Live the dream--become a Jedi Knight.
User Rating: 8.2 | Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy XBOX
“Welcome apprentice. I am Luke Skywalker, and it is my pleasure to inform you that you have been chosen to undergo training in the ways of the Jedi…”. If you have ever imagined yourself as a member of the Jedi Order, hearing those words, your dreams have finally come true in one game—Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy. Jedi Academy operates on a simple premise, put you in the shoes of a burgeoning young Jedi, learn from your master Kyle Katarn (star of the previous Jedi Knight games), and become a true Jedi, or give in to temptation and become a Dark Jedi. You may also customize your character, choosing from one of five species, as well as their facial features and clothing. And of course, let’s not forget the part that many of us have dreamed of, the ability to build your own lightsaber. You get to choose from nine different hilt designs and five different blade colors. As choice seems to be the centerpiece of the game, Academy also lets you choose the missions you want to go on. The praxeum (a.k.a. the academy) receives a number of requests for assistance, since there are enough Jedi to handle them all, you can move through the game mostly at your own pace. From a graphics standpoint, the game is good, but it could be better. Character models are a bit blockier than much of the new smoother action game models. The graphics don’t really make too much improvement over Jedi Outcast (the game’s predecessor). They are, however, still believable and don’t get in the way of gameplay. As with every Star Wars game, John Williams’s music provides the acoustic ambiance. Sound effects are spot on and voiceovers do a pretty good job of moving the plotline forward without sounding cheesy. The only real issues with sound are the oft annoying insults hurled at you by your enemies and the occasional one person cutting off another mid-sentence scenario. As far a mechanics go, controls become second nature quickly, allowing you to turn your lightsaber into a lethally efficient killing machine. Collision can be a bit glitchy at times; you’re almost guaranteed to get stuck in something at least once in the game. Poor collision is especially evident on the swoop bike level. You may find that you carom off of nothing, likely because collision was set too far away from a rock or wall. The story keeps you looking for clues to solve a mystery about a strange cult known as the Disciples of Ragnos. From the very first level you run into cultists and Stormtroopers just trying to work your way to the academy after your ride was shot down. A hard first day of school indeed! Almost all of your missions, no matter how varied, will have something to do with the cult and their possible connections, all tied together with story-critical missions thrown in to further and thicken the plot. Though you can choose your path—dark or light—it seems as though your choices have little, if any impact on your destiny. It all comes down to one choice very late in the game. A choice system more along the lines of the first Jedi Knight game or Knights of the Old Republic would be an improvement, but the one choice method used in Academy works fine too. After all, how else could you be a good guy and still get to electrocute people? Multiplayer mode offers up the same stuff that Jedi Outcast did, some deathmatch, duels, and capture the flag but with one new addition and one new twist. Power Duel pits two weaker players against one stronger player in an effort to create duels like those seen in Episodes I, II, and III. Siege mode, available only on XBOX Live, has players choose from one of six character classes and complete objectives (or stop the other team from doing so). Generally this involves the attacking team completing one or more objectives to capture their enemy’s base while the defending team tries to stop them. Overall, Jedi Academy delivers a solid game that’s perfect for all types of Star Wars fans, or just those that like non-stop action in their action games. It starts strong and ends strong with an ending that leaves open the possibility for a sequel. If you’ve ever dreamed of being a Jedi Knight, dream no more. This game delivers the total lightsaber-wielding Jedi experience. Oh, and, just because I’ve always wanted to say this, May the Force be with you! 
