Star Wars Dark Forces
Review by SDMonkey
"Like Doom, only good."
Dark Forces got me hooked on Star Wars games. This game had (what was then) pretty good graphics, fun gameplay, and substance. I think I like 'Teen'-rated shooters over 'Mature' ones (with the exceptions of Perfect Dark and maybe Quake 3), because most games rated 'M' seem to go for gore and body count over actual gameplay. Anyway, Dark Forces is pretty deep.
Graphics: 8/10. ''This game looks horrible!'' and ''Geez, go play a Dreamcast!'' are some of the things most likely to be heard whenever anybody mentions Dark Forces. There's something wrong with these people. The fact is, this game look rather good when it came out. Saying it looks bad (which, now, it sort of does) is like saying, ''Ocarina of Time looks like crap,'' when you're playing with an X-Box. Sure, the game is a little pixellated, but the textures vary quite a lot and characters are modeled pretty well. Animation is okay, but the storm troopers die with the same animation every single freakin' time. Explosions are not spectacular, but the levels have a small 'wow factor' sometimes. Things like TIE Fighters and other ships actually look good, and the cinemas are cool, too.
Sound: 8/10. You've got your average laser sounds (blim! bleef!), enemy grunts, explosions (which sometimes sound like crumpling paper), and ships hovers. The speech, which is sometimes used, sounds okay. The music is great, and features all of your favorite classic Star Wars melodies.
Replay: 7/10. Too early for multiplayer, but the missions are so fun that you will find yourself playing them several times over.
Story: 6/10. Your standard science fiction tale, with a lone hired gun going against impossible odds to not only save the universe but find his good side and join the Rebels. Eh, it does its job.
Gameplay: 9/10. Sweet. The weapons are all fun to use, and have a lot of difference between them. Levels are expansive yet direct, so you'll be able to have fun but not feel like you're being led around. Control is tight and easy to use, but not quite intuitive. The game offers a good challenge, and is basically very very fun. Get it.
Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/21/00, Updated 07/21/00
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