For many years I foolishly avoided Star Wars: Dark Forces on the PS1 due to the poor reviews it received. What can I say, even I was influenced by the gaming media at one time, and missed out of some really good games in the process. While the PS1 port of Dark Forces has it's problems (especially when compared to the PC original, but that could be said for all console ports of PC games), it is still an enjoyable game overall.
Think Doom with a Star Wars skin thrown over it, and you get the idea. Dark Forces is strictly oldschool FPS action, so if you're a new gamer FPS snob, then this game won't appeal to you in the least. However, if you're still a fan of early FPS games like Doom, and Duke 3D, then Dark Forces should be right up your alley, especially if you're a Star Wars fan.
In Dark Forces, you play as Kyle Katarn, a mercenary hired by the Rebel Alliance to steal the infamous Death Star plans. Like in Doom, you blast your way through hordes of 2D sprite-based enemies in large intricately designed 3D environments with an assorted arsenal including weapons form the Star Wars movies like the Stormtrooper rifle, and thermal detonators. The core gameplay is very similar to Doom, but the sheer size of the levels in Dark Forces sets it apart from Doom. For their time, they would have been massive, and are actually quite impressive considering the drawbacks of the PS1's hardware. These expansive and elaborately designed levels chock-full of baddies, and hidden areas do, however, come at a price.
The biggest complaint about the PS1 port of the game was the framerate, and the downgraded, and blocky graphics. While the framerate does dip quite heavily at times in the game (usually when there is a lot of action on screen), Dark Forces never turns into an unplayable slideshow of a game. In fact, the framerate usually runs at a decent level, but there are certain parts of the game where it gets bad. It's not as horrible a problem as some professional reviews suggest, but it is noticeable at times. Obviously, if you're used to modern FPS games, the frame rate may be more of an issue to you, but if you're more accustomed to games of this era, framerate dips were a way of life.
The blocky and blurry graphics can't be helped. Even when playing on a PS2 with texture smoothing on, there is little difference. The graphics are just not that pretty. It's hard to distinguish enemies from afar at first, and the enemiy sprites and textures are pixelated, and just ugly. However, since we're talking a system that was released in 1995, it's not as though anyone is playing PS1 games for their looks anymore. Dark Forces may be a little more ugly, a little more blurry, and a little more blocky than other games on the system, but as in any PS1 game you may now be playing, it's the design and the gameplay that shine even if the visuals do not, and the levels are really well made. The only complaint about the graphics that is really valid is the fact that, because of this being an early 3D game, the blocky, and blurry visuals can effect those who are prone to motion sickness from video games. If you're that type, you should probably avoid this game. You can turn the head bobbing off in the options, but that will only solve part of the motion-sickness problem for those who are sensitive to early 3D graphics.
The controls in the game take some getting used to. This game was made pre-Dual Shock analog controller, so all movement is done with the D-pad. This too will turn off more modern gamers who have since lost the calluses required for D-pad use. Your left thumb will ache at first (you've all been spoiled by analog sticks I tell you), but if you've kept your D-pad thumb strong, this won't be a problem. The controls overall have a tough learning curve at first (or a tough un-learning curve if you're used to modern FPS games), but if you take the time to learn the controls, they become second nature after a while. It's not the most well conceived control scheme in FPS history, but it works well enough for what you need it to do in the game, and that's all that really matters.
The music in the game is OK, but instead of using the PS1's CD quality sound to give gamers the official orchestrated Star War themes, the soundtrack is instead made up of midi compositions. This is a little disappointed when you consider how easily the PS1 could have handled the real tunes. The rest of the sound, however is great. from the authentic blaster sounds, to the cries of the enemies ("You're not authorized to be in this area."), the rest of the sound in the game is spot on.
Bottom Line: Star Wars:Dark Forces is a fun, and completely playable port of the PC original. If you're a PS1 owner who's looking for a well-made Doom style romp, then give Dark Forces a try. It's not perfect, and can be disorienting to some gamers, but it's, overall, a very well designed game.
The PC version of the game is obviously the better version of the game, and is available for around $5 on Steam, so the PS1 port should only be considered by console gamers who still own the system, and want to enjoy an oldschool FPS from the comfort of their living rooms.
