Introduction
The Star Wars franchise has had its share of ups and downs, all leading to further media attention. Lucasarts has ignored all of the negative media attention and has continued to make attempts and lately, most of the have worked. When Star Wars Rouge Squadron 2 became a GameCube hit, it opened the door for new innovation and opportunities. The Star Wars label was no longer going to be renowned for its hit or miss scoreboard but instead it would be praised for its ingenious way to present gameplay in exiting new fashions. Jedi Knight 2 is the game all Star Wars fans have been waiting for and it proves that a license can bring along innovation as well. It has something for fans of the series and for followers of the aging First Person Shooter genre. It has a solid mix of puzzles, lightsaber duels and good old firefights that will leave all gamers stunned. It does have its fair share of cons, but on a whole, this game shines and will forever be remembered as the game that brought life back to the First Person Shooter genre.

Gameplay
Playing this game is the only way a person could truly understand the reasons why it turned out to be such a great experience. It starts out as a simple First Person Shooter, with basic fire fights and lock and key puzzles, but then it evolves into something much more. The moment you receive the lightsaber, everything you thought you knew about the game will go flying out the window. The lightsaber adds an element to the game that breaks up the tedium related with most of the First Person Shooters released in the last few years. The physics are simply amazing and nothing can ever compare to locking sabers with a Dark Jedi on a desolate planet. The entire concept seems impossible to execute mainly because the concept of a lightsaber to begin with is simply mind boggling. The lightsaber can melt certain doors, thrown at a gate to knock it down or it can be used to duel to the death with a fellow Jedi. There are many moves and techniques that can be mastered and it never becomes old or tedious. The other weapons in the game are not as solid. They are either too weak or too powerful. After a player receives the lightsaber, it is likely they will never use any of the other weapons again unless it is absolutely necessary. There are many levels to explore and the game can last a good twenty hours if it is played diligently. A major concern of many people was how the online play would fare. It is my pleasure to announce that the online play is very solid and that the netcode is one of the best ever seen in an online game. There is limited lag and that helps with the constant lightsaber battles that the player will most likely engage in. There are many modes to play in, including a clever rendition of Capture The Flag which has become a staple in the online gaming community for years. The puzzles in the game never seem to be forced and although they aren’t the best that could be offered, they do provide a necessary break from the in your face action. The enemy AI is very smart and will literally hunt you down until you are face down in the ground. They do not fare well in the art of deflecting a lightsaber. If you pull out your ultimate weapon on them they will simply constantly shoot at you and all they are doing is signing their death wish. The game even has some RPG elements that really work to the games advantage. You can assign certain points to specific abilities like higher jumping or farther throwing range. This is really a great addition to the game that should be utilized, not ignored. All in all the gameplay is top notch and will keep the gamer coming back for more over and over again.

Fun
In the end, did this new entry into the Star Wars gaming saga save its fading reputation? There is no way to describe how much it did and how well it did too. The game is everything a Star Wars fan has ever dreamt of doing and it only makes the prospect of the future more clear. Let us just hope we are never taken over by a bunch of weird guys in white suits with rhino masks on. That would definitely stun us, but not for the better.

Story
As far as the story goes, it has all the space intrigue and action to be worthy of its own installment into the Star Wars film saga. It has insane plot twists and engaging battle scenes that will leave fans of the movies drooling. The balance of power in the galaxy is being tossed around by the remnant forces of the imperial army. Luke Skywalker has brought new life to the Jedi name and has began to fight these new evils. You play Kyle Kartan, a common mercenary who used to be very familiar with the ways of the force, but over time gave them up due to circumstances you will learn later in the games plot. These are only some of the interesting plot lines you will come across. You will even meet old favorites like Luke and Lando from the original movie trilogy. Every aspect of this game screams out “make me a movie” but the overall experience needs to be a game for it to be as engaging as it turned out to be. The ending is satisfying and will make fans yearn for more. The Dark Jedi also play a big role in the story as you find out Luke is not the only person intent on restoring the Jedi to order.

Graphics
The visuals are an area of the game that can be heavily debated. On the one hand, they represent a true visual masterpiece of the First Person Shooter generation, but on the other hand, the engine does not seem to have been made with the third person sections in mind. Often times the engine just does not pull off the execution as well in third person as it does in the First Person. The engine has all the visual flair of any other game in its vein but adds the distinctive Star Wars feel to every level. The textures are excellent and provide great representations of Star Wars locales and do a great job of presenting a feeling of familiarity with the worlds. The engine is also surprisingly competent especially since it’s a modified version of the once renowned Quake III engine. Although, the engine is showing its age, it still pulls off a stunning achievement. The biggest problem with the engine is poor collision detection, which will often lead you into a death trap. The lightsaber effects are stunning and make the game even more cinematic than some of the latest entries in the Star Wars movie saga. Overall the graphics are top notch and would make George Lucas proud.

Sound
The sound presentation is probably one of the best ever seen in a PC game. It features all of the familiar sounds heard in the Star Wars films but it also adds some new effects that blend together nicely with the classics. The ambient sound effects add to the games futuristic and oppressed mood and make the gamer feel like they are living the life of rouge Jedi trying to end the imperial outbreak. The voice actors did the job very well and convey the story like any self respecting actor or actress would. The tones of the voices never seem out of place and they convey fear or excitement with great precision. The familiar Star Wars soundtrack is there and it will provide excellence to the ears over and over again. The audio presentation is as always, top notch.