Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy

Game: Jedi Academy (Also known as Jedi Knight 3)
Platform: PC
Release Year: 2003
Stephen's Rating: 8/10

Jedi Academy is a third and first person action game developed by Raven Software set after the events of the film Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.

Basic Plot

Luke Skywalker and Kyle Katarn are re-forming the Jedi order in order to counter-balance a growing number of Sith forces. In order to train new initiates they form the Jedi Academy.

The story involves being tested and trained as a Jedi Knight. Eventually you are able to accompany Kyle and Luke on missions, and go on solo missions as you become stronger.

Unique to this story is the ability to choose your fate. You can choose the path of the Jedi and stay true to your mentors, or alternatively turn against them and become the greatest Sith Lord of them all. The choice is yours, and ultimately changes how the final missions pan out.

Gameplay

The gameplay occurs either first person (when using guns) or third person (when using a lightsabre). Overall I enjoyed the third person view a lot more and avoided guns simply because the first person mode wasn't well executed.

 Wielding two lightsabres.

Fighting with guns is self explantory, but fighting with a lightsabre was unique and quite exciting. Unlike other games your character would swing the sabre at one of three set speeds. You could then move the player character about to influence where the sabre would swing. It became quite second nature, and it gives a really physical sense of swinging the sabre around.

Battling Sith apprentices.

The game progresses through a series of missions which each tell a mini story, but all the missions collectively tell a wider story arc which culminates in the ending. Halfway through the game your character loses his or her lightsabre and you get to choose a new one. You have the option to either keep a single sabre, or take two sabres into battle, or even wield a double-bladed lightsabre.

Skill allocation.

As you progress through missions you get force points to spend on abilities. Each ability is either classified as light or dark force. Although there is some mention to watching how many dark abilities you take on, it ultimately has no impact on how the story occurs. Some of my favourite abilities were force lightning (of course), but also force grip. A friend of mine used to grab enemies with force grip and drag them over large distances, just to throw them off ledges or into lava.

Positives

Having two alternative endings meant I simply had to play the game through twice. I think it's a really positive feature for any game, to give the player some free will.

Swinging the lightsabre around is the most visceral in this game that I've ever seen it. Since the entire Star Wars franchise is basically rotating around the concept of the lightsabre, I think this is a very good thing.

The abilities were interesting and fun to use.

Negatives

First person view isn't well designed and is difficult to enjoy. It would have been as good a game without guns available at all.

Memorable Moments

I really loved having two lightsabres. There was a special move where you would crouch down and your two blades would swing around you in an arc destroying everything in close proximity. Loved that.