The remaster of Star Wars: Dark Forces, one of the most fondly remembered Star Wars video games from the 1990s, is landing on Steam and consoles on February 28, 2024.
The storyline for Dark Forces is no longer canon to the current Star Wars storylines, but that shouldn’t stop you from having a good time, as it’s one of the best narratives told in Star Wars. Dark Forces centers around Kyle Katarn, a familiar name for anyone immersed in the older Star Wars games. Katarn plays a large role in a number of Star Wars games from before the sequel trilogy, and Dark Forces is the first time we meet him. At the start of Dark Forces, Katarn is a deserter from the Empire’s forces, having left when he discovered the Empire murdered his parents. Who’d have thought the Nazi-coded guys were secretly evil? Now a free agent, Katarn is contacted by the Rebel Alliance, who ask him to look into something called the "Dark Trooper Project".
Curiously for Star Wars, Dark Forces is a first-person shooter, so there’s a lot more focus on blasters and guns than in other games in the same universe. It’s a welcome change, and Dark Forces was very well received when it released in 1995, even if it’s the sequel, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II, that’s most fondly remembered as a classic.
The remaster will add a number of graphical upgrades, including 4K resolutions, advanced 3D rendering, controller support, motion controls, and more. It’s definitely a required update, as the original Dark Forces has certainly aged poorly where graphics are concerned. Nightdive, the developer, has a good record with remasters recently, having remastered another classic, System Shock, for modern audiences. With them behind it, Dark Forces Remaster is likely to be a strong game.
Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster releases on February 28, 2024, for Steam, Playstation 5 and 4, Xbox Series X, S, and Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. A price isn’t yet available, with Steam simply listing a wishlist option to stay informed on further details before the game releases.