STAR WARS Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy Reviews
While it's not the best the series has been – many could argue Jedi Knight II or Jedi Outcast will perpetually battle for that title – Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy is still a fun and lengthy trek across the (non-canon) Star Wars universe. The multiplayer doesn't live up to its former glories, but the sprawling and semi non-linear campaign certainly makes up for it with its lightning-fast lightsaber combat and that silly quintessentially silly approach to Star Wars that was still rife in the early 2000s. Don't expect Jedi: Fallen Order, but do expect a time capsule of an action-adventure.
Quotation forthcoming.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
It was fun to jump back into the Star Wars universe, but bringing back a game 17 years old with a minor graphical update simply isn’t going to work, especially for a fan base of gamers so critical of the source material.
Despite the relative lack of polish, wildly swinging lightsabers at one another is a blast. The multiplayer is just as fun as you remember it being.
Dated visuals and presentation issues aside, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy brings a much improved single-player campaign to the table alongside a genuinely clever and more importantly an enjoyable competitive online multiplayer offering, making it an essential purchase for Star Wars aficionados and fans of fast-paced action titles alike.
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy brings back a game of a previous time and in its attempt to recreate the original experience, this conversion goes one step too far - or rather, not far enough. While the online multiplayer is a welcome feature, there's too many elements here that were simply not put up to date with today's standards, and the inadequate controls that were made for a format different than that of the Nintendo Switch further contribute to make this an experience that will hardly convince a lot of players.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy is a game that revels in the right kind of fan service. Its lightsaber combat is still a blast to play with, and its Force Powers provide a ton of options to make you feel like a Jedi Master. Its story and presentation haven't aged as well, and the gameplay can be a little awkward if you're at all used to modern action games. Yet, for Star Wars fans, Jedi Academy shouldn't be missed.
I think this game offers quite a bit of nostalgia. And even with all of its faults, I found ways to cheese the system or use the Force in fun ways to get through the missions. However, as fun as it was, I don't know that it's an accessible title for gamers who aren't fully versed on how games in 2003 played or are expecting a current-gen SW gaming experience.
If you're going to play a simple and funny multiplayer game based on Star Wars franchise, Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy might as well be a fair one. But it's a 2003 game, so don't forget it.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy is a welcome addition to the Switch's ever-expanding repertoire, and a great adventure set in the Star Wars universe. Its seldom dull thanks to its enjoyable lightsaber combat, even if it's not terrific by modern standards. Fans of Star Wars and those looking for an action game with good variety will enjoy this. Aspyr has done a great job with the port, further cementing their reputation as one of the best developers for bringing fan favourite titles to Nintendo's flagship system.
Once again with this series on this platform, the nostalgia is strong with those who stick by this as an example of what gaming should be today, but new players should be aware of what this game actually is, so that their expectations can be properly tempered. Jedi Academy takes the foundation of its previous game and uses player customization to provide polish and a deeper engagement with the story in a 10-12 hour experience, but it falls short in providing meaningful options in both side missions and online play. If that earns your purchase, then the question remains: what kind of Jedi will you become?.
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy is an indispensable title for every Star Wars fan, who had already aged very well on PC but who in this port to current consoles presents a graphic improvement with a higher resolution and the inclusion of some new textures, knowing how to maintain the essence of the original title.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Without looking through nostalgic-tinted goggles, Jedi Academy seems pretty dated, especially compared to more modern titles such as Jedi Fallen Order or the Force Unleashed. But growing up with the Jedi Knight series has given me an appreciation for the old ways of playing as a Jedi. Just like Shadows of the Empire, the comfort of playing an old classic Star Wars title overcomes the janky controls and dated graphics. These titles may not be canon, but now that Jedi Academy is on the mobile Nintendo Switch, this game will now be with me, always.
I remember playing Star Wars Jedi Knight – Jedi Academy when it originally released back in 2003 and loving it; unfortunately, in the seventeen years since then, it hasn’t really aged all that well. Sure, it does have its enjoyable moments within combat and there’s no doubt that Star Wars fans will have fun on the adventure, but the dated visuals and some its more finicky gameplay mechanics just feel a little bit too clumsy in this day and age. That’s not to say that there isn’t charm to be found during the adventure. If you can accept the fact that this is a game from 2003 that already felt a bit janky to begin with and just embrace the lengthy fan service-filled adventure for what it is, there’s definitely fun to be had. Just keep your expectations in check…
The PS4 version of Jedi Academy offers an opportunity to relive a prestigious Star Wars video game classic but sadly delivers little else.
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy is a real mixed bag of a game. The combat and character customization is superb, but the campaign doesn’t feel worth it. Amazing multiplayer with lots of depth, but not enough people are playing to make it worth it either.
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy returns with a remaster for Switch and PlayStation 4. Following the footsteps of the successful Jedi Outcast and upgrade it in playability and gameplay balance, though Kyle Katarn's change for a random apprentice makes the game lose a little of charisma. A welcome remastering by all fans of the franchise, and one of the games that deserve to carry the words Star Wars in the title.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Underneath its aging kinks there waits a game that’s utterly compelling that is infinitely re-playable. The combat has no match in Star Wars games to this day, and it offers countless possibilities to suit yourself with. It manages to capture so many different facets of Star Wars and does so with a genuine love for every bit of it.
Whether you’re a retro enthusiast or a curious historian, this should absolutely be in your library somewhere, Switch or otherwise. Truly, Jedi Academy is one of the all-time great Star Wars titles and this port helps reaffirm that.