It never quite feels like you’re mastering it by any stretch of the imagination but it always feels really good to swing your Lightsaber, even if you’re not quite sure if it’ll connect. It’s full of classic Star Wars noises that really make it feel like an authentic adventure in that universe.Ĭombat is really the main focus here and although it’s definitely a lot clunkier now than it was back in the day, it’s still pretty good fun. I will say this though, the music and sound design all hold up really well.

This game is over 15 years old now and it certainly shows, but if you came to this expecting more then you’ve got the wrong expectations. Of course, Jedi Academy is no spring chicken. The introduction of both dual wielding and double-sided Lightsabers is also fantastic and makes this feel like the best evolution of the Jedi Knight gameplay. Jedi Academy also lets you customise your force powers and Lightsaber which is easily one of the best bits. It gets you travelling from planet to planet and that’s the main thing. It doesn’t go much further beyond the sort of themes you’d expect from Star Wars, but that’s not necessarily a problem. You get a few different races to choose from, and Jaden isn’t a silent protagonist and is actually rather involved in the story, with your choices actually affecting how it develops.ĭespite not playing as the series’ famed protagonist, I was surprised by my interest in the story and its characters. Rather than playing as Kyle Katarn, you get to customise your own character named Jaden, although this is more interesting than you might think. Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy is the swansong of the franchise and went all out with the reason everyone played in the first place: the Jedi. It’s thanks to this cult classic status that they’ve all seen remasters for the current generation, bringing these games to a new batch of Star Wars fans.

They were pretty much universally loved for their mix of realistic lightsaber battles, a protagonist that people still seem to love and a focus on the best part of Star Wars: the Jedi.

The Jedi Knight games were once regarded as some of the best Star Wars games out there. I hate to be the Han Solo of it all, but I’m not sure it’s held up quite as well as a Lightsaber… “An elegant weapon, for a more civilised age.” That’s arguably one of the best quotes from A New Hope, but after playing Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, I think it can be applied to that as well.

Jedi academy realistic saber combat