Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The first hour has a very particular pull: you are not just firing at targets in a generic space shooter, but stepping into Star Wars-flavored first-person vehicle combat. This collection pairs X-Wing with TIE Fighter, so it offers two separate routes into that starfighter fantasy instead of asking one game to carry the whole package.

That pairing matters. Both games sit at the meeting point of action and space-flight simulation, which means the draw is not merely speed or spectacle. You need to enjoy the idea of piloting a craft, dealing with the demands of space combat, and spending time learning what each game wants from you. If that sounds inviting, having a second game waiting in the box gives the compilation real staying power.

It can also be a tougher sell if you come in wanting frictionless arcade action. The simulation label is a useful warning: this is aimed at gamers who want their Star Wars combat to feel more involved than a quick pick-up-and-play blaster session. Give it a little patience, though, and the two-game format makes that investment feel far more worthwhile than a single licensed release would.

Graphics

The view is rooted in first-person sci-fi flight, with the action centered on piloting vehicles through space combat rather than watching events from a distant strategy camera. As a DOS collection from 1995, it carries the look and viewpoint of its period, but the focus on starfighters and space battles remains immediately appropriate for Star Wars.

Story

Story here begins with the license itself. Star Wars gives the flights and fights a stronger pull than an original sci-fi setting might have, because an X-wing or TIE fighter is already loaded with the promise of starfighter drama before you even start playing.

The compilation’s smartest narrative-adjacent move is putting X-Wing and TIE Fighter together. Their names alone point toward two distinct corners of the same universe, and moving between them gives the set a broader Star Wars flavor than either title would have on its own.

The included 16-page photo book is a small but welcome extra for anyone who enjoys the physical, collectible side of the franchise. It does not change the games, yet it helps this feel like a fan-focused package rather than two discs bundled without personality.

Overall Experience

This is an easy recommendation if you want classic Star Wars space-flight games and are willing to meet DOS-era simulation-action on its own terms. The value is in the pairing: two distinct games, two chances to settle into first-person starfighter combat, and enough shared DNA that the box feels cohesive rather than random.

Buy it for the games, not merely the photo book. The booklet is a pleasant collectible, but the reason to spend time here is the chance to work through both X-Wing and TIE Fighter instead of choosing only one.

For the right gamer, this is a generously packed slice of 1995 Star Wars PC gaming. It asks for patience, and it will not convert someone who dislikes more simulation-minded flight combat. But if piloting famous Star Wars craft sounds more exciting than intimidating, the payoff is two complementary adventures in one memorable compilation.

Retro Replay Score

8/10