Techtite's PC Game Reviews!

"Evidence of [this game's inspired new characters] is the reigning "Big Boss" villain,  Dasaan ...Imagine a T-Rex dinosaur, evolved into humanoid form, complete with dark Jedi powers."

---from the review

-----------------

Feel free to contribute. As always, review submissions are accepted!

------------------

-------------

Sidebar :

-------------

A bug that may not be patched yet; beware!... While I never had this problem myself --even though I played that game level three times already!-- word is that there is a bug in the game, near the detention level of the enemy ship near the end of the game. I won't spoil it for you as to who you're saving at the time, though let's just say prior to using mind-trick on the detention area guard, SAVE YOUR GAME. The prisoner you're saving is needed to help you get out of the prison, and they can get stuck...or so I hear. I never had this problem myself, though, so maybe the rumor began with the beta testers, who didn't know the error was patched in the final CD? Either way, be forewarned!

Sorry if you missed it! A Collector's Edition of Jedi Knight Outcast was available upon initial release of this game; hope you got one! Each includes the game itself and both prior Dark Forces games, plus a light saber key chain that flashes an eerie blue glow when pressed. True, you can get those mini sabers at Target stores, and you probably got the earlier games already. Still, it's a cool collector's option!

Can anyone believe that it's been five years since Dark Forces 2: Jedi Knight was released? Sometimes, it seems even longer. I mean, Obi-Wan on the X-box was a nice romp, as was Jedi Power Battles on other systems, though when it comes to a real Star Wars Jedi game, nothing beats the post-film world of Kyle Katarn and his good/evil Jedi powers. Now that Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast is finally released, the question isn't whether the Quake-3 game engine can still compete with all current shooters on the shelf; the real question is, can any game sequel anticipated for 5 years be up to everyone's expectations?

The storyline takes up where the Dark Forces series left off (which, regardless of the lack of a Dark Forces prefix, this game is a sequel of). Kyle Katarn, after his tenuous attempt to become a Jedi (particularly in the mission disk, Mysteries of the Sith), has given his light saber to Luke Skywalker, denouncing his force powers until they become atrophied. He's still the best mercenary gunfighter without them, and is once again employed by The New Republic to investigate a small faction of imperial troops, and their plans to restore the old Evil Empire. Rest assured, this latest mission includes stormtroopers, Imperial Officers, and yes, even a few dark Jedi; what every good Star Wars game needs. What I did not expect, was a surprisingly gripping romance subplot between Kyle and his pilot friend, Jan Ors (shown here), enhancing the storyline's appeal.

Of course, any good story needs good characters; this game includes both inspired new additions, as well as old favorites. Evidence of the former is the reigning "Big Boss" villain, Dasaan, who is one of the greatest character creations ever conceived from-scratch by Raven Software. Imagine a T-Rex dinosaur, evolved into humanoid form, complete with dark Jedi powers. As for fellow heroes, cameos include both Luke Skywalker (whose voice is well imitated by Bob Bergen) and Lando (voiced by Billy Dee Williams himself!). True, you don't see these characters as much as the frequent stormtrooper, and yet even those faceless, well-modeled soldiers are a lot more fun to fight than those pesky "Battle Droids" in Obi-Wan.

As for gameplay, a revised game interface removes (very thankfully) one lackluster element of Dark Forces 2; you no longer have to allocate paltry force "stars" to specific force powers you want to increase. Sure, you'll slowly hone your skills for bigger jumps and stronger "pushes" and "pulls", though this is offered as the game progresses. This is far more fair and concise than associating three force "stars" to SIX possible Jedi powers. That old methodology was just a tease. Learning new powers as the game progresses is much more intriguing. Even better, these powers include the lightning attack (shown here) as well as the Jedi Mind Trick. Cool!

Additional perks include a battle interface that excellently combines fantasy and "reality." For one thing, no stormtrooper can take a direct hit of a light saber with merely an "OW!" anymore. Sure, it's no fun to simply defeat an enemy with one swing of the saber, it's less fun when your light saber is oddly less powerful than in the movies. So, this game offers a fair compromise; your saber is as effective as ever for human opponents, yet those opponents realise this, and now attack in armies of as many as ten or more at once! Fortunately, quicksave allows you to learn where and when these legions of troopers attack, allowing you to use quick restore, plant a few trip mines, and watch the fun from a better distance! Sure, this tactic is considerably un-Jedi-like ...what's it to you?

This trip-mine suggestion alludes to one trait that always placed the Dark Forces series above other Star Wars/Jedi games; you are a renegade Jedi, who uses other sci-fi weaponry at will. While light sabers are always fun, there's a cool sniper rifle you can use for long-distance targets (particularly those three-eyed aliens who toss grenades like they were M&M's!). There's even a few mounted cannons on occasion, and even a whole AT-ST tank. I would've preferred it if you could commandeer a tank more often (you can only do it in the near-to-last mission), yet still, it's an awesome game addition when it happens.

Regardless of useable AT-STs, force powers, an awesome Quake Arena game engine, and far more, there is still room for nitpicking. For one thing, as you'd expect, this game's single-player missions are not as inspired as its predecessor's. Sure, this is a typical "sequel not as good as the prior game" gripe, though lets be clear here: this game may have far superior special effects --and those cloud city missions are COOL!-- yet its single-player missions lack as many levels, "Bosses," and story arcs as Dark Forces 2. Buyers of the Collector's Edition Tin for this game (see order link at sidebar, upper-right) will want to install that prior game along with this one, and see how even a five-year-old game, with far inferior graphics, can still have superior level maps and alternate storyline paths (whether you choose the ways of the Jedi or Sith). Don't think this means that Jedi Knight Outcast isn't fantastic, however; it is still an awesome, incredible game, superior to all other shooters now on the shelf, as well as all recent Star Wars game releases (Obi-Wan on X-Box, Jedi Power Battles on Dreamcast, and Galactic Battlegrounds on PC), and yet it could've been even more...greedy as it sounds.

However, in fairness, this one, singular gripe cannot keep the game from the flawless rating it deserves. After all, how many games in 5 years have compared to the fun of Dark Forces 2? Even for its intended sequel, it's an unfair comparison. Perhaps I was also made a bit biased, when traversing this latest shooter's typically non-interactive hallways, after playing the fully interactive environments of the recent superhero RPG, Freedom Force. The truth is, when compared to other shooters, as well as other current Star Wars games, this is still the best there is. Any enhancements can only make the inevitable Jedi Knight 3 even better. Let's just hope we don't have to wait another 5 years to play it...

 Click on picture to Order this game (PC version)