Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster | Switch Review

There truly was no better time to be a Star Wars fan than the mid-90s. While the selection of franchise media wasn’t as vast as it is today, back then it was about quality over quantity. The Expanded Universe was relegated to the original trilogy, and we were graced with the theatrical re-release of said trilogy in the form of the Special Editions. We were also blissfully unaware of the notion there’d ever be such a thing as a bad Star Wars movie, and the fanbase wasn’t as toxic. There was no better proof of the quality of Star Wars media of the time than with its offerings in video games. 

In 1995, LucasArts introduced Star Wars: Dark Forces to PC, followed by a release on the original Sony PlayStation in 1996. Now, Nightdive Studios resurrects this classic ’90s first-person shooter, offering another nostalgic journey for fans of the genre. It seamlessly blends modern graphical enhancements with the beloved retro aesthetics of the original game. Despite the dated visuals of the original, the remaster captures the essence of the classic while providing a polished experience for the modern gamer. In other words, it looks just like you remember it.

Star Wars Legends: Gone, But Not Forgotten

As this is simply a remaster of a nearly 30 year old game, the story and premise remains unchanged. In Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster, you assume the role of Kyle Katarn, a former Imperial Officer turned Rebel mercenary and a Star Wars fan favorite character. Tasked by the Rebel Alliance, Katarn embarks on a series of missions to thwart the Empire’s plans. Along with his partner Jan Ors, Kyle must navigate treacherous environments, battle Imperial Forces, and uncover a sinister plot involving the creation of the Dark Trooper program.

This story defines classic Star Wars. It’s a shame that this game, and the series it spawned, have been tossed aside and declared non-canon since the “Disney-fication” of the galaxy far, far away. We can’t forget all the characters associated with it, either. Kyle Karan and Jan Ors where the original thieves of the Death Star plans, but they’ve essentially been replaced by Cassian Andor and Jyn Erso from Rogue One. Despite all that, Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster still feels relevant, given that the Dark Troopers were finally reintroduced into the new Disney canon.

You’re Not Authorized In This Area!

Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster is primarily a first-person shooter, or “Doom clone” to use the parlance of the time. While the comparisons to Doom were apparent, the original Dark Forces was still a major pioneer for the genre in its own right. It introduced vertical aiming, adding a new dimension and enhanced the immersion by becoming the first game (that I’m aware of) to be truly played in a 3D environment. This is thanks to the Jedi Engine, an in-house game engine developed by LucasArts back in the day. This groundbreaking innovation allowed players to fully explore and interact with their surroundings in ways previously unseen in first-person shooters.

However, despite its pioneering status, Dark Forces also faced criticism for its maze-like level design and occasional technical limitations. These aspects remain intact in the remastered version, sadly untouched even with some of the quality-of-life improvements that were added. While the enhanced graphics and updated controls breathe new life into the game, players may still encounter the same frustrations with navigating these complex levels as we did the first time around. Since I haven’t played this game in over 20 years, I was of course a little rusty.

I’m almost ashamed to say it, but I did consult a walkthrough a time or two to help me out of a jam. Having a feature like custom waypoints or a breadcrumb trail crossed my mind as a possible improvement. But then I realized that would’ve detracted from the game’s challenge or, at worst, break the game entirely. 

Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster also offers a wealth of extra content. Known in the menu as “The Vault”, this option features a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes material, like original concept art, developer’s notes, and early 3D renderings. Not to mention it has a playable unfinished prototype level set aboard a Star Destroyer. While fascinating to explore, none of the objective markers were programmed, so after eliminating all enemies, you’ll find yourself wandering around, and will have to manually exit out of the level to the main menu.

Your Eyes Can Deceive You; Don’t Trust Them

Nightdive Studios’ meticulous approach to Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster is evident in nearly every aspect of the game. They were able to preserve the authenticity of the game’s original assets, while upscaling all textures, sprites and enhancing the lighting effects. Apparently Nightdive did all this manually without the assistance of any sort of AI tool sets. The cutscenes feature newly enhanced visuals, giving it almost an entirely different look than what we saw before. In fact, the techniques implemented now evoke an art style reminiscent of the original Star Wars concept drawings by legendary illustrator Ralph McQuarrie. It’s got that same level of sheen and polish prominent in McQuarrie’s artwork. 

I chose to play this game on the Nintendo Switch because I was drawn to the idea of being able to play it portably. Despite technical limitations of the Switch, where 4K resolution and 120fps capabilities are not supported like they are on the PS5 version, Nightdive still delivered a silky smooth and enjoyable gameplay experience, running flawlessly when played either docked or in handheld mode. You can even swap between different graphic styles with a simple button press, toggling between the original and remaster visuals on the fly. I love when games offer this option. It’s this attention to detail and dedication to quality that make this remaster a true labor of love for both fans of the original game and newcomers alike, and why Nightdive Studios are masters of mid-90s first person remasters.

The music in Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster preserves its nostalgic charm by including not only the original digitized MIDI tracks, but also the FM synthesis version. This is a staple from PC Sound Blaster cards common in the late ’80s and early ’90s. However, there was also the PlayStation port. While it’s often considered to be an inferior version, it still had one notable advantage over the PC original…CD-quality audio. Thanks to its CD-ROM format, the PS1 version had a fully orchestrated score. Regrettably, Nightdive Studios didn’t include this version as an option in the remaster, which I consider a missed opportunity rather than a gripe.

Something, Something, Dark Side

To summarize, Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster delivers a nostalgic yet polished experience for old fans and new fans alike. It’s a great remaster of an iconic, yet somewhat flawed game. Nightdive Studios’ efforts in beautifully upscaling the graphics and faithfully preserving the audio don’t go unnoticed, and it’s another slam dunk in their repertoire of mid-90s remasters. While the game retains its pioneering gameplay mechanics, such as vertical aiming, some aspects, like the maze-like level design, remain untouched. However, the quality-of-life improvements, like customizable controls and the ability to toggle between graphic styles, enhances the overall experience. 

Despite missed opportunities, like not including the CD-quality audio from the PlayStation port, the remaster remains a testament to the enduring appeal of the classic FPS. Whatever gripes I have with the game stem from what was carried over from the original release, for which I can’t fault the Nightdive team. If you’re looking to experience a piece of gaming history, Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster is definitely worth a playthrough.

To hear me talk more about Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster, be sure to listen to the April 17th episode of The Gaming Outsider podcast.

This review is based on a purchased Nintendo Switch copy of Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster. It is also available on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series consoles, as well as PC via Steam and GOG.