History YMMV / JediKnightIIJediOutcast

** The game was one of the first to offer the option of volumetric shadows, allowing for shadows more advanced than the then-typical circular patch underneath character models before games like ''VideoGame/Doom3'' and ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'' [[TechDemoGame actively pushed graphics further ahead]]. Naturally, because it was one of the first, it wasn't very future-proofed - id Tech 3 simply doesn't handle light sources that affect these sorts of shadows the same way more recent games do, so while they worked passably on period hardware, [[TechnologyMarchesOn anything more recent]] will invariably end up with the shadows [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtL5ZgGO-Iw doing whatever they please]].
* StoicWoobie: [[spoiler: Jan is seemingly killed in the fifth level. Much later, you find out she's still alive and being held prisoner on the [[MileLongShip Doomgiver]] and being subject to ColdBloodedTorture. Despite this, she [[TortureIsIneffective never squeals]] and [[AngstWhatAngst doesn't seem much worse for wear when you rescue her.]]]]

** Desann. 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.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Aspyr ported the PC version to UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch and UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 in 2019. While singleplayer is perfectly playable (aside from the lack of rebindable keys), multiplayer on the other hand is completely removed, bots and all. Even the old UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube version allows for offline multiplayer with bots. In response to the criticism, Aspyr readded multiplayer and rebindable keys to their ''VideoGame/JediKnightJediAcademy'' port.

* SpecialEffectsFailure: The cutscene duel between [[spoiler:Desann and Luke]] is not pre-scripted but plays out in real time. This means that it is randomised every time is plays, and can result in hilarious situations where one of them gets their limbs cut off but continues to fight.

** Cairn Reactor is filled to the brim with [[NoOSHACompliance engineering hazards]] that can kill you in one hit and some tricky platforming sections.

** The Reborn, especially since the duels with them are pretty much a LuckBasedMission. Shadowtroopers are even worse.

-->'''Kyle:''' How many of these things ''are'' there?

* ScrappyMechanic: The StealthBasedMission in the Cairn Docks. It comes out of nowhere, where Kyle suddenly decides to hide from enemies that by this stage he could easily dispatch with lightsaber and force powers. If nearby stormtroopers spot Kyle they'll instantly run to the nearby alarm panel, resulting in a NonStandardGameOver, and sometimes they glitch out.
* ScrappyWeapon: The Stun Rod from the first couple of levels. It's a nigh-useless EmergencyWeapon that only exists to fill the lightsaber slot. Given the amount of ammo available from Stormtroopers, it will never see use by most players, and it vanishes forever once you get your saber back.

* TheyChagnedItNowItSucks: Aspyr ported the PC version to UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch and UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 in 2019. While singleplayer is perfectly playable (aside from the lack of rebindable keys), multiplayer on the other hand is completely removed, bots and all. Even the old UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube version allows for offline multiplayer with bots. In response to the criticism, Aspyr readded multiplayer and rebindable keys to their ''VideoGame/JediKnightJediAcademy'' port.

* PortingDisaster: Aspyr ported the PC version to UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch and UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 in 2019. While single-player is perfectly playable (aside from the lack of rebindable keys), multiplayer on the other hand is completely removed, bots and all. Even the old UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube version allows for offline multiplayer with bots. In response to the criticism, Aspyr readded multiplayer and rebindable keys to their ''VideoGame/JediKnightJediAcademy'' port.

* ScrappyWeapon: The Stun Rod from the first couple of levels. It's a nigh-useless EmergencyWeapon that only exists to fill the lightsabre slot until you get your saber back. Given the amount of ammo available from Stormtroopers, will never see use by most players.

* ScrappyWeapon: The Stun Rod from the first couple of levels. It's a nigh-useless EmergencyWeapon that, given the amount of ammo available from Stormtroopers, will never see use by most players. It's telling that once Kyle gets his lightsaber back, the Stun Rod disappears for good.

** Desann. 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|Trope}} 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.

* ScrappyWeapon: The Stun Rod from the first couple of levels. It's a nigh-useless EmergencyWeapon that, given the amount of ammo available from Stormtroopers, will never see use by most players. It's telling that once Kyle gets his lightsabre back, the Stun Rod disappears for good.

* HilariousInHindsight: At end of ''Jedi Outcast'', Jan Ors mentions that Lando Calrissian owes her some credits over a bet on whether Kyle would return his lightsaber again or not. Over a decade later, Creator/VanessaMarshall (Jan's voice actress from that game) voices Hera Syndulla in ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'', said character meets Lando late in the first season and their first meeting ends with Lando owing Hera money.

** Nar Shaddaa is the first level after you get the lightsaber back. Does it present you with Stormtroopers to let loose on? Nope – it's crawling with snipers that can kill you in one hit if they want to '''and''' they all have great aim. Plus, they're hard to find and shoot. And the preponderance of bottomless pits and walkways with no railings.

** Tavion is ''insanely'' hard to beat, mostly because every once in a while she likes to perform an unblockable combo that kills you. In other words, whenever she resorts to that particular trick, you're ''screwed''.

* EvenBetterSequel: ''Jedi Outcast'' is considered to be the best in the DarkForcesSaga due to the improvements in the Lightsaber and Force mechanics.

** The infamous StealthBasedMission on Cairn station. Once Imperial troops spot you, they'll either do one of two things: attack you or run straight for the alarm panel. If they get to the alarm panel, it's an immediate NonStandardGameOver showing Kyle get captured and tortured. Some of the troops and alarm panels are in really difficult-to-spot locations, especially at the very end of the stealth segment, where even entering the room causes you to be seen immediately if you don't climb into the AirVentPassageway above, disable the power, and use the JediMindTrick on several of the soldiers in the room. The game's mechanics are in no way suited for stealth, making this an exercise in frustration. Prepare to do a ''lot'' of SaveScumming.

* HilariousInHindsight: At end of ''Jedi Outcast'', Jan Ors mentions that Lando Calrissian owes her some credits over a bet. Over a decade later, Creator/VanessaMarshall (Jan's voice actress from that game) voices Hera Syndulla in ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'', said character meets Lando late in the first season and their first meeting ends with Lando owing Hera money.
* ScrappyLevel: The infamous StealthBasedMission on Cairn station. Once Imperial troops spot you, they'll either do one of two things: attack you or run straight for the alarm panel. If they get to the alarm panel, it's an immediate NonStandardGameOver showing Kyle get captured and tortured. Some of the troops and alarm panels are in really difficult-to-spot locations, especially at the very end of the stealth segment, where even entering the room causes you to be seen immediately [[spoiler:if you don't climb into the AirVentPassageway above, disable the power, and use the JediMindTrick on several of the soldiers in the room]]. The game's mechanics are in no way suited for stealth, making this an exercise in frustration. Prepare to do a ''lot'' of SaveScumming.
** Any level before you get a lightsaber, really.

* ThatOneLevel: Nar Shaddaa of ''Jedi Outcast'' is the first level after you get the lightsaber back. Does it present you with Stormtroopers to let loose on? Nope – it's crawling with snipers that can kill you in one hit if they want to '''and''' they all have great aim. Plus, they're hard to find and shoot. And the preponderance of bottomless pits and walkways with no railings.

** The Reborn, especially since the duels with them, are pretty much a LuckBasedMission. Shadowtroopers are even worse.

* EvenBetterSequel: Jedi Outcast is considered to be the best in the DarkForcesSaga due to the improvements in the Lightsaber and Force mechanics.

* ScrappyLevel: The infamous StealthBasedMission on Cairn station. Once Imperial troops spot you, they'll either do one of two things; Attack you or run straight for the alarm panel. If they get to the alarm panel, it's an immediate NonStandardGameOver showing Kyle get captured and tortured. Some of the troops and alarm panels are in really difficult to spot locations, especially at the very end of the stealth segment, where even entering the room causes you to be seen immediately [[spoiler: if you don't climb into the AirVentPassageway above, disable the power and use the JediMindTrick on several of the soldiers in the room]]. The game's mechanics are in no way suited for stealth, making this an exercise in frustration. Prepare to do a ''lot'' of SaveScumming.
* ScrappyWeapon: The Stun Rod from the first couple of levels. It's a nigh useless EmergencyWeapon that, given the amount of ammo available from Stormtroopers, will never see use by most players. It's telling that once Kyle gets his lightsabre back, the Stun Rod disappears for good.
* ThatOneBoss:
** Tavion is ''insanely'' hard to beat, mostly due to the fact that every once in a while she likes to perform an unblockable combo that kills you. In other words, whenever she resorts to that particular trick, you're ''screwed''.
** Desann. Not only does he hav 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.
* ThatOneLevel: Nar Shaddaa of ''Jedi Outcast'' is the first level after you get the Lightsaber back. Does it present you with Stormtroopers to let loose on? Nope - it's crawling with snipers that can kill you in one hit if they want to '''and''' they all have great aim. Plus, they're hard to find and shoot. And the preponderance of bottomless pits and walkways with no railings.

* ScrappyLevel: The infamous StealthBasedMission on Cairn station. Once Imperial troops spot you, they'll either do one of two things; Attack you or run straight for the alarm panel. If they get to the alarm panel, it's an immediate NonStandardGameOver showing Kyle get captured and tortured. Some of the troops and alarm panels are in really difficult to spot locations, especially at the very end of the stealth segment, where even entering the room causes you to be seen immediately [[spoiler: if you don't climb into the AirVentPassageway about, disable the power and use the JediMindTrick on several of the soldiers in the room]]. The game's mechanics are in no way suited for stealth, making this an exercise in frustration. Prepare to do a ''lot'' of SaveScumming.

* GoddamnedBats: The mine crabs on Artus Prime can be very annoying.

** Desann has 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.

** Rodian snipers, particularly on high difficulties when they can kill you in a few hits (with near-100% accuracy ''and'' able to fire multiple shots at a time, no less).

DemonicSpiders: