Star Wars: TIE Fighter

"The Empire is on the verge of success. Soon, peace and order will be restored throughout the galaxy. Even now, our capable forces, led by Darth Vader, are striking back at the Rebel insurgents."

- Palpatine

Star Wars: TIE Fighter was the sequel to Star Wars: X-wing and the first Star Wars game ever on the side of the Galactic Empire. A notable improvement was the flight engine, which supported Gouraud shading, an effect that makes curves and mass appear more realistic. There were many flight options added, like flight dialogues and messages, a message log, a list of objectives, ships' status and behavior, three-dimensional map, and HUD, a sub-target system and other improvements.

The briefings were richer as well. Apart from the standard schematic map, the player had the ability to 'talk' to an Imperial briefing officer and a Lesser Prophet in a dialogue menu.

The package offered a manual in the form of a short novel book called The Stele Chronicles similar to The Farlander Papers of its predecessor.

Plot


The game begins soon after the Battle of Hoth, and the expansions lead up to the Battle of Endor. The player assumes the role of a rookie TIE pilot, whose name in the player's guide is given as Maarek Stele. Since this is the first game ever on the side of the Galactic Empire, the position of an Imperial main character has estranged some players; however the pilot's role becomes a bit sympathetic since he lives in fear of the punishment of Darth Vader and other superiors.

Instead of the (universally sympathetic) Rebels, many missions have to do with the elimination of pirates and other criminals, civil wars, traitor Imperials, and others, in order to maintain peace in the Galaxy.

Available craft to fly are: TIE Fighter, TIE Bomber, TIE Interceptor, TIE Advanced and several original ones like Assault Gunboat, TIE Defender (later added to The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels) and Missile Boat (in the expansions only).

The game featured several improvements and enrichments compared to the previous X-wing game like in-flight communications, dialogues and orders from officers (and a communicatoin logs), a status screen, a 3d map, an option to choose armaments before flying. Most significant improvement is the richer roster of craft like variants of capital ships, utility craft, installations and others. Some were never further adopted in the Expanded Universe like the Mon Calamari Light Cruiser (the regular Mon Calamari Star Cruiser is not used in the storyline missions), R-41 Starchasers, and T-wings. Oddly, Darth Vader's TIE Fighter (TIE Advanced x1) is not included.

The briefing includes a dialogue-like interface with questions to a Briefing officer, reminiscent of the LucasArts' concurrent adventure games. Apart from the standard briefing, there is a secondary briefing in some missions, given from a Sith-like Cloaked Figure. This person briefs the pilot on the Secondary and optional objectives. Success on them doesn't alter the scenario or the outcome, but initiates the pilot in other ranks, increasing his prestige before the Emperor who initiates him into his Secret Order.

The story evolves in seven different systems, separated in seven Tours of Duty, of five missions each.


 * "Aftermath of Hoth" (Hoth system) - Pursue Rebels fleeing from Hoth.
 * "The Sepan Civil War" (Sepan system) - End a prolonged civil war.
 * "Battle on the Frontier" (Newland system) - Establish a new Imperial base.
 * "Conflict at Mylok IV" (Mylok system) - Battle pirates in the Outer Rim.
 * "Battle for Honor" (Parmel system) - Capture a defecting officer.
 * "Arms race" (Parmic system) - Zaarin builds new technology.
 * "Treachery at Ottega" (Parmel system) - Stop a revolt by rogue Imperials.

Expansion pack


One additional campaign was sold separately, Defender of the Empire which added 3 new Tours of Duty:


 * "Strategic Warfare" (Omar system) - Zaarin attempts sabotage.
 * "T/D Technology" (Parmel system) - Secure TIE Defender technology.
 * "New threats" (Eva-T system) - Counter-Attack!

The scenario ends abruptly since we don't learn what happened to the defected Zaarin. A new planned expansion pack that concluded the plot was never sold separately, but only included in the Collector's CD-ROM.

Collector's edition
Like X-wing, TIE Fighter was also re-released a year later (1995) in a re-enhanced version.

Like the previous CD-ROM, it offered full voice-over soundtrack, an improved flight engine (this time supported hi-res), a completely redone introduction cutscene and the Campaign Enemies of the Empire with 3 brand new Tours of Duty that conclude the scenario.


 * "Hunt for Zaarin" (Semag system) - Thrawn seeks the traitor Zaarin.
 * "Prelude to Endor" (Yllotat system) - Investigate Bothan connection.
 * "The Emperor's will" (Iast system) - Final triumph...?

TIE Fighter had a major retouch for its release along with the collections X-wing Collector Series (1998) and X-wing Trilogy (1999). The game was retrofitted with the X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter graphics engine, which uses texture mapping instead of Gouraud shading. Concourse graphics and some cutscenes were also retouched.

Voice cast

 * Denny Delk: Admiral Zaarin/Priest/Ripoblus
 * Dan Hildebrand: Smuggler/Wingman
 * Nick Jameson: Emperor Palpatine/Admiral Harkov/Imperial Officer/Smuggler
 * Tris King: Admiral Thrawn/Dimok
 * Scott Lawrence: Darth Vader
 * Manny Martinez: Rebel Officer
 * Michael Oosterom: Zaarin's Officer/Wingman
 * Guy Siner: Briefing Officer
 * Simon Templeton: Civilian/Wingman

Rebel snubfighters

 * T-65C A2 X-Wing (X-W)
 * BTL-A4 Y-Wing (Y-W)
 * RZ-1 A-Wing (A-W)
 * B-wing (B-W)

Imperial snubfighters

 * TIE Fighter (T/F)
 * TIE Interceptor (T/I)
 * TIE Bomber (T/B)
 * TIE Advanced (T/A)
 * TIE Defender (T/D)
 * Assault Gunboat (Alpha-class Xg-1 Star Wing) (GUN)
 * Missile Boat (MIS)

Other snubfighters

 * T-Wing (T/W)
 * R-41 Starchaser (R-41)

Military Transports

 * Delta Class Dx-9 Stormtrooper Transport (TRN)
 * Gamma Class ATR-6 Assault Transport (ATR)
 * Beta Class ETR-3 Escort Transport (ETR)
 * Lambda Class T-4a Shuttle (SHU)
 * Delta Class JV-7 Escort Shuttle (E/S)
 * Combat Utility Vehicle (CUV)

Civilian Transports

 * Utility Tug (TUG)
 * Heavy Lifter (HLF)
 * Cargo Ferry (CARG)
 * Muurian Transport (MUTR)
 * YT-1300 Corellian Transport (CORT)
 * Bulk Freighter (FRT)
 * Container Transport (CTRNS)
 * Modular Conveyor (CNVYR)
 * Class-A Cargo Container (CN/A)
 * Class-B Cargo Container (CN/B)
 * Class-C Cargo Container (CN/C)
 * Class-D Cargo Container (CN/D)

Capital ships

 * Corellian Corvette (CRV)
 * Modified Corvette (M/CRV)
 * Nebulon-B class Frigate (FRG)
 * Modified Frigate
 * Strike Cruiser
 * Escort Carrier (ESC)
 * Dreadnaught (DREAD)
 * MC80a Calamari Cruiser (CRS)
 * MC40a Light Calamari Cruiser (CRL)
 * Passenger Liner (LINER)
 * Carrack Cruiser (CRCK)
 * Interdictor Im-418 (INT)
 * Victory Class Star Destroyer (VSD)
 * Imperial Class Star Destroyer (ISD)

Space stations

 * XQ1 Platform (PLT/1)
 * XQ2 Platform (PLT/2)
 * XQ3 Platform (PLT/3)
 * XQ4 Platform (PLT/4)
 * XQ5 Platform (PLT/5)
 * XQ6 Platform (PLT/6)
 * Deep Space Manufacturing Facility (FAC/1)

Other

 * IPV-1 System Patrol Craft (SPC)
 * Scout Craft (SCT)
 * Communications Satellite
 * Mine Type A
 * Mine Type B
 * Navigation Buoy