In a world where cheat codes have been turned into DLC and microtransactions, it’s quite sad to see these things in a game again. Different lightsaber colors, a god mode, and more are so cool to see in the game again.
Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast has its moments of campiness but ultimately acts as a satisfying Star Wars story that still holds up.Īspyr should be commended for also included Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast’s wide range of cheats that alter the gameplay experience.
The story itself is impressive even today, bringing the likes of Billy Dee Williams back for Lando Calrissian as well as some voice actors who do an admirable job at replicating iconic characters from the movies. Being a Jedi who blurs the lines between light and dark makes him a more complex character who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. He’s witty without being Han Solo and determined without coming across as a Skywalker. Kyle Katarn is still a likable protagonist despite his very vanilla appearance. The level where you first get to use it on enemies is made all the sweeter just like it was in 2002. It doesn’t take long to get a lightsaber though and it certainly acts as a heavy motivation moving forward in the game. These outdated mechanics also carry over to the enemy NPCs who’ll begin shooting you as soon as you turn a corner. Guns and other tools are required though at multiple parts in the game so players will have to become used to the very outdated shooting mechanics. Shooting in Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast is super cumbersome and never really feels good at all. The sequel, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy would expand on progression in 2003. This adds a sense of growth and progression that’s very linear. At the end of Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II, Kyle abandoned the force so throughout Jedi Outcast, he eventually is drawn back to it. The opening levels of Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast don’t immediately have Kyle, the main protagonist, wielding a lightsaber. The solution is usually right in front of you in a place you wouldn’t expect.
There’s no shame in getting caught up somewhere so don’t get too frustrated. Thankfully, plenty of handy guides are available online for those who get stuck because, you know, this game is pretty old. I found myself saying “how was I supposed to know that,” more times than one. However, sometimes the solution doesn’t always feel very fair. In one aspect, these design decisions garner a lot of praise as they encourage exploration in otherwise small areas. If you’ve played the game before then it’s a breeze but it can be quite jarring for newcomers and those who are revisiting the game after so many years. Sometimes this requires the player to look in very unconventional places, and that’s not an exaggeration at all. Whereas games tend to hold each players’ hand a bit more in this day and age, Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast relies on the player becoming familiar with the environment and thinking about which force powers can help them move forward. The design of each level in Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast will throw a lot of players off. Thankfully, the title can still be actively played on PC. However, it’s sad that many of the maps in Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast will be locked on the original game. The developers have said that it’ll be included in Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, which is admittedly the better lightsaber game. What’s baffling is that this port completely omits multiplayer. This combat can be experienced online in the original versions of each game. Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast and its sequel Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy have a cult following of players that still go back to each game for the deeply satisfying lightsaber combat. Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast is still one of the best games stemming from the series’ now non-canon extended universe.