History VideoGame / XWing

* SdrawkcabName: Many freighters are named after Creator/LucasArts [[DuelingGames archrival]] companies back in the day; Nigiro, Arreis, Orcim/Esorp ([[VideoGame/WingCommander Origin]], Creator/MicroProse, and Creator/{{Sierra}}). Since freighters are often [[ButtMonkey sitting ducks]] and there is also one called ''Diputs'' (Stupid in reverse) the whole thing seems like a stealth TakeThat.

* GunshipRescue: There is at least one mission where the Mon Calamari Cruiser ''Cathleen'' appears at the end to pull your ass out of the fire. ''TIE Fighter'' introduced the ability to call for reinforcements in most missions, and in one "protect the space platform from raiders" mission, calling for reinforcements summons a ''Star Destroyer''.

Initially the game lets you fly either an [[JackOfAllStats X-Wing space superiority fighter]], [[MightyGlacier Y-Wing assault fighter]] or [[FragileSpeedster A-Wing high-speed interceptor]]. A later expansion pack adds the [[LightningBruiser B-Wing heavy assault starfighter]], which is a vast improvement over the Y-Wing, as well as extra missions rounding the campaign to 50 total and bringing the game up to just before the Battle of Hoth. ''X-Wing'' has the distinct honor of being the first ''Star Wars'' game with an original plot, rather than being an adaptation of one of the movies.[[note]]Although the final missions of the game do recreate the climactic assault on the Death Star from [[Film/ANewHope the original film]].[[/note]]

Initially the game lets you fly either an [[JackOfAllStats X-Wing space superiority fighter]], [[MightyGlacier Y-Wing assault fighter]] or [[FragileSpeedster A-Wing high-speed interceptor]]. A later expansion pack adds the [[LightningBruiser B-Wing heavy assault starfighter]], which is a vast improvement over the Y-Wing, as well as extra missions rounding the campaign to 50 total and bringing the game up to just before the Battle of Hoth. ''X-Wing'' has the distinct honor of being the first ''Star Wars'' game with an original plot, rather than being an adaptation of one of the movies.

Initially the game lets you fly either an [[JackOfAllStats X-Wing space superiority fighter]], [[MightyGlacier Y-Wing assault fighter]] or [[FragileSpeedster A-Wing high-speed interceptor]]. A later expansion pack adds the [[LightningBruiser B-Wing heavy assault starfighter]], which is a vast improvement over the Y-Wing, as well as extra missions rounding the campaign to 50 total and bringing the game up to just before the Battle of Hoth.

* PragmaticAdaptation: The game seriously reduces the firing rate of both your and the enemy ships to avoid having too many moving objects to keep track of at once and to avoid having ships being ridiculously fragile to concentrated fire or laser blasts being ridiculously ineffective on and individual basis.

* FragileSpeedster: The very fast A-Wing is the weakest Rebel fighter, in terms of both shields and hull.

* MightyGlacier: The Y-Wing, emphasis on "Glacier", and B-Wing, emphasis on "Mighty". The Y-Wing is relatively powerful but very slow, and it's outclassed in every way by the B-Wing, which is still slower than the X- or A-wings but noticeably faster and better-armed than the Y-wing, with a larger warhead payload and three ion & laser cannons where the Y-Wing has only two of each.

* LightningBruiser: The [=TIE Advanced=] which starts making its appearance late in the game, it's fast, nimble and shielded; fortunately it appears very sparsely, usually as an Imperial reinforcement should the player decide to linger on a mission.

Initially the game lets you fly either an [[JackOfAllStats X-Wing space superiority fighter]], [[MightyGlacier Y-Wing heavy assault fighter]] or [[FragileSpeedster A-Wing high-speed interceptor]]. A later expansion pack adds the B-Wing, which is a vast improvement over the Y-Wing, as well as extra missions rounding the campaign to 50 total and bringing the game up to just before the Battle of Hoth.

* SdrawkcabName: Many freighters are named after Creator/LucasArts [[DuelingGames archrival]] companies back in the day; Nigiro, Arreis, Orcim/Esorp ([[VideoGame/WingCommander Origin]], {{Microprose}}, and Creator/{{Sierra}}). Since freighters are often [[ButtMonkey sitting ducks]] and there is also one called ''Diputs'' (Stupid in reverse) the whole thing seems like a stealth TakeThat.

* {{Mook}} : The Imperial doctrine dictates [[ZergRush 3 to 1 odds]] against Rebel fighters to make up for their lack of shields meaning that any hit is a permanent hull hit.

The game's missions are much more complex than simply destroying all enemy ships. Besides capital ships needing to be hit in vulnerable areas ForMassiveDamage, the Empire's ships are often scripted to use flanking maneuvers and feints, to the point that some missions revolve more around solving puzzles than {{Old School Dogfight}}s. As a reward, players are able to participate in the attack on the Death Star during the final missions.

* SdrawkcabName: Many freighters are named after Creator/LucasArts [[DuelingGames archrival]] companies back in the day; Nigiro, Arreis, Orcim/Esorp ([[VideoGame/WingCommander Origin]], {{Microprose}}, and {{Sierra}}). Since freighters are often [[ButtMonkey sitting ducks]] and there is also one called ''Diputs'' (Stupid in reverse) the whole thing seems like a stealth TakeThat.

** Objectives screen. The game allows the player to to review the text portion of the briefing while in flight, along with a semi-hidden hints page.

* SdrawkcabName: Many freighters are named after LucasArts [[DuelingGames archrival]] companies back in the day; Nigiro, Arreis, Orcim/Esorp ([[VideoGame/WingCommander Origin]], {{Microprose}}, and {{Sierra}}). Since freighters are often [[ButtMonkey sitting ducks]] and there is also one called ''Diputs'' (Stupid in reverse) the whole thing seems like a stealth TakeThat.

* VariableMix: ''iMuse'', a music engine designed by LucasArts to implement dynamic soundtracks. This feature was virtually lost in the last updated rerelease, in return for having the actual score from the movies.

* AcePilot: And beyond, labelled up to Top Ace. The player. The pilots from the roster can be assigned AI wingman duties in campaign missions and will perform according to their current rank. They can also be KilledOffForReal too. This feature was dropped in the latest release

* FasterThanLightTravel: Most crafts enter and exit the combat zone via hyperspace jumps. The basic [=TIEs=] lack a hyperdrive engine so they scramble from and return to a {{mothership}}.
* FeaturelessProtagonist: {{Feelies}} and materials from the [[AllThereInTheManual Limited version]] and Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse indicate that the PlayerCharacter's name is "Keyan Farlander", he was flying the surviving Y-Wing at Yavin, and he goes on to be a Jedi. In-game one of the cutscenes from the ExpansionPack has Luke Skywalker specifically refer to a "Lieutenant Farlander." However in the original release an historical training mission named "Farlander's first mission" adds to the confusion suggesting he is a different pilot from the rookie player.
** That is AllThereInTheManual actually (the Strategy Guide actually) which explained that Keyan Farlander is the player, and that while still in training he was pulled out of training to fly the "real" Farlander's First Mission flight (unseen in the game), and when he returned to pilot training, they'd already incorporated a simulation of it as a training scenario.

* InterfaceScrew: Part of the SubsystemDamage mentioned below. The various instruments in your ship's cockpit can be shot out as you take hull damage.

* MightyGlacier: The Y-Wing, emphasis on "Glacier", and B-Wing, emphasis on "Mighty". The Y-Wing is relatively powerful but very slow, and it's outclassed in every way by the B-Wing, which is still slower than the X- or A-wings but is still faster and better-armed than the Y-wing, with a larger warhead payload and three ion & laser cannons where the Y-Wing has only two of each.
* MissionBriefing: Admiral Ackbar, voiced by Erik Bauersfeld like in the movies, debriefs the player in the Tour of Duty missions. The historical combat missions are presented by General Dodonna, voiced by Clive Revil, the voice of the Emperor in the theatrical release of ''The Empire Strikes Back.''

* {{Mook}} : The Imperial doctrine dictates a [[ZergRush 3 to 1 odds]] against Rebel fighters. Imperial fighters have no shields so any hit is a permanent hull hit.

* ShoutOut: The huge Mon Calamari cruiser [[WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow ''Stimsenj'cat'' and very small tug ''Renhoek'']].

** That is AllThereInTheManual actually (the Strategy Guide actually) which explained that Keyan Farlander is the player, and that while still in training he was pulled out of training to fly the "real" Farlander's First Mission flight (unseen in the game) and when he returned to pilot training, they'd incorporated a simulation of it as a training scenario.

* NoFairCheating: While the in-game options menu lets you turn on [[GodMode infinite shields]], infinite missiles/torpedoes, and/or immunity to {{collision damage}}, doing this prevents your score and mission progress from being saved.

* SaveScumming: Your pilot can't exactly be KilledOffForReal, but DeathIsASlapOnTheWrist isn't quite the case either (the pilot can be revived, but the stats and achievements are reset) so the trope is encouraged with a twist, the game doesn't have savepoints so it must be done from the operating system, backing up or restoring the pilot files.

* TrainingAccident: One of the recreated training missions involves a story of a single pilot accidentally entering hyperspace and stumbled upon undefended Imperial transports. He destroyed a large number of them before realizing that he was outside training grounds.

* VariableMix: ''iMuse'', a music engine designed by LucasArts to implement dynamic soundtracks. This feature was virtually lost in the last updated rerelease.

* ArcVillain: The ISD Intrepid is a thorn in your side throughout most of Tour II until you finally catch it at a disadvantage (it is stranded due to a collision with a frigate damaging its hyperdrive) and destroy it. The ISD Invincible more or less plays the same role in Tour I as the flagship of Operation Strike Fear, with most of the tour's missions involving running away before it arrives, disrupting its supply lines, .

* CollisionDamage: Often lethal. Interestingly, this applies to both you ''and'' to the fighters that collide with you... and [=TIEs=] don't have shields, so colliding with one will certainly take it out, though likely at a very heavy cost to your own fighter as well. One of the options in the menu allows you to disable this as well, though doing so prevents you from progressing until you turn it off again.

* KaizoTrap: If you collide with a ship that is exploding you will still take damage. If your shields are low this can kill you. Also, when destroying a fighter or other small spacecraft, it may fly off in a random direction, occasionally directly into your fighter.

* ArcVillain: The ISD Intrepid is a thorn in your side throughout most of Tour II until you finally catch it at a disadvantage (it is stranded due to a collision with a frigate damaging its hyperdrive) and destroy it.
* ArrowCam: For torpedoes and missiles.

* ChasingYourTail: Dogfights.
* CollisionDamage: Often lethal. ''You'' also do CollisionDamage to other fighters...and [=TIEs=] don't have shields, so colliding with one will certainly take it out.

* ColdBloodedTorture: Implied and modeled exactly like in ''Film/ANewHope'' . If the player is captured, Lord Vader himself pops up to have a chat about the location of that secret Rebel base...

* DeadlyTrainingArea: Pilot proving grounds, unlike the Empire's VirtualTrainingSimulation seen in ''TIE Fighter'' and later games, although the "Historical Combat Simulations" briefing states that both the proving ground and historical combat use holographic technology. This caused an issue with one trainee pilot that accidentally used hyperspace to reach an imperial supply depot which was luckily unguarded and easily destroyed.
* DeflectorShields: The main and huge advantage the Rebel fighters have over the Imperial ones --the only spacecrafts that lack a shield-- until Gunboats and TIE Advanceds appear. RegeneratingShieldStaticHealth variety and an important element of the energy management gameplay.

** Changeable loadouts. A-wings have concussion missles. X-wings, Y-Wings, and B-wings all have torpedoes. No alternative weapons such as the devastating heavy rockets or ludicrously slow and powerful space bombs.

* ExplosiveInstrumentation: Taking a lot of damage often resulted in your instrument panels breaking. Some of it was cosmetic, some of it was crippling (you could be all but blinded by your radar display going out), or have no idea what your shield status is. . . though the damage only occurs on hull hits, so you may have bigger problems already, but the damage is completely random. A hits that cripple your ship might not hurt your instruments at all, while a lucky shot that barely penetrates thin shields might take out an important gauge (like shield status) making it ''much'' harder to deal with the follow-up shots.

* ItsUpToYou: OneManArmy with the occasional aversion. Don't expect your wingmen or the rest of the fleet to save the day. Your "wingmen" will often jump out of the battlezone once they've completed their pre-assigned objectives (Destroying a freighter, disabling a ship) leaving the remainder of the mission entirely in your hands.

* MightyGlacier: The Y-Wing, emphasis on "Glacier", and B-Wing, emphasis on "Mighty". The Y-Wing is relatively powerful but very slow, and it's outclassed in every way by the B-Wing, which is also rather slow, but it is faster,with a larger warhead payload, and three ion & laser cannons where the Y-Wing has only two of each.

* RammingAlwaysWorks: The second tour of duty involves a chain of missions based around acquiring "super shield" technology, outfitting a Corvette with said technology (the Corvette being the appropriately named [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Ram%27s_Head ''Ram's Head'']]), then having it drop out of hyperspace next to an Imperial repair facility and slamming through the bridges of several Star Destroyers sitting in drydock (and coming out the other side unharmed).

* RecycledInSpace: Aerial UsefulNotes/WorldWarII [-IN SPACE!-] . Literal example. Creator/GeorgeLucas invoked the trope in the source material. The game uses the same fonts, hotkeys and many features previously seen in Lawrence Holland's WWII flight simulators (e.g {{Old School Dogfight}}ing, rosters, replay camera, cockpit and external views...). It also expands upon them.
* SaveScumming: Your pilot can't exactly be KilledOffForReal but neither DeathIsASlapOnTheWrist (the pilot can be revived, but the stats and achievements are reset) so the trope is encouraged with a twist, the game doesn't have savepoints so it must be done from the operating system, backing up or restoring the pilot files.