Review: Jedi Academy

Game by Raven and Lucasarts

October 7, 2003 -- Review by A.T. Hun

If you read my review of Jedi Outcast, then you know that I absolutely loved that game. For the first time, gamers were given the ability to use the force and to wield a lightsaber like a true Jedi. Having played through that game more times than I can remember, I really hoped that Lucasarts would have a moment of lucidity and allow Raven to do a sequel. Little did I know that they had already planned to do just that.

In the meantime, I had completely eliminated Windows from my main computer and replaced it with Linux. In order to play Jedi Academy, it had to work with Transgaming's WineX. Even though it is supposedly a DirectX 9 title (and WineX doesn't yet support DX9), the game plays wonderfully under WineX. The only issue I encountered was that I had to jump through a few hoops to get the game to install.

The game places you in the shoes of Jaden Kor, a promising young student sent to study at the feet of Kyle Katarn and Luke Skywalker at the Jedi Academy. You can customize Jaden to be one of five species and of either gender. Unlike Jedi Outcast, you get a lightsaber right away at the first level. Even better, you can choose your lightsaber color and hilt! It's a small thing, but a nice addition that's sure to please many a Jedi wannabe.

Before each mission, you get to choose your weapons and upgrade one light side or dark side force power. You go through three "tiers" of levels. At the end of each tier, there is a larger, more complex mission. After that mission, your "base" force powers (saber throw/offense/defense, push, pull, speed, jump, sense) all increase by one. That combination allows the player to pick and choose which force powers he wants to use but at the same time allows the level designers to know that the Jedi will only be able to run so fast or jump so high. It's a nice trade-off that adds some pseudo-RPG bits to the game and adds to its replay value.

For example, I usually max out all the light side force powers (mind trick, protect, absorb, heal). If you play the optional levels, you will also have enough force points to max out one dark side power. The first time, I went with force lightning. If you turn off your saber, you can blast lightning from both hands like the Emperor. The second time around I went with grip instead. The game's many ledges allow for a lot of Jedi-flinging fun. I would suggest focusing on one force power at a time and maxing it out instead of putting a few points in many abilities. As an aside, one of the great joys of being a light side Jedi is using a level 3 mind trick against a bunch of Stormtroopers and then letting them "thin out their numbers." It's especially handy against the tougher troops with rocket launchers or concussion rifles.

After the first tier, you can pick either the fast or strong lightsaber style to add to the medium style you start out with. After the second tier, you can pick the other single lightsaber style or you can choose to wield dual sabers (a la Anakin in Episode II) or the saber staff (a la Darth Maul in Episode I). While dual sabers are very effective, if there's anything cooler than seeing Jaden come out in the third tier and fire up a saber staff, I've yet to discover it.

Most of the missions are short assignments that you might face as a Jedi. There is a wide variety of locations and objectives for each. Some include drivable vehicles like swoop bikes, AT-STs, or even Taun-Tauns. You'll run into a number of old friends from the movies and the expanded universe along the way. The game's variety is probably its greatest strength and weakness. While the game never suffers from Quake series' "various shades of turd" level design, the missions feel very disconnected. Suffice it to say, I didn't lose any sleep over this. The many different locations should also give custom map makers lots to work with.

Toward the end of the game, you have to choose between the light and dark sides. Without giving anything away, the designers made it so that it is not an easy choice. I've played it both ways. The dark side is much, much harder--a great challenge to any Jedi. My only complaint is that if you choose the dark side, Jaden goes from being mildly annoyed to being a full-blown self-centered and hateful jerk in one fell swoop. I also wish that your saber(s) would turn red, but that's just me.

I've really only scratched the surface of multiplayer. Power Duel is a welcome addition, pitting one more powerful Jedi against two foes. I would really like to try the new class-based Siege mode too, but right now there aren't many servers and the few available are always packed. I'm sure we'll see some interesting maps for that gametype coming out soon.

The game sounds like you are in a Star Wars movie. The male Jaden's voice leaves a bit to be desired, but it's nothing off-putting. The graphics are better than Jedi Outcast's but the Quake III: Team Arena engine has pretty much been pushed to its limits. It may not be as impressive as the movies of DOOM 3 or Half-Life 2, but a) the game is out now and b) it will run very nicely even on hardware that is not exactly cutting edge.

To paraphrase Shakespeare, the game(play) is the thing. A true test of any game is how much time you initially sink into it and how quick you are to replay it. I enjoyed both Soldier of Fortune and Diablo II, but never felt any desire to replay them. I eagerly tore into Jedi Academy, playing it constantly while ignoring food, sleep, family, and proper oral hygiene. After I was through, I began playing multiplayer and started up a new single player game. I'm already on my third trip through single player and I've only had the game for two weeks.

Overall, I give the game a 9.5 out of 10. If you liked Jedi Outcast, you will definitely want to get Jedi Academy. If you didn't like Jedi Outcast, there's nothing in Jedi Academy that will change your mind. Of course, if you didn't like Jedi Outcast, I have to question whether or not you have a soul. What could be more fun than new ways to throw Stormtroopers all over the place or cut them in to little Remnant hors d'oeuvres? The game even runs well in WineX for us penguin-oriented folks. What's not to like?