Even 30 years on, Jedi: Fallen Order and the Jedi: Survivor, but video games used to be the backbone of the franchise in the late 90s and early 2000s. Despite their age, both X-Wing and TIE Fighter remain impressive flight sims and well-crafted contributions to the Star Wars universe. Considering that Steam now offers the Special Editions of both games, which include the upgraded CD-ROM versions and all the DLC missions, X-Wing and TIE Fighter are a must for every invested Star Wars fan.
Upon starting either Star Wars: X-Wing or TIE Fighter, players are placed on board a Rebel or Imperial spaceport, respectively. These act as the hub of the game, with various rooms for test flights, starting missions, and re-watching cutscenes. The games are definitely a simulation experience at the core with a coat of Rebel or Imperial paint, and they feel remarkably different from the typical Star Wars lightsaber duels and blaster combat that most fans are familiar with. Both are visually impressive, with beautifully animated pixel art cutscenes and a surprising amount of voice acting for the time. Flying feels fantastic and surprisingly complex. For example, players will have to balance power between their systems to recharge shields and lasers or risk running out of ammo.
While both games hold up surprisingly well, Star Wars: TIE Fighter offers a more unique experience. Both games are memorable in their own right, but TIE Fighter's more original storyline makes it a must-play for modern fans looking to revisit the series. Star Wars' Emperor Palpatine from an assassination attempt, and generally exploring a completely different view of the Empire.
Star Wars: TIE Fighter Showcases Thrawn's Rise to Power
While Star Wars: TIE Fighter might have the best story, X-Wing does have at least one advantage. By nature, Rebellion ships are scrappy and unique, while Imperial designs are geometric and uniform. Both sides have a number of ships with iconic exteriors. However, when players are flipping between the in-game camera angles to see around the ship and out the various windows, the difference becomes almost comical. X-Wing offers some genuinely beautiful ship interiors for players to see. The inside is incredibly detailed with multiple unique views, including a charming shot of the player's astromech droid. TIE Fighter players, on the other hand, will notice that glancing around the cockpit results in looking through a number of identical trapezoid-shaped windows.
With the reintroduction of Thrawn into Disney's Star Wars canon and his rumored appearance in the Ahsoka series, now is the perfect time to revisit his earliest and perhaps best video game appearance. Regardless of players' personal preferences, both Star Wars: X-Wing and Star Wars: TIE Fighter remain valuable entries in a series brimming with games, though the latter's stellar story may make it more interesting to modern audiences.
