Star Wars: Starfighter

About

In STAR WARS™ Starfighter™, players step into the roles of three starfighter pilots – Rhys Dallows, Vana Sage, and Nym – as they defend the planet of Naboo from invading droid forces. Piloting 20 different 3D starships, players engage in thrilling space and planetary missions across 14 varied environments. The game features over 50 vehicles, including new and exclusive craft, in intense aerial combat inspired by Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

55%

Audience ScoreBased on 340 reviews

story19 positive mentions

stability5 negative mentions

Nostalgic experience for fans of the original PS2 game, providing a fun trip down memory lane.
Decent graphics for a game from the early 2000s, with well-crafted cutscenes and vibrant set pieces.
Engaging dogfighting mechanics with three unique ships, each offering distinct playstyles.

Controls are janky and difficult to manage, especially with mouse and keyboard; best played with a controller.
Severe technical issues, including camera shake when hit, making gameplay frustrating and disorienting.
Short campaign length (around 3-4 hours) with repetitive missions and a generally bland plot.

story
132 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
77%
8%
The story of "Starfighter" is often criticized for being forgettable and filled with bland characters and cliché dialogue, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a compelling narrative. Set before the events of Episode I, it follows a group of pilots uniting against the Trade Federation, but many players find the plot underdeveloped and the missions repetitive, with some frustratingly designed. While there are moments of charm and nostalgia, the overall consensus is that the story lacks depth and coherence, making it a secondary aspect of the game experience.
- “The plot centers around a ragtag group of pilots uniting to fight against the Trade Federation in the events leading up to Episode I.”
- “The storyline follows the exploits of the protagonists prior to and during the invasion of Naboo, who ultimately cross paths and set out to fight back against the Trade Federation.”
- “From a time when any Star Wars game was worth playing, this was one of the best: stylish art, immersive story, and some fun extras.”
- “Unfortunately, the story itself is generally forgettable with bland characters and cliché dialogue.”
- “The barely existing and god-awful story of Starfighter is set right before the events of Episode 1 and makes no sense at all.”
- “The story is shoddy, but serviceable.”
graphics
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
51%
20%
The graphics of the game are generally viewed as dated, reflecting its early 2000s origins, with many reviewers noting that while they were decent for the time, they have not aged well. Some players appreciate the visuals as nostalgic and still enjoyable, particularly for a game from 2002, but others criticize major graphical glitches and a lack of modern graphical options. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the graphics may not impress by today's standards, they can still provide a satisfactory experience for those willing to overlook their shortcomings.
- “Great graphics and works wonders on the Xbox 360 gamepad.”
- “The graphics are good (for early 2000's standards), worth buying but wait for a sale.”
- “Nice graphics for a game from 2002.”
- “Major graphical glitches.”
- “Everything from the controls to the visuals is absolutely horrible.”
- “The graphics were disappointing even for its time and the gameplay ridiculously simplistic.”
gameplay
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
56%
8%
The gameplay of the game is generally well-received, with many praising its solid mechanics and enjoyable flying experience, especially when using a controller. However, some players find the controls clunky and the lack of a save mechanic frustrating, particularly during challenging missions. While the game captures the essence of classic titles like Rogue Squadron, its simplistic design and camera shake effects can detract from the overall experience for some players.
- “Regarding the mechanics and gameplay, this game does everything perfectly.”
- “Good gameplay, interesting use of the expanded universe's story, certainly a game recommended for fans of Star Wars!”
- “Gameplay-wise, the initial feelings of speed make the first few missions a blast.”
- “While the simplistic arcade gameplay might be just a matter of taste, the extremely short single-player campaign is a pretty big audacity.”
- “Inability to bind any mechanics to the mouse (such as firing lasers can't be bound to M1 and secondary weapons can't be bound to M2), forced inverted movement if you try and move with the mouse, and a less-than-obvious way of rebinding keys.”
- “So: that's why I can't truly recommend Starfighter to everyone as it's a bit unstable on modern machines and the gameplay can be a little bit 'clunky' or 'hard' for some people.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
57%
14%
The music in the game is highly praised for its quality, featuring iconic John Williams tracks from the Star Wars movies, which enhances the overall experience. While some note that the music is essentially lifted from the films, it is well-integrated and complements the gameplay effectively. Overall, the sound and music contribute positively to the game's atmosphere.
- “The music is the John Williams tracks for the movie; what's not to love about that?”
- “Music and sound are great.”
- “The music is basically ripped from the movies, but fits very well.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's replayability is mixed; while it offers three difficulty settings that may appeal to some players, many reviewers find the main campaign too short and lacking in excitement for repeated playthroughs. Some enjoy the challenge on higher difficulties, but overall, the game is seen as having limited replay value, with most players only returning for a few additional runs.
- “Great fun, replayable and an extreme challenge on hard difficulty in later levels.”
- “🔲 infinitely replayable”
- “There are three different difficulty settings, which may increase the replay value for some people.”
- “There are three different difficulty settings, which may increase the replay value for some people, but I can hardly imagine why anybody would find this game so exciting that they want to play it more than once or twice.”
- “The flight controls are clunky, the art style is meh, and the main campaign is criminally short with only marginal replay value.”
- “It's fun if you don't mind spending the money, just don't expect endless hours of replay value, maybe just a small handful.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been criticized for major graphical glitches and numerous bugs, which have persisted despite its 13-year history. Players report that these issues significantly impact gameplay, causing repeated failures in missions, including the final one. Overall, the game is described as "really buggy" and "full of glitches."
- “Major graphical glitches.”
- “Over 13 years old, the game comes back buggy.”
- “Due to glitches, missions like the final mission took multiple tries.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is praised for being memorable and cohesive, effectively blending various elements to create an engaging experience. However, some players question the appropriateness of using spacecraft in combat, suggesting a potential disconnect in thematic consistency.
- “That said, all the elements of the game do come together to create a delightfully memorable atmosphere.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
While some missions are considered tedious, the overall grinding experience is generally well-received, successfully evoking a sense of nostalgia for players.
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and often tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I found myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which quickly became frustrating.”
- “While some missions are enjoyable, the excessive grinding detracts from the overall experience.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game suffers from significant technical and performance issues, leading to a subpar optimization experience for players.
- “Severe technical and performance issues.”
- “The game suffers from significant optimization problems that hinder gameplay.”
- “Frequent frame drops and long loading times make the experience frustrating.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players appreciate the humor in the game, noting that the characters become endearing over time, often delivering amusing quips and lines that enhance the overall experience as the story progresses.
- “The characters tend to grow on you as you play, and most have funny quips or lines after you do something or progress the story.”
- “The humor is cleverly woven into the gameplay, making even the most mundane tasks entertaining.”
- “I found myself laughing out loud at the witty dialogue and hilarious situations the characters find themselves in.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The character development in the game is criticized for its childish dialogue and overly simplistic character design, which may detract from the overall depth and maturity of the characters.
- “This game has a lot of childish dialogue and cheesy character design.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the game lacks significant emotional depth, with players feeling that nothing impactful or meaningful occurs throughout the experience.