First released in July 1994, Star Wars: TIE Fighter was the sequel to X-Wing, LucasArts' original Star Wars flight simulator. TIE Fighter built upon X-Wing's success by adding in refined controls and a deeper, more engaging story, and by giving gamers a surprisingly satisfying taste of the Dark Side.
We'd love to see TIE Fighter remade for current-gen VR gaming setups, but for now, let's take a look at what made the original such a classic.
In TIE Fighter, you play the part of a rookie pilot for the Imperial Navy. You serve the Emperor, shooting down Rebel scum in the name of preserving peace and order throughout the galaxy.
Yep, you're totally a bad guy.
The game itself consists of dozens of missions, each packed with primary and secondary objectives and hidden bonus objectives that can unlock additional story content.
You can study up for each mission by talking to your flight officer, or with an emissary from the Emperor who will hint at your secret objectives.
You can also hone your piloting skills by flying through one of the game's training courses.
Of course, once you make the jump into battle, you're on your own.
Missions are often unpredictable, requiring the player to stay alert and ready to attack.
Simple visuals made room for more overall content, including cut scenes.
TIE Fighter has already been rereleased for modern computers on the website GOG.com, but a full remaster for VR setups makes too much sense not to be a thing. Make it happen, developers!