The Jedi Knight series is a series of games made by LucasArts, a long time ago…
A first-person shooter or third-person lightsaber & shooter video game series set in the fictional Star Wars expanded universe. The series focuses primarily on Kyle Katarn, a former Imperial officer who becomes a mercenary working for the Rebel Alliance, and later a Jedi and instructor at Luke Skywalker’s Jedi Academy. While the first game is set a year after the events of the original Star Wars film, the sequels take place in the decade following Return of the Jedi.
• Star Wars: Dark Forces (1995)
• Star Wars - Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II (1997)
• Star Wars - Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith (a 1998 expansion pack for ‘Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II’)
• Star Wars - Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast (2002)
• Star Wars - Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy (2003)
Kyle Katarn (character info, game and book appearances etc) - Wikipedia page : Wookieepedia page : Star Wars Games Wiki
Star Wars: Dark Forces (1995)
The first officially produced first-person shooter set in the Star Wars universe.
Dark Forces was released for MS-DOS, Macintosh, and Playstation.
It was the 11th best selling computer game of the period 1993 to 1999, with an estimated 952,000 copies sold.
The story is set in the fictional Star Wars expanded universe and begins shortly before the original Star Wars film, before flashing forward to a year after the film’s events. The game’s protagonist and playable character is Kyle Katarn, a mercenary working on behalf of the Rebel Alliance who discovers the Galactic Empire’s secret Dark Trooper Project, which involves the development of a series of powerful new battle droids and power-armored stormtroopers.
Game Trailer…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5YjJsh6BEk - a 67 seconds video at the Video Detective youtube channel
• 20 years later, Dark Forces and Jedi Knight are still great Star Wars games - 2016 article at PC Gamer
• LucasArts’ Star Wars shoot-'em-up loses something in the translation - 1996 review at IGN
• 25 Years Later, ‘Star Wars: Dark Forces’ Is a Forgotten Gem - 2020 article at Vice
• Remembering LucasArts - Dark Forces - 2013 video article at GameSpot
• Rewind Review – Dark Forces Series - 2015 article at Tech Raptor
‘Star Wars: Dark Forces. Longplay’ (a walkthrough video):-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gydv9UNVtoE - a 6 and half hour video at the GamePlayShare youtube channel
GameFAQs Page: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/3397-star-wars-dark-forces
Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars:_Dark_Forces
Wookieepedia Page: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_Dark_Forces
IMDB Page: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0163281
Star Wars - Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II (1997)
This was the first game in the series to include multiplayer capabilities over the Internet or over an LAN. It was also the first computer game to allow players to take control of a Jedi character using both the Force and lightsabers in a multiplayer setting.
The game was released for Microsoft Windows.
The story, set in the fictional Star Wars expanded universe one year after the film Return of the Jedi, follows returning protagonist Kyle Katarn, a mercenary working for the New Republic, who discovers his connection to the Force and “The Valley of the Jedi”, an ancient source of power. With his father having been murdered years prior by the Dark Jedi Jerec and his followers over the Valley’s location, Katarn embarks on a quest to confront his father’s killers and find the Valley before they do.
Game Trailer…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1kDcD7BfV0 - a 3 minute trailer at the DruttTV youtube channel
• Retro Review - Star Wars - Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II - 2015 article at CC Online
• Video Game Review: Star Wars: Jedi Knight series - 2015 reviews at Mynock Manor
• Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II Review - 2000 review at GameSpot
• If you like Star Wars you should play the 22 year old Jedi Knight: Dark Forces 2 - 2019 article at Rock, Paper, Shotgun
• Retro Review – Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II - 2017 article at Critically Sane
‘Star Wars - Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II. Longplay’ (a walkthrough video):-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1XPOb6Ivf0 - a 7 and half hour video at the GamePlayShare youtube channel
GameFAQs Page: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/24354-star-wars-jedi-knight-dark-forces-ii
Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_Jedi_Knight:_Dark_Forces_II
Wookieepedia Page: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_Jedi_Knight:_Dark_Forces_II
IMDB Page: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0160910
Star Wars - Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith (expansion pack for Jedi Knight)
Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith is the expansion pack for the first-person shooter Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II.
The game was released for Microsoft Windows.
The expansion includes a new single-player story mode and fifteen multiplayer maps. The single-player story, set in the fictional Star Wars expanded universe five years after the events of Dark Forces II, follows both returning protagonist Kyle Katarn, a Jedi Master and mercenary working for the New Republic, and Mara Jade, a character featured in numerous Star Wars expanded universe works, who is being trained by Katarn in the Jedi arts. After Katarn goes missing while investigating an ancient Sith temple, Jade continues her studies on her own while undertaking missions from the New Republic, eventually leaving to find Katarn.
Game Trailer…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTccDDaqnWU - a 2 minute trailer at the Opium Pulses Trailers youtube channel
• Star Wars Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith Knows What It Truly Means to Be a Jedi - 2020 article at Escapist
• Video Game Review: Star Wars: Jedi Knight series - 2015 reviews at Mynock Manor
• Retro Review – Star Wars Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith - 2017 article at Critically Sane
• Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith Review - 1998 review at GameSpot
• Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith - 2019 article at Raving Luhn
‘Star Wars - Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith. Longplay’ (a walkthrough video):-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GEC5uMGN9s - a 6 hour video at the GamePlayShare youtube channel
GameFAQs Page: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/197671-star-wars-jedi-knight-mysteries-of-the-sith
Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_Jedi_Knight:_Mysteries_of_the_Sith
Wookieepedia Page: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_Jedi_Knight:_Mysteries_of_the_Sith
IMDB Page: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0164179
Star Wars - Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast (2002)
The game was released for Microsoft Windows, Macintosh, Nintendo GameCube and Microsoft Xbox. It was also later released for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4.
The single-player campaign, set in the ficitonal Star Wars expanded universe two years after the Mysteries of the Sith expansion for Dark Forces II, follows returning protagonist Kyle Katarn, a mercenary working for the New Republic and former Jedi who cut his connection to the Force. Katarn must return to his Jedi ways to stop a branch of the Imperial Remnant led by the Dark Jedi Desann from empowering their army with the Force.
The multiplayer mode divides players into Light Siders and Dark Siders, pitting each side against the other in team battles. Each side has access to both shared “Neutral” Force powers, which are mostly focused on increasing speed and athletic ability.
Game Trailer…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knShHXJESa4 - a 2 minute trailer at the DerMAdmanGamer youtube channel
• Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast Review - 2002 review at IGN
• Jedi Outcast is simply one of the easiest games to recommend this year. - 2002 article at GameSpot
• Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast (Xbox) - 2002 article at Honest Gamers
• Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast Review - 2019 review at Nintendo Life
• Jedi Knight 2 Is Absolutely Brutal On The Switch - 2019 article at Kotaku
‘Star Wars - Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast. Longplay’ (a walkthrough video):-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF_JfdNUv6M - a 5 hour 50 minute video at the LongplayArchive youtube channel
GameFAQs Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_Jedi_Knight_II:_Jedi_Outcast
Wikipedia Page: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_Jedi_Knight_II:_Jedi_Outcast
Wookieepedia Page: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/516547-star-wars-jedi-knight-ii-jedi-outcast
IMDB Page: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0297410
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy (2003)
The game is the fourth and final installment in the ‘Star Wars: Jedi Knight’ series of games.
It was released for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Xbox, and later on the PS4 and Nintendo Switch.
The single-player story, set in the fictional Star Wars expanded universe two years after Jedi Outcast, follows Jaden Korr, a new student at Luke Skywalker’s Jedi Academy under the tutelage of the previous games’ protagonist, Kyle Katarn. The main storyline revolves around the Disciples of Ragnos, an organisation of Dark Jedi intent on resurrecting the ancient Sith Lord Marka Ragnos, which Jaden must help foil while slowly learning the ways of the Force and committing themselves to either the light side or the dark side.
Game Trailer…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmlXkyKukcU - a 2 minute trailer at the Star Wars Game Chamber youtube channel
• Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy Review - 2003 review at IGN
• Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy Review - 2020 review at Nintendo Life
• Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy Review - 2020 review at Switch Player
• Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy Review - 2003 review at GameSpot
• Retro Review – Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy - 2018 article at Bago Games
• Retro Gamer Review: Star Wars Jedi Academy (2003, PC) - 2003 review at Gear Diary
‘Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy. Longplay’ (a walkthrough video):-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO31QjYVLj8 - a 5 hour & 5 minute video at the Global Gaming youtube channel
GameFAQs Page: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/914574-star-wars-jedi-knight-jedi-academy
Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_Jedi_Knight:_Jedi_Academy
Wookieepedia Page: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_Jedi_Knight:_Jedi_Academy
IMDB Page: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0362179
As ever, if you see any mistakes or broken links please let us know - or have anything for inclusion to the above info too. 👍
A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…
Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
‘How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com
A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)
… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.
JK on PC was the game that made me realize the potential of SW in gaming. It’s still outstanding and then came Jedi Outcast which blew everyone’s minds and is still unequaled in lightsaber/force combat. Jedi Academy had many great extra features and abilities but didn’t feel as impressive as Outcast overall. It’s a shame the series was left dormant.
I really should read the Katarn stories and novels.
VADER!? WHERE THE HELL IS MY MOCHA LATTE? -Palpy on a very bad day.
“George didn’t think there was any future in dead Han toys.”-Harrison Ford
YT channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader
The main plot from Jedi Knight is still possibly one of my favorite EU stories out there. And of course the game was amazingly cool for its time. Mysteries of the Sith was also lots of fun.
Jedi Outcast completely blew me away with its visuals and the gameplay mechanics of force powers and lightsaber combat. As captainsolo says, it remains the pinnacle of lightsaber and force use in the video game world.
Loved those two games.
Some of the favourite SW-related moments from childhood is watching my older brother play Jedi Outcast and Jedi Academy, and later playing them myself.
There was a point in my early teens where I no longer had access to the full games but only the demo of Jedi Academy and I played that demo so many times that I basically figured out every game exploit and glitches that were possible in the two available levels. Let’s just say there’s a lot of weird stuff you can do to these games if you’re a bored teen with too much time on his hands, and it got even weirder once I got my hands on the full games again. I still have my old save files and some of them are practically works of abstract art.
Star Wars is Surrealism, not Science Fiction (essay)
Original Trilogy Documentaries/Making-Ofs (YouTube, Vimeo, etc. finds)
Beyond the OT Documentaries/Making-Ofs (YouTube, Vimeo, etc. finds)
Amazon link to my novel; Dawn of the Karabu.
I started playing Dark Forces for the first time while The Mandalorian season 2 was coming out (a happy coincidence that both feature dark troopers and Boba Fett) and while my old PC wasn’t working for several months, I recently got it working again and went back to playing. It’s a great game. I never knew shooting pixelated stormtroopers could bring me so much happiness.
It’s amazing how much older games don’t walk you through levels, they totally leave it up to you to figure out. Each level is like a puzzle to solve, and I really like that aspect of it.
I’ve been watching some ‘Let’s Play’ videos for Jedi Knight: DF II recently (from youtube channel LightingBoltForever: https://www.youtube.com/c/LightningBoltForever/featured) and I think I know what I’ll be playing next. The new choice of weapons and lightsaber combat features in particular look fun.
“Remember, the Force will be with you. Always.”
A new fan project called the THE FORCE ENGINE lets you play DARK FORCES (1995) on modern PCs.
https://theforceengine.github.io/
This is a completely revamped source port by programmer luciusDXL who abandoned his former version DarkXL a few years ago.
Rogue One is redundant. Just play the first mission of DARK FORCES.
The hallmark of a corrupt leader: Being surrounded by yes men.
‘The best visual effects in the world will not compensate for a story told badly.’ - V.E.S.
‘Star Wars is a buffet, enjoy the stuff you want, and leave the rest.’ - SilverWook
Finally an official updated release of Dark Forces!
1 minute official trailer, from Nightdive Studios: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ndr_cPvwvo
Available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
some gameplay videos and reviews:
DF Retro EX - Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster - PC/Console - 25 minute playthrough and review video at Digital Foundry
Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster Gameplay (Nintendo Switch) - 60 minute play through video at Miketendo64
Let’s Play Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster Gameplay! - video at Eurogamer
Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster Review - article at Ninentdo Life
Dark Forces Remastered makes a classic Star Wars shooter feel fast and fluid - article at ARS Technica
Dark Forces Remaster Review - article at PC Review
So looking forward to playing through this at the weekend. It looks fun, smooth and quick. With the updated graphics looking fresh but still faithful to the original game.