Star Wars: Jedi Power Battles

Igniting a lightsaber, deflecting a volley of blaster fire, and charging side by side with a partner against overwhelming odds, Star Wars: Jedi Power Battles bet everything on pure cooperative action from the world of Episode I. Here, in 2000, LucasArts offered an arcade ride in which players became full-blooded Jedi knights.

The game combines an action platformer with beat 'em up combat. You choose one of several Jedi, including Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn, and battle through levels inspired by the film, slicing up droids, deflecting shots back at enemies, and pulling off acrobatic jumps. The real magic, however, comes out fully with two players, when cooperation becomes the heart of the fun.

For its time it was one of the few games that gave players the chance to feel like a real Jedi with a sword in hand and the Force within reach. The emphasis on flashy duels, blocking, and tossing enemies around made every skirmish a spectacle. The difficulty, however, was notoriously merciless, and falls into the abyss could really torment you.

The game was created at a time when LucasArts was experimenting with all sorts of approaches to the new film trilogy, and Jedi Power Battles represented the more action-oriented, more accessible face of this wave. Not everyone will rank it among the brand's peaks, but as a laid-back cooperative ride it had its firm place.

Today it is remembered mainly as a likable piece for two-player play, a title that proved swinging a lightsaber to the rhythm of blaster fire can simply be fun.

Why play it: An arcade cooperative action game from the world of Episode I, where you finally get to play as a Jedi knight with a lightsaber, best with two players.