History VideoGame / JediKnightIIJediOutcast

* BondVillainStupidity: {{Subverted}} with Desann. Despite having Kyle and Jan disarmed and helpless on Artus Prime, he only decides to kill Jan, sparing Kyle, who he just admitted has a reputation as the man who single-handedly [[VideoGame/JediKnightDarkForcesII killed Jerec and his Dark Jedi and saved the Valley of the Jedi]]. [[spoiler:Then it turns out he has a good reason not to kill either Kyle or Jan; he wants Kyle to be consumed by anger at Jan's apparent death and return to the Valley to reclaim his Force powers, leading Desann right to it. Should Kyle fail, he wants to keep Jan alive as a backup, since she is the only other one who knows where the Valley is. Even after Kyle leads him to the Valley, Desann still keeps Jan alive in order to question her about the Jedi Academy, so he could complete his final plan of wiping out the Jedi.]] As for Kyle, Desann never gets him at his mercy again.

* GoryDiscretionShot: When Desann [[spoiler: ''[[SubvertedTrope seemingly]]'' kills Jan Ors. Tavion later reveals the truth, questioning Kyle's insistence that he "saw her die" with "What did you really see? What did you really hear?"]]

* TheHeroDoesntKillTheVillainess: Kyle Katarn spares [[spoiler:Tavion, Desann's female apprentice, but kills Desann. Played with, in that Kyle, still mad with grief over Jan's apparent death, actually seemed more willing to kill Tavion (sparing her out of frustration and disgust), but having since learned Jan was actually alive and even rescued her, genuinely offered clemency to Desann before Desann made it clear he was not going to surrender. This bites Kyle in the ass in ''Jedi Academy'' when Tavion becomes the leader of a new Dark Jedi cult.]]

* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: After [[spoiler:Jan is "killed" by Desann]], about half the entire portion of the game where you have a lightsaber was fueled by a need for revenge... and about half of the remaining game is still simmering anger, as you're not certain.

* GameplayAndStorySegregation: The personal energy shield that Kyle uses seems to fall under this, though it is [[AllThereInTheManual referenced in other Star Wars materials]]. Oddly enough, Lando has one himself, but it only seems to be at 50% capacity. Jaden Korr in ''VideoGame/JediKnightJediAcademy'' and Mara Jade in ''Mysteries of the Sith'' are the only other ones ever seen using personal shields.

*** Accidentally enforced on some console versions (most notably the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube GameCube]] version) where controller aim-assist simply ''negates'' any kind of spray pattern. This also happens on other very powerful close-range weapons such as the [[ShortRangeShotgun flechette launcher]], making it now viable for long-range encounters.

* DarkActionGirl: Tavion.

** The very first part of the stealth mission has you starting in front of the alarm system the soldiers use if they spot you... and nothing prevents you from staying there and murder all soldiers as they run towards the switch.
** The final battle of Nar Shaddaa has you manning a turret to shot some enemies from out of a ship. It can be very hard on maximum difficulty... however, you can, with properly timed sped-up move, get the doors to be stuck open and take the enemies out the usual way, with the ship taking no damage until you actually man the turret.

** The last scenario involves escorting what has to be the dumbest droid in the quadrant through the streets of Cloud City. Killing the snipers who want to destroy the droid, destroying laser mines before the droid barrels through them, and otherwise moving heaven and earth to prevent the destruction of said droid is a rather grueling task. Hint: Force Push and Pull work on the droid, and will make your job a lot easier.

* GoryDiscretionShot: When Desaan [[spoiler: ''[[SubvertedTrope seemingly]]'' kills Jan Ors. Tavion later reveals the truth, questioning Kyle's insistence that he "saw her die" with "What did you really see? What did you really hear?"]]

* HopelessBossFight: Desaan, early on when you only have your blasters. You could try explosives instead, but he will immediately use Force Push to send them back at you.

* InsurmountableWaistHeightFence: Retrieving your lightsaber involves a combination of depressing a switch, using Force speed, and Force-pulling it to you, even though the gaps in the bars are ''huge'' and Kyle could realistically just reach in and grab it--or use the Force to pull it out between them, if not switch it on and cut the bars away.

* NoBodyLeftBehind: Charging up the Disruptor rife before shooting will completely ''disintegrate'' a target, no matter where they're hit -- be it the head, the torso or even a leg.

* TortureIsIneffective: [[spoiler:Jan is subject to quite a bit of it during her stay on the ''Doomgiver''. It doesn't break her as well as it doesn't seem to distort her condition, snarkiness or physical attractiveness in the slightest.]]

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Mara Jade isn't mentioned at all in this game despite being a playable character previously. This is particularly odd since she's also Luke's wife.

Originally released for PC in March 2002, ports to UsefulNotes/MacOS X, the UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube, and the UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}} followed in November. Much later, in September 2019, it was ported to the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch and UsefulNotes/PlayStation4. Followed in 2003 by ''VideoGame/JediKnightJediAcademy'', which also has a popular GameMod [[https://jkhub.org/files/file/1860-jedi-academy-outcast/ which ports]] ''Outcast'' into ''Academy's'' engine.

* AintTooProudToBeg: When at the mercy of Kyle, Tavion, in a tone of voice close to tears, confesses that [[spoiler: Jan is still alive]] and admits being not brave enough to die.

* ArcWelding: Bizarrely, the "Empire Reborn" in this game is the very same Imperial Remnant faction as the one led by Lord Hethrir in ''Literature/TheCrystalStar''. Apparently, the oft-maligned book's only fan was a member of the writing team.

* BackToBackBadasses: Kyle and Luke do it late in the game.

** At one point, on the way to the Doomgiver, you have to cross a huge circular abyss, using a specially-made platform running around the area, which get demolished halfway through by two troopers with rocket launchers, forcing you to complete the journey by jumping across the railing used by the platform as the two soldiers shoot at you... but it's possible, with some timing, to make it across the whole way without using the platform as intended: while slightly riskier, the two rocket-launcher soldiers won't spawn at all, granting a safe crossing.

* EpicLaunchSequence: Galak Fyyar's dreadnought, the [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Doomgiver]], gets a villainous version as it sets off from Cairn Station, scored to the Imperial March.

* FirstPersonGhost: As typical for shooters of the era, where Kyle's body is fully depicted and animated in third-person, but in first-person you only ever see your arms. Interestingly, this was the last game in the ''Dark Forces'' saga to try to avert this when using the lightsaber in first-person - presumably because they did a really half-assed job with it, as first-person with the lightsaber simply shows half of Kyle's arms, fading out just past the elbows, on the third-person animations. Multiplayer doesn't even let you use the lightsaber in first-person.

** To some extent, Galak Fyyar's BossFight also counts. As long as he keeps the force field around his body up, he is invulnerable to all sorts of attack. The only part of his armor that is not protected by the force field is [[AttackItsWeakPoint the small and temptingly red field emitter]] itself. Most gamers would instinctively assume they need to target that particular spot in order to turn the field off and they would be reinforced in that conviction by the presence of a set of ramps enabling them to target the emitter easier. In fact, the trick is to attack the very field while maintaining a safe enough distance so as not to get electrocuted (which will happen if you get just an inch closer to him). It doesn't help that the game gives you no indication that slashing at the force field is the least bit efficient until you actually get it down (which will take around five hits, after which you'll be given around ten seconds to indiscriminately throw whatever you got at Fyyar before he brings the field back up and you'll need to repeat the cycle at least a few more times to beat him for good - or do, in fact, destroy the now vulnerable emitter to stop the field from regenerating). He's also the only BossBattle where gunplay is a viable tactic. Using the Heavy Repeater's SecondaryFire to bring his shields down and then using [[MoreDakka primary fire]] to chew through his PoweredArmor is a good strategy, especially since there's plenty of cover.

* LaterInstallmentWeirdness: Unlike the previous two game, this is the only entry in the Dark Forces series without monster enemies (such as Dianogas, Mailoc, Kell Dragons or Drugons), except for the tiny mine pests on Artus Prime. The following game does feature Wampas and Rancors.

* SameStoryDifferentNames: The game's plot takes a lot of cues from the series' two previous instalments. The early levels follow the same investigation-like premise from the [[Videogame/DarkForces first game]] (trace the origin of this strange metal/crystal) and towards the end, ''Jedi Outcast'' is structured just like ''Dark Forces'': go to Fuel Station Ergo/Bespin in order to sneak into a heavily fortified Imperial facility (the ''Executor''/Cairn Installation), from which you can get to BigBad's unique factory/carrier vessel (the ''Arc Hammer/Doomgiver''). Once there you [[BossFight fight]] Mohc/Fyyar in his PoweredArmour. The "Force" side of the plot once again involves you foiling a Dark Jedi and his followers (Jerec and his Dark Jedi/Desann and Tavion) who wants to take control of the Valley of the Jedi. And because (for plot reasons) [[BagOfSpilling Kyle has lost his Force abilities and must learn them from scratch]], the game has the same structure, starting as a shooter before expanding into Jedi powers.

* TwoKeyedLock: ''Doomgiver's'' brig has a set of doors that require two people to get through. Of course, ''why'' the Imperials would design their ships with such a system is anyone's guess. Then again, these are the same ship designers who brought you that [[MalevolentArchitecture ridiculous comm system]]...

** Kyle later offers an implied version when he cuts off Fyyar's [[EvilGloating grandiose monologuing]] by destroying the Doomgiver's shield generator mid-rant.

** Desann takes this to a whole new level in the final duel. Not only does he have his own unique saber style that does as much damage as the Strong style (killing you in just 2 or 3 hits on ''medium'' difficulty) and is as fast as the Medium style, but his Force powers are insanely stronger than any other NPC in the series, most notably his nearly unbreakable Force Choke. {{Justified}} because he's got himself empowered at the Valley of the Jedi; in the previous game, it was the villain's whole plan to do the same thing in order to become invincible and take over the galaxy.

* NeverForgottenSkill: ''Outcast'' is set about 7 years after ''Jedi Knight'' and Kyle Katarn seems to have lost his Force abilities. However, judging from the way he uses his lightsaber and the speed of regaining his Force abilities, he clearly didn't forget how to use them. It helps that he regains his connection to the Force by tapping into the power of the Valley of the Jedi.
* NoFairCheating: Using cheat codes in the [=PS4=] port will disable achievements, save for "Embrace the Dark Side!", which is unlocked by completing a level with cheats.

* CovertGroupWithMundaneFront / LegitimateBusinessmensSocialClub: Reelo Baruk pretends to be a "respected waste disposal manager", and uses it as a front for his criminal activities.

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome:
** When Fyyar finally shows up to defend the ''Doomgiver''[='=]s shield generator, he believes TalkingIsAFreeAction and spends several seconds gloating about how his and Desann's plan will spell the end for the Jedi. Kyle proves him wrong when [[ShutUpHannibal he interrupts the speech partway]] by simply tossing his lightsaber to destroy the shield generator.
** In the end, [[spoiler:Desann's assault on the Academy fails to do long-lasting damage, as while he brought hundreds of artificially-empowered Force Users (Reborn and Shadow Troopers), those were just average mooks who got Force Powers and lightsaber skills through an external power with little training - they only had two actually trained individuals, one of whom [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere has long since fled]] by the time the assault happens - while Luke's disciples were full-fledged Jedi who have been trained in the proper use of the Force for months and even years, which allowed them to defeat the more brutish Reborn, who at best had more advanced technology like the limited-issue Shadow Trooper armor and a heap of stormtroopers in support [[UnskilledButStrong to try to even the field]].]]

* HopelessBossFight: Desaan, early on when you only have your blasters.

[[center:[[AC:It is a time of relative \\

dead Imperial outpost...]]]]

* SameStoryDifferentNames: The game's plot takes a lot of cues from the series' two previous instalments. The early levels follow the same investigation-like premise from the [[Videogame/DarkForces first game]] (trace the origin of this strange metal/crystal) and towards the end, ''Jedi Outcast'' is structured just like ''Dark Forces'': go to Fuel Station Ergo/Bespin in order to sneak into a heavily fortified Imperial facility (the ''Executor''/Cairn Installation), from where you can get to the Imperial BigBad's unique factory/carrier vessel (the ''Arc Hammer/Doomgiver''), and once there you [[BossFight fight him]] in his PoweredArmour. And to a lesser extent, the "Force" side of the plot once again involves you foiling a Dark Jedi who wants to take control of the Valley of the Jedi. And because (for plot reasons) [[BagOfSpilling Kyle has lost his Force abilities and must learn them from scratch]], the game has the same structure, starting as a shooter before expanding into Jedi powers.