Being Jedi Outcast was such a success in my book, I was pretty excited for Jedi Academy and bought it day of release. That doesn’t mean I didn’t have my doubts however. One of my biggest concerns was the fact the face of the franchise, Kyle Katarn, wasn’t the main playable character of this game. Instead players will be able to create their own Jedi to be, Jaden Korr, from a slew of different create a character options. These options include the typical items such as male and female, facial feature, and clothing design. The more interesting aspects are you can also choose from a variety of different races, like the Rodian for example. Another nice feature is you will have the ability to create your own lightsaber, by choosing different hilts and blade colors. In the later levels, you will also gain access to dual wielding sabers, and the ever popular double bladed variety. That means players won’t have to go through several average levels just to get their lightsaber, you’ll have it from the start of the game, and odds are it’s the only weapon you’ll want to use.

    Having the ability to create your own character isn’t necessarily a bad thing for this game, but it does have some draw backs that docks a few points from the overall feel of Jedi Academy. For starters, Jedi Academy’s plot isn’t as nearly well polished as its predecessor’s. Jedi Academy’s story revolves around Jaden Korr learning the ways of the force, and of course the fate of the galaxy is at stake. After Jaden, and his (or her) friend Rosh are assigned to their master, Kyle Katarn, the cookie cutter adventure begins. I know that sounds harsh, being as a whole Jedi Academy really isn’t terrible, but Jaden’s quest to become one with the force doesn’t have the emotional impacts Jedi Outcast had. Although it does have decent moments, Jedi Academy’s story lacks the overall maturity that the Jedi Knight series has been known for. Mainly do to the fact players have control over which mission they will complete next out of 3 series of 4 possible missions instead of having a standard linear experience. Another flaw to Jedi Academy’s story is in the voice acting. For the majority of the time, the voice acting is fine, but being players can choose between a male and female character, that ultimately means there must be a male and female voice actor for Jaden. Any time Jaden speaks, no matter what the sex is, the characters lines feel like they have simply been copied and pasted into place. On occasion, some character’s lines even slightly overlap one another, and this just take a player out of the entire experience.

    Jedi Academy’s game mechanics are where this game really comes to life, as it builds on the foundations set in place by Jedi Outcast. The main focus here is pure action from start to finish, and its pretty rewarding. As to be suspected, Jedi Academy is also a mix of 3rd and first person perspectives. While using the large array of blasters, bow casters, and other authentic or unique Star Wars weapons game play transfers into a first person shooter. Using ranged weapons can have its advantages, but in terms of this game feels a bit unnecessary being players will have access to their lightsaber from the get go as I mentioned earlier. Being the lightsaber is going to be the main weapon of choice, the game will almost exclusively be a 3rd person adventure. Unlike Jedi Outcast, the ability to enter a first person view for saber combat has been removed. Some might miss this feature, but Jedi Academy has plenty of new attacks and character animations to take its place which makes fighting feel much more diverse. These new attacks and animations only become even more unique once the player is given the choice to upgrade to using two lightsabers or the double-bladed lightsaber. The addition to these two choices really brings the action to life, as your character will be able to do more devastating attacks.

    And what would a Jedi Knight game be without force powers? Well, it wouldn’t be Jedi Academy that’s for sure. Jaden’s greatest ally, the force, has also undergone some changes since the last installment of the Jedi Knight franchise. The force is just as powerful as it was in Jedi Outcast, there are just more force abilities players can take advantage of. There are both light side abilities, and dark side abilities. The light side powers, which include Force Healing, Force Protection, Force Absorption, and the Jedi Mind Trick are generally defensive abilities that are used to aid Jaden. The dark side powers are a little bit more interesting. They include Force Grip, Force Lightning, Force Rage, and Force Drain. These are Jaden’s offensive abilities, and are pretty darn cool. The biggest change to the force in Jedi Academy, is the fact players will have control over which abilities they want to focus on. That means if you are the master of your own destiny, and Jaden will truly reflect your personal play style.

    Multiplayer has also returned with Jedi Academy, which added a lot of life to the overall replay ability of the game. All of the same modes that were offered in Jedi Outcast are still intact, and players can choose to use a pre-made character like Luke Skywalker or Kyle Katarn as their online avatar. Of course, their Jaden Korr is also playable online. Like Jedi Outcast, the amount of gamers still playing online has diminished over the years although some still remain. In its day, I spent many hours playing Jedi Academy’s multiplayer and it is a blast. If you can’t find a human opponent, you can still play against Bots. Although its not the same as playing against someone else, its still worth playing.

    Graphically, Jedi Academy isn’t drastically different than Jedi Outcast. Being Jedi Outcast had some pretty decent graphics, I’m not too disappointed in how Jedi Academy looks although it would have been nice to see a little bit more in terms of that “wow” factor. I also ran into compatibility issues Jedi Academy while running Window’s Vista (what else is new right?), so setting this game to run with in Windows XP mode will definitely save you a lot of heartache is trying to run Jedi Academy with a newer operating system.

    Sure Jedi Academy didn’t take a huge step forward for the Jedi Knight franchise, but I can say with absolute certainty that I had a lot of fun playing this game. When you want some intense lightsaber action, and feel like tossing some storm troopers over a ledge with Force Grip, Jedi Academy is definitely a worthy investment.

Written by RB

Over and Out

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     In my lifetime as a gamer, I have found it incredibly difficult to find Star Wars games that were up to par. That’s not to say they aren’t out there, but anyone who has spent any time playing such a beloved franchise like Star Wars in video game form will probably agree with me. Luckily, when I have come across a Star Wars game that is any good they usually exceed all of my expectations or come pretty darn close to doing so. That was certainly the case for Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast.

    Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast features the return of the former Jedi turned New Republic mercenary, Kyle Katarn. Kyle Katarn is no stranger to Star Wars games, and several of the better games in the franchise had Katarn as it’s protagonist. Luckily, I have these games in my own personal collection and will all eventually get their own separate review right here on Ethos Reviews.

    Anyway, Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast takes place several years after the events that took place in the Valley of the Jedi. Kyle Katarn, and his mercenary partner/love interest Jan Ors are on route to their next assignment for the New Republic. They are going to investigate what is supposed to be an abandoned Imperial outpost on the planet Kejim, unfortunately when they arrive Kejim is still crawling with Imperials. It is there, they find the Imperial Remnant have been doing some sort of experiment with crystals that are very much like those found inside a Jedi’s lightsaber. Being that Kyle Katarn cut himself off from the force after nearly falling to the dark side, he isn’t overly interested getting involved in anymore “force business.” But being the mercenary that he is, he and Jan follow the crystal’s back to their source on the mining planet Artus Prime. It is here Kyle and Jan are confronted by two Dark Jedi named Dessan, who is a brutish raptor-like man lizard, and his apprentice Tavion. Jan is captured by the new Sith, and after a brief confrontation between Dessan and Kyle, Katarn is easily beaten. Dessan orders Tavion to kill Jan. With Kyle knowing he doesn’t stand a chance against Dessan and Tavion in his current state, he has no choice but to return to the Valley of the Jedi, the place where he chose to sever his ties to the force, and regain his lost powers. It is here where this tale of revenge really begins. I won’t go into much more detail on the events that take place in the main plot of Jedi Outcast, but it is easily one of the most mature and well developed stories ever put into a Star Wars game.

    In terms of game play, Jedi Knight: Jedi Outcast is very diverse. It is a mix of both standard First Person shooter, and Third Person styles. This combo has a lot of depth to it, although admittedly it doesn’t start off that way. The first few levels of the game, game play is very basic. The main perspective in use during these levels is the First person mode, as players will use a variety of weapons like the Bryar Blaster pistol, the Imperial E-11 Blaster Rifle, a Wookie crossbow, and thermal detonators among other things. There is nothing wrong with the weaponry itself, or even the game mechanics. The problem is how the first few levels are laid out. The are essential the same thing over, and over again. Kyle Katarn shoots up wave after wave of storm troopers, which have an impressive AI system that makes the troopers run in fear, try to flank Kyle, or numerous other features that add realism to the game. But, players are also forced to complete variations of the same key puzzles to unlock doors and gain access to new areas. This really isn’t bad, its just basic. After a while it can get a little old, but if you stick with the game through these few brief levels of averageness, you will be rewarded.

    This game doesn’t truly begin to shine until Kyle Katarn regains his force powers and lightsaber. This is where for the majority of the time the Third person perspective takes over, and game play becomes addictively epic. Now I know Jedi Outcast isn’t the first Star Wars games to feature the use of force powers and the lightsaber, but in my opinion this is one of the first games to pull it off successfully enough to allow the player the feeling of actually being a Jedi. Once the lightsaber and base force powers are acquired, the scope of the game changes simply because the challenge of non-Jedi enemies goes down. The game itself isn’t any easier, its because Kyle has become more powerful. In no time you’ll be taking down countless storm troopers with the lightsaber, or in later levels force lighting with out even taking damage. The force is truly a powerful ally. Possibly the most addictive aspect of the force/lightsaber combo, is when facing off against Dark Jedi. While fighting an enemy who can also wield the force, your edge against your opponent begins to level out. This results in some pretty outstanding lightsaber battles, that feel equal to those found in the movies. When fighting with the lightsaber, players have full control of attacks and swing direction. This allows for pin point control, so with a little practice you can become very proficient with the lightsaber. This proves useful when bringing your skills online in the multiplayer mode.

    For its time, Jedi Outcast’s multiplayer mode was just as addictive as its single player mode. Players could take their skills online to face off against others in a variety of game styles, which all felt true to the Star Wars brand. Being this game was released in 2002, many people no longer compete online. That’s not to say there isn’t those still playing it, I’m sure there are, but from what I could tell the variety in players is no longer there. Luckily, there is modes where you can go up against bots. True this isn’t the same as going against another player, but if you just want to get in some lightsaber action, this is a pretty nice feature to have.

    Anyone looking to get this game, its well worth the investment. It is available for PC, Nintendo Gamecube, and the Microsoft Xbox. Although it is a worthy purchase on any platform, in my experience is was pulled off the best on PC. Those of you who do want it for the PC, a word of warning for anyone running Windows 7 or Vista. Jedi Outcast might not run properly with Windows 7 or Vista. By switching the program to run windows compatibility mode XP, any errors you might run into will be resolved.

    Since I first got my hands on this game, I’ve found myself returning to it time and time again. Sure its not entirely perfect, but its better than the vast majority of other Star Wars games on the market. I could be very tacky and end this review with a comment like “the force is strong with this one”…but, ah what the heck. You get the idea.

Written by RB

Over and Out

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     Now lets get something straight right out of the gate here, I've never been a huge fan of The Sims. But, over the last decade since The Sims originally debuted it is almost impossible for someone not to have tinkered around with the anti-climatic simulation in some shape or form. With that said, I put my reservations about the franchise aside and picked up a copy of The Sims 3. Upon playing the newest addition of the Sims universe, I found myself quite surprised at how different The Sims 3 actually is while it still maintains all of the elements that made the game famous.

     Players will begin by creating their virtual counter part with a ton of new customizable options. With a more detailed face creator, each person will be able to successfully render themselves in the Sims 3, although the process is very time consuming. There are also a large variety of clothing options which they too can be customized by selecting different colors, and patterns. One of the more interesting points of creating your Sim is the return of traits from the Sims 2, however there are a ton of more traits to choose from like making your Sim heroic, a kleptomaniac, the perfect lover, you get the idea. There's something for everyone. The player can even decided what their Sims' favorite color is, music style, and what their life goals will be. All these elements make the Sims 3 much more personal than previous Sims games. As time goes on, your Sims will also age, your children will grow up, and eventually all Sims will pass on. However the original starting characteristics like appearance, and traits will be passed down as the family tree grows.

     After the character creations process is over and done with, players will be able to move into or build the house of their dreams...with the allotted cash allowed for starting a new game. As you would expect, this process is no different than any other Sims out on the market. You'll pick the décor you find suitable and arrange it just so, or you can stick with the preexisting furniture that comes when buying the house. By this point for an action fan like myself, the excitement is abounding. Anyway, after getting your Sim settled in to their new surroundings it time to get them a job. The Sims 3 offers a few new ways to find work, which ties into the biggest change to the franchise overall. Purists of the franchise can still check their news papers or log onto a computer to get their Sim off the unemployment line, or those who are feeling more adventurous can take their Sim for a little stroll around the open town in which they live. That's right, players are no longer confined to the household and don't have to pay for a Hot Date expansion to have a night on the town. At any time, your Sims can freely move about their larger surroundings to find a job, catch a movie, or stop in at a café for a quick lunch with no loading time. This open ended environment gives new freedom to your Sims and with their free will often go out to explore on their own. One doesn't have to do much, and the artificial intelligence takes over. Just sitting back and watch your sims go through their daily lives on their own can actually be pretty entertaining. But, with these new strides in the franchise there are still the same dull moments. For numerous hours at a time, your Sim will be off to work or school depending on their age. As with the other games, there isn't a ton to do while your sim is making some cash. Sure you can decide whether to talk to co-workers or slack off, but for those few hours your stuck looking at the outside of a building...YAWN.

     When it was all said and done, the Sims 3 is a great step forward for the franchise. Undoubtedly as time goes on, this game will attract more and more people and in turn there will be another onslaught of expansions for fans to buy. Although this game isn't exactly the perfect game, it was still enjoyable for even skeptics. It is easily one of the better Sims games on the market.

Written by RB

Over and Out

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  I have been a proud WoWer since the game's release, and World of Warcraft was my first experience into the world of MMO game play. Needless to say, the game did not disappoint. World of Warcraft is a true RPG, in every sense of the genre. Right off the bat, each player will create their own character and unique identity to your new home of Azeroth and there is no shortage of variety to World of Warcraft. Players will pick which faction they want to be allied with, either the Alliance or Horde, and whichever faction you choose comes with its own set of races. These races include anything from humans, dwarfs, and gnomes, to things like Orcs, Trolls, and Undead just to name a few. Each race also comes with its own set of sub classes for the player to choose from, like warriors or stealthy rogues. There are many more, and some races have classes unique only to them. Each race and class has their own unique set of perks, and fill a vital role in completing a group. No one combo can do it all, forcing the aspect of being a social game.

  After you've created your in game identity, you start off a level 1 in a unique starting area depending on which race you decided to play as. It is in this starting area you will learn how World of Warcraft is played, well at least the main mechanics of the game. Reading the manual that comes with the game is highly recommended, but for those who just want to jump right in there are some tutorials to pop up and guide you on your merry way. The game play itself isn't overly complicated to begin with. Player's will use a tool bar that contains their attacks, and will either use the related hot key, or mouse click to activate the action they have chosen to use. This tool bar is easy enough to use at the start of the gaming being each new character only starts off with a few actions to choose from, but as a player levels higher and higher new actions will become available after speaking to a class specific trainer. This will continually add more actions to the tool bar making the player even more powerful, and learning what actions work best at the right time is a skill that is crucial to master. Players will also be able to specialize their skills by using talent points that are earned from level 10-60. These points allow the player to customize how they would like to play the game, whether it be PvP (player vs. player), or dungeon crawl. Talents points are a hot topic of debate between hardcore Warcrafters, and many in game strategies are formed around the talent trees alone. In the end, I suggest that each player finds what works best for them and don't let anyone try to sway you otherwise. Once you enter the World of Warcraft, your in game experience becomes your own unique to how you wish to play it. As each player progresses through the game, earning money is every beginner's nightmare. Azeroth's currency is broken down into copper, silver, and ultimately gold. 100 pieces of copper make 1 silver piece, 100 silver pieces makes 1 gold piece...sounds easy enough. World of Warcraft is unique to the fact that questing isn't really the way to riches in this game. Sure you can make some money continuously questing, but the player will ultimately be strapped for cash. World of Warcraft is designed around an actual in game economy. Players will have to learn one of the many trades, like blacksmithing for example, and put their skills to good use. Players have to pay one another for particular services, and unwanted items can be sold over a server wide auction house. Some higher level characters even offer themselves as mercenaries, running low levels through dungeons for a fee. Nothing is handed out in the World of Warcraft, if you want to make your way to riches, you have to get creative.

  There are three distinctive play styles to World of Warcraft. The game is broken down into Player Vs. Player aspects, where people engage in large battle grounds where each faction dukes it out for victory, or go on large raids to devastate a rival faction's main city. PvP is where people can flex their internet muscles, and is a rewarding experience. The hardcore fans of WoW however prefer to dungeon crawl, or what's known in game as Player vs. Environment (PvE). Each player is free to choose how he or she prefers to play, and there are dedicated servers just for PvP, or PvE. Players who want to experience all aspects of WoW are sent to a Normal Server, where the majority of Warcrafters play. Blizzard, World of Warcraft developer, is also keen to the fact many people drawn to this RPG style of game play want to nerd it up with some role playing and have developed special realms specifically for that purpose. These RP servers strictly enforce the fact players must remain in their character at all time, its very nerdy even by my standards...but to each is own.

  Almost every aspect of World of Warcraft encourages the fact that WoW is a social game. Players must rely on other players to advance through dungeons, work as a team in battle grounds, even to earn their riches as I stated previously. As a game World of Warcraft itself is great, but the social networking is the major draw. Players are free to make a name for themselves on their server, make in game friends and enemies, which only deepens the RPG style of game play. The social networking is also a double edged sword however. As great as it can be, it can be as equally bad. There are plenty of jerks in the world, and some of the worst are angry nerds which Warcraft draws in great numbers. It isn't uncommon for the nerd rage to start flowing through the chat channels, which can really make for an unpleasant gaming experience. All I can say for people that might be turned off about that is, World of Warcraft is a game that is well worth putting up with some rage once and awhile. The game features an Ignore list...so you can at least silence a few gamers you wouldn't prefer to play with. For those who are considering jumping into Warcraft, try to keep this in mind. World of Warcraft has players of all race and age groups. The night elf you're about to tear apart might just be a 10 year old that doesn't know any better. We play games to have fun, take the good with the bad, and remember its only a game.

  I could continue for hours writing about World of Warcraft, and in this review only scratched a small surface of what this game truly offers. World of Warcraft isn't a game for everyone, but anyone who is willing to give it an honest chance its well worth the monthly fee. Few games can transport players into another world, and keep them literally addicted for years. It is a game that's constantly evolving, and ultimately rewarding. World of Warcraft is unlike any other game out on the market.

Written by RB

Over and Out

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