I bought this game used via Amazon a couple of weeks ago, just in time to come down with a cold. Lucky me, I'm stuck at home and too tired to think or do much else, but a nice hack and slash video game is a welcome diversion and not too tiring.
What can I say, it's a first person shooter plus Force powers. They did a very good job of integrating the Force powers and lightsaber with traditional guns and explosives, so you feel like you could whip out a blaster and zap a Stormtrooper, or cut him in half with your saber. The missions are okay; there is a reasonable storyline but not as involving as Knights of the Old Republic. But really the story is linear and your job is to go in, kill a ton of bad guys, solve some small puzzles (how do I open this door? How do I get across this chasm? etc.), and maybe kill a boss at the end of the mission.
The most notable fact about the game is that it works fine on recent hardware. I have a 2.16GHz MacBook Pro (running Mac OS X 10.5.7) and played it on an external monitor at 1600x1200 with the maximum quality video settings and it was *fast*. (I downloaded the free Universal Binary update from Aspyr.com after installing the game but before playing it. Universal means the game is ready for Intel based Macs.) The cinematic scenes were sluggish and skipped badly (I guess the codec isn't part of that Universal Binary upgrade?) and in one canyon near a Jedi Temple the 3D video was laggy when there was a lot of depth in the scene, but that was basically just on a bridge until I crossed it. Otherwise, the action was fast and the frame rate kept up at all times.
Finally, I had a lot of fun exploring the physics of the game with regard to using the Force to kill the bad guys. I interpreted "Mind your surroundings" in Jedi speak to mean "use Force Push to shove them into the lava / off a cliff to avoid messy Lightsaber duels." I probably had more Sith kills due to gravity than any other weapon at my disposal. And don't forget that while some Sith can reflect projectiles back at you, many can't... so you can use an explosive round to bounce them over the edge and into the abyss, no messy melee required.
this game is quite fun because of the freedom in chosing what missions you want to go on, its also fun to spawn npc characters and watch them duke it out on your favorite maps. the story is a little thin, but the game has so much sith-slashing action that it didnt really matter to me.
"Oooohh... I like it!"
2007-10-24
- Reviewed By User: A220TENY67D612
This game is awesome. I personally enjoy that I can become a dark power, because I am evil at heart. The game is choppy when used on an Intel based MacBook, but there is a UB patch available that fixes that issue entirely. Horrible graphics, fun game, kinda reminds me of an interactive Doom 2. Addicting. Buy it, its worth it.
I am the typical Star Wars Geek and I love to play the classics including Dark Forces, X-Wing, and Battle Front. Jedi Academy really lived up to my expectations of the Star Wars legend. The game's platform is very easy to understand and get used to and a lot of fun once you get into it. I couldn't stop playing!! This is a must for any Star Wars gamer who just loves to twirl a lightsaber around!
"Good Star Wars, as always!"
2006-11-06
- Reviewed By User: A1EJU875JZGRA0
You'll have great fun! As always, an excelent Star Wars adaptation. You feel in the star wars univers form the beginning on. Great fun!
"Great idea, flawed execution (This review applies to single player only)"
The various features they added to the game are welcome additions, but the frame rate in this game is simply terrible. I have a fairly high end mac setup (Dual G5) with plenty of memory, I toyed with the video and sound settings, I downloaded the patch, but my frame rate is probably around 15-20 fps. Any time I switch weapons or kill someone I get noticable chop.
I don't know what engine changes they made, but Jedi Academy definitely does not play as well as Jedi Outcast.
Of the levels that I have played, I think the level design is a little weak. Between this and the frame rate, it is doubtful that I will even bother finishing it.
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Expedited Available
"Loads of fun"
"Great idea, flawed execution (This review applies to single player only)"