Star Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter represents the third installment in the X-Wing video game series. Due to its absence of story-based campaigns, it's generally not regarded as a core part of the X-Wing game lineage. Instead, X-Wing Alliance is typically viewed by enthusiasts as the proper third entry in a trilogy that begins with X-Wing and continues with TIE Fighter. To compensate for the lack of a story-driven experience, the expansion pack Star Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter: Balance of Power Campaigns was launched several months later.
This game boasts technical advancements over its two predecessors and strongly emphasizes multiplayer gameplay. XvT is a Windows-based title that necessitates the use of a joystick, unlike its predecessors which could also be controlled with a mouse. The technical enhancements encompass a CD audio soundtrack, support for high-resolution displays, texture mapping on in-flight ship models, 3dfx acceleration, and a refined pilot and mission selection system that meticulously tracks player progress and rewards.
The core game engine underwent a complete overhaul. In the previous games, the player's spacecraft resided at the grid's center (coordinates 0, 0, 0), with the positions of all other objects calculated relative to it. Consequently, the player's "movement" involved adjusting the relative positions of all other elements. This approach, however, was only viable in a single-player context and had to be discarded for a multiplayer environment.
A significant addition is the player's ability to select their preferred squadron (e.g., in a disable and capture mission, choosing between Y-wings for disabling or X-wings for support), ship, and weaponry. Moreover, because of the game's multiplayer focus, most missions can be undertaken by teams of players, either cooperatively against the computer or in competitive player-versus-player scenarios.
However, the game's reception was marked by its notoriety as the only installment in the series designed solely for multiplayer and/or individual practice. The original X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter lacks a narrative, cohesive scenarios, and cinematic cutscenes.
The game forgoes a story-driven campaign, instead offering two distinct "Battles": Rebel Alliance Operation: Quick Strike and Imperial Fleet Operation: Clean Sweep. Each Battle comprises eight unique combat missions that can be experienced from either the Rebel or Imperial perspective. These can be played as individual missions (Combat Engagements) or as a "Battle" where one side must successfully complete three missions to claim victory. The individual scenarios within a "Battle" are self-contained, lacking a continuous storyline or a clear chronological sequence.
- Attack on Imperial Factory Drekker
- Ambush of Rebel Supply Recovery from Obran Cluster
- Attack on Tortali Platform
- Ambush Arms Smugglers near Ytha'ac Cluster
- Interdiction of Starfighter Deployment
- Attack on Rebel Convoy near Athega
- Rescue from Imperial Prison Ship Dargon
- Hit and Fade on Elliirad Platform
- Dreadnaught Warlover Attacks Rebel Cargo Operation
- Raid on Goibniu Platform
- Raid on Rebel Factory Koensayr 42
- Attack on Imperial-class Star Destroyer Tormentor
- Ambush of Rebel Leader at Airam Platform
- Raid on Imperial Convoy near Atterol
- Frigate Duel: Malevolent vs. Endeavor
- Attack on Victory-class Star Destroyer Formidable
The scenarios presented in the Battles, along with the two Campaigns featured in the BoP expansion, contribute to the canon in a manner consistent with the narratives of previous (and subsequent) games in the series.
Despite being grouped into Battles, the isolated nature of these combat scenarios makes it challenging to determine their precise timing or sequence. It is generally accepted that they occur before the Battle of Endor. However, the presence of TIE Avengers in certain missions indicates that these missions, at the very least, take place no earlier than the introduction of this specific starfighter around 2 ABY.
Given that the combat missions within the Battles are standalone and playable from either faction's perspective, the outcomes of these engagements are inherently dependent on player actions. While the occurrence of individual missions can be regarded as canonical, the specific results remain ambiguous. It's generally reasonable to assume that any given Battle mission concluded in a stalemate, with neither side achieving its objectives.
A streamlined version of X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter, branded as Flight School, was re-released as part of the X-Wing Collector Series. This collection also included Collector's CD-ROM editions of the first two games. In this iteration, X-Wing and TIE Fighter are updated with the X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter graphics engine, employing texture mapping instead of Gouraud shading and utilizing XvT physics (notably faster 'laser' speeds and acceleration/deceleration). However, it omits the I-MUSE dynamic music system.