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                <b><font size="4">E3 Jedi Outcast Impressions</font></b><br>
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                <b>
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                  <img src="images/jedioutcast_intro.jpg" width="285" height="111">
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                By <a href="mailto:kweiser@themushroom.com">Kevin Weiser</a></b><br>
                Editor and owner of <a href="http://www.themushroom.com">TheMushroom.com</a><br>
                Special Guest Reporter<br>
                <br>
                <b>Title: Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast<br>
                <br>
                Platform: PC Windows<br>
                <br>
                Publisher: Raven/Activision<br>
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                Genre: First Person Action/Shooter<br>
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                Tentative Release Date: Q2 2002</b><br>
                <br>
                What I saw of Jedi Knight 2 was very early in development. Rick 
                Johnson of Raven software told me this: "I want to tell you now, 
                when you see Jedi Knight, remember, it's only a month's worth 
                of work. I'm not saying that as an excuse, but because I'm boasting." 
                And he has every right to boast. I'd easily put the pre-alpha, 
                one level build of JK2 in my top five coolest things I saw at 
                this year's E3. <br>
                <br>
                The level was pretty simple: an Imperial base of some kind, lots 
                of Storm troopers, a few droids, some crates, and one Dark Jedi. 
                I didn't really have time to notice who was doing what, though, 
                as the person playing the game proceeded to tear it up Jedi style 
                on about two dozen Storm troopers without breaking a sweat. JK2 
                uses the Quake 3 engine, and so far it's one of the best implementations 
                I've seen of it, though Soldier of Fortune 2 (also by Raven Software) 
                and Medal of Honor: Allied Assault may give it a run for its money.<br>
                <br>
                I was especially impressed with all the little details they have 
                crammed in such a short amount of time. Mouser droids flit about, 
                the lightsaber leaves cuts in whatever it touches (even when you 
                are not swinging it; walk up to a wall and the saber will poke 
                into it like it wasn't there. The demo guy said that you can accidentally 
                kill NPC's if you aren't careful with it, ha!), Storm Troopers 
                that follow a commander and use squad tactics (though a bit weak 
                at this point, the AI has much work left on it) until you apply 
                your Jedi Mind Trick on them (then they look around in a confused 
                manner), reflective floors, and the list goes on and on.<br>
                <br>
                I took some time to grill the LEC rep about what kind of features 
                we can expect, and the list gets me pretty excited. There will 
                be a full single player campaign, with plot and stuff. Of course 
                at this point they didn't want to go into details, but I can say 
                you play Kyle Katarn, and he is a full-blown Jedi at this point. 
                I saw Kyle use both 'light side' and 'dark side' abilities, including 
                a lightsaber throw, force lightning, force push, and force jump. 
                Multiplayer looks pretty promising too, with all the old features 
                from JK1, as well as a few extras, like co-operative play! I personally 
                can't wait for that one.<br>
                <br>
                We've still got to wait a bit before we see more of JK2, but I 
                personally will be first in line to get my copy.<br>
                <br>
		<a href="http://www.jediknightii.net/downloads.shtml">Exclusive E3 gameplay video footage (click here)</a><br><br>
                <i>Special thanks to Kevin Weiser for this preview!</i><br>
                <br>
                <b>Check out our own Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast <a href="http://www.jediknight.net/cgi-bin/mboard/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum&f=29">community 
                forums</a> to share your thoughts.</b> 


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