sci-fi

At first glance, this game is not that great. The graphics leave a lot to be desired, even for a 1997 game, and the cutscenes are dissappointing. But once you get into the gameplay, it's an amazing game. The characters in the levels are not only challenging but the levels themselves are. Each encompasses many secret passage ways, trap doors, and hiden shortcuts. Not only must you defeat your enemies, you must beat the terrain and map, trying to find your way out. While playing this game, I found myself slashing open grates to get where I was going, crawling through ceiling vents, getting blown through tunnels by giant fans, walking through pipes ankle deep in fuel that could explode at any moment, and much more. Another great aspect of this game is the AI. These enemies carry powerful weapons like crossbows, concussion rifles, fast firing repeaters, rail guns that fire explosives that latch on to you until them explode, and of course light sabers. During the levels it was challenging but the game suprises you at the end with a climatic lightsaber fight with another jedi that is very difficult to beat. As if the single player game is not enough, try going online and challenging your friends to a lightsaber fight. Watch them cringe as you throw boxes at them using your force throw. If Jedi Knight 2 Jedi Outcast had not come out, this game would be the foremost jedi game on the market.

I recently got high-end computer that can play all the graphics-intensive games I've wanted to play for years, like Black & White and Neverwinter Nights. While I was buying those games, I also picked up this one because I'd been interested in the series for a while and was impressed by the reviews. I was a little concerned that it wouldn't even run properly on my new machine, but if worst came to worst I could always play it on the old one. However, to my great pleasure it does run on my computer (128Mb ATI Radeon 9700, 2.8GHz Intel Pentium 4, 512Mb RAM, Windows XP), although it's a little hyper--I turned the mouse sensitivity all the way down and it's just barely manageable. The only problems I've had are that it crashes from time to time when I'm loading or saving a game--and restarting it takes less time than waiting for levels to load in some games on my old computer, so that doesn't bother me much--and the cutscenes don't play right--the sound is out of sync and after a while they start to skip. Otherwise, it runs beautifully. The graphics are a little dated (the water is the worst; it looks like shag carpet), but all things considered not terrible, and they don't in anyway detract from the enjoyment for me. In terms of gameplay, I love it. I've never been a huge fan of shooter games (Doom gave me nightmares when I was a teenager and turned me off to them for a long time), and yet of the half-dozen games I got for my new computer, it's this one that I can play for six or eight hours straight and not even realize it. I like NWN, I like B&W, but I love Jedi Knight. My favorite things about it: you can play in either 1st or 3rd person, which I find extremely helpful, because when I'm navigating a narrow ledge I like to be able to see my feet, but if I'm shooting an enemy who's just a speck in the distance, the 1st person crosshair is useful; I've never seen controls so thoroughly customizable; having a lightsaber kicks arse; Jedi powers kick arse; and I find myself using almost all of my weapons in different contexts, rather than always going with the most powerful weapon available--lightsaber is great for taking down a few enemies quietly, especially with its ability to block incoming fire; stormtrooper rifle is great for thinning out crowds, and in 3rd person because you don't have to aim it very precisely; thermal grenades are good for sneaking up on groups of enemies, especially from above, and for detonating mines; crossbow is good for precision sniping in 1st person; I use the railgun similarly to the stormtrooper rifle but it's precise enough to work better in 1st person; etc... So, all in all, a great game which holds its own against newer, more technologically advanced games. I'd recommend it to anyone.

I bought this game by accident. I thought I was getting Star Wars: Jedi Knight 2 Outcast. Turns out it was Dark Forces 2 (my fault for not reading the description more carefully). Even so, I can't help but be dissapointed.

Jedi Knight Dark Forces 2 is the sequel to Star Wars Dark Forces. It follows the story of Kyle Kataarn. A young Jedi straddling the line between the Light and Dark side of the Force.

I realise that this game is over seven years old. But still when held against games such as Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six (which was released the same year) this game looks graphically challenged. The characters are rather stiff and rigid looking and the environments are extremely bland. The gameplay fares no better. It esentially consists of running around blasting and hacking various non-descript bad guys (and later Stormtroopers) with little rhyme or reason. Occasionally there are Boss battles but those are often frustrating. Eventually you are rewarded with different Force powers, none of which seem to work very well. The controls will often have you fumbling to find the right key for the right weapon or Force power. Also, our man Kyle is not exaclty the heartiest hero on video game. He is often easily overwhelmed and collapses in a heap making you restart the level. The level map is not very helpful either.

All in all I have to say that the game's biggest downfall is it's age. It just hasn't held up well over the years. Unless you're a collector or a Star Wars fanatic, it's best to stear clear of this game. It wasn't very fun to say the least. Spend a few extra bucks and either pick up Jedi Knight 2 Outcast or even Jedi Academy. One thing Dark Forces 2 does is let you see just how far technically video games have progressed over the last seven years. Other than that there's not much reason to play this game.