Below are user reviews of Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast and on the right are links to professionally written reviews.
The summary of review scores shows the distribution of scores given by the professional reviewers for Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast.
Column height indicates the number of reviews with a score within the range shown at the bottom of the column.
Higher scores (columns further towards the right) are better.
User Reviews (11 - 21 of 245)
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The Force is with this Masterpiece!
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 8 / 8
Date: November 15, 2005
Author: Amazon User
Graphically, this game is a work of art. The shiny surfaces, glowing lightsabers, and vibrant colors make this a winner.
As far as gameplay those, you can even forget the graphics! This gameplay is so good, you could play it with terrible graphics, and still have an aweseome time!
The score by John Williams is another highlight. The music enhances the tension, action, and drama of this game.
Overall, this is the best star wars game i have ever purchased or played.
The Force is strong in this box.
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 9 / 10
Date: April 23, 2002
Author: Amazon User
This one hits the marks in all respects, it's a kick-... FPS that revels in the Star Wars universe. Lucasarts themselves have not been immune to releasing SW products who's raison d'etre is simply to promote the francise. No one is coasting with this baby, however. It would stand alone as a classic PC shooter even if it was called 'Crazy Joe's Space Brigade'.
Once again we follow the exploits of Kyle Katarn, who has turned his back on the Force after the harrowing events of Dark Forces II. While investigating for the Alliance under the aspices of Mon Mothma, he and ...-kicking side-kick Jan Orrs get wrapped up in the obligatry complicated plot of universal domination plans of Imperial Remnants. The plot alone could carry the player along for the ride. A few familiar faces pop up as well, including Jedi Academy Master Luke Skywalker and that old scoundrel Lando Calrission, voiced by Billy Dee Williams himself. Unfortunately Mark Hamill does not reprise his role, so one of the niggling things about JKII is the schoolyard wiener vocal performance of Skywalker.
As expected, the graphics are highly polished, with sharp textures and lots of environmental flourishes and special effects. Sound is also handled with atmospheric aplomb. But the real twist that sets this game apart are the force powers and light-sabre duels, both dramatically changing the pace of the game and lending a true unique Star Wars feel to things when they appear. The game also has a great pace, eschewing the "make the first level ridiculously easy and the rest excrutiatingly hard" idoicy that has plagued recent FPS level design. The game slowly ratchets up the enemy count as you gain familiarity with new weapons found so that you never feel too overwhelmed. You'll probably just stick with the lightsaber outside of any sniping needs tho...the LS combined with Force powers is definitely the most fun way to progress through the game once they become available. A lot of people seem to be complaining about the amount of puzzles in the game, but for me this just adds to it's greatness. There really aren't a lot of them, they make a nice change of pace from slaughtering hoardes of oncoming baddies, and they're all logically designed and fun to solve.
Even to users numbed by the oversatuation of Star Wars games, this is a keeper. Buy it now, Yoda says so.
Jedi Knight Fans Unite
4
Rating: 4,
Useful: 9 / 10
Date: July 24, 2002
Author: Amazon User
Star Wars Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast overall is a mind-blowing experience which will go above and beyond expectations which you may have set for it. The reason why this game didn't score a 5 in my book, probably would be because after finishing the single player mode - the game may leave you wanting more. This flaw didn't bother me much at all, because the multiplayer mode for this game is fantastic.
PROS:
- GREAT Multiplayer -(there is nothing like getting out your lightsaber and taking out your anger on helpless enemies by tearing them to bits, online against many players)
- The Force (powers) -The force powers used in this game add a special touch to the gameplay in single and even multiplayer modes.
- Overall good effects/graphics -in my opinion these graphics are good, although they still could be better
- Storyline/Plot -I know some gamers who played this game didn't like this feature, I personally though felt Jedi Outcast had a strong and interesting story behind it.
- An Array of Weapons + Who could forget, A LIGHTSABER!
CONS
- Movie/Video Clips -The video clips in between the game weren't great, I felt the first Jedi Knight game utilized this feature better (w/ using live actors)
- Single Player Mode -I know many people may disagree, but I felt the single player mode could of been a little better. I'm not saying that it was bad (acutally I'm saying the opposite of that), but its not perfect. But really - what game is perfect?
Someup:
LucasArts and Raven Studios overall have done a terrific job on, not a perfect, but solid and fun Star Wars Game.
Should be 4.5, greatest star wars game ever
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 10 / 14
Date: April 15, 2002
Author: Amazon User
... After the first few levels. once you become a Jedi, however, this becomes one of the most engrossing experiences ever. Clever Force and lightsaber controls make becoming a Jedi master simple, and completely entertaining. I have no hesitation in recommending this to fans and newbies alike, as well as veterans and people well versed in the Star Wars galaxy. It doesn't disappoint, I'd love to give some bad scenes and great scenes away, but that would ruin most of the surprises late in the game. One thing I can tell you, they got Billy Dee Williams to reprise his role of Lando Calirissian, and he performs it at top notch, becoming possibly the best voice actor in computer games history.
The game has long load times for levels (but once the level is loaded, it's not a hassle. There are tons of stormtroopers in the early levels, making them somewhat difficult (but once you have a lightsaber, no worries). And the animations for cutscenes is very low-par. But the voice acting and sound easily make up for that.
Highly recommended entertainment.
best first person star wars shooter...could be better
4
Rating: 4,
Useful: 7 / 8
Date: April 03, 2002
Author: Amazon User
You've got to play it simply for the fact it's Star Wars. The story line is immersing, and the light saber battling functions are awesome. The levels are bigger and better than in the first Jedi Knight, much more detalied. Lucas Arts took care to add a lot of little goodies like funny banter between stormtroopers, sniper rifle mode, and new force powers like the Jedi Mind trick. Memorable charcters appear for the first time in this verson, unlike in past games where the story lines have focused soley on non-movie characters. But this time around we see Mon Mothma, Lando Calrissian, and Luke Skywalker.
What's bad? Well, I probably wouldn't feel this way had I not just finished playing Medal Of Honor: Allied Assault, which I feel is the best first person shooter to date. So I couldn't help comparing the two games. Seeing what the developers were able to do with MOHAA I couldn't help but feel the graphics in Jedi Outcast are a little underdeveloped and blocky. The cut scenes were pretty uncinematic as well. The enemy AI is not what Lucas Arts had promised, though it has it's moments. Could have be a lot better. And my biggest gripe with the game is that it's HARD!! I finally gave up and downloaded a walkthrough and cheats from the net. I found many people on message boards who were having the exact same problmes--in the same areas--as me. When you get to the level with the mine cars you'll know what I'm talking about.
But in the end it is Star Wars, and shooting stormtroopers and Rodians will make anyone's day a whole lot brighter. Worth the money, but be prepared to be a little frustrated at first.
The next big thing
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 12 / 19
Date: March 10, 2002
Author: Amazon User
Take a trip back to 1997. Yes, that was many years ago but during that time we were graced with games like Quake 2 and the original Quake taking over the online world with its online Quakeworld feature. Sure those games were fun to play online, but there was one game that stood out from the crowd: Jedi Knight.
Even though JK wasn't as popular online as the Quake or Unreal series, its 21 level single player gameplay was and still is revolutionary. Like in Jedi Knight 2, you took control of Kyle Katarn on his quest to find and defeat 7 Dark Jedi and basically help save the world on a quest to avenge your father's death.
With the original story already explained (if you dont have JK, buy it as well) this one looks to be shaping up to be even bigger than the original. Powered by the Quake III Team Arena engine, developers Raven Software and Lucasarts have crafted up an EXTREMLY slick game.
Take a look at the screenshots and trailers at fansites like http://www.jediknightii.net and you will know what I mean. Best of all, since it has a Quake III engine, online play is guaranteed a low lag, fun experience. Oh and don't forget.. Raven Software as one of the best companies in the world, you are guaranteed nothing less than high quality. Highly recommended game for all ages and fans of the movies.
AWESOME GAME!!
4
Rating: 4,
Useful: 10 / 15
Date: July 04, 2002
Author: Amazon User
I have played this game many times, and I just love it! Of course, I have only played the PC version, but I heard this Mac OS X version will be even better! You are given an arsenal of blasters, laser rifles, grenade launchers, and of course, your ol' reliable lightsaber. A variety of force powers are presented, such as pushing away enemies with the flick of the wrist, lightning that comes from your fingertips, "force choking", and of course, jedi mind tricks! (messing with people's minds is fun, remember?!) Many familiar areas from the Star Wars universe are scattered throughout the game, and there are hundreds of stormtroopers, Imperial officers, and Sith Lords (just to name a few) that are just asking for a lightsaber whuppin'! The only reason why I gave this game a four-star rating was because of some difficulties like cheap deaths and some hard-to-do techniques with your lightsaber, but that is the only thing! (and it only relates to my skill at games, anyway) When this game is released, BUY IT! It's the coolest Star Wars action/shooter experience!
The most "finished" Star Wars Game to date
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 7 / 9
Date: April 03, 2002
Author: Amazon User
Those of you who follow the gaming scene will note that Star Wars games of recent times have been, well.. very much lacking. Jedi Knight II changes all of that.
The single player experience in this game is exceptional. Although some of the textures are a bit blocky, the world that the game designers have created truly make you feel like you're in the Star Wars universe.
Now, some people have commented the the graphics are subpar. Jedi Knight II uses the "aging" Quake 3 engine. Sure, other games that have adapted this engine to their games do seem to have higher quality graphics than Jedi Knight II (Medal of Honor comes to mind immediately). However, I can assure you that the gameplay more than makes up for the lack of ground breaking imagery. Moreover, these are the largest Quake3-engine based levels I've seen.
Some of the game's many cutscenes are prerendered. More often than not, though, the story advances using in-engine cutscenes. I've read some of the other reviews on this page that poo-poo this design choice. For me, the scenes are fantastic. High detailed models, almost flawless and well detailed animation, good voice acting, great lighting effects all make the in-engine cutscenes a joy to watch.
Gameplay-wise this game is a breath of fresh air for a first person shooter. With the myriad of force powers at your desposal, you'll feel like you're playing out a scene in a movie each time you enter a room full of Imperial Storm Troopers or scummy Rodians (Greedos).
The Jedi Speed Force Power is of special note. Those who have played Max Payne know of bullet time - a game mechanic that slows the gaming world down and allows you to take better aim and to react the enemies before they can react to you. Jedi Knight II takes this to the next level. Using the "Speed" force power can increase the speed of your character 2 fold. Suddenly a room full of 10 storm troopers becomes a privilege instead of a chore. Opening the door, rushing in, and disarming them (literally) is a gaming treat that nobody should miss. The task at hand moves from "surviving this encounter" to "try to get all ten before the first one hits the ground"
This is a definite contender for FPS of the year, and possibly game of the year depending on how Neverwinter Nights and Dungeon Siege live up to expectations.
The Best of Times, the Worst of Times
3
Rating: 3,
Useful: 6 / 7
Date: November 11, 2002
Author: Amazon User
Jedi Knight II underscores just how rich the technological and graphical capabilities of top-of-the-line PC games are while also calling attention to how unimaginative many game designers have become.
The game is a major success, but I think some designers will continue to learn the wrong lessons from that success. It's a success because the game's graphical engine creates a remarkably engaging sense of being a part of the Star Wars universe--something that many of us crave. It uses music and visuals perfectly to this end. The core storyline is engaging enough: Kyle Katarn is a likeable, believable protagonist, and the game makes use of other Star Wars story elements very well. So on one hand, the game works very hard to achieve immersion.
On the other hand, the game's level design makes it almost impossible to achieve immersion. When travelling through a level, you are not Kyle Katarn: you're just a guy sitting in front of your terminal trying to figure out what the game designer wants you to do next. Puzzles are not intuitive, and the solution is usually a rigid, artificial and sometimes nonsensical sequence of actions. You have to run a gauntlet of enemies who have somehow positioned themselves in places that your own character could not get to--in many cases, places which are actively impossible for any living creature to have travelled to given the design of the level. At one point, you have to protect a droid from a host of enemies while also disarming trip mines. You can push the droid back using your Force powers, but only so far: push him back far enough and he spontaneously explodes. Why? Because the designer wants you to beat the level the way he wants you to beat it.
It doesn't have to be this way. Medal of Honor: Allied Assault has demonstrated that an FPS can have good, immersive level design without having to resort to this kind of straightjacket.
JK2's multiplayer is decent enough, but it becomes boring fairly quickly. When force powers are enabled, the game is dominated by the boring over-use of force push and force choke. When weapons other than lightsabers are enabled, snipers and explosive weapons rule the day, but in no more interesting a fashion than any other multiplayer FPS on the market.
ANOTHER SATISFIED CUSTOMER...
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 9 / 14
Date: May 23, 2002
Author: Amazon User
I am not being biased when I say this game rocks although I have been a first-person shooter fan since Wolfenstein 3D first came out. This game is awesome. The feeling I got when I first played it was the same feel back in 1995 when I first played Dark Forces on my 486dx2 66mhz machine. I especially like how you build up your Force powers as the game progresses. It's a rewarding experience when you get through the Jedi training and obtain your lightsaber. By default though, the game is not set to chop off arms, legs, heads, thighs, and torsos, which was a dissappointment. But, after turning on cheats (i only set it on for this purpose) and setting the g_SaberRealisticCombat to 50 (setting is from 0-99, by default it's 0), I was laughing out loud when seeing the storm trooper get his head and hand chopped off for the first time. The only con I experienced with this game is that I experienced a bit of choppiness at first. I'm running a 1.5ghz, 512mb PC800, with a Geforce 4 ti 4400 and I was still seeing some choppy lines on my monitor with the refresh rate set to 120hz. The problem was due to something called "vsync". This was changed by entering r_swapinterval 1 into the console and running the vid_restart command. After that, the choppiness went away. This game is sweeet! If you're a fan of Star Wars games then this game is one you should definitely own. Lucas Arts has came through with a very fine production for it's gamer fans finally. ... Peace.
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