STAR WARS™ - X-Wing Alliance™ | Game Brain

STAR WARS™ - X-Wing Alliance™ Game Cover

About

"STAR WARS™ - X-Wing Alliance™" is a space combat simulation game where players assume the role of a neutral family fighting for its business against the Empire. The game features 50 single-player missions, including taking control of the Millennium Falcon and joining the Rebel Alliance in the Battle of Endor. Players can pilot various Star Wars vessels such as X-wings, A-wings, B-wings, Y-wings, and Corellian transports.

Genres & Tags

Action

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

STAR WARS™ - X-Wing Alliance™ screenshot

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 499 reviews

story75 positive mentions

stability28 negative mentions

X-Wing Alliance offers a nostalgic and engaging storyline that immerses players in the Star Wars universe, featuring a variety of missions and flyable ships.
The game has a dedicated modding community that enhances graphics and gameplay, making it feel more modern and visually appealing.
It is considered one of the best Star Wars flight simulators, with complex gameplay mechanics that allow for strategic energy management and ship control.

The game is plagued by bugs and crashes, especially on modern systems, making it difficult to enjoy without frequent interruptions.
Joystick compatibility is mandatory, which limits accessibility for players who do not own a joystick or flight stick.
Some missions have frustrating difficulty spikes and unclear objectives, leading to trial-and-error gameplay that can be tedious.

story
298 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
70%
5%
The story of "X-Wing Alliance" is praised for its depth and engagement, following the journey of Ace Azzameen, a young pilot caught in the galactic conflict between the Empire and the Rebellion. Players appreciate the rich narrative that expands the Star Wars universe beyond the films, featuring a mix of family and rebellion missions, though some missions are criticized for their difficulty spikes and frustrating design. Overall, the game is recognized for its compelling storytelling, immersive character development, and a well-structured campaign that culminates in significant events from the Star Wars saga.
- “I loved the storyline that wasn't just what I had seen in the movies.”
- “The story follows a pilot named Ace Azzameen and his introduction in being a pilot into his family business until actually becoming a hero for the rebellion. This is great for the first missions as an introduction to the game mechanics and making the character green is good for immersion.”
- “The storyline is surprisingly good and connects to the original Star Wars trilogy very well.”
- “The latest Star Wars space shooter, Star Wars Squadrons, has a shallow, weak story and is short.”
- “For this single reason, I cannot recommend the game - the single player story is a frustrating mess.”
- “The family story arc unfortunately ends on a massive cliffhanger right before the battle of the second death star.”
graphics
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
68%
9%
The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated, reflecting its 1999 release, but they were groundbreaking for their time and still hold a certain charm. Many users recommend utilizing mods like the X-Wing Alliance Upgrade (XWAU) to enhance the visuals and bring them closer to modern standards, which significantly improves the experience. While the graphics may not compete with contemporary titles, the immersive gameplay and rich content often overshadow these visual limitations.
- “Quite possibly the greatest space simulator of all time, and the mods and graphical updates allow it to look great even in 2023.”
- “With its stunning revisions, graphics, and battles, the game is perfect!”
- “The graphics were state of the art when it came out, and still looks pretty good.”
- “Although the graphics are very outdated, the game surpasses in story, combat, missions, and characters.”
- “The only real cons are the aging graphics and the sometimes unfair feeling/slightly buggy missions.”
- “One negative I suppose is the graphics sure have not aged well.”
music
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
66%
6%
The music in the game, featuring iconic compositions by John Williams, is generally praised for enhancing the immersive Star Wars experience and aligning well with mission contexts. However, players report frequent audio glitches, such as music skipping, looping, or cutting out entirely, particularly on modern systems, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. Despite these issues, the soundtrack remains a highlight for many, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere.
- “Awesome music and atmosphere.”
- “Features the authentic music from John Williams, perfectly adapted from the films (episodes IV - VI obviously) to fit in with the action.”
- “The music is fantastic, it is the real 'Star Wars feeling'!”
- “Also, the music has glitched out about that many times, repeating the same couple notes that were playing when it glitched.”
- “It's just simple things like the music either cuts out completely or gets stuck on a one second loop.”
- “- on Windows 10, the music would frequently start skipping between missions and I had to exit and restart the game.”
gameplay
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
43%
7%
The gameplay of "Star Wars: Squadrons" is noted for its accessibility, offering a simplified version of the classic X-Wing formula, making it suitable for newcomers to flight sims. In contrast, "Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance" is praised for its immersive and engaging gameplay, strong narrative, and robust multiplayer features, standing the test of time since its 1999 release, especially with upgrades. While "Squadrons" excels in graphics and quick competitive play, "X-Wing Alliance" is celebrated for its depth and enduring appeal among fans of the genre.
- “X-wing Alliance is the culmination of LucasArts' high-quality flight sim games from the 1990s, and it's got both the best gameplay and the best storyline of them all.”
- “Despite slightly dated graphics, X-wing Alliance holds up to modern game standards, with some of the most immersive gameplay seen in space sims.”
- “This game was well ahead of its time, with support for recording gameplay, a robust multiplayer and mission-building system, and a well-written, long-form campaign that culminates in one of the most unforgettable battles ever experienced.”
- “It simply lacks the mechanics and enhancements that 'X-Wing Alliance' has, and might be disappointing if you play this game first.”
- “It's criminal that there hasn't been a new version of this game, with the same mechanics and energy management.”
- “If you have gotten 'Squadrons' for free, it is playable, but the gameplay mechanics are a simplified version of the X-Wing formula, making it approachable by players new to flight sims.”
stability
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
88%
The game's stability is notably poor, especially on modern systems like Windows 10 and 11, where players frequently encounter crashes, freezes, and various bugs, including audio glitches and AI issues. While some users report success running the game in compatibility mode, the overall experience is marred by mission-breaking bugs and confusing scripting, making it difficult to fully enjoy the game. Despite its nostalgic value, the technical shortcomings significantly detract from gameplay.
- “The game runs great natively with an Xbox 360 or Xbox One controller.”
- “I play on Windows 10 and the game runs great with compatibility mode enabled and set to Windows XP.”
- “Sadly, I think it's too old of a game to be played on newer gaming systems. As such, it's a buggy mess that constantly crashes when playing.”
- “I'm not leaving a negative review of this game because it's a bad game, but if you're trying to run this on modern systems running on Windows 10 or 11, you will face bugs like a lot of random freezes where you'll have to use the task manager to end the task and strange music audio bugs.”
- “As I said, this negative review is not because this is a terrible game; I think it's a great Star Wars space flight sim for the time this game came out, but mostly just a heads up that this game is really hard to enjoy when you have freezes, crashes, and all sorts of bugs.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
38%
50%
The game's optimization is criticized for its lack of support for newer operating systems like Windows 10 and modern multi-core processors, leading to performance issues on contemporary hardware. While graphics are deemed acceptable for their age, some users report significant performance problems, particularly with games that run at low resolutions and exhibit bugs, such as music playback issues. Overall, the optimization appears to be a notable drawback for players using modern setups.
- “Graphics are quite acceptable (it has aged well, if you aren't a stickler for HD and such) and performance is smooth.”
- “The only complaint I have is the lack of optimization for newer OS like Windows 10 and components like multi-cores and so on.”
- “In 2016, games are sold on Steam that only run at 800 x 600 (even though the original release supported 1600 x 1200) and with horrible performance issues on modern machines (i7 4790 and GTX 970 here).”
- “Only performance issue (running Windows 7) is a music bug, which is 'fixed' by muting the music.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and challenging qualities, enhanced by an impressive soundtrack that captures the essence of the Star Wars universe. Players find the combination of rewarding gameplay and atmospheric design to be particularly engaging.
- “Challenging, atmospheric, rewarding.”
- “Awesome music and atmosphere.”
- “It perfectly captures the atmosphere of Star Wars.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is not highlighted in the provided text, as the focus is primarily on the multiplayer feature, which the user expresses a reluctance to engage with.
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by the character Emkay, a droid who is described as funny and enjoyable, adding a lighthearted touch to the otherwise serious narrative about a family's struggle to remain neutral. Overall, the comedic elements are well-received and enhance the storytelling experience.
- “The story is very engaging, focusing on a family trying to stay neutral, and I found Emkay the droid to be a hilarious and enjoyable character.”