DOS Days

Star Wars: Dark Forces

Released: March 1995
Published by: LucasArts Entertainment
Developed by: LucasArts Entertainment
Author(s): Daron Stinnett, Ray Gresko, Winston Wolff, Justin Chin, Ralph M. Gerth IV, Scott Baker, David Vallone, Ron K. Lussier, William Stoneham, Chris Hockabout, Patrick Sirk, Tom Payne, Jon Knoles, Paul Mica, Clint Bajakian, Aaron Muszalski, Christopher Ross


256-colour VGA graphics in 320 x 200

Introduction

Behind a veil of secrecy, the evil Empire is creating a doomsday army - one that, if finished, will become the final cog in the Empire's arsenal of terror and domination. Join the Rebel Alliance's covert operations division, infiltrate the Empire, then battle every man and machine the Imperial Forces can muster. Search a vast galaxy for clues, attack enemy bases - all in a desperate attempt to stop the activation of this fearsome new weapon.

Dark Forces was the first first-person shooter built around the Star Wars Universe. You play as Kyle Katarn, a former Imperial Stormtrooper and now a mercenary for hire in the service of the Rebel Alliance. The story takes places just before the events of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Following the success of Id Software's Doom the year before, LucasArts created their own engine for the game, called The Jedi Engine. This allowed overlapping sections of a map, something the Doom engine couldn't do, which added the ability to have multi-floor levels with walkways.

Since the original was launched, several projects have brought such things as modern FPS controls, enhanced graphics and audio.

Probably the best today, is The Force Engine (TFE), which as of January 2023 is at version 1.02. The project's aim is to reverse engineer and rebuild the Jedi Engine (with which the original game was developed) for modern systems and the games that used that engine [ Dark Forces and Outlaws]. It requires that you have installed Dark Forces already - you then point it at your Dark Forces game directory. It really works well, providing up to 2160p resolution(!), full mouse-look controls, enhanced Save/Load features (you can do so at any time throughout a level which the original game did not allow), the ability to load fan-made mods, and much, much more. Go to the Additional Files section for more information.

DarkXL, by LuciusDXL, was another of these that worked well. It required OpenAL to be installed too, but also worked with Daggerfall. Sadly, the project hasn't been worked on since about 2015 and its capabilities have been largely superceded by TFE.

Andy's Recommendation
"With these older first-person shooters I personally struggle to get back into them today unless they have 'mouse-look' capability. Duke Nukem 3D was a similar game that originally didn't have this feature. Fortunately both Dark Forces and Duke3D got community-made mods that add this feature and more. As such, for Dark Forces I recommend you play The Force Engine version (see above) on a modern PC (it requires Windows 7 64-bit and OpenGL 3.3 as a minimum).

If you are looking to experience the game on original hardware, I recommend playing it on a 486DX2-66. For graphics cards, the year this game arrived was the same year the first 3D graphics accelerators hit the market, but these are not necessary to run DF well - any VLB or early PCI graphics cards will do, even a late 16-bit ISA card works.

For audio, it's rather more subjective - check my Game Audio/Video section to compare the audio between a variety of sound cards, and pick the one that suits you, but my top choice is the Yamaha MU80.

As mentioned, the game's controls might seem a bit strange at first if you've played more modern first-person shooters. A good action gaming joystick works well here."

 

System Requirements

System Requirements Intel 80386DX CPU (486DX-33 recommended), 8 MB of RAM, 2x CD-ROM drive.
Graphics support for MCGA and VGA only.
Audio support for Ad Lib, Sound Blaster/Pro/16/AWE32, Ensoniq SoundScape, ProAudio Spectrum, Gravis UltraSound/ACE, Roland MT-32/LAPC-I.
Keyboard, Mouse and Gravis GamePad supported.
Original Media One CD-ROM disc.
Installed Size (MB) 9.0 MB ('Standard' Install which only copies the main game and sound files, leaving level data, textures, cutscenes, and sprites on the CD-ROM). All these others add a further 59.6 MB.
67.4 MB ('Full' Install with all modules)


From where can it be run?

Dark Forces must be installed to your hard disk, though the INSTALL utility allows you to choose a custom installation where you can choose the modules to install to hard disk. Those that are not installed will require the CD-ROM to be present as you play the game.

Dark Forces runs in a DOS Protected Mode Interface (DPMI), so does not require any memory managers - in fact, they suggest you do *not* load EMM386, HIMEM or SMARTDRV before running DF.


Game Audio/Video

Sync Play    Audio loading, please wait...

Sound Blaster 16 (CT2770)
Sound Blaster 16 (CT2940)
AudioPCI GM 2MB+SBP
AudioPCI GM 4MB+SBP
AudioPCI GM 8MB+SBP
ESS1868 AudioDrive
Ad Lib MSC16 PnP
Aztech SG Pro-16 II
Aztech SG Nova 16 Extra
Sound Blaster AWE64
Yamaha MU80
Roland SC-55
Roland MT-32
For a complete review and comparison of some of these cards, visit my Sound Blaster 16 (CT2770) review page.
ESS1868 recordings are from a Compaq ES1868 Audio Feature Board. Game set to 4-OP FM for music, and Sound Blaster Pro for digital audio. The Ad Lib MSC16 PnP card also used the same settings.
The Ensoniq AudioPCI recordings are from an original Ensoniq ES1370 card. Separate recordings for the default 2 MB software waveset, and then the 4 MB and 8 MB wavesets.

My choice for the best audio is the Yamaha MU80 - it sounds the closest to the John Williams original theme, but the Sound Blaster AWE64 and AudioPCI General MIDI with 4 MB soundfont run a combined close second. The Rolands were disappointing, being a bit too soft. For the non-MIDI cards, my vote goes to the Aztechs (they both the same), though the ESS gets runner-up.

 

Copy Protection

Star Wars: Dark Forces does not have any copy protection, but the CD-ROM must be present for the game to start (even if you have installed ALL files to your hard disk).


How to Setup

To install Star Wars: Dark Forces to your hard disk, go to your CD-ROM drive and run INSTALL.EXE:

Because the game is not yet installed, you only have the option to 'Install', 'Make Boot Disk' and 'Read Readme File':

'Install' option. The 'Standard Install' will copies *only* the main game files to your hard disk. If you have under 67 MB free space on your hard disk, choose 'Custom Install':

Once the installation has been completed, INSTALL will run IMUSE.EXE to configure your sound card(s):

Express Setup will attempt to detect your audio hardware and configure it for you. If this doesn't work, choose Custom Setup to configure it manually:

Custom Setup:

Specifying some sound cards will request other information like the IRQ, DMA and Port Address:

The 'Test Digital Sound' and 'Detect' options:

The 'Advanced Menu' option, where you can specify a different audio device for music and digital sound:

When you Exit the iMUSE.EXE audio setup utility:

After the installation and iMUSE audio configuration, you are returned to the INSTALL utility menu which opens up the other options:

'Configure Controller Setup':

The Controller Configuration screens:

'Change System Speed':

'Set Number of Digital Channels' (reduce this if you have slowdown in the game):

'Add / Remove Modules':

When you attempt to start the game, even with all modules installed to your hard disk, the CD-ROM must be present, otherwise you will receive this:

 

Problems

Symptom: ?
Cause: ?
Resolution: ?

To Quit the Game

Use <ESC> while in-game to display the menu, click your mouse on the 'Quit to DOS' option, or press 'Q' to highlight it, then at the prompt press 'Y' to confirm.

 

Supporting Documents

 

Additional Files, Drivers, and Utilities

  • The Force Engine v1.02 - probably the best modern-day update to Dark Forces. Requires the original game to be installed somewhere on your hard disk. The official website for it is here on github: The Force Engine
  • XLEngine Rel 02 - an older modern-day update to Dark Forces that evolved from DarkXL (an even earlier one whose now defunct website was at http://darkxl.wordpress.com), adding mouse-look and more. Also requires OpenAL to be installed. Requires the original game to be installed somewhere on your hard disk.

Save Games

The original game only allows you to save your progress between levels.

If playing TFE, you can save at any time - just press <ESC> to bring up the menu and choose 'Save'.

 

Versions of the game known to exist

Version Date Comments
Demo ? A playable demo of DF contained the first level only.
1.0 March 1995 Initial public release.
(Unknown) 1996 LucasArts Archives: Volume II
This compilation contained the first 3 levels of Star Wars: Dark Forces - this was called a 'Super Sampler Edition'. It also contained full versions of Rebel Assault, Rebel Assault II: The Hidden Empire, and TIE Fighter Collector's CD-ROM edition.


Original CD Contents

The CD-ROM has no specific volume label. Here is its contents:

    Disc 1 of 1 (CD-ROM):

     
                
    Directory of D:\
    DARK           <DIR>            31-08-1997 11:46
    LECDEMOS       <DIR>            31-08-1997 11:49
    ALLBOOT  EXE             56,847 20-08-1996 10:18
    AUTORUN  INF                 42 11-08-1997 11:03
    BOOTMKR  EXE             11,766 11-08-1997  9:30
    CD       ID                  35 22-03-1995 11:16
    DF95     EXE            297,472 28-08-1997  9:40
    DOS4GW   EXE            254,196 23-11-1993 20:36
    INSTALL  EXE             92,714 13-03-1995 13:42
    INSTALL  PIF                967 23-07-1997 10:36
    LECDEMOS BAT                 42 07-02-1995 20:17
    README   TXT             21,228 19-08-1997  9:00
    README95 TXT             19,618 30-08-1997 16:00
       11 File(s)           754,927 Bytes

    Directory of D:\DARK
    .              <DIR>            31-08-1997 11:46
    ..             <DIR>            01-01-1980  0:00
    LFD            <DIR>            31-08-1997 11:47
    DARK     EXE          1,172,219 05-02-1995  0:41
    DARK     GOB         14,244,049 22-03-1995 11:20
    DOS4GW   EXE            254,196 23-11-1993 20:36
    IMUSE    EXE            585,827 09-02-1995 17:28
    IMUSE    INI                538 23-11-1994 15:09
    JEDI     CFG                258 09-02-1995  2:55
    LOCAL    MSG              2,989 09-02-1995 15:47
    SOUNDS   GOB          5,950,117 14-02-1995  9:38
    SPRITES  GOB          2,816,419 14-02-1995  9:40
    TEXTURES GOB          8,929,232 14-02-1995  9:34
       10 File(s)        33,955,844 Bytes

    Directory of D:\DARK\LFD
    .              <DIR>            31-08-1997 11:47
    ..             <DIR>            31-08-1997 11:46
    1E       LFD            386,159 02-02-1995 18:22
    AGENTMNU LFD             51,808 23-01-1995 20:03
    ARCEXT   LFD             69,403 09-02-1995 11:35
    ARCFLY   LFD            449,178 10-01-1995 14:50
    AWARD1   LFD          1,339,773 02-02-1995 18:53
    AWARD2   LFD             99,827 02-02-1995 18:53
    AWARD3   LFD            809,308 02-02-1995 18:53
    AWARD4   LFD            837,011 06-02-1995 14:49
    BOBA     LFD            591,083 10-01-1995 14:51
    BRIEF1   LFD            486,992 09-02-1995 11:56
    BRIEF2   LFD            378,007 10-01-1995 14:35
    CARGO1   LFD            742,172 02-02-1995 18:55
    CARGO3   LFD          1,682,384 02-02-1995 18:55
    DARKLOGO LFD            611,741 16-02-1995 11:15
    DFBRIEF  LFD          1,073,784 07-02-1995 19:27
    ENDFLY   LFD             88,001 06-02-1995 19:54
    EXECCOMP LFD            397,323 06-02-1995 20:57
    EXECX    LFD          1,217,657 10-01-1995 15:03
    EXITNEB  LFD            452,579 10-01-1995 14:38
    EXP1XX   LFD            223,728 02-02-1995 18:53
    EXP2X    LFD            932,081 02-02-1995 18:53
    EXP3XX   LFD            428,211 07-02-1995 15:06
    FTEXTCRA LFD             85,891 02-02-1995 18:22
    FULLCRED LFD            611,729 16-02-1995 11:15
    GROMAS1  LFD            824,906 07-02-1995 14:29
    GROMASX  LFD          1,495,927 07-02-1995 14:28
    HOLOCU   LFD          1,292,375 09-02-1995 11:55
    JABBA1   LFD          1,746,245 31-01-1995 16:55
    JABBA2   LFD          1,071,870 31-01-1995 16:55
    JABBA3   LFD          1,192,747 31-01-1995 16:55
    JABESCP  LFD            569,161 31-01-1995 16:55
    JEDISFX  LFD          7,175,669 31-01-1995 15:59
    KFLYBY   LFD             87,977 02-02-1995 18:55
    LOGO     LFD             67,779 02-02-1995 18:21
    MADINE1  LFD            216,483 08-02-1995 20:48
    MENU     LFD            207,749 26-01-1995 15:21
    NEB1     LFD          1,106,290 08-02-1995 11:15
    PIT      LFD          1,244,180 06-02-1995 18:38
    ROB1     LFD            869,213 16-01-1995 22:43
    ROBOTX   LFD          1,247,007 10-01-1995 14:53
    STANDARD LFD             19,191 18-05-1994 17:46
    SUCCES   LFD            124,435 10-01-1995 15:03
    SWLOGO   LFD            431,268 02-02-1995 18:22
    TUBECOMP LFD          1,410,657 09-02-1995 11:35
       44 File(s)        36,446,959 Bytes
         
    Directory of D:\LECDEMOS
    .              <DIR>            31-08-1997 11:49
    ..             <DIR>            01-01-1980  0:00
    DFDEMO         <DIR>            31-08-1997 11:49
    FTDEMO         <DIR>            31-08-1997 11:50
    BOOTMKR  EXE             11,766 11-08-1997  9:30
    DEMO     EXE             76,692 12-02-1995 14:27
    DEMOS    TXT                177 20-02-1995 18:05
    DOS4GW   EXE            254,196 23-11-1993 20:36
        4 File(s)           342,831 Bytes

    Directory of D:\LECDEMOS\DFDEMO
    .              <DIR>            31-08-1997 11:49
    ..             <DIR>            31-08-1997 11:49
    LFD            <DIR>            31-08-1997 11:49
    DARK     GOB            360,716 14-12-1994 11:14
    DARKPILO CFG             10,425 14-12-1994 11:13
    DEFAULT  INI                538 04-12-1994 15:14
    DF       EXE          1,156,761 14-12-1994 10:45
    DFREADME TXT             15,201 19-08-1997  9:02
    DOS4GW   EXE            254,196 23-11-1993 20:36
    IMUSE    EXE            425,380 16-12-1994 10:19
    IMUSE    INI                538 03-12-1994 15:15
    JEDI     CFG                238 09-12-1994 14:30
    KEYCONFI EXE             84,112 02-12-1994 10:01
    SOUNDS   GOB          1,299,033 14-12-1994 11:14
    SPRITES  GOB          1,039,431 14-12-1994 11:14
    TEXTURES GOB          1,463,875 14-12-1994 11:14
       13 File(s)         6,110,444 Bytes

    Directory of D:\LECDEMOS\DFDEMO\LFD
    .              <DIR>            31-08-1997 11:49
    ..             <DIR>            31-08-1997 11:49
    1E       LFD            396,329 13-12-1994 20:31
    AGENTMNU LFD             66,445 13-12-1994 16:09
    ARCEXT   LFD             69,325 13-12-1994 14:24
    BRIEF1   LFD            486,942 06-12-1994 18:45
    BRIEF2   LFD            377,867 06-12-1994 18:44
    DFBRIEF  LFD            648,053 08-12-1994 16:31
    EXECCOMP LFD            396,959 11-12-1994 23:50
    EXECX    LFD          1,217,645 11-12-1994 23:52
    EXITNEB  LFD            452,261 06-12-1994 18:45
    FTEXTCRA LFD            100,584 13-12-1994 20:31
    GEARUP   LFD            626,773 13-12-1994 20:31
    HOLOCU   LFD          1,292,351 06-12-1994 18:45
    JEDISFX  LFD          6,605,441 13-12-1994 16:57
    KFLYBY   LFD             87,839 06-12-1994 18:38
    LOGO     LFD             67,755 13-12-1994 20:31
    MENU     LFD            194,670 13-12-1994 11:16
    NEB1     LFD          1,106,210 06-12-1994 18:44
    PILOTMEN LFD             18,943 16-09-1994 18:09
    STANDARD LFD             19,191 18-05-1994 17:46
    SUCCES   LFD            124,315 11-12-1994 23:52
    SWLOGO   LFD            431,268 13-12-1994 20:31
    TUBECOMP LFD          1,410,511 11-12-1994 23:51
       22 File(s)        16,197,677 Bytes

    Directory of D:\LECDEMOS\FTDEMO
.              <DIR>            31-08-1997 11:50
    ..             <DIR>            31-08-1997 11:49
    DATA           <DIR>            31-08-1997 11:50
    VIDEO          <DIR>            31-08-1997 11:53
    DOS4GW   EXE            254,556 13-12-1994 15:09
    FT       000              7,885 13-12-1994 15:09
    FT       001         50,371,781 13-12-1994 15:09
    FT       EXE            376,089 13-12-1994 16:03
    FTREADME TXT              9,539 19-08-1997  9:02
    IMUSE    EXE            425,380 16-12-1994 10:19
    MONSTER  SOU         15,814,987 13-12-1994 15:09
        7 File(s)        67,260,217 Bytes

Directory of D:\LECDEMOS\FTDEMO\DATA
.              <DIR>            31-08-1997 11:50
    ..             <DIR>            31-08-1997 11:50
    BENBIKE  NUT            160,544 08-09-1994 17:21
    BENCRSHE SAN            432,530 13-12-1994  8:29
    ENDCRSHR SAN            386,766 09-12-1994 21:42
    HARLREV  SAD             10,410 09-09-1994  8:24
    ICONS    NUT              9,410 09-11-1994 20:26
    ICONS2   NUT              4,496 31-10-1994 17:58
    LASER2   SAD             11,048 23-02-1993 12:32
    LIFTBORD SAN            162,786 25-11-1994 14:16
    LIFTCHAY SAN            222,506 25-11-1994 14:19
    LIFTGOG  SAN            195,038 25-11-1994 14:18
    LIFTMACE SAN            433,898 02-12-1994 15:54
    LIFTSAW  SAN            179,366 25-11-1994 14:19
    MINEDRIV SAN         12,740,472 15-11-1994 17:26
    MINEEXIT SAN            218,250 31-10-1994  5:46
    MINEFITE SAN         14,163,978 26-11-1994 18:14
    ROADRASH NUT                824 31-10-1994 17:57
    ROADRSH2 NUT                824 31-10-1994 17:57
    SCUMMFNT NUT             20,180 11-11-1994 16:28
    SMUSHCUT TXT                384 21-11-1994 14:39
    TOMINE   SAN            655,320 07-11-1994 14:18
    TORANCH  SAN          4,308,686 02-11-1994 17:44
    TOVISTA  SAN          4,310,962 02-11-1994 17:43
       22 File(s)        38,628,678 Bytes

    Directory of D:\LECDEMOS\FTDEMO\VIDEO
.              <DIR>            31-08-1997 11:53
    ..             <DIR>            31-08-1997 11:50
    BARKDOG  NUT            355,286 04-12-1994 12:35
    BARKDOG  SAN            227,510 29-11-1994 19:11
    BED      NUT             85,822 09-06-1994 16:32
    BIG-LIMO NUT            345,420 20-09-1994 17:15
    BIGFOOT  NUT            102,096 09-06-1994 16:39
    BIKESWAR NUT          2,707,494 22-07-1994 13:11
    BLACKFRM NUT                798 16-06-1994  8:32
    BLINK    NUT             36,904 09-06-1994 16:32
    BLINK2   NUT             38,266 09-06-1994 16:33
    BLINK3   NUT             41,946 09-06-1994 16:56
    BURSTDOG NUT            580,526 29-11-1994 18:42
    BURSTDOG SAN            580,526 29-11-1994 19:11
    CATCHUP  NUT          4,426,602 22-07-1994 13:27
    CAVECHAS SAN          2,469,700 09-12-1994 18:59
    CAVECRSH SAN          1,576,602 10-12-1994 15:12
    CAVETUNL SAN            574,730 03-11-1994 16:14
    CRASH    NUT             98,600 31-08-1994 13:13
    CVRAMP   SAN            583,454 16-11-1994 17:06
    DEMO-PTA SAN         12,136,642 09-12-1994 19:12
    DEMO-PTB SAN          5,899,348 09-12-1994 19:19
    DEMOGOGG SAN            572,394 24-11-1994  9:42
    DODGE    NUT             80,946 09-06-1994 16:35
    FACE-6   NUT            298,490 05-07-1994  9:39
    FANSTOP  NUT            238,448 04-12-1994 13:40
    FINSUSHI SAN          3,368,626 21-09-1994 14:16
    FIRE     NUT            210,464 09-06-1994 13:20
    FISHGOGG NUT             58,252 15-11-1994 11:04
    FOCUS    NUT            293,020 05-07-1994  9:38
    FREAKFIR NUT            483,572 29-11-1994 22:55
    FREAKOUT NUT             91,376 29-11-1994 22:54
    FTDEMO   NUT          3,479,486 16-06-1994 13:47
    FUCUS-5  NUT            175,436 13-07-1994 11:12
    GOGGLES  NUT             12,634 18-07-1994 13:36
    HI-SIGN  NUT             34,454 20-09-1994 18:20
    INTO-FAN NUT            109,680 04-12-1994 22:16
    INTROLIP SAN          4,101,350 30-11-1994 17:51
    JUMPGORG SAN          4,324,612 09-12-1994 19:45
    KICK-IT  NUT            359,348 13-07-1994 12:54
    KICK-OFF NUT             95,862 09-06-1994 13:21
    LIMOBY   SAN            473,986 11-11-1994 14:47
    LIMOPAN  NUT          1,032,028 22-07-1994 15:39
    LIMOROAR NUT            443,248 22-07-1994 13:04
    MO-TOAST NUT              9,500 18-08-1994 11:04
    MOREACH  NUT            297,992 29-11-1994 22:34
    OM-SUSHI SAN          4,765,708 21-09-1994 13:49
    PEELOUT  NUT             76,522 20-09-1994 15:55
    REACHFAL SAN            929,958 04-12-1994 22:58
    REV      NUT             53,042 09-06-1994 13:22
    RIDEAWAY NUT             67,980 09-06-1994 16:30
    RIDEOUT  SAN          2,273,010 10-12-1994 12:10
    RIDING   NUT          2,243,250 16-06-1994  8:39
    RIPSHIFT NUT            270,760 06-12-1994 23:05
    SQUINT   NUT             29,874 20-09-1994 16:07
    STRUGGLE NUT            108,500 28-11-1994 23:18
    TAKEOFF  SAN          1,298,506 16-09-1994 12:32
    TEST     SAN             78,342 02-12-1994 15:18
    TRUKDUST NUT            267,614 29-11-1994 22:50
    VISION   NUT          1,368,278 13-07-1994 15:45
    VISION   SAN          1,193,632 13-07-1994 15:57
    WHAMMO   NUT            115,248 20-09-1994 22:10
       60 File(s)        68,653,700 Bytes

     

 

Installed Directory Contents

Once installed, the following directory structure exists in the game directory:

    Full Install chosen

     
                
    Directory of C:\GAMES\DARK
    .            <DIR>         05/09/21   13:49
..           <DIR>         05/09/21   13:49