Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
I think this review will be better
Genre: Action
Developer: Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Genre: 3D-Action
Publisher: Lucas Arts
Developer: Raven Software
System requirements: Pentium III 700 MHZ, 128 Mb RAM, 32 MB video
Opinions about "Star Wars" are, of course, varied. Some keep insisting on the naivety and lack of thought in the saga and the obvious inconsistencies in the plot, while others feel no emotions from the films at all. Some watch all the films of the series every month, read Lucas's novelization at night, and collect squeaky keychains in the shape of movie characters, while others can't stand anything related, calling the series "vulgar pop." But what interests us here is just one side of SW. No, not the Dark Side, but the gaming side. Dozens and dozens of games of various kinds have been released based on the known universe: from space simulators to microbiological strategies for growing Gungans. Unfortunately, most of these projects have no value not only as games but as games within the SW universe: silly and uninteresting gimmicks for those who don't mind spending money on them. However, to the great joy of fans, Lucas Arts' trend of releasing mediocre games seems to have come to an end. This is evidenced by the numerous and, most importantly, quality products already on store shelves or about to appear there very soon. Today we'll talk about just such a game. Its name is Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy.
A bit of history.
To be honest, Jedi Academy is already the fifth game in the Jedi Knight series. Prior to this, three full-fledged games and an expansion for one of them were released. It's worth noting that the first part of the series, Dark Forces, was released back in 1994, when the sky was blue, the grass was greener, and computers were small and weak. In this game, we played the role of the noble Superman and savior of old ladies, Kyle Katarn, who proudly and with a powerful blaster scattered unfortunate imperial stormtroopers left and right. Soon the second part, Dark Forces 2, was released, which received the title Jedi Knight. In this game, Kyle was given the main weapon of a true space jiggler - a lightsaber, which he... yes, still cut down stormtroopers. Soon an expansion for this game appeared: Mysteries of the Sith where we had the opportunity to play as the future betrothed of Luke Skywalker - Mara Jade, who joyfully ran around the ruins of the Sith temple and chopped with a lightsaber... no, this time it was still Rancors.
Just recently, in the spring of last year, Lucas Arts entrusted the creation of the game Jedi Outcast to Raven Software. An interesting storyline, consistent gameplay style from previous series games (Kyle, saber, stormtroopers...), a thought-out multiplayer and a hidden mode allowing players to amputate various limbs from enemies (this was associated with a funny bug where the severed limbs of an enemy turned out to be more than allowed). This game had everything to become popular... but something was missing. And now, a year later, a new installment in the series has appeared: Jedi Academy, which realizes everything that was so desperately lacking in the previous game.
The Jedi Path.
The game starts with a very atypical process for action games - character creation. You can choose one of the predefined races (Human, Zabrak, Rodian, Kel-Dor, and Twi'lek, unfortunately, you cannot choose gender, as only representatives of a specific gender from each race are available), design the clothing, as well as the shape of the hilt and color of the lightsaber blade.
According to the plot, a group of individuals able to manipulate the Force is traveling to the planet Yavin 4 to become pupils of Luke Skywalker and Kyle Katarn. However, on the way, their starship is attacked by unknown assailants, and it crashes into the middle of the jungle. The unfortunate students are forced to reach their destination on foot. By chance (read - the screenwriters), one (or a) of the students named Jaden spots a gathering of hostile dark Jedi committing some desecration. After this, Jaden loses consciousness and wakes up to see the kind and unshaven face of Grandpa Kyle Katarn. Soon it becomes clear that the dastardly hooligans have drained the Force from the planet using a special staff (yes, this can happen!), for what purpose is known only to Yoda. And guess who has been assigned to solve the problem among others? Of course, Jaden.
By the way, it's not necessary to terrorize the unfortunate inhabitants of the Galaxy with goodness and justice. At a certain point in the game, you can openly ignore Jedi ideals and switch from the forces of Good to the forces of Reason. Your choice radically changes the game's ending: from Hollywood syrupy to realistically grim and life-like. It's nice that the developers paid attention to something like non-linearity. Now we can also choose the order in which to complete missions (except for key ones, of course).
Even before missions, you can raise the level of mastery of some kind of Force by one point (both Dark and Light powers are available for upgrade from the very beginning of the game), choose two types of weapons and one type of explosive. Also, closer to the end of the game, we will be able to select a new lightsaber style: either remain with the standard one, take one saber in each hand, or use the lightsaber staff that Darth Maul used in the first episode. Naturally, this significantly changes the moves used: in one case our hero spins like a top, while in another, he artistically spins the saber over his head. And if you hold both mouse buttons at the same time, the Jedi, spending a certain amount of Force points (it's absurd to measure the Force in any units, but what can we do - balance is balance), will start to perform completely unimaginable moves using his saber (or sabers).
As for the Force, not much has changed since the previous installment. Except that some abilities, previously only available in multiplayer, have been added, and there is a new Force Sense that allows you to see key objects and enemies through walls. It is very disappointing that the developers have hardly changed the list of firearms: only one new gun has been added. Otherwise, everything remains the same. However, why does a Jedi need a weapon if he has a lightsaber?
On the other hand, the situation with our enemies has noticeably improved. The Empire's inventors are not standing still, and now we are attacked by stormtroopers with jetpacks on their backs, imperial saboteurs in camouflage (which doesn't help them at all - they can still be seen from a kilometer away), and brave soldiers of the Empire clad in huge armor, showing what kind of guys are taken into space.
Déjà Vu.
Whatever you say, but the main thing for a fan in all games based on "Star Wars" is recognizability. What would this game be if it couldn't be related to the well-known film? Just an average action game that not everyone will buy. In the new game, you will have the opportunity to visit Tatooine and fight Tusken Raiders, wave your saber on Coruscant, stop trains on Corellia, thwart the Empire's plans on Hoth, and even see Korriban - the ancient burial ground of Dark Side adepts. In most cases, missions will have to be completed in proud Jedi solitude, although in some missions we will go side by side with Kyle or even Chewbacca. The developers have tried to diversify the gameplay as much as possible. We do not just mindlessly swing a saber at whatever is pointed out; we ride anti-gravity bikes, we distract a huge Rancor while the prisoners we freed try to reach a safe place, we run through the streets from Boba Fett, we place markers on key objects so our partner (by the way, that's Wedge Antilles, one of the main figures in the film) can drop bombs on these very objects, we... we do so much! Let's boycott missions like "guess where we hid the button while we hide another!"
Throughout the game, we are opposed by continually kicked around imperial stormtroopers and equally kicked around imperial officers. Unfortunately, the developers forgot to endow them with even the beginnings of common sense: in most cases, the unfortunate just stand there and shoot at you, patiently waiting for their demise. Even enemies equipped with grenades, who ran away at your appearance in the previous game, have succumbed to the paralysis that the sight of a Jedi with a lightsaber staff certainly causes. Almost always, enemies outnumber you and hold superior tactical positions, but even this does not help them: each one is inevitably sent to the Land of Eternal Hunting. Eventually.
The situation with dark Jedi is a bit better. These at the first opportunity start jumping around like grasshoppers, throwing lightning at you, and behaving in a very unsporting manner. But as soon as you begin to treat them similarly, they become confused, not knowing what to do, and very soon they also fall to the ground with screams. Sad...
A bit about veterans.
Everything new is well-forgotten old. Thus, Jedi Academy ruthlessly exploits the archaic Quake3 engine. Instead of sending the veteran off to a well-deserved retirement in the junkyard of history, they ruthlessly dressed him up, styled him, did a little preventive facelift, and said "work!" The old man groans but smiles, baring his toothless mouth and flashing new polygons. Indeed, the engine looks quite decent: high-resolution textures, high-quality models. Of course, you won't see fashionable technologies here, like bump-mapping or anti-aliasing, but in return, the game will offer you high performance even on meager and weak computers by today's standards. And what wonderful animation there is! Besides the traditionally high-quality death throes from the previous game in the series, the developers were generous with fantastically animating new moves. Jedi swing their sabers precisely and naturally, and the giant Rancor moves exactly as in the film. Unfortunately, there is a very serious drawback related to graphics: the graphics glitch insidiously and mercilessly. Sometimes, you see, the models are completely devoid of animation, sometimes the textures suddenly disappear into nothingness, or the polygons become mismatched...
Complaints are also raised about multiplayer. Specifically - the bots, which by default are too weak. I managed to kill them at the highest difficulty level either only with the saber or even without it, using just the Force.
However, all this is not that scary. After all, the disks with the game, arranged in neat rows on pirates' shelves, are essentially a pre-release beta, which means many flaws in the game can be forgiven. Let's hope that a patch is just around the corner.
In conclusion.
What can be said in conclusion? Essentially, we received one big add-on that brings last year’s Jedi Outcast up to the necessary condition. Is this add-on worth digging into your tight wallet? It all depends on the impression made by the previous part. Completely. If you played JK 2 obsessively, and are also a fan of Star Wars, then you will buy the game in any case, regardless of my rating. Well, if not... then you won’t buy it. In any case, this game is worth seeing. Good luck, and may the Force be with you!
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Graphics: 7
Sound and Music: 8
Control/Interface: 9
Novelty: 7
Expectation Justification: 8
Overall Rating: 8.5