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Star Wars: Jedi Knight II - Outcast Review - PC

Five years ago the presence of the force was felt on all our PCs when Kyle in the original Jedi Knight. Jedi Knight II gave us the opportunity to use the Jedi Weapon, the light sabre against the Dark Side. Lucas Arts included Jedi Force powers, light sabre battles, Jedi training and beautifully rendered cut scenes which showed some spectacular graphics.

As a FPS you play the character Kyle who is a maverick Jedi who re-nounced his Jedi powers. He know works as a mercenary for the New Republic. He protects the location of Valley of the Jedi. However events transpire that Kyle (YOU) encounter a Dark Jedi, you unwittingly revealing the Valley's location.

Kyle now needs to regain his Jedi Powers to exact revenge and to protect Jedi Valley. You will need to complete various Jedi Training techniques at the Jedi Academy which is all-interactive. There you will first receive instructions and some wisdom from Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker. The Academy will prepare you for your quest, as you gain Jedi Powers. Upon completing your quest, you will receive your Light sabre. A true Jedi Weapon.

The beginning of JKII is very well played, allowing a look at the insight of the game dynamics. As soon as you have past the Jedi tests and received wisdom and your light sabre from Luke Skywalker. Your quest begins.

During the various mission you must discover hidden passageways, activate interactive security cameras to bypass various obstacles. Or use controlled robots to interact with the computer to allow access to certain passageways. The path of Kyle is not a path for the slow-minded Jedi with countless Storm troopers, Captains and gas emissions trying to destroy then Jedi.

GamePlay:

AI Levels of the Storm Troopers are very well executed. If the Storm troopers have a Captain, then by vaporising the Captain, Storm Troopers won't be as organised or as determined. If the Captain fails to be destroyed the Storm troopers seem to be organised, re-enforcements will soon arrive the Storm troopers will surround, over power and eventually destroy you. The Storm troopers also will retreat when they are too close to you, and will re-organise.

The sabre battles against the Dark Jedi are an awesome display of ingame graphical rendering. Your sabre seeks out the Dark Jedi, striking him down. Deflecting blaster shots, sparks flying as the sabres strike each other in combinations, trying to strike the Dark Jedi down. You can use your Jedi powers to flip onto structures, create distractions by using mind control, or destroy them by striking them down with Lightening.
The Dark Jedi use the Darkside Of The Force to oppose you, their Dark powers able block your powers, turning your powers to the Darkside.

. There's nothing like during a sabre battle slicing through a Dark Jedi, his sabre spiralling through the air, his severed arm falls to the ground, as you flip over him ... (continued next page)