jedi knights too in full 3d
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captain-future
15/03/09 @ 18:09
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I fondly remember this game, which is pretty high praise from me, because I normally don't like FPS.
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Stuarty_2003 said
"If only there was a way to run this is Mac OS 10.5....but no classic support. Hmm...bootcamp! " You know, you can get DosBox for the Mac as well, assuming you've got an intel Mac. I use it to play UFO:Enemy Unknown all the time. Now THERE'S a game that needs a retrospective. Jon |
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