Star Wars: Dark Forces

Dark Forces emerges from Nightdive's bacta tank refreshed and ready for action, combining classic FPS mayhem with thrilling espionage-themed missions.

A great remaster of a beloved, if now very old school, FPS that is handled with great care and attention.

A handsome remaster of an already modern-feeling Star Wars FPS, but even Nightdive's welcome updates can't disguise some of its older, more obtuse edges.

Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster is another resounding success for Nightdive, bringing a curious, nostalgia-laced FPS into the modern age with bells and whistles to boot. With enhanced gameplay, revamped visuals, and a wealth of accessibility options, this is easily the best way to experience Dark Forces and revisit an oft-forgotten era of Star Wars. Minor frame rate hiccups aside, this is an absolute must-play for fans of far-away galactic conflict.

Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster is a masterclass in storytelling and gameplay, offering players an unforgettable journey through the Star Wars universe. Whether you're a die-hard fan or a newcomer to the franchise, this iconic first-person shooter is sure to leave a lasting impression and remind you why Star Wars continues to captivate audiences of all ages.

Star Wars Dark Forces Remaster is a cracking update to a legend. It’s a lot of fun, and for me, it’s best in short bursts because of the motion sickness, but I love every minute I feel ok. They’ve treated the source material with real respect while adding in all the modern bells and whistles you’d actually want. If you want to experience Kyle Katarn’s start in the best way possible, this is it. Just keep an eye on that snappy movement if you’ve got a weak stomach.

Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster is a solid update to a classic that still has a lot to offer. It's a great fit for something like the Switch, where you can jump into a mission, make some progress, and come back later without needing to commit to a long session. It doesn't try to completely overhaul the experience, and that means some older design choices remain, for better or worse. The level design can be inconsistent at times, and the lack of a modern save system may turn some people away.

Once again, Nightdive has released an official, definitive way to play another classic FPS with Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster. It may seem like a basic FPS even by the standards of its original era, but it still looks and feels authentically Star Wars and makes for a fun as heck playthrough.

At the end of the day, Nightdive Studios has done a great job with the Star Wars Dark Forces Remaster and would make Lucas Arts proud compared to some other Star Wars titles. Yes, the game isn’t for everyone, but the developers have done a good job of making it accessible to most. The lack of a colorblind mode does seem like a failed oversight when you look at everything they did add, but it doesn’t make or break the game experience.

Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster is not for the impatient gamer. It’s a fun, mindless shooter set in the Star Wars universe that fans of the genre and the franchise will learn to appreciate. However, bland level color palettes makes it too easy to get lost and go around in circles; requiring to display the map in order to find doors otherwise blended in the decor. But at least cheat codes can alleviate the frustration a bit. Younger gamers used to Call of Duty’s hand-holding might find this FPS experience frustrating as they go around in circles, but older gamers will revel in re-expericing this classic N64 experience. If you’re played this in the past, this is a no-brainer. If you’re more used to the CoD series, you might find endless frustration instead of fun.