Right here’s an attention-grabbing query: If the topic of a extremely good remaster is a foul sport, does that imply the remaster can be unhealthy, or simply a great way to expertise the unique flawed product? That’s the query I’ve been pondering since taking part in Star Wars: Episode 1: Jedi Energy Battles.
Launched 25 years in the past on the unique PlayStation, Jedi Energy Battles is a beat ‘em up that features co-op, platforming, and car segments. As you slice and cube droids and criminals, you expertise a condensed retelling of 1999’s The Phantom Menace. And uh, the sport wasn’t excellent, with clunky fight and unhealthy platforming segments. However, that hasn’t stopped Jedi Energy Battles from returning in 2025 through a newly launched remaster.
Developed by Aspyr, the identical studio behind final yr’s Star Wars Bounty Hunter remaster, this new and improved model of Jedi Energy Battles is out now on principally each platform below the solar. And like the unique it contains native co-op in addition to a number of characters (embody non-Jedi ones) to play as, and 10 ranges to work by way of.
As you’d count on, Aspyr has visually upgraded Jedi Energy Battles, too. So that you get improved textures, higher wanting menus, and elevated efficiency, which is far appreciated as the unique PlayStation sport appeared tough and performed poorly. (I ought to know, final yr I streamed and beat the unique.) This spiffy port additionally contains new characters to play as and all the unique unlockable characters now included proper from the get go.
And all of the remastered features of this new port are nice. Actually, this can be a excellent model of Jedi Energy Battles. It contains every little thing, appears to be like nice, runs nicely, and in addition options good bonus options that can make tremendous Star Wars nerds (like me) glad. For instance, you possibly can swap Mace Windu’s lightsaber shade from the unique, inaccurate blue seen within the sport to an ideal purple. If you wish to play Jedi Energy Battles in 2025, that is the way in which to take action. No query about it.
Nonetheless, I’d level out that I’m undecided anybody actually needed to replay Jedi Energy Battles 25 years later. I imply, positive, there are most likely individuals who grew up with this sport and have nostalgia for it. I used to be a kind of children who performed hours and hours of this sport again in 2000. However at any time when I return to it, most not too long ago to play this remaster, I discover a unhealthy, clunky sport. Fight feels stiff and unresponsive; enemies take method too many hits; ranges, just like the part on Coruscant, go on ceaselessly and really feel depressing. Taking part in in co-op is a little more enjoyable and a few boss fights are entertaining, however general Jedi Energy Battles is a foul sport that may have been forgotten if it weren’t related to Star Wars.
So the place does that depart the remaster of Jedi Energy Battles? Nicely, in case you are actually determined for a brand new sofa co-op Star Wars sport—which there aren’t a lot of—then you definately might need a effective time. For everybody else, nicely, I’d suggest solely shopping for and taking part in this remaster in case you are tremendous nostalgic for the unique sport. Simply be warned: You possible received’t take pleasure in Star Wars: Episode 1: Jedi Energy Battles as a lot in 2025 as you probably did in 2000.
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