Super Star Wars
Super Star Wars was really the first great Star Wars game to hit consoles. The side-scrolling platformer has players trying to navigate 56 levels that feature different scenes from the original trilogy. You’ll be able to play as Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewie, but no matter which character you are, you’ll find the game almost shockingly difficult. I wouldn’t send a casual gamer to play it, but it’s worth checking out if you can weather the frustration.
Star Wars: Dark Forces
In 1996, the ability to jump, crouch, and even look up and down in shooters was unheard of until Dark Forces came along. The game told the story of Kyle Katarn, an Imperial who became a mercenary who ended up fighting for the Rebellion, and his mission to retrieve the plans for the Death Star. Not only did the game introduce a ton of new concepts to the genre, but it spawned the Jedi Knight series as well. It was the first game that really let you feel like you were playing in the Star Wars universe.
Star Wars: Republic Commando
Star Wars: Republic Commando is a bit of an oddity among Star Wars games. You don’t play as one of the heroes of the movies, or even a hero f an Extended Universe novel, like Kyle Katarn. Instead, you command a squad of elite clone soldiers in the midst of the Clone Wars. Thanks to some good squad mechanics and often great AI, Republic Commando wasn’t just a great Star Wars game, it was worth playing even for folks who don’t like the series at all.
Star Wars: Battlefront II
The original 2005 Star Wars: Battlefront II was best termed a delightful mess. The sandbox multiplayer shooter let you do everything from fight in ground battles with blasters to taking on capital ships in the skies above from the pilot seat of a fighter. The game capitalized on the popularity of large-scale titles like Battlefield, enticing players with its Star Wars cred. It also let you play as hero characters, like Obi-Wan and Darth Vader. They were ridiculously overpowered, but no one cared. All you need to know about this one is that you could land an X-Wing inside a star destroyer, get out, and kill everyone on board.
Star Wars Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast
If you ever wanted to be a Jedi, then Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast is your game. It was the first game to nail the feeling of being a Jedi – to give you the ability to use all the Force powers you saw in the movies. Of course, it also offered up the best lightsaber mnechanics ever seen at the time. It also offered up a one-on-one duels mode for lightsabers that drew a huge community together, all to watch two gamers go at it with those elegant weapons.
Star Wars Rogue Squadron 2: Rogue Leader
When a Star Wars game is the best launch title on a major console, you know it’s good. That’s exactly what happened with Star Wars Rogue Squadron 2: Rogue Leader, as it was easily the best of the Gamecube launch titles. The action flight sim lets you relive iconic moments from throughout the original trilogy, from the Deat Star trench run to the “It’s a trap” battle above Endor. If you’ve always wanted to be a Rogue Squadron pilot, it’s a must play game.
Star Wars: Tie Fighter / Star Wars: X-Wing
X-Wing and Tie Fighter are two sides of the same amazing coin. Which ever you chose, you got to experience just what it was like to be a pilot for the Empire of the Rebellion, from the stable of ships you could fly to the briefings you received. Tie Fighter came second, and was probably the superior game, just for how well it made flying missions for the Empire feel like you were taking out the bad guys. Whichever you chose to play, the music, setting, and gameplay were all top-notch.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Was there any doubt that Knights of the Old Republic was going to in this spot? Bioware set KotOR far into the past, away from the moves that everyone was familiar with, and in doing so, created a masterpiece. It allowed you to shape the story, and to turn toward the light or dark side of the force through your own decisions. It was engaging and well-written, making you want to explore the galaxy even more, and then culminating one of the best twists in any video game ever. Knights of the Old Republic isn’t just the best Star Wars game ever, it might be the best licensed game ever made as well.
