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It's back to virtual perfection with the finest licence known to humanity.
Steve Owen

With the X-Wing and TIE Fighter CD, LucasArts collected two of the finest single-player games ever made. Strong stories, plenty of atmosphere, John Williams' music, genuine movie sound effects, real spaceships and a stunning control system have reserved seats for those titles at the top table of the special gaming luncheon.

And then came X-Wing vs TIE Fighter, which did the same for multiplayer games, but only if you were on a network. Internet play was a disaster, and the single-player missions (released separately as Balance of Power) were, well, a bit tacked on. And that was that.

Except in a complete turnabout, X-Wing Alliance is splendid. Lucas are back on form.

Phew.

Intriguingly, Alliance begins outside the expected Empire-Rebellion conflict, in a time shortly after the Battle of Hoth as seen in the major motion picture, The Empire Strikes Back. You are the youngest son of a trading family, involved in its own fight against a competing clan which has strong ties to the Empire. A series of none-too-straightforward opening missions has your competitor framing you, leaving your family's assets confiscated by the Empire and you joining the Rebellion.