Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Jedi Academy

Here it is, September 2019, and I'm finally playing this game. I'm playing it on Xbox one via backwards compatibility. It's fantastic. I never got around to playing it many years ago when it was out, even though I enjoyed Knights of the Old Republic, (KotOR), immensely, (though I played that game when it was brand new and beat it at least twice, {I also played KotOR 2, but never beat that one}). KotOR also features its own version of the Jedi Academy, but it's quite a different experience, (amazingly fun), understandable, since that game was set 10,000 years before Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy.

This game isn't really similar, because it's not an RPG, and it's not turn-based, but it's still a great Star Wars setting and very fun. The graphics, gameplay, and control schemes are clearly old-school, and somewhat clunky in respects, but not enough to ruin the game. I have played a little bit of some of the other old-school Star Wars games for the OG Xbox, but now I'm tempted to go back and play them all. This is a really terrific game.

One of the best games I have ever played, remarkable combat and excellent controls, great character development and and enjoyable story to follow. I enjoyed this game so much I replayed it at least 10 times on PC, Original Xbox, Xbox Series and the PS4 Jedi Knight Collection and nearly have the platinum trophy on that.

The game itself is featured in the star wars universe where you play different missions on different planets and play as a Jedi called "Jaden" throughout the game you can upgrade skills and abilities such as light side or dark side force powers or have a mix of both and different light sabers to choose from. At the start of the game you also have different races and characters to choose from, I loved every second, highly recommend this game, the story is compelling and well written!

I've read one or two reviews which are critical of 'Jedi Academy' on the grounds that it is too similar to 'Jedi Outcast' and doesn't really bring anything new to the table. Whilst I do think that's a valid point, it certainly didn't detract from my experience of the game - an experience which I found immensely enjoyable. In 'Jedi Academy' you play Jaden Korr, who is canonically a human male but can be played as several well-known alien races like the Kel Dor (Plo Koon's race) and Rodian (Greedo's). On my playthrough I chose the Kel Dor, which I admit later regretting due to the fact that the voice sounded nothing like a Kel Dor voice. (Perhaps it's unfair to pick holes in a 14-year-old customisation system!) The rather superficial appearance of your character isn't the only thing you can customise, though. As you progress through 'Jedi Academy', you are introduced to different fighting styles, which culminates in the ability to choose your own lightsaber. If you thought this feature was good in 'Knights of the Old Republic', wait until you see what 'Jedi Academy' can offer. Overall, I'd say that whilst this game falls slightly behind 'Jedi Outcast' in one or two areas (e.g. a less memorable villain, a less challenging final level), it's a fantastic way to spend 10-15 hours (per playthrough, that is), and I'm almost certainly going to return to this game at some point in the future.

If you have played "Jedi Outcast", that you are extremely aware of this game. It's the same engine, from Lucasarts and Raven production. You create your own jedi character, from other races, and you go thorough a variety of missions to clean universe from last empire scraps and remained sith scraps. Your trainers are Kyle Katarn and Luke Skywalker themselves. The game is basically simple, the graphics are the same, some characters are the same, and you get a few new ones. The only interesting thing in game is that you have a moment... when you chose to be jedi, or sith. That's what I like here. Also, you got ability to have two swords or double edge lightsaber (like Darth Maul). It's pretty fun.

I think the title says it all. Now admitedly I played this after playing SW:KOTOR which could possibly have altered my judgement. I consider KOTOR one of the best games ever made and when i came to playing JK:JA I guess I expected more of the same. As you can tell I was dissapointed. The Pros. Its star wars and its got completely cusomizable lightsabers which I really consider a pro as that was one of my favorite aspects of KOTOR. The light sabre combat is compelling but in the end for to random.

The Cons. Well the voice acting is terrible, far worse that JK:JO and is a shame as I really expected more from a SW game. The Plot is as see through as a peice of glass. The Quake 3 Engine is really showing its age now so the graphics were really lacking. The gameplay itself I found far to easy, even on hard I flew through most of the levels in the game without dying once. Im not trying to say its a bad Game but it "Could have been better".

6/10