But be aware that the single-player levels are aimed at the hardcore gamer willing to spend hours of trial-and-error to solve a puzzle or at those who don't mind following the step-by-step instructions of a strategy guide in order to proceed. The acting during cut-scenes is also very good, with Billy Dee Williams himself on hand to voice Lando Calrissian.īecause Star Wars: Jedi Knight II - Jedi Outcast is such an accomplished game, there's a tendency to want to forgive its shortcomings. The John Williams-inspired soundtrack changes in tone and tempo to suit the level of action, and the weapons' sound effects provide satisfying blasts, hums, and whooshes. The sound is usually the best part of a Star Wars game, and here it's no exception. From the detailed environments to the great character models, you'll feel immersed in a universe that is immediately familiar but never clichéd. Using a modified version of the Quake III engine, developer Raven Software has brought the sights and sounds of the Star Wars universe to life with great care. And even if you don't have a net connection, just playing against CPU-controlled bots makes for an enjoyable time. The variety of options and gameplay types is almost overwhelming, but that's a good thing. Jedi Knight II's real saving grace is the multiplayer experience, which simply allows you to have fun by battling other players in lightsaber duels or free-for-all deathmatches. They're not terribly smart, but neither were they in the movies. On the plus side, enemy AI is set at just about the right level, so stormtroopers and other foes will duck, run around corners, or rush straight for you depending on the situation. Once you get a lightsaber and start gaining Force powers, the single-player game becomes considerably more enjoyable, but, even then, many players may still be put off by the overabundance of puzzles, jumping, and switch-flipping. The solutions to most of these "puzzles" are not obvious or intuitive, so you'll probably have to resort to a strategy guide if you don't want to spend hours wandering around aimlessly, hoping to stumble across the right solution. The reliance on artificial roadblocks to progress is especially annoying, such as when you must collect encryption symbols in order to unlock a force field, or jump on top of a seemingly normal object in order to find a hidden corridor. So it's unfortunate that the first few hours of the game are tiredly reminiscent of just about every other switch-flipping, key collecting, kill-everything-that-moves shooter out there. With that said, there are enough frustrating aspects to the single-player experience that the patience of even the most tolerant gamers will be tested throughout, especially early on.Īpart from the use of Star Wars locations and themes, it's the lightsaber combat and use of Force powers that set Jedi Knight II apart from your average first-person shooter. With its excellent visuals, well-written storyline, killer sound, and wealth of multiplayer options, Star Wars: Jedi Knight II - Jedi Outcast is unquestionably one of the better Star Wars games around.
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