Jedi Knight Jedi Academy is the sequel to Jedi Outcast. The plot of the game is that Jaden and his friend Tavion travels to Yavin IV and becomes an apprentice at Luke Skywalker’s Jedi Academy under Kyle Katarn. While the New Republic is still battling the Imperial Remnants, Luke Skywalker, Kyle Katarn and the rest of the students must combat the ever growing, powerful darkside of the force. A Sith cult called the disciples of Ragnos wanted to rule the galaxy by resurrecting the spirit of the Sith Lord Marka Ragnos, a Sith Lord who lived 5,000 years ago.
The game is not that great as its predecessor, but at least the game is fun to play. I also felt the game to be a little shorter. When Jaden progresses through different missions, you get to purchase and upgrade various force powers. You can possess both light side and dark side powers. You get to customize the starring character of the game Jaden from the type of species, either human, Zabrak, etc., including the type of clothing he can wear, and coloured lightsaber he wields, including combat style, if he uses single lightsaber, duel lightsaber, or staff lightsaber.
Throughout the game, the enemies you face are quite diverse, from stormtroppers, mercs and marauders, and reborns. There are lots of lightsaber duels between Jaden and reborns. You are more likely to be dependent on the lightsaber, however you can use a variety of blaster weapons from blaster rifle to thermal detonator and other explosive devices and go into first person shooter mode to take out enemies in long range.
This action adventure game puts some heavy emphasis on strategy. Your lightsaber style has light, medium and strong styles. Medium style has more of a variety to deflect blaster bolts, and Jaden can defend and counter fluidly. Although light style does the same, but it is more dependent on the defensive and has weak attack moves. Strong style is more for lightsaber duels, may be slow, but powerful. If you use force speed you can take out reborns faster and powerfully. Reborns have various lightsaber styles, especially ninja like skills when they use unarmed combat and force powers.
The graphics look rich, and there are a variety of planets to play in. There are some challenging boss battles in nearly every level, which makes this action adventure/first person shooter a unique Star Wars game. The voice acting was done excellently. The music score was great, bringing back some memorable music composed by the great John Williams, which really sounds like Star Wars. The CG is great for its time.
Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy is a good sequel, and Star Wars fans should complete their collection. It’s a must buy for PC buffs and Star Wars fans. May the Force be with you, and stay in school.