How it ties into the Destiny universe is unknown, but it features many elements from the sci-fi universe, such as the Empire, the underworld, Blasters and Lightsabers. A new Dredgen is also seemingly lurking, and while there won’t be a new raid, players can venture into a brand-new Dungeon (with a World’s First race on Contest Mode expected).

Renegades arrives on December 2nd, but in the interim, players can venture into the latest upcoming update, Ash and Iron. Going live on the day of the reveal stream, it promises new gear, Artifact mods, modifiers, events, and sandbox changes. The Desert Perpetual will also receive a new Epic difficulty.

Stay tuned for more details and check out our review for The Edge of Fate here. Player numbers on Steam have dwindled significantly since its release, so hopefully Ash and Iron offers a significant shot in the arm.

LucasArts is also involved, so what’s going on? According to a press release, the premise involves diving into the “criminal underworld” of a lawless frontier to “take down an evil empire” and reveal a “new Dredgen.” Players will build their power, “credits,” and notoriety, which all sound distinctly Star Wars-esque.

However, Bungie outlined in a separate post that Renegades is “inspired” by Star Wars and seeks to merge the shooter’s “distinctive storytelling and gameplay” with “themes and elements drawn from the iconic sci-fi franchise.” As such, you can look forward to new characters and activities alongside “evolved” mechanics that will “surprise and delight.”

Those looking for something more imminently playable can look forward to The Edge of Fate on July 15th. It sees players venturing to a new planet, Kepler, and dealing with The Nine at the start of a new multi-year journey. They’ll experiment with Dark Matter to traverse the location, run into some new faces, and dive into another raid, which goes live on July 19th.

Star Wars: Bounty Hunter is the story of Jango Fett, the template for the Republic’s Clone Army, as he embarks on a quest to hunt a Dark Jedi named Komari Vosa. Of course, things are never quite as simple, and Fett becomes involved in a conspiracy involving various syndicates.

The modern re-release touts visual improvements, Steam Deck support and even support for the DualSense on PS5. It also includes a Boba Fett skin for those who complete the campaign, which is then available on subsequent playthroughs. Stay tuned for more details on the title and its improvements in the coming weeks.

The patch also resolves bugs regarding the UI, text, crashes, graphical problems in both titles and stuttering in movie cutscenes. As for game-specific fixes, the AT-ST loadout should now spawn on Tatooine: Mos Eilsey in the first game, while the Kill/Death Ratio in Battlefront 2 should appear in Career Stats correctly.

Check out some of the patch notes below and full details here. Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection is available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch. Check out our review here. It received backlash for its multiplayer rollout, leading to a “Mostly Negative” rating on Steam, but subsequent patches have improved things.

STAR WARS Battlefront Classic Collection Update III Patch Notes

All Platforms

• Made improvements to server stability
• Fixed an issue where a loud sound would occasionally play during matches
• Fixed various issues with the game crashing unexpectedly
• Fixed several bugs regarding UI and text
• Fixed an issue in splitscreen where first-person zoom had a distortion effect applied to one player
• Fixed several graphical issues across both games
• Fixed an issue where players could not spawn with award weapons and bonuses after reaching Legendary rank on the associated medal
• Fixed an issue where Award weapons and bonuses could be unlocked prior to reaching the required Veteran rank
• Fixed an issue where L3 and R3 would not be swapped after enabling the “Swap LS and RS” option
• Fixed an issue where Custom Campaign options could not be changed in split screen conquest mode
• Fixed an issue where the movie cutscenes would sometimes stutter
• [BF1] Fixed an issue where the Look Sensitivity option would continue to apply to the right analog stick after enabling the “Swap LS & RS” option
• [BF1] Fixed an issue where the AT-ST loadout would fail to spawn on the Tatooine: Mos Eisley map
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where the same 501st video journal would play at the beginning and end of missions
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where English voice lines would play after selecting a non-English language
• [BF2] Kill/Death Ratio now appears correctly on the ‘Career Stats’ screen
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where the player’s weapon/item swap animation would often play twice during multiplayer matches
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where units would become invisible after entering vehicles, starfighters, and turrets
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where the entire screen is covered occasionally by an effect in hero assault
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where Kit Fisto could not perform their mid-air attack due to multiplayer lag
• [BF2] Fixed an issue during the Kashyyyk: First Line of Defense mission where the third objective would not complete when first entering the CIS capital ship hangar
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where Hero/Villian characters would occasionally appear to be floating above the ground
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where starfighters would pop-in while navigating capital ship hangars in multiplayer
• [BF2] Fixed a graphical issue with the Fusion Cutter’s model when playing as the Republic
• [BF2] Fixed an issue with the UI for the AWARD Wrist Blaster only showing the ammo count
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where Hero/Villain voice lines would not play during multiplayer games
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where the ground would flicker on the Mos Eisley map
• [BF2] Hero Assault settings are now accessible in the ‘Session Options’ menu
• [BF2] Fixed an issue with sensitivity being too slow on the right analog stick
• [BF2] Fixed an issue during the Utapau Sinkhole – Underground Ambush mission where the Anti-Craft turret would be clipping through the ground
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where debug text could appear during Galactic Conquest
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where command posts did not display red/blue light
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where Achievements/Trophy progress would become out of sync with in-game medal progression
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where medals could be earned multiple times in a single life
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where vehicles would be instantly destroyed when driven on top of a specific hill in Geonosis: Dust Plains
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where analog sensitivity would be too low while piloting vehicles, starfights, and turrets
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where Chewbacca’s guided rocket would not fire in the Bespin Map
• [BF2] Fixed a graphical issue on Hoth where the snow would appear multi-colored
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where hit VFX and animations were occasionally not seen by clients in Hero Assault mode

Steam

• Fixed an issue where the Launch Menu would be stretched on ultra wide monitors
• Fixed an issue where Xbox button prompts would appear with a PlayStation controller connected
• Fixed an issue where button prompts would not display on SteamDeck
• Fixed an issue where enabling Vsync would decrease mouse sensitivity
• Fixed an issue where a second controller would not register for split screen
• [BF1] Fixed an issue where the crouch button would not always function
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where footstep sounds would rarely play while in third person
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where the save prompt fails to display if the keyboard is used to select a save option after a mission in the Rise of the Empire campaign
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where the buy button could not be clicked in the Bonus menu for Galactic Conquest
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where mouse input would not interact with tutorial prompts in Galactic Conquest
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where headshots would not register properly

Some issues fixed on all platforms include refreshing the server list lacking any audio-visual feedback, lacklustre enemy AI in Battlefront 2, players being unable to connect to private servers in Battlefront 1 (despite having the correct passwords) and so on. An infamous issue where the respawn countdown timer would stay stuck at “1” has also been fixed.

Check out the full patch notes below for more details. Update 3 has begun development, and Aspyr will share more “when ready.” Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection is available for Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Nintendo Switch. You can check out our review of its single-player, awarding it an 8 out of 10 for the map design and gameplay (including Galactic Conquest in Battlefront 2).

Update 2 Patch Notes:

All Platforms

• [BF1][BF2] Fixed an issue with there being no audio or visual feedback when pressing Refresh in Server list.
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where the grate textures in the Shield Generator room overlapped the Generator asset on Space Assault maps.
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where enemy AI fired less frequently and less accurately.
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where Gameplay would fail to start after the countdown finished in a 64-player game.
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where the tables and bar tops were extremely bright on the Mos Eisley map.
• [BF2] Fixed an issue with Lightsabers being too bright and having their colors washed out when in brighter areas.
• [BF2] Fixed an issue with the intensity of the flickering lights on Utapau being too high.
• [BF2] Fixed various issues around the camera shaking upon falling off the map or death.
• [BF2] Fixed a crash that could occur when transitioning maps.
• [BF2] Fixed an issue with Ki Adi Mundi’s voice lines not playing properly.
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where lightning flash VFX would display through walls on Kamino.
• [BF1] Fixed an issue where users could not connect to private servers with the correct passwords.
• [BF1] Fixed an occasional crash that could occur on launch.
• Fixed an issue where the respawn countdown timer would be stuck at 1.
• Fixed an issue where players would be stuck on the “Waiting for players” screen after joining a multiplayer game with active players.
• Fixed an issue where players could disconnect from the host when transitioning between maps.
• Fixed an issue with the done button not showing up immediately on game end
• Fixed an issue where the server list would take a long time to populate.
• Improved stability in Public Servers.

Steam

• [BF1][BF2] Fixed an issue that caused Xbox button prompts to appear when playing with a PlayStation controller.
• [BF1][BF2] Fixed an occasional crash that could occur on the faction selection screen in Split Screen Galactic Conquest Versus mode.
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where the Skip option could not be selected with the Left Mouse button during Galactic Conquest.
• [BF2] Fixed an issue where Villains would occasionally not be able to spawn in on Hero Assault servers.

PlayStation

• [BF1][BF2] Fixed a crash that occurred when refreshing the server list.
• [BF1][BF2] Fixed an issue with servers not showing up the first time a search is attempted.
• [BF2] Fixed an issue that caused a large fog wall to appear at the edge of the player’s vision on the Kashyyyk map.
• [BF1] Fixed an issue with the draw distance being lower for both Kashyyyk maps.
• Fixed issues with players occasionally not being able to join servers.

Nintendo Switch

• [BF1][BF2] Fixed an issue where the loading screen would hang for longer than 15 seconds after selecting either game on the launch menu.
• Fixed an issue where a force close error would occur when disconnecting a wireless controller before loading into a game.
• Fixed an issue with Controller inputs not being detected when disconnecting a wireless controller and transitioning from Tabletop mode with joycons connected, to Handheld mode.

The developer also noted that multiplayer on dedicated servers has received “ample changes” behind the scenes, and players could expect “a much better experience across all consoles.” It’s also working on Update 2, with more information coming when it’s ready.

Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection features Pandemic Studios’ first two Star Wars: Battlefront titles, with some new content and online multiplayer. Unfortunately, it faced controversy due to the outright broken online components at launch, with players reporting no aim assist in multiplayer, significant lag and more. Aspyr said that “critical errors” with its network infrastructure were to blame.

If you’re curious about the offline portions of the game, check out our review here.

The collection currently has a “Mostly Negative” rating roughly a day after launch. Out of the 2974 user reviews on Steam, only 20 percent are positive, which is abysmal. If it racked up more, it could easily rank among the likes of Overwatch 2 (where only 17 percent of its reviews are positive, and that’s before getting into the joke reviews).

That’s far from the legacy some fans expect from classics of this caliber. Is it ironic that despite how beloved the core games developed by Pandemic Studios are, they would face this kind of backlash, especially given the legacy of more recent Battlefront titles? Sure, but something’s got to give.

I should first clarify that I reviewed Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection on PlayStation 5, giving it an eight out of 10. Both titles are quite enjoyable and hold up pretty well, from the immersion of the battles to the solid performance, even with dozens of units on-screen at once. Trying different units depending on the strategy was fun, and Galactic Conquest in Battlefront 2 fed that “one more turn” itch usually reserved for tactical role-playing and turn-based strategy games. I didn’t try the multiplayer, much less split-screen, but even with some nagging issues, I find the collection quite enjoyable for solo play and still stand by my review.

However, there are some severe issues, as highlighted by how Aspyr (which worked on this re-release) chose to handle the technical side of its multiplayer rollout. Several players pointed out on Twitter and Steam that only three servers were available at launch to join. One server accommodates 64 players, and the peak concurrent count at launch was a whopping 9,232 players. You’ve probably noticed, but the math doesn’t add up. Even if Aspyr anticipated much less demand, and this is only for Steam, very few multiplayer games would launch servers accommodating only 192 players at launch.

Aspyr reportedly added new servers over the day, but the problems had only begun. Hero Assault, where one side controls heroes and the other side villains, has an issue where no one can join the hero side. Consider that the collection is the first time the mode is officially available on more than one map, a benefit reserved for the Xbox version of Battlefront 2 when it first launched.

Stuttering, terrible ping, excessive lag, no aim assist in multiplayer, bugs like the respawn timer remaining stuck on 1 (only fixed by relaunching the game), the Xbox Series S version reportedly crashing if you try to play Conquest with two controllers are connected – the list goes on. Though some reviews have pointed out that the server situation is improving, the sheer number of issues from what should have been a straightforward re-release is baffling. That’s not counting the lack of basic functions, like turning off inverted controls while engaging in space combat.

Again, while much of this may not seem a major issue if you’re a solo player, that’s not how Aspyr sold Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection. It was also marketed for the ability to play online, and seeing it handled like this, especially for a $40 re-release of titles nearly two decades old (regardless of how beloved), is disheartening.

You also have to remember that this is a passionate community, one that’s developed some pretty stellar mods for the original games. It’s from reskinned characters to resemble Ventress and Fisto on PC since they were exclusive to Xbox. It overhauled Galactic Conquest to resemble 2015’s Star Wars Battlefront and even added new heroes, maps, units, and campaigns.

It’s also a community that had to face the cancellation of Pandemic’s Star Wars: Battlefront 3 and deal with EA’s Star Wars Battlefront titles, the first lacking content at launch (never mind the paltry single-player offerings) and the second mired by a pay-to-win approach to loot boxes that took years of post-launch support to wash the stink off of.

How this happened is unknown, but this isn’t the first issue players have had with Aspyr and the Star Wars franchise. The first trailer for Battlefront Classic Collection faced controversy for using a mod of Asajj Ventress instead of how the actual character plays in-game. The developer admitted its mistake to IGN, revealing that this was “placeholder footage” and not meant to make it into the final trailer cut.

Of course, the less said about Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic – Remake, the better. Announced in September 2021 for PS5 and PC, development was reportedly paused after a less-than-stellar reception from studio heads to a vertical slice. It’s still reportedly in the works, though unlikely to arrive any time soon.

Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection may have faced issues in its final months of development from internal turmoil. In a recent statement, Aspyr said it experienced “critical errors” with its network infrastructure, resulting in “incredibly high ping, matchmaking errors, crashes, and servers not appearing in the browser.” It’s working to address these and improve network stability and while this may explain the lack of servers, it doesn’t quite account for other quality control concerns.

The question now is how it proceeds, and whether it has the resources to properly support the Battlefront Classic Collection over an extended period. It continues supporting the recent Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered, fixing missing textures, resolving crashes and fixing the lighting in certain areas, so there’s hope. However, since the collection’s concerns are multiplayer-focused, it remains to be seen if the single-player-focused studio can handle it.

Unfortunately, the first impression is usually the most important for multiplayer titles, and by botching the launch of online play, Aspyr may have muddled its long-term prospects. Improving that takes time and effort, but since this is effectively a re-release, that too competing with other multiplayer titles, it may not get its moment of redemption. Time will, of course, tell – after all, we’ve seen the Star Wars Battlefront franchise bounce back from much worse. Nevertheless, this is one collection that banks on positive reception from fans for survival, and right now, that’s in short supply.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

In the aftermath of the collection’s botched launch, developer Aspyr Media has issued a statement in which it says it suffered “critical errors” to its “network infrastructure” upon release, causing several crippling issues. Aspyr says it’s “working to address these issues” and will be continuing its efforts so it can “prevent further outages.”

“At launch, we experienced critical errors with our network infrastructure,” the developer wrote. “The result was incredibly high ping, matchmaking errors, crashes, and servers not appearing in the browser.

“Since launch, we’ve been working to address these issues and increase network stability, and we will continue our efforts until our network infrastructure is stabilized to prevent further outages.”

During our review process for Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection, we were unable to sample its multiplayer offerings, but had a solid time with the rest of the package. Awarding it a score of 8/10, we said, “Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection showcases how a streamlined yet content-packed shooter can still stand out today. Its AI problems and repetition can be a drag, but this is still an essential experience for Star Wars fans.” Read the full review through here.

Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Fortunately, the Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection is here, packing both titles into one package and adding new content, like additional heroes and maps. While the issues that plagued the original releases are still intact, they’re a testament to a more streamlined approach that caters to both single-player and multiplayer fans.

Developed by the now-defunct Pandemic Studios, Star Wars: Battlefront 1 and 2 offered first and third-person shooter action at their core. However, they also jammed in other unconventional elements, from playing as heroes like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader to different unit types, each with unique weapons and kits.

From the outset, you have three modes in each title – Campaign, Galactic Conquest and Instant Action. Star Wars: Battlefront 1 covers two eras – the Clone Wars from the prequel trilogy and the Galactic Civil War from the original trilogy. Each features maps modelled after classic conflicts like the Assault on Yavin 4 and, of course, the Battle of Endor. You have a series of objectives, ranging from capturing points to destroying shield generators, with AI soldiers and vehicles by your side.

While the first Battlefront’s narrative approach more closely mirrors the films, Battlefront 2 follows the 501st Legion, from their battles for the Republic against the Confederacy of Independent Systems to their integration into the Galactic Empire and battling the Rebellion. The latter’s campaign offers a more eclectic variety of missions, from quelling prison riots to a suicide mission on Kashyyyk.

"Whichever title you prefer, Instant Action offers some quick gameplay without any story hang-ups. However, Galactic Conquest is arguably where it’s at for both titles."

The authenticity of each battle, from the sound effects to the music, definitely helps in that regard, but it’s surprising how good the shooting feels. From sniping to unleashing with a chaingun, it’s all on point, and each unit’s kit adds a different dimension to the conflict. You could be a sharpshooter taking out droids from a distance, or opt for a Dark Trooper with a jetpack.

You can also roll around as a Droideka and tank massive damage with a shield or gun down multiple enemies as a Super Battle Droid (who also has rockets). The controls for the Droideka can feel a bit awkward, but otherwise, every unit feels good to control. Even the vehicles are lots of fun – there’s just something about commanding an AT-TE and slowly but surely rolling over enemy units and vehicles as they’re helpless to stop you.

Instant Action is where players can play almost any faction on any map with heroes, even creating a playlist of maps to experience sequentially. While Conquest is the standard mode across both titles, Battlefront 2 spices things up with Hero Assault for hero-only battles, Capture the Flag and Space Assault to accommodate the new space battles. Whichever title you prefer, Instant Action offers some quick gameplay without any story hang-ups.

However, Galactic Conquest is arguably where it’s at for both titles. Battlefront sees two sides, either the Republic and Rebellion or the Confederacy and the Empire, battling over various locations on a map. Each side takes turns contesting locations that provide a bonus when fully captured (which provides benefits like jamming enemy sensors and preventing them from seeing your units on the mini-map). Winning four battles in total allows for activating a Secret Bonus ability for game-changing effects, like taking a location off the board completely.

"Unfortunately, as enjoyable as both titles can be, they do have their fair share of issues, the most prominent being the AI."

It’s pretty straightforward and allows for some strong back and forth. Battlefront 2, on the other hand, is where things really take off. This time, you have a fleet that traverses an actual galactic map and takes turns venturing through different routes. Some lead to enemy-controlled locations, which you can control by contesting a ground battle, and award Credits used to recruit new unit types and unlock consumable bonuses (like allowing you to use a hero when starting the mission).

However, your opponent is also making moves with their fleet, and if you clash in a location, the resulting space battle sees both fleets attempting to annihilate the other. From disabling sensors and functions to landing inside the opponent’s hangar bay to sabotage them from the inside, it’s a pitched battle with tangible stakes.

Galactic Conquest ends when one side controls all locations, and it’s possible to build multiple fleets to wage wars on several fronts. Overall, the gameplay loop is great. There’s that feeling of “one more turn” as you look to unseat an enemy’s rule over a location or destroy their fleet to reset them. Enlisting newer units and stacking different bonuses – which the enemy can also employ – keeps battles interesting.

Unfortunately, as enjoyable as both titles can be, they do have their fair share of issues, the most prominent being the AI. While the opposing side will quickly identify when you’re wrecking shop and focus fire, sometimes a little too well, to take you down, your allies alternate between lazing around on an objective or simply running into objects.

They’re more than content to let enemies waltz by and gun you down when they’re not running into grenades and getting blown up. While not a deal-breaker, it’s annoying enough to be noticeable (and may even cost you some matches where you can’t carry hard enough).

Also, while Galactic Conquest is enjoyable, the lack of variety in objectives can make it a little repetitive since it’s mostly Conquest matches. The space battles help to break the monotony and control well enough, but some more varied objectives – especially in Battlefront 2, with what its campaigns are capable of – would have been nice.

Visually, both titles are impressive even after all these years, particularly Battlefront 2. Performance is solid throughout, with dozens of units, vehicles, projectiles, explosions and more on-screen at a time with no slowdown whatsoever. It’s to be expected given their age and the sheer power of current-gen hardware, but still impressive all the same. Sadly, I couldn’t try out multiplayer, which supports up to 64 players and could provide a nice change of pace from Galactic Conquest.

"However, above all else, the collection is a window into a period of video games that didn’t need crazy progression systems and Star Cards to provide an enjoyable experience for dozens of hours."

Despite lingering issues from their bygone era, which can bring the experiences down, the Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection is still a must-buy for fans. Galactic Conquest is arguably worth the price of admission alone, even if Battlefront 2 is superior on that front over the original.

However, above all else, the collection is a window into a period of video games that didn’t need crazy progression systems and Star Cards to provide an enjoyable experience for dozens of hours. The fact that it runs this well and feels this good to play is just the cherry on top. More than anything, it really makes you wonder what could have been with the cancelled Star Wars: Battlefront 3.

This game was reviewed on PlayStation 5.

In remastered form, Dark Forces still manages to impress, thanks to a combination of its own inherent strengths, many of which have stood the test of time wonderfully, and the excellent modernizing and remastering work done by Nightdive Studios. Of course, as a game that’s nearly three decades old now, not every aspect of the experience stands up to scrutiny very well, but even though there are parts of it that do very blatantly show their age, by and large, for fans of both Star Wars and shooters in general, this is the best version of what’s still a really good game.

"In remastered form, Dark Forces still manages to impress, thanks to a combination of its own inherent strengths, many of which have stood the test of time wonderfully, and the excellent modernizing and remastering work done by Nightdive Studios."

Split across fourteen levels that take you to different locations, Dark Forces sees you stepping into the shoes of Kyle Katarn, a Rebel hero who has, by now, become an all-time Star Wars fan-favourite (too bad he’s no longer part of the official canon, right?). By modern standards, the game’s storytelling tendancies don’t feel nearly as cinematic or flashy as they did back in the day, at a time where any level of storytelling in a first-person shooter would have impressed, but even without that impact, it’s easy as a Star Wars fan to get invested in the tale that Dark Forces spins. From well-written characters to excellent uses of familiar Star Wars trapping, there’s plenty that contributes to that, while the excellent glow-up that Nightdive has provided to the cutscenes helps massively as well.

The star of the show here, however, is the action, which still feels surprisingly good, especially for a game that’s nearly thirty years old. The simple act of moving around and shooting remains constantly enjoyable in Dark Forces, and though the core loop very rarely has you focusing on anything other than walking through levels and shooting enemies (at least to a meaningful degree), thanks to how enjoyable the combat is and how great the weapons feel to shoot, it never loses its charm.

Of course, some parts of the experience haven’t aged quite so well- like the level design, which can feel almost unnecessarily mazy at times, which means there will be times when you will invariably get lost in the levels). Then there are the baffling puzzles – where at times even trying to figure out what the puzzle wants you to do, let alone how to solve it, can take a lot of trial and error – or the obscure objectives, which will often have you looking for keycards or hidden switches and the like, forcing you to comb through levels like you’re trying to find a needle in a haystack. Those parts of the game will almost definitely be frustrating regardless of how familiar you are with the tendencies of first-person shooters from the 90s, so having a guide at hand to help remove that friction and allow you to properly enjoy the combat might be the best way to play this game in today’s day and age.

"The simple act of moving around and shooting remains constantly enjoyable in Dark Forces, and though the core loop very rarely has you focusing on anything other than walking through levels and shooting enemies (at least to a meaningful degree), thanks to how enjoyable the combat is and how great the weapons feel to shoot, it never loses its charm."

Beyond the game’s own inherent strengths and weaknesses, there’s still plenty more to talk about, because Nightdive Studios has, as Nightdive Studios does, poured its heart and soul into this remaster. Far from a simple upres, Dark Forces Remaster is an impressive glow up of a game that should not look or feel as good to play this far out from its release as it does. Yes, it supports 4K and 120 FPS now, and it does so near-flawlessly, but though that’s impressive in and of itself, there’s so much more going on here that deserves praise.

Assets and textures have been rebuilt entirely, not only during gameplay itself, but also cutscenes, which means everything looks much sharper, much crisper, much more detailed. Somehow, the game manages to do that without losing the feel and aesthetic of the original. That’s a trap that we see remasters and remakes falling into so often in their attempts to modernize the visuals of old games, so the fact that Dark Forces Remaster looks as good as it does while also retaining the original’s visual identity cannot be praised enough. And if, for whatever reason, the remaster’s new look doesn’t appeal to your tastes, you can always swap between its “hardware” and “software” modes to return to a visual style that resembles the original game even more faithfully, warts and all.

Beyond that, Nightdive Studios has packed Star Wars: Dark Forces Remastered full of quality-of-life improves and new accessibility features, including being able to customize controls, toggles for things such as HUD flashes and head bobbing, having options for crosshairs, and more. In an industry that so often seems to use remasters as an excuse for putting out low-effort cashgrabs that barely make any meaningful or necessary changes, Dark Forces Remaster feels like a breath of fresh air with how much it adds and improves. But then again, that’s Nightdive’s MO, so this isn’t surprising at this point. Still, it shouldn’t be taken for granted.

"Assets and textures have been rebuilt entirely, not only during gameplay itself, but also cutscenes, which means everything looks much sharper, much crisper, much more detailed. Somehow, the game manages to do that without losing the feel and aesthetic of the original."

All in all, there’s a lot to like here for fans of classic shooters and Star Wars. The original Dark Forces has a special place in the hearts of many people to this day, so it’s certainly been surprising to see it being roundly ignored by gaming companies for so long. Its return to the limelight has been long overdue- but now that it has returned, it’s done so in convincing fashion, proving just why it’s held in the regard that it is, and why Nightdive Studios is the industry’s premiere developer of remasters, especially for classic, old school games. Obviously, there are parts of the game that are going to be more than a little frustrating for modern audiences – that’s pretty much unavoidable for a three decade-old game – but Dark Forces Remaster does a great job of allowing the parts of the game that are still good to flourish as best they can. Honestly, it does pretty much everything it could have in that regard short of being a ground-up remake.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.