Jedi Academy

[moya]

Although the most anticipated Star Wars game at the moment is undoubtedly KoTOR, I have to say I'm very much looking forward to the latest in the Jedi Knight series. I hope it can fix the faults in the last one (stupid level design and no early lightsaber) and play to the strengths - lightsaber combat! It'd be criminal not to, since saber vs. saber combat is probably what every Star Wars fan's dreamed about since they first watched the films. Heck, the presence of scores of Jedi wielding lightsabers at the end of the last film (plus the Yoda fight scene) managed to save it from dull sappy script hell and gave it a bit of a kick. I just can't wait to give it a try myself... Anyone else?

[Aim69]

<div class=\"smallfont\">Although the most anticipated Star Wars game at the moment is undoubtedly KoTOR, I have to say I'm very much looking forward to the latest in the Jedi Knight series. I hope it can fix the faults in the last one (stupid level design and no early lightsaber) and play to the strengths - lightsaber combat! It'd be criminal not to, since saber vs. saber combat is probably what every Star Wars fan's dreamed about since they first watched the films. Heck, the presence of scores of Jedi wielding lightsabers at the end of the last film (plus the Yoda fight scene) managed to save it from dull sappy script hell and gave it a bit of a kick. I just can't wait to give it a try myself... Anyone else?</div>

Moya... When you get the game please let us know how it is. I'd like to purchase the game, but it's going to be awhile anyway.

It looks awesome by the way.

[Fragmastar]

I watched the trailer of this game on X Play. I was really impressed. Star Wars fan, or not, I think everyone should test it out.

[moya]

It's not out till next month I don't think but I'll definitely pick it up when I see it (or the demo if that's out first).

[Suicides-by-Steve]

<div class=\"smallfont\">It's not out till next month I don't think but I'll definitely pick it up when I see it (or the demo if that's out first).</div>

Yeah, Jedi Outcast was pretty boring for me, and I'm a die hard Star Wars/ Sci-Fi fan... I've played hundreds of games that hit my sweet spot much more than this ever would. Hell, even the original Kyle Katarn FPS games were better than Outcast. I don't need any more of the same thank you... if if I could design my own light saber... OH WOW! That's a selling point! LOL I could care less.

[Static_Fred]

I'm keeping my eyes on Jedi Academy to see if it's going to be any good.
I've been tempted to buy Galaxies a few times, but i don't want to shell out the $15 a month to play the dang game... i'm a cheap bastard, what can i say?

[joonas]

I've played through the beta version which must be pretty damn ready...didn't notice much of bugs anyway and I can say that it's good. I thought Jedi Outcast was good but this is way better. You start off with a lightsaber and the other weapons that are available I hardly ever touched. Just sometimes you vaporized some snipers or something but the lightsaber is your primary, secondary and tertiary weapon throughout the game :)

The really fun part doesn't come until you get to choose between using dual lightsabers or a lightsaber á la Darth Maul. I picked the dual lightsabers and you really rock with those, those Dark Jedis didn't have a chance!

The only bad thing with the game is that it's short. I finished it way earlier than I did with JO...I guess it might have to do with that a Jedi like you are in JA is much more powerful than Katarn was in JO...

But all in all, it's worth buying and I will do so to support LucasArts when the game finally ships.

/Jonas

[Suicides-by-Steve]

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But all in all, it's worth buying and I will do so to support LucasArts when the game finally ships.

/Jonas</div>

Naw, I'll be sticking with Knights of the Old Republic only , I think.

[moya]

Well I'll be having both, so sucks to you! ;)

[Suicides-by-Steve]

<div class=\"smallfont\">Well I'll be having both, so sucks to you! ;)</div>

Well, you have fun with your must-buy-cheesy-mediocre-platformer-that-will-sell-thousands-because-it's-got-star-wars-plastered-on-the-box-even-though-it-sucks-crap game! :D :p

[moya]

Cheers! I will! :p :D

Meanwhile, you have fun with your I-must-shamelessly-judge-games-I-have-already-decided-are-below-par-a-month-before-they-are-released-because-I-am-old-and-set-in-my-ways-PLEASE-HELP-ME-I'M-A-MESS! attitude won't you? ;)

[Suicides-by-Steve]

<div class=\"smallfont\">Cheers! I will! :p :D

Meanwhile, you have fun with your I-must-shamelessly-judge-games-I-have-already-decided-are-below-par-a-month-before-they-are-released-because-I-am-old-and-set-in-my-ways-PLEASE-HELP-ME-I'M-A-MESS! attitude won't you? ;)</div>

Oh stop Junior (2 more posts and you'll be my equal), will you!? You're sounding like a jealous old nanny! I can't help that I can see a bomb coming from miles away.

[DBS]

I think that game was Rebellion...did anyone like that mess??

[Static_Fred]

<div class=\"smallfont\">I think that game was Rebellion...did anyone like that mess??</div>

HEY!!! i picked that game up for $2.99 recently at EBgames and i thought it was an "okay" investment! :mad:

[Suicides-by-Steve]

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HEY!!! i picked that game up for $2.99 recently at EBgames and i thought it was an "okay" investment! :mad:</div>

The game that I was referring to had you going through a swamp, and then an alien aquaduct. The Coup de' Grace though had you traversing the underbelly of a bridge structure, high above a ravine, and the effect was amazing, even after many years after the release of the game.

[Static_Fred]

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The game that I was referring to had you going through a swamp, and then an alien aquaduct. The Coup de' Grace though had you traversing the underbelly of a bridge structure, high above a ravine, and the effect was amazing, even after many years after the release of the game.</div>

I'm not sure of which game your referring to... But when you say "swamp" the only game that comes to mind is a dreadful FPS game that starts with a "D" (wink wink, Hint: mutant frogs...)... That game single handedly ruined all "swamps" in FPS forever in my eyes, so plz don't mention games with swamps anymore... j/k ;)

[moya]

Well I played through the two mission demo and am quietly looking forward to the full game. You get to customise your jedi's look which is nice, if completely irrelevant to gameplay, and I believe there'll be even more options in the real thing. Still it's good to have the option of being male or female. More importantly, you get to choose which saber style to go for. I chose the Darth Maul style double ended staff thing (a popular choice, I'm sure), but you come up against enemies who have all three different styles (single, dual and staff).

The first demo mission is pretty linear. It's set in and around a spaceport which I think is on Tatooine (not that it matters). You go up against some fairly weak blaster toting enemies and later get to fight a dark jedi guy. It gets bonus points for including Chewbacca on bowcaster; the Millenium Falcon also makes a guest appearance. The second one is tougher since most of the enemies are jedi (including some who forgo sabers but dodge around a lot and force-grip you at the most inopportune moments). This one is just as linear as the first, but the level design is slightly better so as to disguise that fact.

The whole thing gets a cool factor of 10 in my opinion for focussing primarily on the saber combat. There's not a lot that matches the thrill of putting together a successful combo and dispatching a particularly annoying foe. That's magnified when you're simultaneously dodging another jedi and deflecting blaster shots from one of the lesser mortals. However, that's the ONLY thing to recommend it really - other than this it's a fairly straightforward shooter all the way. If you're not into Star Wars and lightsabers you'll find very little to enjoy here I reckon.

[Suicides-by-Steve]

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I'm not sure of which game your referring to... </div>

It was one of the first Star Wars games... Dark Forces maybe. That shooter has been the only Star Wars game I have somewhat enjoyed up till now. Kyle Katarn was the hero, with light sabres and blasters etc. Like I said though, traversing that underside of the bridge over the revine was awesome.

[Friend_Bear]

I have jedi academy and its a great game, no bugs to speak of really and the gameplay is excellent just one minor problem though and thats its a little too short, but yeah, its great game :)

I'll post some pics if JKA has a screenshot button, if not i'll use my hypersnapdx to snap some.

[DBS]

I broke down and won it on ebay and I just finished level 18 in Outcast so only a few to go. I could not help myself I am a SW fan and I just love dualing saber action.

[Friend_Bear]

Outcast is a great game too, except it runs way to quick on my computer.

[moya]

I got it last week and have had a lot of fun with it so far. It's linear as hell, but the lightsabers just about make up for it. Force pushing enemies off high ledges is also great fun! As is force gripping and then throwing your saber at them... I even found myself saying things like "your overconfidence is your weakness" at the monitor. Ach, I've got a bad feeling about this... ;)

[Hieremias]

Well I've been playing the game over the weekend and I have to say it's even better than the excellent Jedi Outcast.

Start with Jedi Outcast, then improve the saber duels, give more options for character customization, give the player the ability to choose which force powers to upgrade as the game progresses, give greater level variety, and make the overall game longer, and you'll have Jedi Academy.

Accusing it of being linear is kinda silly. Of course it is. Every Dark Forces / Jedi Knight game has been linear. It's a straightforward shooter--albeit one set in the Star Wars universe with REALLY cool lightsaber action. I've already passed the point where you choose your lightsaber type (I went dual sabers, very cool).

If you liked Jedi Outcast then you will love Jedi Academy. It improves upon its predecessor in every possible way. I can't think of a single area in which Jedi Academy doesn't meet or surpass Outcast.

[Suicides-by-Steve]

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I can't think of a single area in which Jedi Academy doesn't meet or surpass Outcast.</div>

Well, hell... that can't be too hard to do! ;)

[moya]

<div class=\"smallfont\">Accusing it of being linear is kinda silly. Of course it is. Every Dark Forces / Jedi Knight game has been linear. It's a straightforward shooter--albeit one set in the Star Wars universe with REALLY cool lightsaber action. </div>

There are linear games that disguise their linearity better than Jedi Academy in my opinion. I have no problem with linear games per se, but they'd better do a good job of keeping me on the edge of my seat and throwing lots of variety at me in each level to keep me playing them. The level design in Jedi Academy, while better than Outcast, is nothing stellar in my opinion. What keeps me playing is the lightsaber and force power action which is absolutely outstanding. It's the closest I've yet come to realising my dream of Jedi-hood! ;)

[DBS]

Patience young Moya as the ways of the force take a lifetime to master. BTW- I noticed near the end of Jedi Outcast the duals are becoming more intense and I seem to have a knack for losing my head ! But at this point the game rocks and to think I almost uninstalled it as the first few levels were sucktatious big time.

[moya]

Actually, now that I'm nearing the end of Academy, I'm finding that there are a lot more really good levels with plenty of variety. Sure, there are some turds, but in the main this is a great action game.