Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast - Video Game Review

Wielding a lightsaber never felt so authentic, so genuine than it does in Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast. Sequel to Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II, Outcast brought Star Wars gaming to a whole new level—with realistic lightsaber mechanics and a compelling story. Even after 18 years, this groundbreaking game still feels fresh, especially since it’s now available as a portable adventure on Nintendo Switch. The 2019 game port, brought to life by Aspyr, preserves the same experience while elevating aiming through the Switch’s gyro controls.

Eight years after the Battle of Endor, the New Republic still struggles to vanquish the relentless Imperial Remnant. Kyle Katarn is the protagonist of Jedi Outcast, a former Jedi Knight who has severed his connection with the Force (explaining the lack of a lightsaber for six, long chapters in the game campaign) and returned to his mercenary ways—continuing to aid the New Republic in the fight against the shadow of the Empire. After his sworn enemy, Desann—a rogue Jedi ex-apprentice of Luke Skywalker’s Jedi Praxeum—allegedly kills his partner and love interest Jan Ors (voiced by none other than Vanessa Marshall), Kyle has a renewed desire to get his lightsaber and Force powers back to seek revenge.

The quest for reuniting with the Force is a long, excruciating one, with a limited arsenal and relentless foes. Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast’s enemy list is an extensive one, especially in the Imperial Remnant ranks—from various stormtroopers to officers to deadly droids to even AT-ST walkers. Depending on the difficulty level, the survival rate majorly decreases, forcing the player to cautiously become conservative with ammo and to save the game every so often to avoid having to restart each level from the very beginning and hearing the awful screams of Kyle’s death.

The stormtroopers’ lack of proper aim might allow some breathing room, but that is not the case for officers of higher ranks. Alien gangsters compensate for the lack of Remnant troops in some areas like Nar Shaddaa—represented by Weequay, Gran, and Rodian species. The latter are expert snipers—whose disruptor rifle fire can disintegrate matter at the molecular level, making a carbon-freezing chamber stay a pleasant sojourn.

While Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast has numerous waves of foes standing in Kyle Katarn’s way—the main objectives of each chapter are what drive the story. The player is often faced with solving challenging puzzles (some of them involving the remote controlling of MSE and R5 unit droids) or aimlessly wandering around in search of hidden areas without the help of a map—all while admiring the immersive, rich environments.

Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast also has one of the most iconic cameos worthy of mention. Rescuing Lando Calrissian—reprised by Star Wars legend Billy Dee Williams—and escaping aboard the infamous Lady Luck during the mission on Nar Shaddaa was a delightful surprise.

Jedi way or not, Kyle Katarn finds his way to the mysterious Valley of the Jedi, where he regains his powers through the Force nexus. To defeat Desann, Kyle will still need to retrieve his lightsaber back from Luke Skywalker—only this will be an actual Jedi trial the player will have to endure.

The Jedi trial on Yavin 4 is without a doubt one of the most magical moments in Star Wars game history. Each section teaches the player how to use a Force power—beginning with push, pull, and speed. These powers will help the player ultimately retrieve the ancient weapon, which can now be wielded through the remainder of the campaign.

The Force abilities and lightsaber are definitely an advantage against the constant hordes of enemies that cross the player’s path. Kyle’s abilities slowly progress while new ones are gained—including Force heal, lightning, and grip, along with mind trick—which will finally cap at the last level, when facing Desann. However, they don’t make Kyle Katarn invincible. It is up to the player to become resourceful when choosing the right abilities, lightsaber forms, and weapons from Kyle’s arsenal to defeat the enemies. This is what makes Jedi Outcast a solid gaming experience compared to other titles from the franchise.

The player’s lightsaber skills will be tested every so often by the Reborn—a deadly force of Dark Jedi from the Empire Reborn faction. Their ranks can be differentiated by the different colors—from the weakest denoted by yellowish orange cloaks to Desann’s best men wearing blueish-purple and red robes. The saber duels with the Reborn could go on for minutes or would end with one blow—making lightsaber mechanics the most realistic to date.

The Empire Reborn would also occasionally dispatch shadowtroopers—stormtrooper-Dark Jedi hybrid soldiers with a cloaking ability and powered by synthetic crystals. Their cloaking humming sound and their intimidating black armor design injects fear every time they are encountered.

If the Reborn and the shadowtroopers were not challenging enough, then the main bosses of Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast will make the player rethink the difficulty level chosen at the beginning. Admiral Galak Fyyar—the genius who conceived the Shadow Armor—is just as challenging as the saber wielding bosses. His cortosis battle armor is almost impenetrable and requires the strongest lightsaber style, combined with precise blaster fire to take down his shield.

Jedi Outcast’s finest moments are represented by the duels against Tavion Axmis and her Master, Desann. Dueling Tavion gives a taste of what’s to come in the final act of the game when Kyle Katarn faces Desann. The Dark Jedi powerful blows can end Kyle’s life in a matter of seconds—forcing the player to flee every so often to take a breather and recuperate some precious life.

With ageless gaming mechanics and graphics—accompanied by iconic film scores and a compelling story—Jedi Outcast is an authentic Star Wars experience. We can only hope that Kyle Katarn will be reintroduced in the Star Wars canon universe to continue the adventures of the Jedi with attitude. In the meantime, grab a copy of Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, ignite the blue, and share your favorite moments.