Nightdive Studios, the folks behind the recent System Shock remake, have announced that their highly-anticipated remaster of the FPS classics, Star Wars: Dark Forces, will be launching for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch and PC on February 28th, 2024.
Originally launching in 1995 for PC and PlayStation, Star Wars: Dark Forces sees players take on the role of Kyle Katarn, a mercenary for hire who joins the Rebel Alliance and discovers the Empire’s secret Dark Trooper Project, which needs to be stopped at all costs. The game was a hit for LucasArts and was praised by critics for its better-than-average level and puzzle design, challenging shooter gameplay and audiovisual presentation that captured the feel of the franchise.
Here’s what players can expect from the Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster according to its Steam page:
Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster Key Features
- All fourteen original levels, featuring Star Wars™ worlds and capital ships
- Use your ability to jump, duck, and crawl to solve puzzles and defeat enemies
- Your Personal Digital Assistant provides you with in game information such including map, inventory, and mission briefing
- Engaging first-person ground combat featuring ten weapons and twenty types of enemies
- Up to 4K 120FPS visuals
- Advanced 3D rendering enables updated lighting and atmospheric effects
- Modern gamepad support adds a new weapon wheel, and rumble
- Controller Support – vibration and gyro controls
- A variety of power-ups are made available to the player, including health, shields, weapons and ammunition
- For combat, the player may use fists, explosive landmines and thermal detonators, as well as blasters and other ranged weapons
- Includes immersive environmental puzzles and mazes
Though it stands as a more comprehensive refresh of the source material, Nightdive’s System Shock remake (along with its long history of classic remasters) has proven that it has the chops to bring Dark Forces back to life after nearly 30 years. In our review of System Shock, we said, “After three decades, System Shock still serves up a sci-fi banquet complete with one of the greatest antagonists and features that revolutionised a genre. Classic games are left open to classic stumbling blocks, however, as some of the design shows considerable depreciation.”
