Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
(PC)

As good as the last game? Even better? Hmm...you may not like my answers.

I'll say it now, I'm not impressed. While this is a pretty good recreation of the Star Wars Universe in a First-Person-Perspective mode, and some fun can be had shooting down excellently rendered and animated Stormtroopers and Imperial Officers...this is just not a particularly good game!

It's certainly not original anyway. I don't mean that just because it looks like Quake III visiting a Star Wars convention, but gameplay-wise it uses puzzles and tactics from many years ago. You won't find this much more complicated than the press switch and pull lever to open doors from before. You also just go in all guns (or lightsabre) blazing blasting as many baddies as you can before you have to retreat to an empty room so you can recuperate and start all over again.

While the game does move the plot along nicely using scripting and well animated cut scenes, involving Kyle Katern finding out about some Imperial plot involving Dark Jedi, there is simply nothing else to pull this game ahead of it's rivals. Sure, you can use a lightsabre but I've found using it involves nothing more than wiggling around the mouse and getting a bit of luck (the manual has it in more detail, and I'm sure people will complain saying there is skill involved, but that's all it really is).

Multiplayer is nothing more than the bog-standard modes you would find in Quake III, but with lightsabres and a few Star Wars bells and whistles. I would like to point out that although multiplayer is unoriginal, there are lots of people playing this game online now so if you do just want to play this as a multiplayer game then it may be worth getting. It's certainly no worse than the multiplayer in Jedi Knight, and in this game you'll get much better graphics and reliable connections.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Jedi Outcast is a bad game...just that it isn't much good either. If you love Star Wars and love first-person shooters then I'm sure you'll get enjoyment out of this game. The same can be said for any FPS fan who needs a new challenge because they've finished every other game.

However, if you have to spend your money on one new FPS, don't spend it on this. There are so many better alternatives like Medal of Honour: Allied Assault, and on top of that, Halo is out in a matter months for the PC.

Jedi Outcast is an average game. 'nuff said!!!