4.10.2003

*Graphics & Sound:The maps are big, the detail is well above average and the Quake III engine proves that it can still deliver good looking videogames. I noticed some slowdowns in a couple of (huge) open areas, but then again, I have 700Mhz processor and a GeForce2 MX. If you spend too much time watching Doom III screenshots you might be dissapointed, though. The characters look exactly as they did in Jedi Knight II.The music is very good (very John William-ish), the FX are exactly what you'd expect of a Jedi Knight game (lasers, shouting, burning, falling, etc) and are well done, but feel repetitive. The voice acting is above average and Jaden doesn't sound like a high-school student,or at least not quite as much as it did in the demo.*The Single Player Campaign:You play as Jaden Korr and as you most likely know, you can play as a human (male or female), male Kel Dor, male Rodian, female Twi'lek, female Zabrak (No Darth Maul clon for you!) You'll be able too customize your clothes too, but this is no MMORPG so don't expect much variety. In fact, if you've played the demo (a wise thing to do) you've seen them all.So, the story. You're Jaden Korr and you're heading to the Jedi Academy with your own personal lightsaber (custom hilt). Nobody knows how could Jaden manage to make one without any help and, minor spoiler, you're never told. I'd say it's stolen.In the academy you'll learn history and sit trought horribly long lessons of diplomacy. Just kidding! You'll only be sent to a couple of missions. And of course, you won't see much diplomacy. Someone will yell "It's a jedi!" and lasers will start to rain upon your lightsaber.So it's just missions? No, there is a plot. It's a bit, well, simple. But it's there. I won't spoil it for you, though. The game is quite intense, and the maps are well thought. The puzzles are also quite simple and they're mostly push here, pull that, etc.Weird sabre combat is here, ladies and gentlemen. After beating half the campaign you'll be given the choice to wield either two lightsabers or a double-bladed lightsaber. It's up to you, but in my honest opinion, it looks just wrong. There's already way too many sith wielding them, so I'll just stick to my old lightsaber, thank you.The dark side. Oh yes, the dark side is everywhere. You can be taught any dark discipline in the academy but disciplines don't make a sith or a jedi, it's the way you use them (Or at least that's what good ol' Kyle Katarn says). So, can you be turned? Well, the answer is mostly yes, but at the end of one of the last missions.The downside. I really don't know, but the game seems a bit shorter than Jedi Knight 2. Maybe I play too much, but hey, I've already gone trough the campaign twice in the Jedi Master difficulty (Only for Quicksave-quickload lovers).*Multiplayer:Plenty of options here, but a quick review of the game modes would be:-Free For All: Good if you don't have much time, the FFA in this game looks just wrong. Almost everyone has two lightsaber, with the ocassional random guy with the staff. You can win all the fights that you want, all the duels, whatever but you'll never win the game. Unless. Unless you know about The Cheapness(tm). The cheapness (tm) is getting inside a melee and using the kata (primary atack+seconday atack) while using two lightsabers. Everyone dies. You may be insulted and called "lamer" but, dude, just keep going. Videogames are about winning at any cost.-Team FFA: Well, it's not quite as bad when there are some teams involved. And you'll get that special feeling when you save someone from a certain death or viceversa.-Siege: To tell you the truth, I haven't played this yet. It must be good, though becase every Siege server is always FULL, damnit. What's with the lack of servers anyways? Apparently this Siege thing plays like Return to Castle Wolfenstain, or Battlefield 1942. Sounds good. Now if some people would be kind enough to go to sleep, I might get in...-Duel: Two jedi fight in a small arena. The rest of the players wait for their turn while they watch the fight. The winner stays, the loser get's kicked to the end of the line.-Power Duel: Two jedi fight a more powerful foe. Good fun. Winner stays, loser blah blah...-Capture the flag: You know the drill. The light side jedi with absorb and speed will be your main flag runner.*ConclusionIs this game Jedi Knight 3? Nope, not yet.Would I buy this game again? Yes, I would. I found the game to be fun, and that is what games are all about. You play through it in a breeze but it's quite a ride, and an experience that is at least, worth of my time. Then again, the game isn't over for me. I know that I'll play it online for many months. Look for me there. I'm the guy with the single lightsaber.

30.7.2005

The Quake 3 engine is showing its age now but I still find myself playing Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy. Why? Because it's fun, that's why. The game has a good mix between linear and freeform gameplay which allows you to choose more or less which missions you want to play and in which order. You also get to design your own character (Human male, Human female, Rodian male, Kel Dor male, Twi'lek female, Zabrak female) and your own lightsaber (red lightsabers are reserved for multiplayer only by the way). You get to choose which force powers you want to focus on, getting to choose light (heal, mind trick etc) and/or dark (grip, lightning etc) powers.You'll find yourself choosing grip just so you can say "I find your lack of faith disturbing..." to every stormtrooper you come across.Later on in the single player game you get to choose whether you'll be a Jedi or a Dark Jedi which has a dramatic effect on the closing levels and the ending of the game. Like I said, the game has a good mix of linear and freeform gameplay.The multiplayer has kept me hooked for far too long. The amount of mods, custom characters, new levels and other fan made downloads is almost on the same scale as the original Quake 3. Want to play as Master Chief (from Halo) or Spiderman with a lightsaber? Just download the custom models and you can. Some people play Jedi Academy multiplayer for the saber duels, some for capture the flag or team based free for alls and some people play it to play out the role of a character. The amount mods and custom additions to the game means that you can have hours of fun just trying to get your team mates to dance the 'YMCA' in synch with you.If you want a single player game which has a good replay value (thanks to the freeform/linear style) and grants a large dosage of cinematic events (saber locks, defeating swarms of troopers with your saber, fighting dark jedi on top of a speeding hover train through a windswept metropolis etc) then you should think about getting Jedi Academy. If you want to play a multiplayer game in which you don't have to shoot everything that moves and requires a little more thinking and even some role playing now and then, you should also think about getting Jedi Academy.There are some bad points to Jedi Academy though; only a few but they should be mentioned anyway. The menus are annoying, it seems like a minor point but they really are irritating. Sometimes people find ways to exploit the dual saber and staff saber (like the one Darth Maul used) styles and it can be difficult to beat them when they just flail at you. The graphics and sound aren't top notch, like I said the game is dated, but with a good processor (2GB) and graphics card (128MB) you can put every graphic and sound option to the max and enjoy the game the way it was meant to be played; if you don't have the latest and greatest hardware it doesn't really matter because you can play the game anyway (the specs are pretty low since it uses an older game engine). And the AI is a bit dumb, sometimes dark jedi kill themselves by jumping off cliffs and the like (though you do end up laughing your head off when this happens) but these are all minor flaws in a fun game I find myself installing and playing through again and again.

17.9.2016

Ah yes. Another blast from the past? Let me explain.Jedi Academy. A game that I adored back in the day which I decided to try playing again for some old school Star Wars action. Does it still satisfy me? In a word. Yes. Okay the obvious thing I noticed, its 2016 and everything looks 99% real when it comes to Video Games and CGI graphics, JKA today? Not so much being thirteen years old. It is showing its age, but as a person who is fond of many classic games from that era and before it, does this really bother me? It's not that much of an issue as I love trips down memory lane anyway.The game has some cool features like a character creator with a few races to choose from, expect most star wars classics to be here.That's good. It also has a lightsaber creator and select-able force powers which I still really like. You can play as a guy or girl, called Jaden.(Yeah I know, not being able to name him/her might be annoying to modern standards, think Dragon Age or Mass Effect, the options are limitless there but that's irreverent in the case of this game.)Now onto why I enjoy it a lot to this day, thirteen years on. The story line. Its from the old cannon, now called Legends era, this is a great thing for Star Wars fans who love and miss classic characters. Kyle, Jan, Mara Jade etc. Anyone who played this game, the previous two or read books, comics or otherwise from the nineties up till around 2012 will know who I mean. They are so memorable that I smile even reading their names.It follows Jaden on a journey from being a new Academy member in training to fighting alongside Kyle and Luke against a cult of Sith Lead by a mysterious girl who has been studying, following the teachings of Darth Vader. The levels are varied and action packed, one minute you're training in a Jungle , and the next you could be battling your way through an abandoned temple or Ship crawling with bad guys. This is another fond memory as I liked most of the levels. Some are irritating but you always will remember the ones that made you cringe when they come up but that's to be expected replaying any game you liked a few years ago.For fans of the classic era of star wars that like action games, this is a worthwhile purchase. It works well on windows ten and eight, but sadly not seven. This might be a problem for people who don't want to upgrade but regardless of that the game itself runs reasonably well.I bet you're wondering why this is a four star review. I mentioned most of the reasons above there, the other is the games availability. Sure you can get it on Steam as part of the Collection or on here as a disk, but my point is it is getting rare in good condition for non online gamers who love classic adventures by the good old DVD method. If you want it, get it while you can in the form you prefer as it's going at a great price which means, quickly, so don't miss out on a retro experience you're bound to like.Scoring the game by today's standards? A very respectable 7/10 as it might be old but still has very likeable charms and features despite the age gap.A game which I'm happy to recommend as it gave me a very good nostalgic feeling.Classic era fans Rejoice.

26.9.2003

I feel compelled to write this because this title only got 70% from PC Gamer's review, which I felt to be much too harsh. This game deserves better.In Jedi Academy you play as Jaden, apprentice to Kyle Katarn, our hero from Jedi Outcast. An enemy from the past starts accumulating force energy using an ancient artifact, and fearing for the consequences the new Jedi are sent out to investigate. The game allows you choose which missions to take, weapons to carry and force powers to develop. In time, and as the game progresses, you can learn new lightsaber combat styles and can even construct your own double-bladed saber-staff (or fight with two sabers at once).This game allows all the character options that players have been crying out for, and no player can go through the game without a feeling of smug satisfaction at the progress of his character - because it's your character, not someone else's. So why is this not a perfect game?Well, reasons given by the previously mentioned review are basically: old game engine, problems with graphics when the action takes place in large areas, superfluous weaponry and moronic AI. I would like to debunk these accusations a bit because at least three out of four are unfair.Firstly, this game uses exactly the same graphics as Jedi Outcast. This is a plus, because if you can run Jedi Outcast you can run Jedi Academy too, and I can't see any owner of Jedi Outcast not wanting this title (that's how good it was). Secondly, the game will only slow down if you shove the graphics' resolution too far, and why on earth would you want to? In the middle of hurried saber-combat there's not a lot of time for sight-seeing, and in any case who is actually going to need such a hi-res setup? Thirdly, how you choose to use weapons is entirely a matter of skill and style. It's called gameplay. There are some weapons that are still very useful even at later levels. Catch a reborn standing on a ledge, unawares, and a handy shot from a rocket launcher can knock him off the precipice (saving you the need to actually fight him). Nothing can block a shot from the sniper rifle. And the concussion rifle is almost unstoppable. If you can't see the advantages of kit like this, you must be severely lacking in imagination.But the comment about the AI is true, I'm afraid. Although you could argue that you are almost invincible once you get decent saber defence abilities, the stormtroopers really are dumb. Their accuracy is pathetic (fairly consistent with the films then) and while you get the odd Dark Trooper thrown in now and then or the occasional heavy weapon trooper, it's mostly a matter of deciding whether to smash them into the wall, push them off ledges, use a mind trick or just walk up to them and cut them into little pieces. I'd suggest that you crank up the difficulty for a real fight now and then.So, overall I reckon this is worth a good 84% as a game, and four stars on this site. It's just that it feels more like an expansion pack than a freshly developed game in itself, and the AI really needs a tune-up. A patch or update from Lucasarts with improved AI and a few more single-player skins would not go amiss.

3.1.2004

I must first state for the record that this game is too short, there are 3 sets of five missions with a mission joining them all and two at the end which are very hard. This may sound like a reasonable amount but I completed the game 4 times before new years eve and I got it at christmas.Apart from that the game is excellent, the graphics are of a high standard without distracting you from the game, some great realistic explosions in cinematics enrich the experience, like the exploding dreadnought in an asteroid field far into the game. Great attention to detail can easily be seen whilst playing, from the smoke from fire to the way rain goes psst on your lighsaber.Right from the start you have a chance to do battle with a lightsaber when your shuttle is crashed en route to the academy.You and another student must make your way to a nearby temple to meet up with the other students and a few jedi. Before you reach the temple though you get to experiment with a few of the different aspects of the game, from taking on imperials, wild animals and a saber wielding opponent.Upon reaching the temple you get your first bit of training to learn how to use force powers effectively. Then you can choose from five missions, upon completion of four of those missions you can go back to the academy for a mission which will lead you to the next set of five, or you can complete the last one and then go to the academy. The intersecting mission is split into two or three parts and when done you will have the oportunity to upgrade something to do with your lightsaber before setting off on the next set of missions all with upgraded core force abilities (jump, pull, push etc). The storyline is imaginative but not amazingly so but will still keep you guessing and waiting for more.The weapons are of good variety and it's not just which one is bigger and better, the weapons are all suited for different situations. Your lightsaber is the weapon you will use most of all as it can block enemy fire, attack in multiple ways and styles and even be thrown to be returned like a jedi version of a boomerang.Something boasted a lot by this game is the custom character creation allowing the choice of 6 races of both gender, multiple clothing options for the torso and legs. At the start you can choose the hilt and colour of your lightsaber as well.Cooler stuff includes hover bikes, AT-STs and large unstoppable rancors trying to eat you.The multiplayer is the best thing about this game and it allows for many modes of play on many maps, choose your powers, saber and character on this mode before battling opponents on a simplistic and easy to use interface.To summarise the game is of excellent quality and standard with many things to keep you interested, such as forcing stormtrooper squadrons to surrender by stealing their weapons, pushing people off high bridges, firing the ion cannon on the ice world of Hoth, and of course turning to the dark side. The game is short but the excellent multiplayer makes up for it and its twice as fun to do the game again. A healthy mix of humans, aliens and sith make it a name worthy of its title. Buy it.

17.2.2004

I'd actually like to give it 3.5 stars because though I would rate it as good, it is not as good as other games I have given a four - let me explain in more detail. Like the long wait from Return Of The Jedi for Phantom Menace I expected great things and like Phantom Menace I was a little disappointed. Following on from Jedi Outcast (J.O.) which had a much improved engine, I awaited the game that would see me wield my light saber like no other had done before. It was actually similar to J.O. in its smooth moving engine, familiar ambience and gripping music which for me is no bad thing (if it aint broke...) and the concentration of more light saber battles was a great addition,

26.7.2006

I know it may seem a little over the top when someone gives a game five stars (it has to have SOME faults, doesn't it?), but I can't help myself. This is one of the most fun games I've played in years. Perfect? Probably not, but the good points so outweigh any bad ones I might have encountered that I don't even notice them.Basically, this game takes the best things about Jedi Knight (which was my previous favorite game of all time), and improves upon them greatly, tossing in a whole bunch of cool new features to top things off. As with Jedi Knight, you play as a Jedi, this time, a padawan (in the beginning, anyway) named Jaden. My favorite part about playing as a character other than Kyle is that you get to customize your characters species,

10.3.2004

I had heard good things about the jedi knight series and i am a star wars fan so I thought it would be fun 2 get.First thing was how much disk space it took up (loads!!) also it didnt work with my graphics card so i had 2 play it on my dads pc.How ever once i got the game working it was great! on the first lvl u get thrown straight into the action, u hav to get from ur ship 2 the temple. there were just these anoying bugs that scream and for some reason that hurts u. any way u only have a light-saber at that point so getting up 2 them before they screamed was anoyingly difficult and i found my self wishing for a gun.but on the next lvl i discovered that having no shoot em up experance at all i couldnt do any thing with a gun.

7.1.2004

Plenty of other reviews here tell you what the single player game is all about, a wide range of superbly animated light sabre fighting moves and once you are a Jedi Knight near invulnerability against anything holding a blaster (Storm Troopers etc.). This is the way it should be. There are plenty of dark force users out there which make the later levels much more challenging than earlier levels. I would suggest playing the single player game with each sabre type to discover your favourite before venturing online with the multiplayer game.Before the above mentioned patch I found the multiplayer game frustrating simply because when choosing single light sabre style (remember that two light sabre,

16.3.2004

jedi acadamy was my first shoot em up and i love it!it has:a brilliant single player with inventive and varied missions and the choice of which mission you do next.first of all you choose your character- what kind of head he has body- legs hair colour etc.Then you choose your light sabre- the colour and your hilt style. Later on in the game you can change your fighting style but at the start you get no choice just standard.The first mission is quite easy however the absence of a gun is annoying. This allows you to get good at your light saber skills though which you will definitely need in the coming missions.Force powers: Force powers play a major role in jedi acadamy and some are quite fun to use,

3.8.2004

For years I have yearned for a Star Wars game where you can do what you want, when you want. And I kinda found it in Jedi Academy, In this game, you create your own character and learn the ways of the force from Luke Skywalkker before moving on to missions. Sounds good right? Well it is kinda good.You can create your own character and decide what torso he has, what species he will be, you know that old thing. However, there isn't much to choose. For example, I would love to have chosen what style of hair I could give my creation, or colour eyes.You can create your own lightsaber and choose the type of hilt you have and the colour beam it emits. Later on you can choose the style of fighting you choose.

14.2.2004

I have now completed this game twice. I think the graphics are fairly impressive and I did enjoy playing the game, but there are a few things I'm a bit disappointed with. At the beginning of the game you have a choice of what you want your character to look like, but you can not choose the name of your character that is preset within the storyline. The lightsaber customisation is pretty cool you can choose from blue, green, yellow, purple and orange (but not red!) and you can also have different cases for your lightsaber and have a dual or two lightsabers (later on through the game). But the most frustrating thing about this game is that not enough is explained about the character you are playing.

27.3.2004

Following the success of Jedi Knight II:Jedi Outcast, Jedi Knigh:Jedi Academy gives you the best experience of how to be a jedi knight in this saber spinning, storme slicing "sequal"! Luke Skywalker is in charge of his Jedi Academy, located on Yavin 4. It trains students of the force to make them guardians of peace & justice of the New Republic-But there's always a villain. You are one of the the young jedi's eager to learn the ways of the force. To learn truly you must face the light as much as the dark, and you must make your choice...You get to build your own lightsaber from hilt(9 hilts to choose from)to blade colour(blue, green, purple,

2.9.2005

On first inspection, Jedi Academy seems just to be a mission pack for the much more hyped predecessor, Jedi Outcast, and I suspect that that is what it was in initial planning. However, the final product is a tremendous standalone game which for my money excedes the already high standard set by Jedi Knight 2.There's a plot, of sorts, which links a dozen or two short standalone missions but really the storyline (featuring a minor character from Jedi Outcast as the villain) is secondary to the gameplay, which is fantastic.Jedi Outcast gave you force powers, after a fashion, which developed at pre-set stages as the game progressed. In jedi Academy not only are there more powers to develop,

3.11.2003

This is a really good game for those of you who have enjoyed playing the othe Jedi Knight games. Basically, this time, you are a student at the Jedi Academy on Yavin, and you train under Kyle Katarn, from the other Jedi Knight games.You can create your own character, and choose a lightsabre hilt and colour (In this game you start off with a lightsabre, unlike the last one). Later on, you can choose between having two lightsabres, a sabre staff, or a single sabre.The good points are:-There is a lot more choice than in the last game, as you can choose levels you want to do, your character design, etc.-The levels are much more varied, including one where you get to ride a speeder bike,

LEGO Star Wars - Jedi Knight - Reviews

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