Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy

VGPub

There are some things that are a bit rough around the edges, like the lip synching and the bland terrain, but the game succeeds where it counts the most and effectively negates the problem areas of the game when you are in the heat of battle.

Gaming Age

Jedi Academy continues the strong stories and challenging gameplay of past games in the series, while making improvements, big and small, along the way.

Cheat Code Central

There is virtually no difference between the PC and Xbox version. The Xbox Live feature lets you play others worldwide in a series of modes that gives the game good replay value.

Next Level Gaming

Unlike its predecessor, Jedi Academy is action-packed from the very beginning where Jedi Outcast was a little sluggish to start. You don't need to worry about waiting to earn a lightsaber because you've built one from the beginning.

GameSpy

The saber play is great fun, particularly in multiplayer, and the variety in the single-player game keeps it entertaining as well. Next time we'll hope for a new graphics engine, but for now, the Force is definitely with the Academy.

Game Chronicles

Despite the graphical flaws, poor mission design, and lack of a compelling story I still have to admit I had "fun" playing this game, actually more fun than I did on the PC.

GameZone

I recommend this game for its great story, wonderfully intense battles and a killer multiplayer mode that takes the action online.

XboxAddict

An overall gaming experience that should last most players somewhere between 12-18 hours. While the overall experience is fairly short, because of many of the unique features, and furious action; I'd have a hard time not recommending this title to both Star Wars fans and action fans alike.

Game Over Online

It lacks the depth to engross and absorb but the action will prove to be satisfying to most fans of the genre. The piece de resistance of the whole package has to go to the comprehensive multiplayer component.

GameSpot

A nonstop action ride that starts out on a high point and manages to remain there for the entire game. Gameplay elements that can be tedious, like jumping puzzles, are limited, while the use of Force powers is accentuated.

Deeko

The controls are a bit unusual and take a bit of getting used to, the storyline is a bit on the dull side and the graphics are really, really dated and should be reconsidered at this point. However, the gameplay is still rock solid.

Game Informer

With its faults, this title is a good hack-fest with a high body count (which makes for an awesome multiplayer component), but still leaves it short of what it wants to achieve. [Jan 2004, p.148]

Gamezilla!

A solid game that will appeal to those who wanted more from Jedi Outcast. It isn’t going to blaze any new trails however so make sure you align your expectations before purchasing.

GamePro

Academy focuses on the best elements of Jedi Outcast (fast-paced lightsaber combat and wicked Force abilities), discards the worst (jump puzzles, confusing levels, and long durations armed only with blasters), and lets you choose missions, Force powers, and whether or not you’ll become an agent for good or for evil.

IGN

If you like Star Wars and think flipping around chopping up Stormtroopers and flinging Dark Jedi off of conveniently placed precipices is fun, then this game will satisfy. Just don't expect your battles with your inner demons to be as compelling.

TotalGames.net

It lacks the smooth edges and convincing action sequences of its Star Wars predecessors; KOTOR is still in a different galaxy.

Armchair Empire

JA is a good-looking game. It may not be the most beautiful game ever, but it moves at a good clip and the lightsaber duels look very cool, especially when you’re on a roll.

GameShark

The only real problem that stood out, other than the horrible speeder bike level, is that the visuals were still the same old graphics and being a year and a half after JO was released, it shows how dated the graphics are.

netjak

I just wish George would stop flooding us with mediocrity and take a break from new releases to give us a helping of something special.

1UP

Decent enough while it lasts, but not exceptional in any way. It's the sort of game you play through once and never pick up again -- in fact, the default difficulty is easy enough that this cycle can complete itself in a weekend if you give it some effort.

Official Xbox Magazine

Jedi Academy was a solid game on PC, but sadly, the Xbox version falls far short in nearly every regard. [Holiday 2003, p.85]

Worth Playing

A slight disappointment. While it continues on the storyline, and brings back some familiar characters, it just fails to improve on an existing idea. All of the new ideas which were created specifically for this game just don't really cut it.

Gamenikki

Translation problems occur in the flight from PC to Xbox, and the smooth style that made Jedi Academy irresistible fun on the PC is now clumsy and awkward.

Thunderbolt

I get the feeling that Raven Software rested a bit too much on their laurels instead of giving gamers a refreshing new Jedi Knight experience.

TeamXbox

Does a great job recreating the epic lightsaber duels that most of us have come to love, but the big question is will gamers be willing to play through the first few mundane missions in order to get to that point? Initially I would have said no, but I was drawn to keep playing regardless of how bad I felt the visuals were, and even as the framerate chugged along at a snail’s pace.

Eurogamer

We're even less inclined to accept the messy control system, the often dreadful AI, the questionable animation, the less than stellar visuals, the fact that following the dark side makes no real difference to the game, and the overall feeling that it's just not that exciting.

Play Magazine

This game experiences such highs and lows, it's as if three separate teams worked on it. [Dec 2003, p.60]

XGP Gaming

Jedi Academy is exactly what it claims to be at bare minimum; the latest installment of the Jedi Knight series; nothing more.

Electronic Gaming Monthly

These visuals are mediocre at best and not up to par with today's Xbox standards. [Jan 2004, p.156]

Xbox Nation Magazine

Academy isn't so much a first-person shooter (although there are nifty rayguns) as it is a third-person lightsaber hack-em-up, and the laser sword combat here is about as graceful as that tubby Star Wars kid (Google hime for a preview). [Mar 2004, p.98]