Star Wars Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast Collectors Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)Jedi Outcast is everything you could ever want for a sequel to Jedi Knight. For anyone who has long dreamed of having the powers of the force and to weild their own lightsaber, this game is for you. For anyone who enjoyed Jedi Knight, this game is for you. For anyone that loves Star Wars and computer games and gets every Star Wars game ever, this game is for you but you already have it, so nevermind.
Jedi Outcast is the third in a series of great PC games following the adventures of Kyle Katarn. You get each game of the series in this great collectors edition.(But you know you really got it for the keychain...) Dark Forces is a doom-esque first-person shooter in which Kyle is a mercenary during the galactic civil war(the orginal 3 movies). He ends up helping the rebels by retreiving the original Death Star plans. Mediocre graphics, relatively fun gameplay. To be honest, I've only played the first few levels of Dark forces, but it's quite fun. However, it only features guns as weaponry. If its sabers and force you're looking for, move on to Jedi Knight and Jedi Outcast.
Jedi Knight takes place after the events of Dark Forces. Kyle learns of a Dark Jedi Jerec who is trying to harness the power of the Valley of the Jedi, a secret land that contains the ultimate concentrated power of the force. If Jerec uses this power for the dark side, destruction would reign. It's up to Kyle, who soon discovers he is a Jedi, to stop him. After the first few levels, Kyle receives his lightsaber. You have to find secret areas in each level to earn "force stars" to apply to powers of your choice. Your selection increases with your progress. Jedi Knight has two outcomes that result from two styles of play. You can be wreckless and gain the destructive attacks of the darks side(shoot droids and bystanders) or defend the innocent and be blessed with the defensive power of the light side(dont shoot droids and bystanders). In the beginning, you can choose from powers on each side. There is a turning point where Kyle will go totally to the dark or light side(depending on your actions earlier) and go through the rest of the game using one side exclusively. It is rather fun, but the graphics aren't so great. The multiplayer on MSN gaming zone is quite interesting. I reccomend the Saber Battle X mod which greatly enhances lightsaber combat. There are numerous mods that make the game much more interesting online. Jedi Knight does have an expansion pack(Mysteries of the Sith) with more weapons, powers, and story but it is strangely not included.
Now to the good stuff. Jedi Outcast is the pinnacle of the series. It is the best yet. Kyle almost falls to the darkside and thus renounces his force powers and gives Luke Skywalker his lightsaber. He once again becomes a mercenary, now for the New Republic(it's now after the galactic civil war). Eventually, something happens that convinces Kyle to regain the force. He goes to the Massassi temple(the rebel base in "A New Hope", now Luke's Jedi Academy) There, he meets with Luke again with some great dialogue and backstory events, a very fun part of the game. You go through trials, learning new force powers until you get your lightsaber back. Then, you move on. The force powers are greatly improved and a lot more fun. Lightsaber combat is varied and as improved as the force powers. Jedi Outcast is more linear than Jedi Knight in that you receive your powers at pre-determined points. This means that you will use a bit of each side, but more to the light. Weapons are well done, a few from past games, but mostly new and very varied. There are new items like electrobinoculars and sentry drones which are neat to use. Gameplay is very fun once you get your powers and saber(although its pretty good beforehand). Jedi Outcast single-player is a blast, a great improvement over Jedi Knight. Multiplayer is really well done, too. While it's strange to see stormtroopers and Landos with lightsabers and the force, its not so bad. Lots of gameplay modes like Free-for-all, capture the flag, and some unique ones that involve the transfer of force powers based on who you kill. Multiplayer is definitally a great value in that you'll be playing it a lot. It's more a separate game than it is a "mode". There are a few problems however. You definitally need to aim much higer than the system requirements. Theres slowdown in outdoor environments, some puzzles can be tedious. You'll want lots of RAM for quickloading. Other than that, very few problems. Nothing to make you not play. Jedi Outcast: Collectors edition is great fun, a great value and some of the best Star Wars games for the PC. Highly reccomended for both Star Wars fans and computer game players of all kinds.

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This collector's edition contains Star Wars: Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast, the full version of the original Star Wars: Jedi Knight, the full version of (I)Dark Forces(/i) and an official Jedi Outcast keychain, all within a custom tin box.In the tradition of the multi-award-winning Star Wars: Jedi Knight, Star Wars: Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast features rebel agent Kyle Katarn in exhilarating first-person action. Several years have passed since Kyle avenged his father's death and saved the Valley of the Jedi from Jerec and his band of Dark Jedi. Allowing his Force powers to languish for fear of falling to the dark side, Kyle entrusted his lightsaber to Luke Skywalker, vowing never to use it again. But when a new and menacing threat to the galaxy emerges, Kyle knows he must reclaim his past in order to save his future.
LucasArts is developing Jedi Outcast in partnership with Activision's critically acclaimed Raven Software. Players assume the role of Kyle as they employ a unique mix of weapons, Force powers, and the lightsaber in both single- and multiplayer modes. Jedi Outcast features expanded and enhanced use of the lightsaber, with new attack and defense moves. Tap into the powers of the Force, including jump, push, Jedi mind tricks, and more. Employ combat or stealth, depending on the situation. When a fight is necessary, be at the ready with an arsenal of weapons: stun baton, Bryar blast pistol, and blaster rifle to name but a few.
Explore breathtaking Star Wars locales such as Cloud City, the Jedi Academy on Yavin 4, Nar Shaddaa, the smugglers' moon--plus some never-before-seen locations. Multiplayer options include deathmatch, saber-only deathmatch, and team capture the flag.

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