STAR WARS™ Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II

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In Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II, players assume the role of Jedi Knight Jedi Knight Kyle Katarn, wielding a lightsaber and using Force powers to combat dark forces. The game features both first-person and third-person perspectives, and a thrilling single-player campaign with intense lightsaber duels and epic blaster battles. With a captivating story set in the Star Wars universe, players must make choices that determine their character's destiny as a light or dark side force user.

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STAR WARS™ Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II screenshot

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,544 reviews

story181 positive mentions

stability36 negative mentions

Engaging story with a compelling protagonist, Kyle Katarn, and memorable characters.
Great level design with a mix of exploration, puzzles, and combat, providing a sense of scale and adventure.
The addition of lightsaber combat and Force powers adds depth to gameplay, making it a unique experience for a Star Wars game.

The game suffers from significant technical issues on modern systems, requiring patches and mods to run properly.
Lightsaber combat can feel clunky and unsatisfying, especially during boss fights, detracting from the Jedi experience.
Some levels are confusing and maze-like, leading to frustration and requiring external guides to navigate effectively.

story
444 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
56%
3%
The story of "Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II" follows Kyle Katarn on his quest for vengeance and self-discovery as he navigates the complexities of the Force, with choices that influence the outcome. While the narrative is often described as straightforward and occasionally cheesy, the engaging cutscenes and character development, particularly through live-action sequences, enhance the overall experience. Despite some criticisms regarding its coherence and execution, many players appreciate the nostalgic charm and depth of the storyline, which remains a significant part of the Star Wars expanded universe.
- “The story unfolds through exciting missions, intriguing cutscenes, and impactful choices that shape the outcome, creating a truly immersive and personalized journey.”
- “This game is essentially an Indiana Jones adventure story where Kyle is racing the villains to an ancient buried plot macguffin.”
- “The story is fantastic as well, following the further adventures of force-sensitive rebel double agent Kyle Katarn.”
- “The story is nothing to write home about; family issues, Jedi legacy, balancing between light and dark side. The setup is okay, but the story mostly exists in cutscenes. The switch between them and gameplay is sometimes so abrupt, it's like two different things taped together.”
- “The story is very incoherent and cheesy, and will send the main character to places without much explanation, usually to the tops of towers/buildings.”
- “The story isn't the best either. While the first game was a straight-up, no-nonsense espionage and shooter story, this second game tries to be much more than that.”
graphics
351 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
70%
13%
The graphics of "Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II" are widely regarded as outdated, reflecting the early 3D technology of its time, with many players noting their blocky and pixelated appearance. While some appreciate the nostalgic charm and the game's ability to capture the Star Wars aesthetic, others find the visuals difficult to overlook, especially when compared to more modern titles. Various mods and patches are available to enhance the graphics, but the original visuals remain a significant point of contention among players.
- “The graphics were groundbreaking in 1997, offering full 3D environments that brought the Star Wars universe to life.”
- “While the visuals look dated by today’s standards, the design still captures the essence of the galaxy far, far away, with locations ranging from industrial factories to ancient Jedi temples.”
- “With solid controls, impressive sounds and music that come direct from the Star Wars universe, great visuals for a game released in 1997, and an array of weapons and powers that create multiple play styles and tactics, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II is a game that continues to stand the test of time.”
- “The graphics are very dated and pixelly.”
- “The graphics are shoddy as can be to today's standards.”
- “The graphics look like dog a**; even the first one had better graphics.”
gameplay
244 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
60%
4%
The gameplay of "Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II" is a blend of first-person shooting and lightsaber combat, offering a nostalgic experience that combines action, exploration, and puzzle-solving elements. While some mechanics, particularly the lightsaber duels, are criticized for being clunky and dated, the overall gameplay remains engaging and enjoyable, especially for fans of retro games. The level design is often praised for its creativity, though players may encounter some frustrating navigation challenges.
- “I always thought of the gameplay to be advanced for its time with the combination of ranged weapons vs lightsaber and force powers to engage in action and puzzles.”
- “The gameplay is solid, seamlessly integrating metroidvania-like environments and mechanics with a strong emphasis on the shooter/platformer elements sported throughout.”
- “The gameplay in Dark Forces II strikes a perfect balance between action, exploration, and puzzle-solving.”
- “The graphics and gameplay in this game are extremely dated, and the level design makes no sense in certain places; often you will be lost for ages trying to find where you need to go.”
- “Unfortunately, the barebones saber mechanics turn all of those encounters into a dull routine of spinning around your enemy while smacking them around.”
- “The lightsaber mechanics are dated; it swings slowly, sometimes it doesn't swing properly, you can't manually block, and it honestly feels like they made it bad on purpose so as to not render the blaster obsolete.”
music
167 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
68%
4%
The music in the game is a mix of iconic Star Wars themes, primarily composed by John Williams, which enhances the immersive experience and nostalgia for fans. While many players appreciate the orchestral quality and well-timed integration of music with gameplay, some have criticized the repetitive nature of the tracks and the absence of dynamic music during gameplay, particularly in the Steam version where music issues have been reported. Overall, the soundtrack is generally well-received, but technical problems have marred the experience for some players.
- “The soundtrack is the best (it's classic Empire Strikes Back era Star Wars).”
- “Since the music plays on a loop, you'll frequently have the perfect music paired up with whatever action you're performing - Luke's theme as you jump across a massive chasm, music from Cloud City as you sneak around a corner, and on it goes.”
- “The authentic Star Wars sound design, including iconic sound effects and John Williams' legendary musical score, further enhances the experience, making players feel like they are truly part of the beloved franchise.”
- “The graphics are blocky, the controls are a mess, the story cheesy, and the same 20 minutes of Star Wars music on endless loop can drive one to madness.”
- “The game itself is fine, but it's missing the iconic Star Wars music and is hard to run.”
- “Warning: this Steam version has no music.”
stability
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
2%
90%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with many users reporting frequent graphical glitches, crashes, and compatibility issues on modern systems. While some players managed to enjoy the game after extensive troubleshooting and applying patches, the overall experience remains marred by bugs that can disrupt gameplay and immersion. Recommendations lean towards alternative versions, like the GOG release, which reportedly offers better stability and support.
- “If you love Star Wars, especially Legends, this game is for you. It runs great on modern systems with a few simple steps, if any at all.”
- “This game, much to my chagrin, runs great even in high resolution.”
- “The initial setup screen runs in windowed mode, but the full game runs full screen with no glitches.”
- “The graphical glitches are out of control; depending on the graphics settings, you’ll see one or more of at least three game-breaking graphical glitches: one, a solid black screen; two, severe texture glitching; or three, a hideous distortion of texture colors.”
- “No combination of in-game settings mitigates the glitches, thereby shattering immersion and rendering the game unplayable.”
- “The game has many flaws: a lot of resolution issues, frequent crashes, corrupted save games and much more make for a very buggy experience.”
optimization
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
56%
28%
The optimization of the game has received significant criticism, particularly for the Steam version, which is described as poorly optimized and buggy on modern systems like Windows 10. While some players have found workarounds and community fixes to improve performance, the general consensus is that the game is not well-suited for contemporary hardware, leading to a frustrating experience for many. In contrast, the GOG version is noted to be more stable and optimized, albeit with some sacrifices.
- “Community fixes: address bugs and stability issues, ensuring the game runs smoothly on contemporary hardware.”
- “Performance-wise it has run flawlessly for me so far (Windows 7 on a fairly powerful and up-to-date PC).”
- “There are also mods out there that can help clean up the graphics if you would like, and checking old school graphics wrapper programs like dgvoodoo 2 can also give you more modern graphics and performance options you can tweak to get the game looking and running how you please.”
- “So purely for technical and optimization issues, I would stay away from this version of the game!”
- “I have no doubt this is a great game, but as it stands, the optimization sucks.”
- “The Steam version of this game is a broken, poorly optimized mess.”
humor
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is primarily derived from its entertaining live-action cutscenes, which feature a mix of corny acting and charming incompetence that many players find endearing. Memorable characters and absurd moments, such as the exaggerated personalities of villains and the ridiculousness of certain plot points, contribute to a nostalgic and humorous experience. Overall, the game's blend of dated visuals and comedic storytelling creates a unique and amusing atmosphere that resonates with players.
- “The cutscenes are really funny; they're so incompetent in a charming way that I just love looking at them!”
- “The experience added hilariously bad acting to the point where the practice became weirdly charming, much like watching heavily dated cyberpunk films from the ‘80s. Jedi Knight is perhaps the greatest schlock that ever graced the Star Wars universe, managing to tell a story that is equally as nostalgic as it is compelling.”
- “Characters beyond Katarn himself are also given notable improvements by hamming them up, creating truly unique characters like 8t88, the scene-chewing Boc Aseca, the king of Hamlet Jerec, and the hilariously fabulous Yun. They are all cartoonishly excessive in their personalities yet make the game distinct in its storytelling.”
atmosphere
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
42%
16%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dark, immersive qualities that effectively capture the gritty tone of the Star Wars universe, particularly appealing to fans of the franchise. Despite some criticisms regarding outdated graphics and occasional lifelessness, the detailed environments, dynamic lighting, and iconic music contribute significantly to the overall experience, making it a standout title in the genre. Players appreciate the engaging narrative and level design that enhance the atmospheric depth, solidifying its status as a beloved classic.
- “The game features detailed environments, richly textured character models, and atmospheric lighting that immerses players in the world.”
- “For the time, this game had beautiful graphics, a remarkable art style that very strongly captured the Star Wars atmosphere, and combined with the lightsaber/force powers, it turned what would be an average 90s shooter into one of my favorite games of all time.”
- “The classic John Williams' score is tastefully woven into the atmosphere and changes dynamically to make it even more dramatic.”
- “If you compare it to the doom-clones that were the norm at the time, it's a great step up, but modern players will find the atmosphere very lifeless and depressing.”
- “Unfortunately they're no longer dynamic tracks as in Dark Forces and the music doesn't loop immediately, so there will be moments of silence which kind of ruin the atmosphere.”
- “The game has a decent atmosphere for being an old FPS.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
37%
27%
The game offers significant replayability due to its engaging firefights, puzzles, and expansive maps, alongside features like anytime game saves and multiplayer options. Players can explore alternative routes, utilize different weapons, and experience multiple endings, enhancing the overall replay value. However, the basic nature of player choices and the dichotomy of light and dark side powers may limit some aspects of replayability for certain players.
- “The firefights and puzzles are engaging and replayable, and the sheer scale of the maps can be astounding.”
- “The multiple endings are unparalleled even by more modern games, and this introduces a fantastic level of replayability.”
- “Moreover, the game lends itself to alternative routes or replaying levels with other weapons, adding to the replay value.”
- “It adds some replayability, even if player choice is basic.”
- “This is the only criticism about its gameplay I agree is an issue, and the way in which the game adopts a total Jedi or total Sith playstyle, whether you want to have one power from another side, makes the replayability a concern.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and uninspired, with long levels that often feel bland and repetitive. While the quick movement helps alleviate some of the monotony, the overall experience is marred by bugs and a lack of engaging content, making the gameplay feel less satisfying despite some enjoyable boss fights and combat mechanics.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Levels are huge, but the bland, uninteresting content that prevails becomes increasingly tedious to traverse.”
- “Dark Forces II offers long, tedious, uninspired levels with a host of bugs to create a less than satisfying experience.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game resonates strongly with players, evoking nostalgia and a personal connection to the Star Wars universe. Despite criticisms of graphics and cheesy cutscenes, many reviewers express joy and excitement, recalling their youthful experiences and the thrill of feeling like a Jedi. Overall, the game successfully captures the essence of adventure and camaraderie, making it a beloved title for fans.
- “This journey is deeply personal for Kyle, which adds emotional stakes to the galactic backdrop.”
- “It has the same play style and made me feel like an eager, Star Wars-loving kid again.”
- “One of the best Star Wars games and lightsaber dueling games of its time, the original 'made me feel like a real Jedi' game.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
The character development in the game is highlighted through the evolution of Kyle Katarn, enhanced by live-action cutscenes that create an immersive experience reminiscent of an interactive Star Wars movie. While the acting may be cheesy, the depth given to Kyle, along with the strong portrayal of Jan and the compelling villain, contributes positively to the overall narrative.
- “The story adds some much-needed character development for Kyle Katarn, with live-action cutscenes (albeit with somewhat cheesy acting) making the game feel more like an interactive Star Wars movie.”
- “Kyle gets real character development, Jan is a good character, and the villain (and posse) are excellent.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful growth for the characters throughout the game.”
- “The characters seem one-dimensional, and their arcs don't evolve in a satisfying way.”

Buy STAR WARS™ Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II

19h Median play time

26h Average play time

9h Main story

12h Completionist

15-68h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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STAR WARS™ Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II

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