Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance, the fourth installment within the X-Wing computer game series, is largely viewed by enthusiasts as the direct continuation of Star Wars: TIE Fighter, and therefore the concluding piece of a three-part saga. Although Star Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter, which heavily emphasized multiplayer gameplay, was the third title to be launched within the series, its absence of campaign modes driven by narrative was criticized by its fanbase.
X-Wing Alliance tells the tale of Ace Azzameen, the youngest individual among the Azzameen family, a family of traders who remain neutral. The player takes on the role of Ace throughout all the game's missions.
Besides the customary emblems and honors for successfully completing missions, elements that are present in other titles within the X-Wing computer game series, advancement is further displayed through the quantity of keepsakes accumulated within Ace's personal space. Furthermore, an E-mail system aids in the development of Ace's backstory, offering greater insight into his interpersonal connections and the whereabouts of his family.
X-Wing Alliance boasts a completely voiced soundtrack and comprehensive in-flight dialogue. The flight mechanics are slightly enhanced compared to earlier entries in the series, now providing the option to link cannons, the capability to dock with and retrieve other vessels, and the incorporation of rudder control. The game's visuals have also been significantly improved, featuring high-definition textures, more intricate models, and fully realized three-dimensional cockpits. However, these cockpits deviate from those in previous games; all gauges and displays are presented separately from the cockpit itself, appearing as a heads-up display of floating windows.
Furthermore, it presents missions that encompass multiple star systems, akin to the "autopilot" functionality found in the Wing Commander series. Rather than concluding the mission, initiating a jump to hyperspace (when available) will advance the mission to a fresh location and a new set of objectives.
The book titled Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance: Prima's Official Strategy Guide, which was published almost three months following the game's release, delivered mission recaps and advice through the perspective of the droid MK-09, who recounted the game's events. It came with a CD that featured an update for the game, including supplementary skirmish configurations, a camera feature that was present in earlier games, and recordings of each mission within the game.
Despite being regarded as a sequel, the game's timeline runs concurrently with Star Wars: TIE Fighter, illustrating the activities of the Rebellion during those times. It commences shortly after the Battle of Hoth, intersects with the events of Shadows of the Empire, and culminates with the Battle of Endor (TIE Fighter's expansion concludes just before Endor).
The game's prologue, acting as a tutorial, focuses on Ace's "family missions," where his older relatives and Emkay instruct him in piloting Corellian transports to prepare him for his role within the family business.
These missions reveal that the Azzameen family is engaged in intense rivalry with Viraxo and generally supports the Rebel Alliance. Driven by their sympathies, the family's leader, Tomaas Azzameen, initiates bacta smuggling operations for the Alliance following the Battle of Hoth. These actions lead to severe repercussions when the Galactic Empire raids their home station in response to their bacta deliveries to a Rebel outpost. Consequently, the family seeks refuge with a Rebel task force.
Missions:
As a pilot within the Rebel forces, Ace's initial missions revolve around assisting the Defiance battle group in gathering the remaining survivors from Hoth and evading a substantial Imperial force sweeping the area. He also undertakes several side missions to support his family in their conflict with Viraxo.
Missions:
Throughout his service with the Rebel Alliance, Ace establishes himself as a skilled pilot by taking part in missions that uncover new Imperial projects, such as a series of experimental TIEs under the supervision of Admiral Zaarin.
Missions:
Certain events within the game connect to happenings in the films Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi—as well as events from the novel Shadows of the Empire—including sequences that monitor the Rebellion's state following the Battle of Hoth, aid Dash Rendar in capturing the Imperial freighter Suprosa carrying the Death Star II plans, and center around the theft of Shuttle Tydirium.
Missions:
Following the destruction of the majority of the Alliance's freighter fleet by the Empire, the Alliance negotiates with a local "business" syndicate to acquire much-needed supplies. When a member of the syndicate breaks away and becomes rogue, Ace and his squadron must act swiftly to stop them and safeguard the Rebellion's reputation and its allies.
Missions:
As the countdown to the Battle of Endor progresses, Ace and his squadron face the challenge of rescuing several Bothan spies possessing critical intelligence, stealing a particular Lambda-class shuttle, escaping betrayal by a relative, and defeating a group of mercenaries attempting to dismantle the Rebel Alliance, all against increasingly unfavorable odds.
Missions:
- During training level 0:2, the player ultimately goes to Dunari's Rest . If the player acts with sufficient speed, Boba Fett's notorious Slave I can be recognized by the targeting system. It enters hyperspace relatively quickly, before the player's craft can approach it. Later in the mission, Dash Rendar's YT-2400 light freighter Outrider can also be observed. A Personal Luxury Yacht 3000 , of the same class of ship as Lando Calrissian's Lady Luck , can also be found docked with the space station.
- In the mission where Commander Zaletta defects to the Alliance, he is piloting shuttle AA-23 . This alludes to Detention Block AA-23 , where Princess Leia was imprisoned aboard the Death Star.
- In mission 4:3, a lone TIE Advanced can be spotted. It is speculated that this is meant to represent Darth Vader, because Vader's TIE was not developed for the game, and this fighter is the closest substitute. This idea is supported by the novel Shadows of the Empire , in which Darth Vader personally participates in the battle, piloting his personal starfighter and defeating numerous Rebel starfighters, until he becomes bored with the ease of it. He is angered by the fact that he was assigned to this relatively insignificant Rebel outpost by his master, because of Prince Xizor's increasing influence on the Emperor , and the unfortunate Rebels must endure his displeasure.
- Grand Admiral Thrawn's Chimaera , along with Inexorable , Death's Head , Stormhawk , and Nemesis , appear in mission 6:2.
- Wild Karrde appears in the later 6:5 mission ( Mission to Zhar ).
- When returning to the Rebel fleet after a mission near the end of Battle 6, the Millennium Falcon can be seen heading towards one of the Mon Calamari cruisers, possibly representing Han Solo's return following his rescue from Tatooine .
- In the final family mission (6:7), upon exiting the Independence , if you look to your right, you will observe shuttle Tydirium en route to Endor.
Several models exist within the game's data files but do not appear in the game's reference library or missions. One such item is a "booster pack." Custom missions have been created that utilize these hidden models.
This chapter concluded the X-Wing project, so no expansions were ever planned for Alliance; it stands as the only title in the X-Wing series without an expansion or a remastered edition.
Nevertheless, the game is open to modification, and numerous fans and programmers develop enhanced textures and graphics for the ships, as well as new missions and other modifications.
Some of the new missions are, in fact, remakes of missions from previous games, built on the Alliance engine. Currently, an unofficial fan-made remake of Star Wars: TIE Fighter is in development. This modification, for instance, replaces the Mon Calamari Star Cruiser concourse and briefings with Imperial versions, and recreates the classic TIE Fighter missions using the Alliance engine to improve player experience.
Regarding Alliance itself, fan-operated upgrade sites such as "X-Wing Alliance Upgrade" have functioned as central hubs for distributing upgraded spacecraft packs.
These range from basic improvements to higher-resolution graphics, such as containers, landing bays, weapons, etc., to large capital ships like various Star Destroyers and the Super Star Destroyer Executor, all featuring multiple (and destructible) hardpoints such as shield generators, engines, bridges, and turbolasers. Playable fighters are modified, complete with enhanced virtual cockpits that bring cockpit visuals closer to movie canon.
By editing the "Shiplist" game file and substituting NonFlyable ships with Flyable ones, players can pilot any ship they desire, including a Super Star Destroyer. Downloading the V1.01 upgrade can also enable all larger ships' turrets to function if set to autofire.
- UPC 023272209421; April 30 , 2001 ; LucasArts Entertainment Company ; LucasArts Archive Series edition [2] [3]