xwing-xbla

Remember the time when the Star Wars name meant something in the video game landscape? I know it’s hard to think so far back or even to acknowledge that there was a time when Star Wars games were some of the best out there. But try it. Think Dark Forces. Think Super Star Wars. But more importantly think the X-Wing series. They were a perfect mixture of simulation and arcade. And they had a great story to boot. Especially with Tie Fighter.

So I know the prequels weren’t the best received movies around. Some even have gone so far to say that they have ‘raped my childhood’. Which is a ludicrous statement. Your childhood is your childhood. A couple of movies can’t ruin your memories, only let you down some. But your opinion of the new movies is pretty much irrelevant to this article right now.

What I want is the original X-Wing on XBLA with Live Co-Op and versus modes. Is that too much to ask?

The original game fit on a CD-Rom back in the day and that was mainly for all of the speech that was in the game. I don’t know much about anything but I feel that there must be a way to fit the game with some decent HD textures and speech and multiplayer into a arcade game. I don’t think we need a full 60 dollar remake of the game just a straight up port with some modernization. The game was a classic and has just about been forgotten by LucasArts.

Speaking of LucasArts I’d like to ask what the hell happened? You hold two of the more valuable franchises in the world – Star Wars and Indiana Jones – and what seems like forever you’ve been making crap games. You used to be one of the premier developers. You used to try different things with your franchises, experiment really. Some would fail – I’m looking at you desktop adventures. Others Would be pretty awesome – How perfect was Fate of Atlantis? An Indiana Jones point and click game was da bomb back in the day. They were willing to try different things and weren’t afraid to experiment in different genres. But lately everything seems to be the same kinds of games. Like the only games they know how to make are based off the Rogue Squadron mold. Not horrible but not awesome. Now I am generalizing here and great games have been made in the Star Wars name – Knights of the Old Republic I’m looking at you lovingly.

It maybe wishful thinking but I think we might be seeing that old LucasArts making a comeback. Last year The Force Unleashed was um unleashed onto us. I’ve played it and beat it and found it enjoyable not great. But the nice thing about it was that it seemed like LucasArts was trying something different. It’s not that they’ve let you play as a Sith or a bad Jedi but its nice when they do. With TFU and the fact that LucasArts has pretty much given Bioware carte blanche with the old republic story-line I think we might be seeing a turn in Star Wars gaming. Maybe I’m just being too hopeful. But just remember this – X-Wing vs TIE Fighter had 8 player Co-Op, back in 1997. Imagine you and a few dozen friends actually attacking the death star with squads and squadron leaders? Or defending against Admiral Thrawn? Or hell being on Thrawn’s side? Yeah it would be awesome and you know it.

My question to you is what other games could use the Arcade update treatment? Similar to what I’d like with a new X-Wing game.


  • Paul

    I’d like to see a Final Fight clone or Double Dragon or River City Ransom that would allow more than 2 or 4 players at a time. Like maybe 6 or 8 players beating the hell out of fools. That would be tight. I realize Turtles in Time is coming but again, that’s 4 players. All I’m saying is, I enjoyed Castle Crashers, but I would have enjoyed it more with more people, oh and also two or more person combos akin to Chrono Trigger. TEAM UP! BEAT DOWN! HD! Don’t steal that shit!