This game is a blast from the past, originally released on the Playstation console, and would later be released on the Sega Dreamcast around 1999, which is the version this remaster is drawn from.
Loosely based on the events of Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, Jedi Power Battles is a hybrid hack and slash platforming experience.
When I played this 25 years ago, it was brutally difficult as on PS1 there was no shadow under the player character, and it was incredibly difficult to judge the depth and distance needed to accurately jump without falling to your death in several of the platforming sections, firced into restarting the level, and losing one of your lives.
As a hack and slash, the game was the best experience of playing as a Jedi available in a game like this to that point.
There was no greater thrill than deftly deflecting blaster bolts back into the faces of battle droids and mercenaries alike.
This wasn't a mindless button masher either, as sprinting into an enemy randomly swinging away would often find you countered and knocked on your ass, or worse, off a fatal pitfall.
Each character had their own style, and feel. Their combos, attack Power, and speed were all tweaked to fit the character you were playing.
Each enemy type had their strengths and weaknesses, and once you knew them, there was little greater feeling at the time than negotiating a level filled with enemies trying to kill you and not taking a single hit.
As this was such an older game, you didn't see the various force powers that you see in games that would come after, like in the incredibly fun Episode 3 game that would feature using the force to throw objects and enemy alike, and the ability to throw the lightsaber.
This was very simplified. Each character had one force ability, that used a blue force energy bar under the life bar. Once depleted, you would need to scour the levels for pickups to refill it.
In the instance of a couple characters, the "force" ability isn't really using the force at all, just a special lightsaber attack. With all of the deadly drops in the game, my kingdom for the force push ability. Alas, it was not to be.
The focus here is on use of the lightsaber to defend yourself from blaster fire, and vanquish your enemies. The lightsaber itself suffers from NERF syndrome, as many things of that era did. Early on this can feel bad while your offensive move list is limited.
Much like Wolverine having his razor sharp adamantium claws reduced to boxing gloves with bling, the lightsaber at times seems more like a blunt instrument than a Saber. Like a glowing NERF bat.
If you can suspend your disbelief/irritation, with this, the game does reward you later as more advanced combos are unlocked that make the Saber attacks look great, and should your enemy fall to a heap before the combo is completed, you do find yourself wishing they'd held out for just one more satisfying hit.
The blocking mechanic is brilliantly implemented. While holding block, you cannot take damage. All blaster bolts and melee attacks will be deflected 100%. However, with each attack deflected, a meter begins to fill, and when full, your block will break and you'll take damage.
It is far more satisfying and rewarding to block just at the last moment, which will send blaster bolts back to the sender for big damage.
In comparison to the licensed Episide 1 movie game, this mechanic is light years ahead of the game that released around the same time. Blocking is just waving the Saber around randomly, with no way to target deflect shots back at the attacker.
The level of skill needed, and satisfaction upon execution of these mechanics is what sets JPB apart from other similar Star Wars experiences of the time.
Pickups in mission range from your standard health and force refills, score boosts, a challenge pickup that awards big score, but takes half of your current health and force, item pickups, which depending on the character will either be a thermal detonator or deflector shield, Amp pickups boost damage dealt for a time, and probably tge most visually appealing, the extender which doubles the length of your Saber blade for a limited time.
I found the thermal detonator pickups to be all but useless, as the Jedi characters are really never in a position to need to use them.
The deflector shield, carried by Adi Gallia, is probably one of the most hilariously op items in the game. Pop this thing, and Adi is surrounded by a glowing deflector shield that automatically deflects all blaster fire to the attacker, and damages enemies that come into contact with it. The deflector lasts for about 7 seconds, with a maximum of 4 that can be carried.
In the original version you had 5 lives to negotiate the story beat influenced missions. Gain high score totals to gain more lives, and if you completed on hard, Darth Maul would become playable.
Aspyr, seemingly knowing that anyone who didn't play this title 25 years ago may not have the attention span to stick with this game, or the patience required after repeatedly falling to their death, and so all missions are playable from the outset, as well as having Darth Maul playable from minute one.
The normal playable characters however should start at mission 1, as they do level up unlocking larger health and force bars, and most importantly, attack combinations to handle the tougher enemies in later missions.
There's still a reason to complete the game, as new game plus rewards the player with the option to play as any enemy character shown in the game.
The playable roster of Jedi are as follows.
Obi-Wan Kenobi. The Padawan to Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, Kenobi's youth is reflected in his fast movement speed, and fast lightsaber attacks. His special ability is a dashing slash that causes heavy damage to enemies in its path. His item is a thermal detonator.
Qui-Gon Jinn. The Jedi Master to Obi-Wan Kenobi, and main protagonist of Episode 1, Jinn's mid range movement speed is balanced with precise and measured mid damage combos. His later combos incorporate a force push at the end, leaning into his mastery of the force. His special ability is a short range 360 degree force nova that damages and pushes enemies away. Jinn is one of the characters that requires a bit of patience to stick with, because he doesn't get really good until much later into his leveling process, and early on, can unfortunately seem quite boring. His item is equally boring, a thermal detonator.
Mace Windu. Initially when the game was being built, it was not known that Sam Jackson had requested the purple lightsaber, and so the game originally launched with a blue saber for him. Aspyr has implemented the option for players to choose between the original blue, or screen accurate purple. Mace is a formidable swordsman and his attacks are fast, flow together well, and do high damage. His special ability is he crouches down and his lightsaber hovers obove him, spinning and twisting about, decimating any enemies in a short radius. His item is a thermal detonator.
Adi Gallia. Originally launching when the game was created with a red lightsaber, Adi Gallia raised a lot if eyebrows as to why a Jedi would use a red lightsaber that was generally used by the Sith. Fans of the lore may know why this is, I do not. Aspyr for the remaster gives players the option to choose the classic red Saber from the original game, or a blue one. Adi Gallia, though unknown to me is one of my favorite characters in the game. She is extremely fast, and incorporates many acrobatic flips and twists into her fighting style, so she's essentially a bipedal blender. Her special ability appears to be a stun that will immobilize any enemies within a short radius, leaving them completely defenseless to this deadly whirling dervish. Her item is the deflector shield, which makes her completely invulnerable for about 7 seconds, reflects all blaster fire 100% accurately back at the attacker, as well as damages any enemy it touches. This can have terrible drawbacks in escort quests however, as friendly fire is a thing and even if you've hit a checkpoint, if your ward dies, it's back to the start of the mission. So should your ward run up next to you with this activated, they are almost instantly killed. Use with caution.
Plo Koon. One of the cooler Jedi when this originally released, with his yellow lightsaber. In the remaster it can be changed to blue if preferred. Plo Koon is a slower attacking exceptionally high damage fighter. His special ability is a whirlwind attack that hits anyone within reach of his Saber. His item is a strange looking device that powers up, and his body glows. During this time, his damage is insanely high, and even touching Plo Koon will result in the enemy taking damage. Trying to battle Darth Maul with this guy will be one of the classic gaming challenges ever built. He's just so slow.
Ki-Adi Mundi. Looking like one of Dan Aykroyds coneheads, and holding his Saber like a batter in the box looking to send one over the wall, Ki-Adi Mundi looks pretty ridiculous to start. However, he has one of the best early heavy combos that land 4 hits really quickly. His special ability is the same stun that Adi Gallia uses, and his item is a thermal detonator.
Darth Maul. What's to say here? It's Darth Maul. Double bladed lightsaber, fast movement, fast attacks, Maul is an absolute beast in this game. Maul has been given 2 special abilities, one a red version of Qui-Gonn Jinns force nova, and then a red laser beam that shoots from his hand and passes back and forth in front of him, damaging enemies at pretty long range. Never saw either of these in the movie, but whatever.
Non Jedi. Weirdly the option to play as many Non Jedi characters is on offer here. As if there were a demand in a game called Jedi Power Battles, players would be like yeah this is cool, but why can't I play as Amidala or Panaka?
These characters all control the same. Hand to hand fighting like a classic beat em up, and then the most used option, the blaster. Fast attacks root the player in place to fire a volley of 3 shots, or heavy attacks root the player in place to fire once, allowing you to move and fire again. This was my preferred option with these characters. Hilariously they are able to hold block and eat blaster fire, but cannot deflect it. They have no special ability. Thermal detonator us the item of choice.
It's a neat option to have, but I don't see myself ever playing through every mission with a non Jedi.
The story is pretty Non existent here. It expects you to have seen the film, unapologetically so. As each level begins, a text box will explain to you why you're there, and what you need to do.
The story beats land you in the following locations for your missions.
Trade Federation Battleship
Swamps of Naboo
City of Theed
Theed Royal Palace
Tatooine
Coruscant
Ruins
Streets of Theed
Palace Cliffs
The Final Battle
The 10 missions can be completed pretty quickly, but the game relies on diverse play experiences with each character to generate its replay value.
At a price tag of 19.99 it's tough to go wrong here. The ganme offers couch Co op as well as a 2 player pvp mode to have lightsaber duels with your friends.
For people that played this 25 years ago and loved it as I did, the purchase is a no brainer. It's just as fun, if not more than I remember, as the platforming isn't nearly as hard now with the shadow to show where you will land when jumping. The ability to play any mission at any time, with any character is a great feature. It's a nice pick up and play Star Wars game that will hit the nostalgia spot hard and fast.
For players that never played this back in the day, if you enjoy retro gaming, playing games from the mid to late 90s and understand the tech limitations of the time, then I highly recommend you check out Jedi Power Battles.
