In this first-person action/adventure game, you strive to become a worthy Jedi by foiling seven Dark Jedi who are trying to unleash the powers of a secret Jedi burial ground. During this time, Katarn learns of a Sith temple on the planet Dromund Kaas. Chin said in an early interview that progress in the game is based upon the abilities the player develops. Katarn believes Desann to have killed Ors, and so he returns to the Valley of the Jedi in an attempt to reconnect to the Force so as to stop Desann. In 1997 LucasArts released this seq... Read Full Review, I bought this game at the end of 98' and have yet to see a better star wars game since (KOTOR, you're great, but nothing compared to this insanely large game). For an expansion pack, Mysteries... Read Full Review, This game is awsome. He is attacked by two more of Jerec's Dark Jedi, Gorc and Pic. [51] If Jaden choses to free Rosh, he ultimately faces and defeats both Tavion and the spirit of Ragnos. The game is set in the Star Wars fictional universe and is a sequel to the 1995 game Star Wars: Dark Forces. The game ends with Katarn setting out in pursuit of Jaden. This amazing sequel to the original Dark Forces features some truly innovative twists: The ability to harness and use the Force, the inclusion of Lightsabers as weapons, and networking with up to eight people for multiplayer gaming. There are weapons available in each level and after level three, the player has the use of a lightsaber, along with the Force. You make your way to the top of a large beam, where the only apparent exits are huge gaping air shafts that lead down hundreds of feet into nothingness. If Kyle has followed the Light Side, he crashes the Moldy Crow and is woken up by the remaining of Jerec's Dark Jedi: Sariss, Boc, and Yun. Instead the focus is on Jaden Korr, a student of the Force under Katarn. You have the basic blaster and the Stormtrooper rifle, as well as more powerful weapons such as the rail gun and the concussion rifle. Dark Forces II was judged the best game of the year for 1997 by five publications, and was number one in PC Gamer's "50 best games ever" list in 1998. [27] The method of allocating credits to Force powers was designed with an RPG style in mind, allowing the player the choice of which powers to improve. The game is set one year after the events of Return of the Jedi. [31], Jedi Academy features very similar gameplay to Jedi Outcast, although one new feature is that the player may customize their lightsaber at the outset of the game. [59] The cutscenes included the first lightsaber footage filmed since Return of the Jedi in 1983. The game can be played from a third-person or first-person point of view (and switched on the fly). [20][21][22][23] From Dark Forces II onwards, the games have included lightsaber combat and the use of Force powers,[24] which have been tweaked and modified as the series has progressed.[25]. Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II Cover art DeveloperLucasArts PublisherLucasArts DirectorJustin Chin DesignerPeter Chan WriterPeter Chan ComposerPeter McConnell SeriesStar Wars: Jedi Knight EngineSith PlatformMicrosoft Windows Release NA: October 10, 1997 GenreFirst-person shooter, third-person shooter ModeSingle player, multiplayer Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II is a 1997 first-person shooter video game developed and published by LucasArts for Microsoft Windows. Kyle is attacked by the youngest of Jerec's dark Jedi, Yun. While it doesn't necessarily make them any harder to kill, enemies will gang up on you and run for cover as you fire at them. [33] Instead of moving linearly from one level to the next, the player chooses from a selection of different missions which can be played in any order. This is the beginning of a new era for us.". Chin is understandably pleased with this particular aspect: "We just went with what we felt worked best. [58] Another development was that Dark Forces II moved on from the static images between levels used in Dark Forces to full motion video cutscenes. Pentium 90 or faster required. Not only is it the most powerful weapon, it can be used as a light source, to deflect blasts and to reveal secrets. The games in the Jedi Knight series have received generally favorable reviews. Jaden eventually encounters a Sith cult led by Tavion (Desann's former apprentice) who plans to restore the Sith to power by using stolen Force energy to resurrect an ancient Sith Lord, Marka Ragnos. Picture the scene: you're being pursued by a horde of Stormtroopers and while dashing down a corridor, you spot a doorway leading outside. Everything you ever wanted to know about Star Wars games is in one handy video, presented by Danny O'Dwyer. [18] The cutscenes included the first lightsaber footage filmed since Return of the Jedi in 1983. Jerec makes one final attack and is killed. The bosses in this case are Dark Jedi, a group of diverse baddies trying to help a super-evil Jedi named Jerec (who, conveniently, also happens to be responsible for the murder of your father) find a place called the Valley of the Jedi, where he will be bestowed with unlimited power. The actor who plays Katarn, with his beauty parlor blow-dried hair and too-neatly-shaved beard, looks less like a Jedi Master than the Marketing Director for The Force (tm). Jedi Knight is primarily a first-person shooter, although it does offer the choice of a third-person view. [26] Another aspect that has remained the same since Dark Forces is the use of John Williams' soundtrack from the Star Wars films. Katarn travels to the Valley of the Jedi while learning the ways of the Jedi himself. This style of gameplay has remained constant in all Jedi Knight games. There are some elements that will inevitably put some off, mostly in the aesthetic arena. There aren't as many levels as I might like, and the configuration isn't as free as it could be, but these are the usual design complaints -- all in all, I had a fair amount of fun playing. Make sure you have a walkthrough handy though. Using Weegee, Kyle displays the map to the Valley. The droid decodes the disk to show a recording of Morgan. He descends through Nar Shaddaa to retrieve the disk and then meets Ors. [39], In 1998, PC Gamer declared it the best computer game ever released, and the editors called it "such a class act from start to finish that even people who know nothing about PC games can tell they're looking at greatness. The Tusken Raiders even do a little victory dance when they kill you, throwing their arms in the air and roaring with glee. Dark Forces II adds two "Jedi" aspects to the series; the use of The Force and the lightsaber. [13] The player creates an avatar within Jedi Knight and selects a ranking, with higher rankings having access to more Force powers. Non realistic looking violence towards human characters, Includes 5 items: [54] Original plans for the game had Luke Skywalker as the main character, but due to the limitations this would impose on the story, the developers designed a new character, Kyle Katarn.[49]. You actually find yourself using the third-person ew just so you can watch him move, and when you come under fire, it might be more appropriate to switch to the more conventional first-person viewpoint. However, Katarn defeats Desann and discovers his true path, becoming a tutor at the Academy. Shortly thereafter, Ors' cover was blown, and she was taken prisoner. [10][11], Some levels contain puzzles that may require use of the Force to overcome, or by locating certain objects in the level. "[41], This article is about the first game entitled Jedi Knight. Jedi Outcast was developed by Raven Software and powered by the Quake III: Team Arena game engine. [23], In the United States, Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II debuted at #3 on PC Data's monthly computer game sales chart for October 1997. [15] It is one of the early games to adopt the use of 3D graphics hardware acceleration using Microsoft Direct3D. 100% Windows 95 compatible 16-bit sound card required. This was achieved by experimentation using many different sound effects and playback styles. Neutral powers enhance athletic abilities such as being able to jump higher or run faster. The players can customize the settings to play a deathmatch the way they desire; for example, by limiting the use of Force powers or playing on teams.[4]. Exactly. In Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II, Kyle Katarn's Star Wars saga continues in true Jedi fashion with classic conflicts between good and evil, and the past and the future. Not making this weapon available in the original Dark Forces created something of a disappointment among avid Star Wars fans. Note: Your system may require the "latest" Windows 95 drivers for your particular hardware. [47] In Jedi Outcast, Ors is captured by Desann, a former pupil of Luke Skywalker who has turned to the Dark Side. The plot line centers around Kyle Katarn -- from Dark Forces -- whose father has been murdered by the evil Jarek. With the external camera, Katarn's movements match the action, and it's a nice touch when he reaches out to push buttons or actually appears to be swimming underwater. Enemy behavior also adds to the suspension of disbelief. Desann, in league with the Imperial Remnant, uses the power of the Valley to endow his troops with Force power, before using them to launch an attack on the Jedi Academy. As you dodge laser blasts, you use your Jedi powers to make the long leap through the opening to safety. Sariss tries to execute Kyle but is stopped by Yun who is fatally struck in the process. [4] There are a variety of hostile and non-hostile non-player characters (NPCs) within each level with whom the player can interact. Unlike its predecessor, Mysteries of the Sith has a single, morally positive course,[29] as the player progresses through the game in a linear fashion. [82] Jedi Outcast was a finalist in the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences "Interactive Achievement Awards" in the 2002 Game of the Year category. The side you choose has a hand in determining the outcome of the game. Shit. LucasArts, the LucasArts logo, STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks in the United States and/or in other countries of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. It was powered by the same game engine as its predecessor. The only other notable complaint is the somewhat mediocre multiplayer implementation. Kyle fights Tusken Raiders until he reaches the workshop and the family droid, Weegee. Dark Forces™ set the industry standard for first person action in the Star Wars® universe. In 2002, Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast was added to the series. In Dark Forces II, the player has the option of a third-person view, plus an option to switch automatically to third-person when the lightsaber is the selected weapon. ", "Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II for PC Reviews", "Star Wars: Jedi Knight -- Dark Forces II - Review", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Star_Wars_Jedi_Knight:_Dark_Forces_II&oldid=980603885, Multiplayer and single-player video games, Video games developed in the United States, Articles using Infobox video game using locally defined parameters, Articles using Wikidata infoboxes with locally defined images, Articles using Video game reviews template in single platform mode, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 27 September 2020, at 12:11. "[33], Tom Chick of IGN criticised the layout of the levels: "The levels can be awfully linear, throwing you up against some frustrating brick walls where you don't know where to go or what you're supposed to do next. [57] It was one of the first games to adopt the use of 3D graphics hardware acceleration using Microsoft Direct3D. The player controls Kyle Katarn from a first-person perspective, with a focus on combat against various creatures and characters from the Star Wars universe, although the game also includes environmental puzzles and hazards. While the rendered aspects of these scenes are great, the acting is typically mediocre and often just plain, old-fashioned bad. You feel the hairs on the back of your neck rise. The game also received commendations from PC Gamer and Computer Gaming World. As Kyle Katarn, you must acquire a lightsaber and learn the ways of the Force to become a Jedi Knight.