Star Wars: TIE Fighter

TIE Fighter is the sequel to Star Wars: X-wing and the first Star Wars game ever on the side of the Galactic Empire. A notable improvement is the flight engine which supports Gouraud shading, an effect that makes curves and mass appear more realistic. There are 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 are now richer as well. Apart from the standard schematic map, the player has the ability to 'talk' to an Imperial officer and a cloaked figure 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 Steele. Although the position of an Imperial has estranged many players, the pilot's role becomes a bit sympathetic since he lives with fear under the shadow 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 also introduced many craft never further adopted in the Expanded Universe. Examples include the Platforms, the Mon Calamari Light Cruiser (the regular Mon Calamari 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

Apart from the standard briefing, there is a secondary briefing in some missions, given from a Sith-like 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 7 different systems, separated in 7 Tours of Duty, of 5 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 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, but the remade TIE Fighter wasn't very favorable by fans.

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