GENRE
	First-Person Shooter
	DEVELOPER
	Vicarious Visions
	PUBLISHER
	Lucas Arts
	NUMBER OF PLAYERS
	1-2
	CONNECTIVITY
	no
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Earlier this year, PC gamers were treated to one of the most anticipated Star Wars titles in years. The sequel to possibly the best Star Wars licensed game of all time, LucasArts’ Star Wars Dark Forces II: Jedi Knight. Now, LucasArts brings the sequel to the Cube and puts it in the hands of Vicarious Visions, developers of Activision’s Tony Hawk series. That’s right. Cube gamers can finally get a piece of Star Wars Dark Forces III: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast (wow, that certainly is a mouthful). However, that’s basically the title, only shortened down obviously. In any case, the game that wins this year’s Longest Title award is now available for the Cube. Is it as good as the PC counterpart? Well, yes and no.

Unfortunately, this port is plagued by a graphics downscale after going from PC to console. However, the controls suit the GameCube’s complex controller much better, though sometimes clunky and unresponsive while aiming. This problem is especially apparent in multiplayer. Be that as it may, the game still holds true to the original’s formula of putting you in the shoes of a Jedi going through a rough time in his life. You are Kyle Katarn, and, as he says, he’s just “a guy with a lightsaber and a few questions.”

visuals

Graphics get off to a rocky start on this title. I can’t imagine what happened when Vicarious Visions brought the PC title to the Cube, but the results are a little disappointing. Right from the start, you can see the in-game cinemas have been toned down a lot. The realistic character expressions that gave the game such life...are now replaced with wooden, horribly synched characters. However, the CG-cutscenes still look dazzling and extremely impressive.

Once the game starts, the disappointment is dispersed, but still lingers from time to time through the first few slow missions. Speaking of slow, there are several instances of slowdown throughout the game. These instances don’t hinder the overall feel of the game but can become a nuisance. Once Katarn learns the ways of the Jedi again, things are much, much better. The game not only looks better in the 3rd person perspective while wielding the lightsaber, it feels better too. In fact, the lightsaber is cause for some of the more impressive graphical details. Walk along a wall and the saber will scrape alongside it, leaving a fiery trail of burning metal. While the game starts off on what seems to be the wrong foot, the later missions make up for it.

audio

Jedi Outcast sounds brilliant. The game may even sound better than LucasArts’ action packed effort, The Clone Wars. Set in the original trilogy’s universe (in fact, probably a little bit after Return of the Jedi), the sound effects bring back fond memories of saber duels and storm troopers. Sounds are solid and clear throughout the game and give an amazing amount of emotion to the environment.

John Williams’ original score is obviously a stellar example of how to use music in a game. What would a Star Wars game be without his excellent musical prowess? The music gives you the feeling of becoming part of the Star Wars legacy. How can you wield a lightsaber and groove to the tunes of Metallica or The Ramones? All right, I’ll admit, that’d be fairly awesome, but it wouldn’t be Star Wars without Williams.

gameplay

Jedi Outcast plays exactly like being a Jedi. It should be in a different genre all together. They should create a new genre, Jedi Simulator. They should have changed the name to SimJedi. Seriuosly, since I’ve gotten my point across, I’ll let you in on what it’s like to be Kyle Katarn. The game starts out a little slow, kind of like an average first-person shooter. For the first six missions or so, you’ll be roaming around the environments, blasting at anything that crosses your path, flipping switches and finding out what they open. That all changes after you meet your Nemesis. Kyle must go back to the ways of the Force to defeat this villain with the help of familiar faces such as Luke Skywalker.

Once the game picks up, it seems like a different game. It goes from FPS to SimJedi. Kyle uses his force powers with ease, and you’ll want to use his lightsaber for the majority of the game not only because it puts everything else to shame, but it’s also just plain cool looking. For some reason, the Cube’s control scheme suits this game after the turning point much better than the PC’s standard mouse/keyboard setup. I know I’m going to be flogged for saying that, but the game seems at home with the Cube’s complex controller.

multiplayer

For the most part, this game wasn’t meant for multiplayer. At least that’s how the control scheme makes it out to be. Controlling your character using dual analog controls can sometimes be an extremely difficult chore, especially when it involves many intense lightsaber duels. The c-stick (which allows you to look around) is extremely slow in the control scheme. This works most of the time in the single-player mode, but it gives you a big disadvantage in multiplayer.

However, if multiplayer is your bag, you’ve got plenty of options to choose from. There are many unlockable arenas and character models for you to choose from and you can change the color of your lightsaber and everything. The major appeal of multiplayer for this game is the ability to engage in an all-out lightsaber duel with your friend. This is extremely fun and can have you playing for hours once you get used to the frustrating controls. If you want more of an onslaught of bodies hitting the floor, you’re more than welcome to choose from 1 to 14 total AI-controlled “bots”. However, only two player-controlled characters are allowed at a time. I can see why because even with two people, this creates unsightly slowdown.

overall

What better way to spend an evening than controlling a Jedi through numerous battles in the ultimate showdown between good and evil? Okay, how about a FPS that allows you to use a lightsaber? There you go, now you’re interested. Jedi Outcast is the closest thing to being a Jedi simulator that’s available on the console market. The story is a welcome addition to the “extended universe,” especially with its post-original trilogy setting. Seeing favorite characters in polygonal shape gives off a geeky kind of vibe but is definitely necessary to complete the package. While the multiplayer is slightly disappointing, the overall package is well worth your cash. If you’re a Star Wars fan, this is obviously a no-brainer. It’s a much more worthy investment than that Episode I DVD you’ve been avoiding.

8.5/10