User Rating: 7.7 | Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy PC
I have enjoyed Academy, but the fact that I never touch Outcast anymore makes it all the clearer that Lucasarts held out on us! This game is what Outcast SHOULD have been. Only a few months after Outcast came out, modders created the ability to dual wield and fight with the staff. Academy added some glitchy menus and clothing options, stole a game mode, and called it a sequel. The 3d engine is enjoyable, yet STILL running on the Quake III engine (modified = custom shaders). Many players found that "Force Push" was actually "Force Lag" in disguise, as it choked just about every video card on the market. Nobody wanted to see the engine from Jedi Knight get used in Jedi Outcast, so why would anyone want to see the Outcast engine used in Jedi Academy? It is an obvious attempt at a few more dollars. Someone else's engine that is familiar to the devs...cheap and fast. I do enjoy the gameplay, and the stolen addition of Seige mode. The saber moves are flashy and, though redundant, never seem to get that old. This game is more of the same, with more polished action. Not much of a storyline, just added features that several non-professionals managed to accomplish after Outcast came out. The sound is near-perfect. Great music and familiar blasters and sabers heard all around. I enjoy the game, but am disappointed by Lucasarts' unwillingness to move to a more modern 3d engine for a franchise that has loyal followers. Come on, Lucasarts! Imagine if YOU had thought up the source engine! (*tear in eye*) Lack of originality + suckers for Star Wars = 7.7 Swami 
