X-Wing: Imperial Pursuit - Lucasarts Ltd RRP œ19.99
                    (Data disk for PC)

                   Reviewed by Roy Sims

A short four months after the release of the original X-Wing game,
here we have the promised data disk 'Imperial Pursuit'.
Unfortunately, it isn't the anticipated excursion flying for the
empire in a TIE Fighter but instead what we have are 20 new
missions for the rebel alliance detailing the story immediately
after the successful destruction of the dreaded Death Star. These
missions form Tour of Duty IV.

Being a data disk, 'Imperial Pursuit' requires the original X-Wing
game to be installed on your hard disk. Apart from adding 2 megs
worth of new mission data, it also supplies you with a Top Ace
pilot who has finished all of the original missions. This allows
you to view ALL of the cut scenes between missions from the
original game and try any of the original tours (I to III) as
Historical training missions! I have so far resisted the urge to
do the Death Star trench missions as I am still struggling through
the first Tour!

The new missions begin with the rebels evacuation of the fourth
moon of Yavin, soon after the destruction of the Death Star. Where
they will end is anyone's guess. I'd like to think that maybe the
rebels will reach the ice world of Hoth by the end of the last
mission (the planet that the rebels are hiding on at the start of
'The Empire Strikes Back') but there's only one way to find out!

These new missions are just as tough as the originals. This is
probably X-Wing's only downfall. Some missions require exact
timing and there is no margin for error. If just one small thing
goes wrong then the mission is effectively over because it is
impossible to succeed and progress to the next one. I'd like to
see varying degrees of success and a more gradual learning curve
in the next Star Wars game 'Rebel Assault' which is going to be
CD-Rom only for the IBM PC and the Sega MegaCD.

'Imperial Pursuit' is effectively more of the same. The only
addition is a hint facility which you can choose to dip into at
the end of each mission briefing. I would have preferred slightly
easier missions but other than that, this is still an excellent
game and the best piece of Star Wars merchandising released to
date. I can't wait for 'Rebel Assault' which should be released
just in time for Christmas, although current release dates
indicate September. Apart from warding off enemy starfighters, you
also have to dodge asteroids (hopefully in the Millenium Falcon!)
and fly down beggars canyon in a T16!

One last thing. Because I'm not exactly very good at arcade games,
but I love 'Star Wars,' wouldn't it be great if Lucasarts
converted the 'Star Wars' role playing game to computer?