DISCLAMER: At the time of writing this review, I have 2 hours on the game. In reality I have much more, but I played it in offline mode because of traveling.

At first, I was gonna make this a stupid "Hurrr durrr this Star Wars and Doom 420/69" type of review. However, I really do believe a great game like this deserves an actual Pro/Con review. That being said, be prepared for lots of Pros.

Pros
+ The environments of this game are some of the best I've ever seen in an FPS. They are all unique and encourage exploration, which makes every level memorable.
+ Lots of different enemies, all faithful to the Star Wars lore. You've got your Stormtroopers, Commanders, Probe Droids, Dark Troopers and many more.
+ Lots of memorable characters from the Star Wars universe. Mon Mothma, Boba Fett, and even Jabba the Hutt are all there.
+ The guns are also all faithful to the Star Wars lore (You might even find a few in other SW games), and are really fun to use as well. Thermal Detonators, Repeaters, Fusion Cutters, and even the Imperial blaster rifle are all super cool and fun.
+ Puzzles are thought out well, and are at that just right difficulty that you wont find too hard or easy.
+ SECRETS.
+ Every mission has its own briefing, which tells you exactly what you need to know, no bullcrap.
+ Story takes place just before and after the Episode IV, so a big plus for me and many others. And its also super cool because YOU ARE THE ONE WHO GETS THE DEATH STAR PLANS.
+ This is an FPS done well. Its so fun to blast the hell out of everyone. The gunplay is VERY fun.
+ Creative obstacles. No, really. There was one room that was pitch black, with 4 Stormtroopers. The only thing that created light were all the lasers flying around, sorta like flying flashlights.
+ You can use you fists to kill everyone. HOW BADASS IS THAT?

Cons
- The story. I mean there has to be a story, right? Except it feels so rushed and there's no point to it, because you only objective (except the level with the death star plans) is to stop the creation of Dark Troopers. Boring.
- The game is super short with less than a dozen missions, and lack of replayability makes it all the shorter.
- The ground feels like its ice, you keep slipping and sliding everywhere which makes it kinda hard to focus on a shot and do a bit of platforming.
- Lack of a manual. Thank Lord Vader for Steam guides, because it doesn't, ever, tell you the controls in the game.
- Obviously, everyone's con, the graphics. The game came out in 1995, and it has not aged well at all. If a younger gamer, or really any graphics fan picked this up, they might get turned off by the graphics. BUT THATS WHY I SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST. There is a mod for this game called DarkXL. It introduces lots of things like 1920x1080 resolution, rebindable controls, more options, being able to look up and down, a reticle, and it makes the game look fantastic.
If you're picking this game up, download this mod, its worth it.

This game gets a 9/10. If it had just been a bit longer, and if the story had been A BIT better, this would've been a solid 10/10.

19 year old game, still better than most games released today.

This game is really awesome, I was afraid that a game this old set in Star Wars universe wouldnt give me the Star Wars feeling, but it sure gave me the right vibes, shooting part is like DOOM, just nicer, graphics is old but they did a good job creating the right textures to give it the right Star Wars feeling, music is a midi soundtrack, but it gives a nice nostalgic feeling to the game.

I would say the most annoying part of this game is figuring out where to go next, but Im sure Luke didnt always know where to go when he was out on his many adventures in space.

I would recommend this to any Star Wars fan. 8.5-10

Definitely a blast from *my* past; when I was a kid I played the first level over and over again. Never got past it until now, when I can proudly say I've beaten the game (on Easy, but nonetheless the game has been beaten). It was pretty fun, too.
The music's been well remixed in bleeps and bloops, and reacts dynamically to the situation. I played with the game in a window, which I think works better than full-screen - the assets are pretty pixelly, especially for objects far in the distance. Apparently I fought Boba Fett at one point, but I didn't know - he was flying around and I was just trying not to get shot too many times, so I couldn't tell it was him.
I like how there's no objective marker (though a mini-map would come in handy, and a nicer one than the one that appears if you hit tab or F1) and the levels are kind of maze-like, and yet no matter how lost I am, I always blunder to the objective somehow. One thing that is slightly awkward for targeting is that the X-axis is controlled by the mouse, while the Y-axis is controlled by PgUp and PgDn, making me feel sort of like a mobile turret. Fortunately, auto-aim is a thing and it is a helpful thing.
Probably not a game that you need with all the modern variety to choose from, but if you like FPS's with Star Wars and a vague sense of plot involved, and you like old-school stuff, check it out. Also if you like Kyle Katarn before he became a weird Jedi, and Jan was super cute. ;)

Even though this dates back to a couple years after the release of Doom, Dark Forces still offers some good gameplay and a good Star Wars storyline. While I recommend the game, it probably will only be enjoyed by Star Wars fans and those who originally played the game back in the 90s when it was released. While you can control the view with the mouse, I couldn't get it to look up and down, which made it difficult at times, though not too frustrating. The level design is good and the action is decent, and it brings back fond memories of playing this on my 486. As usual for any Star Wars game, great music and great audio.

Just think of it this way,

Doom + Star Wars = Dark Forces

Nuff said.

You see, I always knew Kyle Katarn would be a jedi someday. You know why? It's pretty damn obvious... when he's around, stormtroopers can't aim worth ♥♥♥♥!
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Dark Forces... what is this? It's an FPS from the DOS and PS1. Don't back off the store page just yet, bear with me.

This game's very doom-style, mixing together 2D sprites with 3D terrain. You may also notice the way the X axis is locked, just like doom. But wait, what's this... what happens if I use PgUp/PgDown... oh ♥♥♥♥, I'm looking up and down!

There you have it. This is a doom-style that also allows jumping, crouching, and looking up and down. Have your fill of "innovation?" Good, now let's talk about what we all really care about-- gameplay.

If you haven't already guessed, it's a Star Wars shooter leading up to the events of the Star Wars: Jedi Knight franchise. You play as mercenary Kyle Katarn and it begins with a setting we'll recognize easily-- this is an imperial base. Go steal the plans to the Death Star. Then, the story takes a unique Extended Universe approach, as we follow the development of an Imperial project developing a new army of cloned supersoldiers codenamed "Dark Troopers." Your missions are to go into various places and carry out the assignment, as you go deeper into the project and try to put a stop to the project.

The level design is great... it has a good balance of puzzles, firefights, raids, speedruns, and more as you plow through stormtroopers and more. Multiple weapons can be found, from Blaster Rifles to Thermal Detonators to Imperial Heavy Repeaters, and the graphics were great for the time. The game itself is completely solid.

The only pitfall in this game is what the greedy ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥s at LucasArts have done with it. According to George Lucas, slapping an outdated and incompatible DOSBox that isn't even properly configured counts as a proper "rerelease." The controls have been "updated," with WASD to move and... no vertical aiming on the mouse. Of all the things we needed, they left out the most important one and we'd be better off just using the damn arrow keys for movement! Anyway, there are guides you can read on how to fix these issues, don't let them stop you from playing this game. If you have any issues, check the bottom of this review for guides on how to update DOSBox, make it run better, and (optional) add controller support.

Overall: ♥♥♥♥ the 'rerelease,' 7/10. Game itself: 8.5/10, frantic FPS fun in the Star Wars universe with great level design.
============
Compatibilty
The following Steam guides will help you make the game work smoothly on your PC without color issues.

Update DOSBox to 0.74: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=205637267
Better Performance: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=256728338
Controller Support: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=213262211

=============
You may also like:

Doom 2
http://store.steampowered.com/app/2300/
Quake
http://store.steampowered.com/app/2310/
Shadow Warrior Classic (Now Free on Steam)
http://store.steampowered.com/app/238070/

This game is just how I remember it from when I was a kid. Great old FPS mechanics, good music and audio for the majority of the game, and a solid classic LucasArts game. Would recommend to anyone who enjoys classic FPS.

Its Doom and Star Wars in one game, what could go wrong

If you are in the mood classic fps and starwars then this is the game for you. Having excellent story and numerous easter eggs find and game play still holds-up today. A Five out of Five.

Just epic! Doom engine + Star wars! 9/10

A great old school shooter. Just wish it had free mouse look on the vertical axis.

9.5/10 must-play.
In this classic FPS you play as a scruffy nerf-herder of a smuggler in the Star Wars universe. The ultimate roguish badass Kyle Katarn will be defying the galactic empire, dealing with bounty hunters and running into characters we all know from the movies.
On a technical level, DF falls between Doom and Quake. The well laid out, dynamic, 3d maps are a joy, but great 90s graphics are still 90s graphics. Luckily the familiarity of the design and enemies will make up for that and draw you in. Not least it serves as the launching point for one of gaming's epic series.

Good.

Bom e velho clássico FPS da LucasArts, preciso dizer mais alguma coisa?

Bem, esse é aquele tipo de jogo que não é pra todo mundo, os gráficos (embora ainda bacanas) obviamente já estão ultrapasados e talvez a jogabilidade velha guarda não agrade àqueles acostumados com jogos mais modernos.

Mas se vc é daqueles que curtiu/curti Doom, Duke Nukem, Quake, etc. pode comprar sem medo que vai adorar.

RECOMENDO! TODA A SÉRIE CLÁSSICA STAR WARS!!!

Impressionate. Sério.

Nunca tinha jogado um jogo do MS-DOS antes, nem sequer Doom. Mas agora que tive a oportunidade, devo dizer. Fiquei impressionado. O jogo é extremamente bem feito, apesar da data de lançamento.
Esperava só o básico: Andar, atirar, e nada mais. Encontrei mais: Correr, interação com cenário, animações impressionantes, diálogos, água que te deixa lento, munição, armadura, e artes que não ficam atrás.

Claro, Star Wars: Dark Forces é um jogo apenas pros jogadores mais hardcores: O jogo em si, não é dificil, mas é totalmente diferente do que estamos acostumados, e acabamos com a famosa 'dor de cabeça' se tentarmos jogar por muito tempo. Ou até mesmo náuseas. Então, se você tem menos de 18 anos, não jogue. Você só vai -literalmente- se estressar.

...Ou pra quem tem mais de 30 anos e quer sentir a nostalgia que jogos MS-DOS são, pelo menos pra eles. Nós da faixa dos 'vinte anos', nos sentimos bem mais nostálgicos quando jogamos jogos como GTA 3, Metal Gear Solid 1, Max Payne ou Crash Car. Então, se você procura algo nostálgico mas tem menos de 25 anos, caia fora daqui.

Claro, independente da sua idade, o preço do jogo está muito acima do ideal. E digo, muito.

Exceptionally well made for its time. I'd take this game over DOOM any day. Obviously, though, its age makes it good for nostalgia and not much else.

The main premise is a bit off beat for Star Wars, but the universe is generally represented in a wonderfully dark, gritty and accurate perspective of a rebel-aligned bounty hunter.

As an extra note, I'd like to say there is nothing cheap or fake about this game, other than the limitations that were common for its time. From start to finish, each mission feels like a well-organized challenge situated in a real, factual location of the Star Wars universe - without feeling like a repeat of any of the three original movies.

The year is 1995. You're an eleven year old Star Wars nerd and your dad just bought a sweet new DOS' with, like, a whole MEGABYTE of RAM! What do you do? You get Dark Forces.

In retrospect, you may think its just a DOOM-clone. But it isn't. And when it was first released, the Jedi engine was hardly thought of as anything but a massive leap gaming. With Dark Forces, you can look up and down, crouch, and even swim! There's multiple floor levels - and many of those levels feature atmospheric effects and all of them have animated textures!

We're spoiled in this day and age. I recommend Dark Forces because not only is it actually fun to play, and the storyline is pretty engrossing, but its a blast from the past from when games were actually more than layers upon layers of quicktime events.

Star Wars: Dark Forces was one of the first video game entries to incorporate elements of the expanded universe. Built on an enhanced version of the DOOM engine, Dark Forces reset the bar for first person shooters. It introduces the lasting character of Kyle Katarn into the universe and proved that you don't have to be a Jedi or a starfighter pilot to make a successful Star Wars game. An epic storyline, combined with memorable characters and impressive level design makes this game a must have for any Star Wars fan, or those looking for a sense of nostalga about how far gaming has come.

The graphics were top notch at the time of release (1995) with smooth animation and distinct sprites and textures. Digital voice work is crisp and helps to give the characters a sense of personality. From the filtered 'halt!' of stormtroopers to the anamalistic groan of the Diagnosa as you wade through raw sewage, you will always know exactly what is hunting you.

Gameplay is standard fare for shooters of the time. you have a wide variety of weapons - pistols, blaster rifles, thermal detonators, along with more exotic weapons such as the fusion cutter or the assault plasma cannon. Health is non-regenerating and must be restored from medkits, along with shields.

Sound direction is excellent. The music features remixes of well known Star Wars tunes along with new music. Each tune fits the level it is attached to. Weapon sounds are unique, giving every gun its own feel.

Overall, this is a geat game for retro lovers. Solid gameplay, a memorable story that has influenced many other games in the franchise, and characters with actual personality makes this a good choice.

On the technical side, this game comes bundled with its own auto-loading version of DOSBox, meaning that it will work on modern systems. Confirmed functional on all systems up to Windows 7 64-bit, with reports of it working properly on Windows 8 systems.

9/10.

One of the best Star Wars games ever made. Run it with DarkXL though, don't waste your time with Dosbox.

Full video review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu1cO2B76UE

If you don't like old games, read no further.

The graphics are pretty good for the time.

The controls aren't bad.

The gameplay and level set up, AMAZING. Much better, more fun, and far greater than any newer games. If you can put aside graphics and the age of the game, it's really great. 14 difficult levels, very much so worth it's price. I play a lot of star wars games, and I have to say the Jedi Knights and dark forces games are da bomb.

Get this game.