Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy

This article is about the computer game. For information on Luke Skywalker's Jedi Academy, please see Jedi Academy.

Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy is a Star Wars first-person shooter/third-person action computer game released in September 2003. It was developed by Raven Software and published, distributed and marketed by LucasArts in North America and by Activision in the rest of the world.

The game is powered by the same version of the Quake III engine used in its predecessor, Jedi Outcast, containing modifications to the Quake code to give a third-person view and new lightsaber effects.(Jedi knight II had these 3rd person effects as well). Players have the ability to construct their own lightsaber by choosing the hilt style and blade color. After completing certain objectives, new saber styles become available including the ability to wield two independent sabers in a style known as Jar'Kai, once used by Anakin Skywalker during the closing fight in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, or the double-bladed lightsaber (known as a "Sithsaber" or "saberstaff")''.

Storyline

Players take the role of Jaden Korr, a new student recently arriving at Luke Skywalker's Jedi Academy on Yavin IV. Jaden, along with fellow initiate Rosh Penin, becomes an apprentice to Kyle Katarn (the protagonist of Jedi Knight) at the beginning of the game. As a Jedi Apprentice, the player is dispatched to accompany Kyle on various peace-keeping missions across the galaxy, many of which involve battling an emerging Sith cult known as the Disciples of Ragnos who are stealing Force energy from Force-rich locations across the galaxy.

Eventually the player learns that the Sith Cult is lead by Tavion, the former apprentice of Kyle's old arch-nemesis Desann from Jedi Outcast. Seeking revenge against Kyle, Tavion has recovered a Sith artifact known as the Scepter of Ragnos, which has the power to drain and release Force energy. Seeking to restore the Sith and destroy the Jedi, Tavion plans to resurrect the ancient Sith Lord Marka Ragnos by fueling his long dead body with a massive concentration of stolen Force energy.

The story has two different endings, depending on which side of the Force the player chooses. After learning that Rosh has betrayed the Jedi and joined Tavion, the player can choose between killing him (and thus turning to the dark side) or letting him live (and staying on the light side).

If the player chooses the light path, Rosh is rescued by Kyle and Jaden and returned to the light side. Jaden heads to the Tomb of Ragnos to prevent the resurrection, while Kyle takes Rosh back to safety. Jaden confronts Tavion, then engages in a final duel with the resurrected Marka Ragnos (whose Force ghost possesses Tavion's body). After defeating Ragnos, Jaden destroys the Scepter, banishing Ragnos' spirit back into its tomb. The game ends with Jaden leaving the temple, and bringing down the entrance so that no one will enter again. He meets up with Kyle and Luke and explains what happened.

If the player decides to follow the dark side of the Force, Jaden kills Rosh, but refuses to join the Sith or help resurrect Marka Ragnos (as they are too "weak" to be worthy of his/her loyalty). Jaden kills Tavion to steal the power of the Scepter of Ragnos for himself/herself, but is intercepted by Kyle. Master and Apprentice have one final duel. Jaden knocks out Kyle with a blast of Force energy from the Scepter, and takes over an Imperial Star Destroyer to embark upon a campaign of conquest. Kyle, who is recovered from Korriban by Luke, takes a break from the academy to search for Jaden and try to turn him/her back to the light.

Originally, it was unclear which ending was canonical, but later, a Wizards of the Coast article describing Jan Ors' backstory for the Star Wars Roleplaying Game, stated that Jan Ors teamed with Jaden Korr to locate Master Katarn's whereabouts, implying that Jaden remained a servant of the light. [1]

Changes from Jedi Outcast to Jedi Academy

Features

*Your character, Jaden, can be male or female and is customizable. For example, you can choose from several lightsaber colors and hilt types as well as from several species::*Twi'lek female:*Kel Dor male:*Human male or female:*Zabrak female:*Rodian male
*New Force Powers in single player; Force Absorb, Force Protect, Force Drain, and Force Rage (these powers were available in Jedi Outcast's multiplayer game, but not in the single player game.)
*New lightsaber combat moves including katas, wall gripping, and acrobatics.
*Four new weapons: DL-44 Blaster Pistol and Stouker Concussion Rifle, Saberstaff (double bladed lightsaber) and dual sabers. A variety of saber hilts are also available.
*New vehicles and vehicle-based levels, including Tauntauns and speeder bikes.
*Powerduel mode: Players join as an individual or as a team of two. The individual has more health and Force power in exchange for being at a disadvantage in numbers.
*Siege Mode: Players work to complete goals and stop the other team from completing their goals.
*Use of Drivable vehicles
*AI NPCs (not just bots, as before) in Multiplayer.
*Decreased limitations on world objects in Multiplayer, enhancing modding possibilities (and making coop play theoretically possible).
*Various bugfixes, gameplay tweaks and subtle changes (especially to the Multiplayer component).
*Enhanced rendering of the Quake III: Team Arena engine, including dynamic glow features.

A screenshot from the game.

Gameplay

*The single-player game has switched from a continuous adventure format, to a modular mission-based format. Instead of moving linearly from one level to the next, players are able to choose from a selection of different missions. After the completion of each mission, the player's weapons and health are reset back to default levels. Additionally, the game no longer features an inventory system.
*In single-player, lightsaber combat is somewhat easier than it was in Jedi Outcast. Enemy lightsaber attacks do much less damage, and on the default difficulty setting enemies are somewhat worse at blocking and attacking than they were in Jedi Outcast.
*Alternatively, combat against non-Jedi enemies has become somewhat more challenging. The player's ability to automatically block enemy fire with their lightsaber has been reduced significantly, making enemy blaster attacks more of a credible threat. The game also features a variety of new opponents, including assassin droids and power-armored stormtroopers, who seem specifically designed for combat against Jedi.
*In multi-player mode, one can play online with thousands of others. Hundreds of mods are available, and new maps are constantly created to make the game more entertaining.

Appearances of more canonical Star Wars characters

As with Jedi Outcast a number of more canonical characters from the Star Wars universe appear or are mentioned in the game, which make the game itself seem more canonical. Some of these are listed in alphabetical order here:
*C-3PO provides the mission briefings at the beginning of several of the game's missions.
*In one of the first missions, taking place on Tatooine, Chewbacca takes up the role as Jaden Korr's partner as a non-playable character. He follows the player around and helps them fight enemies.
*The sole focus of one of the game's last missions, Ord Mantell, is a continuous running battle against bounty hunter Boba Fett.
*Corran Horn is possibly referred to as "Master Horn" in a cutscene. In another cutscene a "Corran" is mentioned.
*Han Solo is mentioned by Kyle in cutscenes relating to the mission in which Chewbacca appears.
*Kyle Katarn, probably the most canonical computer game character in the Star Wars universe, appears as non-playable mission partner in a couple of levels. He also appears in most cutscenes and briefs and debriefs a number of missions. He is also the final boss if Jaden chooses to follow the Dark Side.
*Princess Leia is mentioned in the mission in which Chewbacca appears.
*Luke Skywalker appears in several cutscenes as the leader of the Jedi Academy on Yavin 4, and also briefs and debriefs several missions.
*Tionne is referred to by Luke Skywalker in a mission briefing as "the resident Jedi scholar".
*Streen is mentioned by Luke Skywalker once when Luke deployed Jedi to investigate cult activity.
*Wedge Antilles pilots an X-Wing and assists the player in one mission in the middle of the game.

Visited Locations (In Order of Appearance)

Note: The exact order encountered by each player may vary. The game is composed of three tiers of five missions each, at least four of which must be completed, with mandatory missions in between. The locatoins in bold text are mandatory missions which will always be encountered in the order shown. The locations on each tier may be visited in any order.
*Yavin 4 (Jedi Academy)
*First tier:
**Tatooine (Mos Eisley Spaceport)
**Tatooine (Dune Sea)
**Bakura
**Blenjeel
**Corellia
*Hoth (Echo Base)
*Second tier:
**Nar Kreeta
**Zonju V
**Kril'Dor
**Coruscant
**Dosuun
*Vjun (Darth Vader's Bast Castle)
*Third tier:
**Chandrila
**Taanab
**Yalara
**Byss
**Ord Mantell
*Taspir III
*Korriban

Title screen in Aurebesh

The title screen of Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy shows Aurebesh characters in the background which, when translated, read the following:

"Star Wars Jedi Knight Jedi Academy Developed By Raven Software Published By LucasArts Entertainment Company Features Create Your Own Jedi Tiered Level System New MP Game Siege New Sabers New Force Powers Arioch Terrain System New Enemies And more Coming Summer 2003 And yes this really does say something if you translate it."

External links

*Official homepage
*United Force Order (long-running gaming clan site with large variety of resources and activities)
*JK3Files.com (fan community site)
*JediKnight.net (fan community site)

Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy: Encyclopedia BETA

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