Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles

"It is really not as bad as everyone says"

I'll be honest with you: this game has some really annoying flaws which make this game a rent-before-you-buy kind of game, the controls are not for everyone, jumping is VERY HARD, but the truth is that it is not impossible like many reviewers claim, not at all...I dare to say that once you get the trick, moving your Jedi around is a lot of fun, and the combos make this one a great action game.

Graphics: The intro is really lame, but the game has great graphics, unlike what reviewers say. The animation is very good on both Jedi and foes, I'm specially pleased that most enemies have more than one attack, some droids shoot, get close to you and then punch or kick you, making them unpredictable at times and fun to look at, since their well animated. The backgrounds look great, and are faithful to the movies in every aspect: now, let me tell you about what makes me go ga-ga over this game (and actually put up with the games' flaws), the level design is marvelous, I can't say just how good the level design is... why, oh why do reviewers ignore the great design of the levels?... the streets of Theed are so cool and deserve praise, not general hate. I like how a city feels like a city, you can climb and find places you didn't see the first time (oh, and you will be playing stages over and over again).

Sound: Beautiful music (what else could you expect?), and the sound is quite good (gotta love those lightsabers), it does the trick, and it does it well.

Gameplay: here's the problem with the game, the game is much too hard for average players, let me say it again so you get it right: This game is WAY TOO HARD! and is wicked to the point of making you develop a hatred towards the game: see, the levels are LARGE and the ''checkpoints'' are in most cases far (VERY FAR) from each others... so imagine the anger on your face (and mine) when you battle through hordes of droids for 20 minutes just to fall on a little gap you couldn't measure so you have to do it all over again. (Argggghhhhh) On the other hand, the camera is not rotating and there are time when you just can't see your foes (or youself), like on the first mid-boss battle, in which you have to hit the center of a huge droid, but the little devil always shows his back to you making you take luck-shots to see if you hit him in the spot (arggghhh). On the other hand, I don't think that it takes forever for characters to finish their animation... I found no problems with the animations slowing down my droid-hacking joy, as a matter of fact (some may hate me for this) I found the controls rather helpful, a button that targets your foes is a great addition and it can be used to your aid if you use it wisely (target-slash-target another foe-slash).

There are many combos to pull of and a different feel for every Jedi, which I find a lot of fun.

Replay Value: Well.... maybe you'll be sick and tired of this game when you finish it, believe me, you'll be hating the game once you're done, except if you are me (I got the hang of the game to the point of enjoying it every time). But the chance of playing different Jedi is something that will make those who don't hate the game come back again for more suffering (I describe this game as painful fun), also, the game has many hidden spaces that you don't get to see the first time (you'll be busy just trying to survive_ really, it is that hard).

Rent or Buy: definately rent first, it is a love-it or loath-it game, see if you can handle it, if you (like me) found the way to control your Jedi without losing your will to live then it can be a keeper. If you come from the old school then you will recognize the engine as one of those NES games where you died a thousand times just to reach that boss that will kill you another thousand times... is it your idea of fun? it all depends on you, but the game is not bad per se.

Overall: 8.0 it is a well designed game that it's hard to get into, but rewarding to those who can master it (I think it's luck over skill, since I'm not good at action games). But I think that it's a good game that's been unfairly despised. I think it is a hundred times better than The Phantom Menace game for playstation (a game that got better reviews being plain crap) and, at least, deserves to be fully explored by it's critics. I won't deny that it is not for everyone, but it's not crap like people say... I've seen crap, and this game's not that.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 05/31/00, Updated 05/31/00