Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II

Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II (aka "JK") is a first person shooter computer game released September 30, 1997, by LucasArts. It is based on the Star Wars franchise. This is also the first game in the franchise to include multiplayer capabilities over the Internet or over a LAN.

Storyline
The plot of this game places the player in the role of Kyle Katarn, who made his first appearance in Star Wars: Dark Forces (1995). Jedi Knight begins several years after the events in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. It begins as Kyle is being interrogated by a droid named 8t88 ('88' for short). Kyle is informed by 88 that his father was killed by a Dark Jedi named Jerec. He escapes from a gun to the head (from a Gran) and chases 88 for a stolen data disk meant only for Kyle from his father. Afterwards, he recovers a lightsaber from his father's workshop, compelling him on a journey to confront his father's murderers and to discover his own latent Force abilities. While on this journey, Kyle learns that seven Dark Jedi (Yun, Pic, Gorc, Boc, Maw, Sariss, and Jerec, the leader), his father's killers, are intent on finding the Valley of the Jedi, a focal point for Jedi power in the universe.

Kyle starts the game with no knowledge of the Force. As the player progresses through the game, Kyle gains Jedi abilities, known as "Force Powers". These powers fall in three general categories: Neutral, Light, and Dark. The game awards one "Force point" upon the completion of each level, and an additional point if the player finds all of the secret areas. These skill points can be allocated towards any Force power, boosting that power's effects.

Jedi Knight is noted for the ethical decisions integrated into the gameplay. Kyle is a neutral character for most of the game, neither fully Light nor Dark. Actions against unarmed civilians throughtout the game, as well as what Force powers a player chooses throughout the game, will sway Kyle towards the Light or the Dark sides. Eventually, the character Kyle must choose between Light and Dark; how he chooses depends on the player's actions throughout the game. A "Force meter" displays Kyle's progress towards either side during breaks in the action.

In case the player chooses the dark side, the alternate ending is triggered: Kyle kills Jan Ors and then becomes the rival of Jerec, this time for dominion over the Valley. This scenario however is alternate and not canonical.

Expansions and mods
Over time, unofficial editing tools were developed for this game; thus attracting a wide audience of level editors that still make levels for this game today. Countless modifications have been made to Jedi Knight by way of software products. Avid JK modders and fans have released new multiplayer levels, single-player levels, character models, and even weapons. The most reliable source of these mods is The Massassi Temple.

Shortly after JK's initial release, LucasArts released Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith, an official expansion pack which features the opportunity to play as Mara Jade.

Other Star Wars Jedi Games

 * Star Wars: Dark Forces &mdash; (1995)
 * Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith &mdash; (1998)
 * Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast &mdash; (2002)
 * Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy &mdash; (2003)

External Link

 * Lucasarts Official Site for Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II
 * The Massassi Temple