Star Wars: Jedi Knight II - Jedi Outcast

Star Wars: Jedi Knight II - Jedi Outcast brings to the GameCube the acclaimed action title from Raven Software, which had first released on PC a year earlier. The player returns to the role of Kyle Katarn, a former Jedi who, after years cut off from the Force, must once again take up his lightsaber and stand against the remnants of the Empire and the dark cults worshipping the Force. The story takes him to a number of iconic Star Wars locations, from snowy bases to space stations, and brings him into contact with old allies from previous films and games.

The game deftly alternates classic blaster-weapon shootouts with a lightsaber combat system that gradually opens up alongside the hero's returning Force abilities. Lightsaber duels play out in real time and demand a feel for blocking, dodging, and timing your attacks, while the shooting sections draw on a varied arsenal of weapons inspired by the Star Wars universe. Force abilities such as telekinesis or healing also gradually unlock, expanding the player's tactical options.

The console version had to solve controls originally built around a keyboard and mouse, which it managed well thanks to a thoughtful gamepad button layout. Even with minor graphical compromises, the gameplay and atmosphere remained intact, so the GameCube port still holds a reputation today as one of the better Star Wars titles on console, even though it released a year later than the PC version, by which point PC players were already well familiar with the game's content.

Why play it: For lightsaber duels that had no rival on consoles in 2003.