When it comes to remasters of old games, there are few developers that come close to Nightdive Studios, a team that has proven time and time again that it can work small miracles with technically outdated gems. Burning passion and exceptional skill are just two of the many factors that have led to the numerous and often extraordinary rescues for which the studio has become famous.
Turok: The Dinosaur Hunter, System Shock, PowerSlave and Quake are just a few of the many old classics that have happily risen from their dusty crypts, and now it’s the turn of Star Wars: Dark Forces. When this book was written, it was a nearly 30-year-old relic that built on many of Doom’s strengths, but also had the good taste to break new ground.
For those who remember, Kyle Katarn’s adventure offered vastly different challenges and a much stronger and well-presented narrative than its predecessor. A journey that is still worth experiencing today, but whose strengths and brilliance were greatly clouded and sometimes even completely spoiled by the technically doomed setting of “Dark Force”. Something that fortunately is no longer the case.
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Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster follows exactly the high standards that Nightdive Studios is known for. It’s a masterfully executed effort from start to finish, but it’s just a hair’s breadth away from the most complete and well-executed modernization ever. Big words, I know, especially considering the almost impeccable catalog of excellent remasters. But even in such distinguished company, “Star Wars: Dark Forces” stands out as something quite extraordinary.
The old Jedi game engine is gone and in its place is Nightdives KEX. That means 4K resolution, support for up to 120 frames per second, high-resolution textures, the ability to play with a controller, and a whole arsenal of other smaller improvements. Most notable are, as expected, the visual effects, with both gameplay and cutscenes benefiting from modern rendering techniques, and seeing Dark Forces Remaster in motion is a revelation.
Because like many of their previous projects, Nightdive manages to balance the new with the old almost perfectly, and the feel of the original is tastefully retained, while modern sensibilities subtly elevate every little aspect to a level that gives it a fresh feel and gives new feeling. The sloppy, imprecise controls of 1995 are a thing of the past, and the game’s visuals are sharper than a Japanese kitchen knife.
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Even the few sequences that previously used 3D models have been redesigned from the ground up by Nightdive, and it’s sometimes difficult to understand or even appreciate the incredible leap that Dark Forces Remaster represents. What quickly becomes clear, however, is when you use the game’s feature that switches between new and old graphics in real time.
As we’ve already mentioned, not only is the presentation top-notch, but Dark Forces’ gameplay flows like never before and the awkward controls that felt like you were sliding on ice are a thing of the past. In fact, the game runs like a dream and beating Stormtroopers at 120 FPS is just fabulous.
But is everything perfect? No, of course not, and while Nightdive introduced a number of very welcome features (a map, to name a few), Dark Forces is still a boomer shooter, with all that entails. You’ll encounter puzzles that feel clunky and dated, and the game’s design language is clearly influenced by a completely different era. It is something that is valued or hated.
However, Dark Forces offers a lot more variety than many other games of the era, and as the trigger-happy Kyle Katarn you can visit a variety of more or less iconic locations, such as a Star Destroyer and Coruscant. Plus, the arsenal on offer is a nice mix of iconic weapons (and bombs) with just the right, satisfying twist.
I can’t help but tip my hat to Nightdive and the incredible work they’ve done with Dark Forces. The gameplay of my childhood has never been better and the feeling of shooting space villains with a blaster has never been better. It’s an almost unprecedented nostalgic euphoria, especially for us old foxes who played the original back in the day, and in many ways it feels like Christmas and a birthday at the same time.
Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster is an absolute triumph and possibly Nightdive’s best yet. With a few minor flaws, this space adventure comes dangerously close to the perfection that Quake Remastered offered last year. An incomparable work, full of improvements and executed with unparalleled skill, that makes you dizzy with happiness.
