STAR WARS™ Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II

About

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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

STAR WARS™ Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II screenshot

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,247 reviews

story146 positive mentions

stability33 negative mentions

Engaging story with memorable characters and live-action cutscenes that add charm.
Improved gameplay mechanics with the introduction of lightsaber combat and Force powers.
Well-designed levels that encourage exploration and offer a variety of weapons.

Compatibility issues on modern systems, requiring extensive troubleshooting to run properly.
Clunky lightsaber combat and frustrating boss fights that can detract from the experience.
Graphics have aged poorly, making it difficult for new players to appreciate the game.

story
356 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
56%
3%
The story of *Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II* is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its engaging narrative centered around Kyle Katarn's journey to avenge his father's death and his evolution into a Jedi. While the plot is often described as simple and occasionally cheesy, the inclusion of live-action cutscenes adds a nostalgic charm that enhances the storytelling experience. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to immerse players in the Star Wars universe, despite its dated graphics and some narrative inconsistencies.
- “The story unfolds through exciting missions, intriguing cutscenes, and impactful choices that shape the outcome, creating a truly immersive and personalized journey.”
- “With its engaging storyline, dynamic lightsaber combat, and captivating gameplay, Dark Forces II delivers an unforgettable Jedi experience that delights fans and newcomers alike.”
- “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.”
- “The story is, in my opinion, the weakest aspect of this game.”
- “The story makes no sense and the characters are way over the top even for the Star Wars universe sometimes, and Kyle learning the Force all by himself is somewhat weird.”
- “The game's story is very incoherent and 'cheeseballs', and will send the main character to places without much explanation, usually to the tops of towers/buildings.”
graphics
292 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
66%
14%
The graphics of "Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II" are widely regarded as outdated, reflecting the early 3D technology of the late 1990s, with many players noting their blocky and pixelated appearance. While some appreciate the retro charm and nostalgic value, others find the visuals to be a significant drawback, often recommending mods to enhance the graphical experience. Despite these limitations, many reviewers emphasize that the engaging gameplay and strong storyline can overshadow the dated graphics, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the franchise.
- “The graphics have not aged as gracefully as some other games, but the gameplay is still absolutely golden.”
- “For the time, this game had beautiful graphics, a remarkable art style that very strongly captured the Star Wars atmosphere, and combined that with the lightsaber/force powers, you take what would be an average 90s shooter and turn it into one of my favorite games of all time.”
- “Despite the issues people may have graphically or crash-wise, if you remember the game that carried 50k plus players 24hrs a day for years on the zone that was one of the most popular FPS games out there during the late 90s, it's well worth the troubleshooting and minor hassles for one of the best Star Wars games ever made and one of the most memorable games of the period.”
- “The graphics are pretty rough, even as someone who enjoys playing older/retro style games, so I highly recommend the Jedi Knight Remastered mod if you want something a little easier to look at.”
- “The graphics are shoddy by today's standards.”
- “The graphics are very dated and pixelated.”
gameplay
201 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
56%
4%
The gameplay of "Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II" is a nostalgic blend of 90s first-person shooter mechanics enhanced by lightsaber combat and force powers, offering a fun yet dated experience. While the level design is often praised for its creativity and challenge, some players note issues with clunky controls and awkward jumping mechanics. Overall, the game remains enjoyable for fans of retro shooters, despite its graphical limitations and occasional gameplay frustrations.
- “With its engaging storyline, dynamic lightsaber combat, and captivating gameplay, Dark Forces II delivers an unforgettable Jedi experience that delights fans and newcomers alike.”
- “The gameplay in Dark Forces II strikes a perfect balance between action, exploration, and puzzle-solving.”
- “The gameplay is fast-paced and fluid.”
- “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.”
- “The lightsaber mechanics are dated; it swings slowly, sometimes it doesn't swing properly, and you can't manually block. It honestly feels like they made it bad on purpose so as to not render the blaster obsolete.”
- “The gameplay is still clunky, outdated, and the graphics are still odd, but the cutscenes utilizing real-life actors are actually highly amusing, charming, and interesting.”
music
133 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
67%
5%
The music in the game is a significant highlight, featuring iconic tracks from John Williams that enhance the immersive Star Wars experience. However, many players have reported issues with music playback, particularly in the Steam version, where the soundtrack is often missing or fails to loop properly, detracting from the overall atmosphere. Despite these technical shortcomings, the nostalgic and well-utilized soundtrack remains a beloved aspect for fans of the franchise.
- “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 music is exhilarating and the sound effects put you right in the shoes of Kyle Katarn.”
- “The music is one of the worst aspects of the old (and probably also the recent) Star Wars games.”
- “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 cutscenes in Jedi Knight and Mysteries play in a minimized screen in the top left corner of your screen and the soundtrack doesn't loop, leaving out music for an incredibly large part of the game (a Star Wars game without the epic music?!).”
stability
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting persistent graphical glitches, crashes, and compatibility issues on modern systems. While some players managed to enjoy the game after extensive troubleshooting and applying patches, many found the experience marred by bugs that can disrupt gameplay and immersion. Overall, the game is described as poorly optimized and highly unstable, making it difficult to recommend without reservations.
- “Other than that, it runs great.”
- “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 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.”
- “Very hard to recommend this game as it is massively buggy, and has proven to be buggy on numerous systems for myself, and other friends too.”
optimization
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
53%
32%
The optimization of the Steam port of "Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II" has received significant criticism, with many users reporting poor performance and compatibility issues on modern systems, particularly Windows 10. While some players have found success with alternative versions or mods to improve graphics and performance, the general consensus is that the game is unplayable in its current state on Steam, making it a frustrating experience for fans.
- “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.”
- “On the other hand, opted for the more stable and optimized GOG version, but the French version must be sacrificed; however, with a little research, there is a way to find the adequate files.”
- “The Steam version of this game is a broken, poorly optimized mess.”
- “I have no doubt this is a great game, but as it stands, the optimization sucks.”
- “This game is great; I remember playing it with my friend as a kid. I was very hyped buying this game, only to be bummed out by how poorly it works. It's completely unplayable; I don't understand how they can release the game in this unoptimized state.”
atmosphere
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
35%
18%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dark, immersive qualities that effectively capture the gritty essence of the Star Wars universe, particularly in its level design and environmental storytelling. While some players note that the graphics may feel dated compared to modern standards, the rich textures, atmospheric lighting, and dynamic music contribute to a compelling experience that resonates with fans of the franchise. Overall, the game's ability to transport players into its world, despite its age, is a significant highlight.
- “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 that with the lightsaber/force powers, you take what would be an average 90s shooter and turn it into one of my favorite games of all time.”
- “The classic John Williams' score is tastefully woven into the atmosphere and is changing 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.”
- “Although it was, even then, quite ugly and far from Quake 2's graphical prowess (they are both from 1997), the Star Wars atmosphere and design made up for it.”
humor
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its charmingly incompetent live-action cutscenes and over-the-top character portrayals, which evoke a nostalgic and comedic vibe reminiscent of '80s cyberpunk films. Players appreciate the memorable and hilarious moments, despite some finding the humor a bit corny or annoying at times. Overall, the blend of absurdity and nostalgia contributes to a uniquely entertaining experience.
- “The cutscenes are really funny; they're so incompetent in a charming way that I just love looking at them!”
- “The live action cut-scenes were a cool and funny concept; even though a bit corny, it's still very memorable.”
- “Characters beyond Katarn himself are also given notable improvements by hamming them up as well as creating truly unique characters like 8t88, the scene-chewing Boc Aseca, the king of Hamlet Jerec, and the hilariously fabulous Yun, who are all cartoonishly excessive in their personalities yet make the game as distinct in its storytelling.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The game offers significant replayability through 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 despite some concerns regarding player choice and playstyle limitations. Hidden areas within levels further contribute to the game's replayability.
- “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
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of Dark Forces II to be a mixed experience; while battles against dark Jedi can be enjoyable, the overall gameplay is often described as tedious and uninspired, with long levels and bugs detracting from the experience. Despite these issues, the variety of force powers and weapons provides some compensation for the repetitive nature of the gameplay.
- “Dark Forces II offers long, tedious, uninspired levels with a host of bugs to create a less than satisfying experience.”
- “The story is okay; I just found actually playing very tedious.”
- “To be fair, the boss fights could get a little tedious, as you couldn't be certain half the time that you were even hitting your target.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, reminiscing about the joy and excitement it brought them during their youth, particularly in evoking the feeling of being a Jedi. Despite criticisms of the graphics and cheesy cutscenes, the gameplay and nostalgic elements continue to elicit smiles and fond memories, making it a beloved title for fans of the Star Wars franchise.
- “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.”
- “This game still makes me smile even today; it's got everything you would want from a Star Wars game: the Force, lightsabers, and battles. It made me feel like I was 15 again, force gripping my enemies to death.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
The game features significant character development for Kyle Katarn, enhanced by live-action cutscenes that create an immersive, movie-like experience. While the acting may come off as 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 story tries to introduce character development, but it ultimately falls flat and feels forced.”