Gamescom 2023 kicked off in style last night, with Opening Night Live bombarding us left, right, and centre with incredible upcoming games. But while everyone has been focused on the new, a beloved classic FPS remaster has been announced.
You might have missed it, and we’ll forgive you if that’s the case, but Star Wars: Dark Forces is getting remastered for current-gen consoles. Nightdive Studios’ announcement trailer hit many 90s gamers with a wave of nostalgia, thanks to the dramatic swelling of the music, and a quick refresh of the title graphics. It ticked all the right boxes for stirring up those fond memories, however, I have a slight question to make – is it really a remaster?
Dark Forces is back, baby! Watch the trailer now!
Forgive me for being cynical, but the graphics look, well, not too dissimilar to the original 1995 game. They’ve been given a bit of a tune up, but when you place the OG textures against the new, you won’t find many differences. Still, while I remain sceptical at the use of “remaster”, I’m nevertheless still thrilled to be jumping into this LucasArts classic once more.
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Dark Forces will be available on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC. What is more, the game utilises Nightdive’s Kex Engine, as seen in the recent remaster of Quake II; you can expect 4K resolutions, 60fps, and widescreen support. In an IGN interview, Nightdive Studios’ Larry Kuperman said, “What we really try to do is bring back the way you felt when you played the original. That's our mission. Our mantra is always about preservation, and you don't preserve things by changing them."
While Kuperman makes a fair arguement, sometimes change is a good thing. What is more, I wonder if Nightdive has opened itself up to criticism, thanks to its decision to “popularly price” the game at between $20 to $30. It’s only recently that Rockstar Games came under fire for pricing the Red Dead Redemption port at $49.99, and Dark Forces is much older. Oh, and did I mention you can play the OG Star Wars game on Steam for $6.35.
Questions about whether a remaster is needed are numerous – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. However, while remasters are a divisive topic, there’s no denying we all love an excuse to rave about our favourite video games whenever we get the chance.
Dark Forces will come to PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC in 2024.
Featured Image Credit: Nightdive StudiosTopics: Star Wars, PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch