History VideoGame / DarkForces

In August 2023, a remastered version of the game for PC, Platform/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/PlayStation5, UsefulNotes/XboxOne, Platform/XboxSeriesXAndS and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch was announced by Creator/NightdiveStudios in collaboration with [=luciusDXL=], creator of the Force Engine project (an effort to reverse-engineer ''Dark Forces''' Jedi engine to create a source port for modern PCs). The remaster was released on February 28th, 2024.

In August 2023, a remastered version of the game for PC, Platform/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/PlayStation5, UsefulNotes/XboxOne, Platform/XboxSeriesXAndS and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch was announced by Creator/NightdiveStudios in collaboration with The Force Engine Project. The remaster was released on February 28th, 2024.

* UpdatedReRelease: The 2024 remaster features redone high-resolution assets including textures, weapons and character sprites, as well as redone high resolution cutscenes. It also has true 3D environmental rendering rather than the pseudo-3D rendering of the original. It also includes bonus content such as an art gallery and a playable bonus level, The Avenger, taking on an Imperial ship; this is based on a demo level for the original game that was only ever shown at a computer gaming expo in the 90's. An optional also exists to toggle off all the modern enhancements and play with the game's original pixellated software rendered graphics.

In August 2023, a remastered version of the game for PC, Platform/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/PlayStation5, UsefulNotes/XboxOne, Platform/XboxSeriesXAndS and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch was announced by Creator/NightdiveStudios in collaboration with The Force Engine Project.

In August 2023, a remastered version of the game for PC, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/PlayStation5, UsefulNotes/XboxOne, UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesXAndS and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch was announced by Creator/NightdiveStudios in collaboration with The Force Engine Project.

* SeanConneryIsAboutToShootYou: The cover art features a Stormtrooper blasting at you, while you get a hit in on one of his squadmates. The different cover art for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation version features this as well, minus you shooting back. It's also pretty amusing that both covers have the Stormtrooper's aim being [[ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy rather off-center]].

In August 2023, a remastered version of the game for PC, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/PlayStation5, UsefulNotes/XboxOne, UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesXAndS and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch was announced by Creator/NightDiveStudios in collaboration with The Force Engine Project.

-->"It's been a long time since I've challenged a man to battle. I'm glad [[OneManArmy my opponent]] [[VillainRespect is so]] [[WorthyOpponent worthy]]."

In August 2023, a remastered version of the game for PC, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/PlayStation5, UsefulNotes/XboxOne, UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesXAndS and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch was announced by Creator/NightDiveStudios.

On August 2023, a remastered version of the game for PC, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/PlayStation5, UsefulNotes/XboxOne, UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesXAndS and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch was announced by Creator/NightDiveStudios.

* {{BFG}}: The Concussion Rifle, the Mortar Gun and the Assault Cannon.

* ItemDropMechanic: Slain enemies drop ammo (or weapons) and energy cells -- for example, Imperial officers drop generic ammo refills for the Bryar Pistol and E-11 blaster rifle, stormtroopers and Imperial commandos drop the E-11 blaster rifle and its ammo, Grans drop thermal detonators and Trandoshans drop the Stouker Concussion Rifle and its ammo, while Probe Droids and Interrogation Droids drop energy cells used for the Repeater Rifle and Jeron Fusion Cutter, and Phase II Dark Troopers drop plasma and missile cartridges for the Assault Cannon. A number of Imperial Officers also drop keys, both regular and code keys, to let Kyle traverse further through their respective levels.

* NoGearLevel: Level 10 (Jabba's ship), where Kyle had all the weapons he'd been acquiring throughout the game taken away, and had to fight with what he could scrounge off killed enemies until he could locate his weapon stash.

* SlippySlideyIceWorld: Anteevy on level 8. Downplayed, as only specific patches of ground are slippery, and they are easily identified. Kyle also has retractable [[StickyShoes ice cleats]] in his boots to dampen, if not eliminate, the effect.

* EliteMooks: The black-clad Imperial Navy Troopers can take more damage and have noticeably better aim than the Stormtroopers (who are ''supposed'' to be the ones who are the Elite Mooks).

** While there is no 100% feature-complete mod to play the game on modern systems with [=OpenGL=] graphics (like [=ZDoom=] for ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' or [=EDuke=] for ''VideoGame/DukeNukem3D'') yet, the closest currently is The Force Engine, which builds upon its predecessor [=DarkXL=]'s foundation. It has been in an early development alpha state for some time, but finally became playable from beginning to end with all features and no major flaws around late 2021, with the full 1.0 release finally coming out on December 19th, 2022.

* BountyHunter: Boba Fett shows up to confront Kyle on Coruscant (level 11).

* ItemDropMechanic: Slain enemies drop ammo (or weapons) and energy cells -- for example, Imperial officers drop generic ammo refills, stormtroopers and Imperial commandos drop the E-11 blaster rifle and its ammo, Grans drop thermal detonators and Trandoshans drop the Stouker Concussion Rifle and its ammo.

* PlasmaCannon: Kyle's tenth and final weapon is the Assault Cannon, the same weapon used by the Dark Troopers, which fires powerful plasma shots.

* AirborneMook: Imperial probe droids, interrogation droids and remote droids fly around freely and attack at range. There is also the Phase II Dark Troopers, who spend most of their time in the air due to having jump packs.

** While there is no 100% feature-complete mod to play the game on modern systems with [=OpenGL=] graphics ( like [=ZDoom=] for ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' or [=EDuke=] for ''VideoGame/DukeNukem3D'') yet, the closest currently is The Force Engine, which builds upon its predecessor [=DarkXL=]'s foundation. It has been in an early development alpha state for some time, but finally became playable from beginning to end with all features and no major flaws around late 2021, with the full 1.0 release finally coming out on December 19th, 2022.

* KaizoTrap: The Robotics Facility level on the ice planet Anteevy (level 8) ends with a boss fight against your first Phase II Dark Trooper. Immediately afterwards, you get chased through a maze of vents by a pair of Phase I Dark Troopers, with the tight maze-like corridors giving them a significant advantage over you as you're unable to properly use explosives against them and can't just shoot them because of their blaster-deflecting hand shields.

The intro showcases Katarn as the one to steal the plans for the first Death Star and transmit them to the rebellion, thus leading into the events of ''Film/ANewHope'' ([[Film/RogueOne Sound]] [[HilariousInHindsight familiar]]?). Afterwards, the game time-jumps to after the Death Star's destruction and goes its own way, uncovering the Emperor's top-secret "Dark Trooper Project".

* GiantMook: The Dark Troopers are huge Stormtrooper-shaped battle droids who can soak more than 40 blaster bolts or several direct explosive hits before falling, and are armed with rapid fire plasma assault cannons. Unlike most examples of the trope, they're also {{Lightning Bruiser}}s with jetpacks who can fly around surprisingly quickly.
* GodMode: Players can enable the Super Shield in the options which will make them impervious to energy weapons and explosions; however [[DownplayedTrope the player is still vulnerable to physical damage]] like falling, punches, medical droid and dianoga attacks, and Dark Trooper Phase I blades.

* StickyShoes: Kyle has ice cleats for use on slick surfaces, though they only really come into play on level 8 (Anteevy).

The intro showcases Katarn as the one to steal the plans for the first Death Star and transmit them to the rebellion, thus leading into the events of ''Film/ANewHope'' ([[Film/RogueOne Sound]] [[HilariousInHindsight familiar]]?). Afterwards, the game time-jumps to after the Death Star's destruction and goes its own way, uncovering the Emperor's top-secret "Dark Trooper Project."

* BountyHunter: Boba Fett shows up to confront Kyle on Coruscant.

* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: When you are stripped of all your weapons and other equipment, it only figures you should try and retrieve it. What's the name of the item you need to pick up in order to get your gear back? "Your Gear".

* FinalBoss: After setting explosive devices across the Arc Hammer, Rom Mohc shows up just before you can reach your ship. For the battle, he wears a prototype Phase III Dark Trooper suit that's more than twice as durable as a regular Phase II Dark Trooper and equipped with an Assault Cannon and a Homing Missile launcher that can do a lot of damage. He also has a jump pack that allows him to be airborne.
* FisticuffsBoss: In one level, Kyle is captured and stripped of his weapons by Jabba the Hutt, then forced to fight a kell dragon unarmed (two in hard mode). After he is done punching it to death with his bare hands, another kell dragon-infested part of the level opens up, but the odds can end up a little more balanced in his favor if he chooses to force some grenade-carrying {{Mooks}} to part with their weapons.

* KaizoTrap: The Robotics Facility level on the ice planet ends with a boss fight against your first Phase II Dark Trooper. Immediately afterwards, you get chased through a maze of vents by a pair of Phase I Dark Troopers, with the tight maze-like corridors giving them a significant advantage over you as you're unable to properly use explosives against them and can't just shoot them because of their blaster-deflecting hand shields.

* NoGearLevel: The game had a level where Kyle had all the weapons he'd been acquiring throughout the game taken away, and had to fight with what he could scrounge off killed enemies until he could locate his weapon stash.
* OneManArmy:

** Kyle fights his way through two large Imperial ships, countless Stormtroopers and every remaining active Dark Trooper by the end.

* SlippySlideyIceWorld: Anteevy. Downplayed, as only specific patches of ground are slippery, and they are easily identified. Kyle also has retractable [[StickyShoes ice cleats]] in his boots to dampen, if not eliminate, the effect.

* StickyShoes: Kyle has ice cleats for use on slick surfaces.

** While there is no 100% feature-complete mod to play the game on modern systems with [=OpenGL=] graphics ( like [=ZDoom=] for ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' or [=EDuke=] for ''VideoGame/DukeNukem3D'') yet, the closest currently is The Force Engine, which builds upon its predecessor [=DarkXL=]'s foundation. It has been in an early development alpha state for some time, but finally became playable from beginning to end with all features and no major flaws around late 2021, with a bug-fixed 1.0 release planned for late 2022, along with eventual mod support.

-->"It's been a long time since I've challenged a man to battle. I'm glad [[OneManArmy my opponent]] is so [[WorthyOpponent worthy]]."

* BoringButPractical: The stormtroopers' E-11. All you can do is spray and pray, but with its rapid secondary fire it can chew through all the lighter enemies in no time, and since you'll mostly be fighting stormtroopers, you'll nearly always keep your ammunition stock near full.

The game was a dramatic leap for graphics and level design, being one of the first to feature multiple floors. It was also one of the first successful examples of looking up and down, as well as jumping.

%% zce * {{BFG}}: The Concussion Rifle, the Mortar Gun and the Assault Cannon.

%% zce * BountyHunter: Boba Fett shows up to confront Kyle on Coruscant.