Flight simulators come in two distinct flavours- normal, and gun-laden. TIE Fighter, first released in July 1994, was of the second variety, and possibly one of the best combat flight simulators of all time.

Following the success of Lucasarts' X-Wing series, the boffins at Skywalker ranch decided that it was time to tell a different side of the Galactic Civil War- as featured in the Star Wars film's of the 80's (not the prequel CGI-infested movies of the last few years.) And so, TIE Fighter was born- a chance to step into the flight-boots of Maarek Stele- a top Imperial flight-ace- and bring order to the galaxy by wiping out any and all opposition to the might of the Galactic Empire.

Believe me, it's twice as awesome as it sounds.

When I first came across TIE Fighter, I was about 13 years old, and, having finally gained some hand-eye co-ordination, I wanted nothing more than to spend time blowing stuff up. Having tried and failed to enjoy the X Wing games in the past, my decision to try out TIE Fighter was perhaps a little odd, but I’m so glad I bought a copy, and of course, one of the old-style joysticks to play it with.

The plot of the game centres on Stele's Imperial service, and is set roughly in between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

The rebels have been routed from Hoth and are fleeing into the outer rim, and the Empire is taking the chance to seize as many rebel strongholds and leaders as possible. They are also working heavily on new weapons and technology, hoping to get an edge over the Alliance before they return to the fore. TIE Fighter's plot is built around 'Battle's' - similar in form to the tours of duty you would find in other games- and in each one you fly in mission after mission, working towards your overarching goal. Not to give too much away (just in case anyone still owns a DOS computer) but you will find yourself saving the Empire from a traitor, trying out new TIE models, and shooting down hundreds and hundreds of rebel fighters, capital ships and star bases.

The main component of the game is basically a combat flight simulator set in space. As such, there is no worry about gravity pulling you down, or you running into a tree. There are however many other dangers facing you and your ship. The Rebels will use everything they have against you, and you will find yourself facing squadrons of enemy fighters, fleets of capital ships and even the odd sneaky minefield.

The fighters you fly at first are nimble, yet the TIE Fighter's lack of shielding and weak weapons are no match for an Xwing's armament, forcing you to fly circles around the Alliance's jocks if you’re going to survive the day. Later in the campaign you will fly some other (better) Imperial craft, including the deadly TIE Interceptor, TIE Bomber, TIE Advanced, Missile Boat, Gunship and, eventually, the TIE Defender- the most heavily armed and feared fighter in the Empire's considerable arsenal.

Once you've got command of the better fighters, the game really comes into its own, and the control scheme elevates itself out of the normal vein of combat simulators and into legend.

Your fighter only has one source of power, and that power needs to be fed into three different parts- engines, shields and lasers. These three can be adjusted with a button- meaning that if you need to escape a firefight you can drain all the power from the shields and lasers and put it all into engines, or visa versa if you need defences or more firepower- this forces you into a delicate balancing act as you struggle to stay alive.

Your fighter also features an innovative Heads Up Display (HUD) that gives you an overall view of the field of battle, as well as details on your currently selected target's speed, shields and power.

As Stele, you're nothing more than a foot soldier, and therefore expected to follow orders, which come thick and fast during the battles. I remember one mission in particular when I was piloting a TIE Bomber, and I had to hyper-jump into the target area, launch unguided bombs towards a platform and pull away, remain in formation, before being told to fire at will- awesome.

After the mission was complete, you get a full debriefing, and a chance to talk to your commander and, occasionally, a dark figure who represented the Emperor's personal interests- completing missions for him would allow you to join the Emperor's secret order, as well as ranking up in the Imperial military.

Overall, TIE Fighter was a fantastic game for its time, and a worthy forefather to many of the modern flight sims. Plus, as it spawned a host of sequels and add-on packs, the magic is still available for the right price.

Heck, I’d buy it again just for the score!

Score: 9/10