Actually, it’s a great thread, jogging so many memories of the early 90s. The SW universe was good back then. The movies were a trilogy yet, there was the Timothy Zahn books…

Anyway.

My first expedition into SW was X-Wing (the original diskette version), plus its additional expansion packs. That was an immersing experience! The cutscenes, the beautifully rendered ships from the movies (in the gameplay they looked way simpler…), the dynamic MIDI music which changed according to the battle situation… I remember trying to beat that Death Star trench run for ages, until, one sunny Sunday morning, I managed it the first time around!

Then came TIE Fighter which was an improvement in any aspect. You had more comfortable tweaks in gameplay, a more coherent story, more polished look of the game…
Interestingly, the DOS versions actually look and feel better than the versions released in 1998 for Windows (with adapted XvT graphics).

Then there was Dark Forces. It was amazing! Just the atmosphere of the fourteen levels: being able to walk around on different locations in the SW universe. I think it was the first time one could actually do that. Again, the great interactive iMUSE music. I got quite active in the DF modding community: because the game lacked a multiplayer mode, additional levels rather relied on storytelling and atmosphere more. There are countless levels, additional 3D models and sprites for DF available, exploring virtually every known SW location: Bespin, Yavin, what have you.

I enjoyed Jedi Knight, but found it was lacking that tight DF indoor atmosphere by relying on very expansive outdoor levels. Still, it was a good game.

BTW, the X-Wing and TIE Fighter series are now available om GOG and I am replaying them right now. I got T/F already through, and X-W is 4/5 complete. The Death Star trench run is still a b*tch!