Review by: Emil Pagliarulo
Published: February 5, 1998

Just a few years ago, Lucasarts redefined the space simulation genre with two games of immeasurable quality and gameplay value: X-Wing and Tie Fighter. Though revolutionary at the time, both titles quickly began to show their limitations as computer technology improved by leaps and bounds. Gamers wanted enhanced graphics, multiplayer support, and all the bells and whistles their high-powered Pentiums could handle. So LucasArts responded: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter would give us all that and more. Unfortunately, our prayers were only half answered. While X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter did offer solid multiplayer gameplay, and even 3Dfx graphics with a patch, the single-player component was disappointingly underdeveloped, and the solo pilot was limited to training missions or stand-alone battles without any cohesion or campaign. Again, LucasArts listened, this time promising everything an X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter fan could want in terms of single-player action. Balance of Power was to be the ultimate add-on; it would bring back the fully-immersive gameplay of LucasArts’ earlier Star Wars space sims.

Now that Balance of Power is available, the critical question is now before us: does the add-on live up to the hype, and bring back the great solo gameplay made famous by X-Wing and TIE Fighter? Before I answer that question, it is important to note just what kinds of additions and enhancements Balance of Power brings to an existing copy of X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter. There are new melees and combat engagements covering the entire spectrum of Star Wars space combat, from escort missions to deep strikes. Two new campaigns, one for the Imperials and one for the Rebels, offer players the chance to carry out an interconnected series of missions, complete with periodic cutscenes. There’s a new Rebel ship, the B-Wing, and a cool hyperspace sequence when you make the jump to lightspeed. The add-on even comes with the ability to create your own macro “taunts” — perfect for multiplayer furballs.

Yet despite all the added goodies, Balance of Power falls a bit short in its mission to provide the X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter player with single-player action on par with that of LucasArts earlier Star Wars games. The campaigns, while good, are just that — campaigns of interconnected missions. Basically, all you have are two new “Battles” with cutscenes. The campaigns could have been integrated into the existing game so much better. As it is, they are simply selected from the mission selection drop-down menu, and away you go. There is no real sense of the epic struggle between good and evil, the all-consuming battle between the Empire and the Rebellion. Even the added extras don’t seem all that spectacular. The B-wing is a great addition to the game’s multiplayer component, but in the single-player game its value is sort of lost. After all, we got to fly this ship years ago when the B-Wing add-on for X-Wing was released, so its inclusion here is really no big deal. And while flying against the monstrous Super Star Destroyer is cool, it doesn’t make up for the inherent weakness in the single-player game.

When you come right down to it, Balance of Power adds more of the same gameplay found in X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter with a few added extras. If you like XvT, then Balance of Power will be everything you could hope for — better single-player missions, better multiplayer, and some very cool cutscenes. But if you were expecting a complete overhaul of the single-player aspect, or the immersion of the earlier Star Wars space sims, you’ll have to keep waiting.