Ah, Tie Fighter. Where do I even begin?
This game is a masterpiece. No other Star Wars game has immersed me so deeply in the setting. From the moment I first booted up the game in 1994, I knew I was in for something special. The sublime gameplay, the dynamic soundtrack (criminally missing from the 1998 re-release), the expanded voice acting in the 1995 Collector's CD-ROM version (dat sexy briefing officer voice), the huge variety of missions and craft, etc. It had it all.
Tie Fighter had a huge impact on my outlook on life as well. I was eight years old when I first played it, and the game opened my mind to concepts I hadn't seriously considered. In a franchise defined by its black and white "good vs. evil" mindset, Tie Fighter dared to be different by infusing "shades of grey" morality into its narrative. What's more, the game handled the concept with such maturity that I'm still amazed by it. I was sold immediately on its portrayal of the Empire through the eyes of a common soldier striving to safeguard the galaxy from terrorists, anarchists and traitors.
When I watched the films again years later, I found myself wondering if those countless Stormtroopers and Tie pilots killed in action had families they left behind, and whether or not they were really evil at heart. Tie Fighter made me realize that, when you remove the rhetoric and politics, most soldiers thrust into war are decent human beings, regardless of which side they're on. What an unexpected and wonderfully poignant statement for a game where Darth Vader is your wingman.