Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles Review — an elegant remaster for a more civilised age
Long ago, back when many, myself included, were modifying their PlayStation Portable (PSP) systems to run emulators and PlayStation 1 games thanks to a memory card exploit, there was one game that refused to work for me.
No matter how many methods I tried, the game would crash as soon as the LucasArts logo appeared. Yes, this was Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles, which I first discovered one weekend after randomly picking it as a Blockbuster rental in 2000. I approached it with trepidation, given how there were a lot of average games using the Star Wars license in horrendous ways — Star Wars Demolition being a prime example.
Although I had eagerly awaited and enjoyed playing Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace on PlayStation 1, I was still wary of Jedi Power Battles. But once I played it, I was won over. From timed-blaster deflections, great levels, lots of challenge, bonus levels, to fantastic couch co-op, Jedi Power Battles brought a lot to the table.
When it came to the PSP, I was gutted that I couldn't replay it on the go. But not anymore! To my surprise, a remaster of Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles — out today — finally fulfils the wish younger-me had all those years ago, playing one of the best Star Wars games everywhere I go via my Nintendo Switch (and soon, Switch 2).
Having been given early code for the game before its release today, I want to go into what makes this remaster showcase the best of early 2000's Star Wars games.
Return of the Jedi (Power Battles)
Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles came out in March 2000 for the PlayStation 1, followed by an improved Dreamcast release in October 2000, featuring improvements which we'll explain later. Imagine Streets of Rage, but with lightsabers and force powers, intertwined with the narrative of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace — and you get Jedi Power Battles. Some platforming can be frustratingly precise, but the game's combat and couch co-op were massive highlights. Having replayed the game countless times since 2000, I was very surprised to see it remastered.
As soon as the game starts up, the upscaled-intro videos along with the redone title screen stand out, complete with Mace Windu's purple lightsaber — which was blue in the original. This remaster is based on the Dreamcast version, released six months after the original PlayStation 1 version, complete with fixed bugs, a higher frame rate and better graphics. However, it did come with one of the worst title screens and user interfaces I've ever seen. Samuel L Jackson's head awkwardly put onto Ewan McGregor's body — a horrifying sight. So it's nice that this remaster takes the title screen from the PS1 version, but also improves the UI when selecting a new character.
Speaking of that, this remasters offers a huge amount of characters to choose from compared to before. Ki-Adi-Mundi, previously exclusive to the DC version, is now playable, as well as Amidala, Captain Panaka, and more. But it's when you complete the game that you're given a 'New Game Plus' mode, where you can control a vast amount of characters — from Battle Droids to Tusken Raiders. Each with their own amount of unique attacks, but of course, it's Jar Jar that steals the spotlight. Featuring a powerful array of attacks, I was able to defeat Darth Maul and heal the timeline where Qui-Gon and Anakin live happily ever after across the galaxy.
The hidden levels, previously unlocked by completing the game with certain characters, are immediately available. These include racing against Gungans, playing as a Destroyer Droid, and obtaining the one-hit 'Ultimate Saber'. It's a nice touch as these levels give some added and, random variety to players. While these features are much-appreciated, how does the gameplay hold up after all these years?
Wipe them out. All of them. For points.
Very well, as it turns out. Jedi Power Battles is now in native widescreen, which does expose some glitches from time to time, but not game-breaking. The 'modern controls' are just buttons remapped to other buttons, but they still work well — although I would have liked the right-stick to be used for the special force attacks as a better way to access them. The loading screens are near-instant here too, especially when your character falls to their death and they're taken back to the latest checkpoint, instead of the delay that used to feel like forever.
Jedi Power Battles isn't a demanding game by today's standards, making this modern port a straightforward one. However, the developers have clearly remade some textures across the game, such as the user interface, those found in Ruins, as well as improvements for characters and enemies. It's a welcome touch, and shows that a lot of care was put into this remaster.
One low point are the unforgiving platform sections, such as those found in the Naboo swamp levels which require exact timing to land, otherwise you'll find yourself back at the latest checkpoint. It would have been nice to have seen these sections improved upon, as they're going to frustrate new players, but it does give them an idea of how unfair certain sections used to be in some games during that era.
There really isn't much more to say. It's a very fun game that, while frustrating in parts, owes to a time when developers could have some fun with the Star Wars licence, instead of hyping up narratively-open-world-with-high-stakes games that are either years away from release or cancelled before they see the light of day.
To note, now that this game is available on PC, I'm really looking forward to the mods that fans will clearly be applying to it. We've seen plenty of these happen before, with Sonic Origins and the Metal Gear Solid Vol. 1 collections, so I'm curious as to how Jedi Power Battles will be given similar treatment.
Yes, Jedi Power Battles is likely going to have some interesting reviews that will look at it as a bad, frustrating game, and that's fair – we need varying opinions in this day and age, more than ever. But if you want to truly see what a rental game meant as you lose yourself and a friend in the nonsensicality of Jar Jar and Plo Koon facing off against droids over a weekend, Jedi Power Battles is a perfect example of that.
Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles is available now for PS4/PS5, Nintendo Switch/2, Xbox Series and PC. Code was supplied by Aspyr.
