Star Wars: Jedi Knight II - Jedi Outcast

Kyle Katarn first popped up on the Star Wars scene during "Star Wars: Dark Forces", a rather innovative first person shooter made by Lucasarts some 10 years ago. We learn that it was Kyle Katarn who delivered the Death Star schematics to the rebellion. During his first time in the spotlight, he stopped the Empire's plot to create the next generation of super troopers, called that Dark Trooper project.

Kyle returned two years later in Dark Forces 2 to avenge his father and stop the Dark Jedi Jerec and his acolytes from discovering the hidden Valley of the Jedi. Katarn learned to use the force and confronted the Dark Jedi and his 6 minions and was able to stop them, but Kyle nearly turned to the Dark Side in the process. He turned in his Lightsaber and returned to his mercenary ways with his trusted companion Jan Ors.

Several years passed and Kyle returned in Jedi Outcast. While working on a mission for the New Republic, Kyle stumbles onto a plot which will surely mean the end of the New Jedi Order and the New Republic. To save the galaxy, Kyle must once again relearn to master the force to be able to confront the new Dark Jedi, Desann. But can he wield the force safely without falling to the Dark Side forever? One of the best story driven first person shooters available today. Even if you are not an avid fan of the Star Wars franchise, you will love this game.

The Quake 3 engine is used to excellent effect here by Raven. The game plays excellently, the first levels play nicely, presenting a nicely challenging first person shooter. Once you acquire the lightsabre about a third of the way through the game you begin to increase your force powers and the game, unfortunately, becomes laughably easy. The lightsabre deflects just about every single weapon blast, and simply standing in a corner will often clear a room for you. It's not until the later levels with the appearance of more lightsabre equipped enemies that it becomes more challenging again.

However in Multiplayer the game really begins to shine, it has the standard Deathmatch, Capture the Flag and some specific and unusual game modes. But essentially it's Quake 3 with lightsabres. There is a true 'honour' community amongst players, bowing to each other, not attacking when a guys sabre is deactivated (means I wish to talk) and other such courtesy. I've never had so much fun when fragging.

When i first saw this game being played i fell in love with it. Nearly everything about it was so perfect but the thing i loved about the most was the lightsabre moves. There were so many and they were all good. It was the way you could walk along the walls, used force push to push a stormtrooper off a cliff etc. You can lock lightsabres in a lightsabre battle and so forth. You can do roles and flips lightsabre throw etc... The multiplayer is also excellent not only do the bots fight quite realistclly but they also talk to the other bots and you. All in all ide give this a 9.9/10

I pre-ordered this game in January this year and got my copy 2 days before the official release date, and i wasn't disappointed.

I can't credit John Williams and CO enough for the superb sound and music, you really feel like you're in the middle of a Star Wars film, blasting Stormtoopers or Saber Fighting a Sith Lord.

The story is a bit predicable, but if you're a Star Wars fan, you won't care!

The saber fighting is superb in single player mode, fast paced and very Episode I and II like! The force powers are well done, divided into 3 levels, level 1 a basic version of that force power and level 3 the most powerful version of that force power.

You can also live your Darth Vader dream and grip an opponent and throw him off an edge or just crush'em!

The movie cut scenes are a bit blocky but they're well enough done to get jist of it.

Multiplayer Saber physics are changed in the multiplayer mode, the saber fights are slowed down considerably due to the lag factor, you'll find out what I mean when you play it.

But all in all a fantastic game, one which any Star Wars fan should have! It should also appeal to Star Trek Elite Force fans too, with the same game engine and the nice guns you get in the game.

Rating 9 out of 10

I highly recommend this game if you like star wars then you will like this game. Good graphics good detail the light saber animations are awesome if you have a high speed processor and videocard like I do the yavin level is visually stunning especially with all resources maxed out you can see the rain fizzle out on the light saber. Definatly a must.