The controls and poorer cutscenes are the only specific gripes, however. The graphics are identical (or close enough that I noticed no difference), and the game play still brought me the same thrills as before. The battles with the Reborn (artificial Jedi) are intense and atmospheric, and some duels can last minutes. The combat system is simple but deep enough to keep interest throughout. The game’s real thrill, however, comes from the myriad of different ways that the lackeys of the Empire can be dealt with. By the time your force powers are at maximum strength, you are almost demi-god like – ordinary troopers pose absolutely no threat, even in large numbers, and you are free to deal with them in inventive and humorous ways. Thankfully, unlike the original Jedi Knight, there is no more soul searching to be done, and Katarn can use both light and dark side powers – he is neither of the light or the dark, an outcast...hence the name.

The game also boasts a plot which may actually be able to keep your attention. It’s no Planescape: Torment, but it works for this title, and the involvement of major characters from the franchise helps the plot keep its sense of self-importance. Interestingly, Billy Dee Williams, who played Lando Calrissian in the original trilogy, provides the voiceover for his old character in the game. Makes you wonder if he needs the money, but since it provided me with greater gaming enjoyment, I’m inclined not to care.

And then, of course, is multiplayer. All the modes found in the original version have been retained, and can be played split screen with a friend, or alone against a variety of AI bots. The games vary from traditional death match and capture the flag single and teamed variants, to more original themed games. One of my favourites is Jedi Master, which involves all players attempting to kill one maxed out Jedi without any force abilities of their own. The game has additional force powers available, such as team heal, however the difficulties which plagued the single player force access control scheme apply doubly so here, and it remains very difficult to use powers quickly and efficiently. Jedi Outcast is also not enabled, which seems mildly curious – it would have made an ideal candidate.

There is no doubt that Jedi Outcast is flawed. The game begins slowly, and the designers chose to include ill-advised and frankly illogical puzzle and jumping sequences to a game that should have been about combat. One unbelievable puzzle sees Katarn traverse a dizzying drop between a number of suspended rooms, in order to ‘realign a satellite transmitter’. Ok, it makes a nice challenge, but if you were designing a transmitter, would you place the controls to change its alignment in a dozen, different, unreachable-to-normal-people rooms? Of course you wouldn’t, and it only serves to prevent player immersion – gamers instinctively know the types of puzzles placed in games, and developers should try to avoid them.

Regardless of its problems, however, I can only reach the conclusion that Jedi Outcast is a worthy game. It has aspects of poor and frustrating design, but the core game play mechanic is rock solid, and the game is atmospheric and fun enough, particularly for Star Wars fans, to compensate for these faults. There are many who disliked this game, and that is their right – I am not here to gainsay them. I do feel, however, that many judged the game on the wrong merits. They pointed out poor level design, generic puzzles and a very slow beginning, and used these as evidence to say that JK: Outcast is a poor game overall. While Outcast does contain these flaws, it is a good game regardless. Indeed, Outcast is a great game in the same way Star Wars is a great film – the component parts often seem lousy, but when considered as a whole it shines.

85%

By Nick McCrea