Star Wars: Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles review: Can you just sell me a ROM instead?

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It’s clear that there are individuals who find joy in the return of Star Wars: Episode 1 – Jedi Power Battles, which has resurfaced from their cherished memories. I found it intriguing that one podracing game was revived since it was part of the pile of average Star Wars games I used to play as a child. This is one of those instances where nostalgia leads people to appreciate something less than perfect. I understand this phenomenon, although it’s puzzling. Video games can be peculiar that way – they sometimes celebrate the return of what might otherwise be considered subpar games. I’m not here to criticize an easy target; I’m more intrigued and somewhat perplexed by it. That’s just how video games work, full of contradictions.

No really, I’m not judging you

Episode I – The Phantom Menace, allowing you to select a character and progress through action stages that bear a resemblance to arcade games. You’ll encounter droids and other adversaries while advancing screen by screen, similar to beat ’em ups. However, the game offers an angled, 3D perspective and more intricate controls to distinguish it from traditional side-scrolling brawlers.

As a Star Wars enthusiast, what draws me is the opportunity to engage in an action-packed, easy-going Star Wars game with a buddy, where lightsaber combat goes beyond simple button mashing. It offers horizontal and vertical attacks, various moves triggered by precise timing, adversaries that recognize the block button, and a block mechanism capable of deflecting lasers too! Just as in the movies, it’s all about that iconic lightsaber duel feel, and boy, you sure spend a lot of time blocking those relentless laser attacks.

I’m glad I don’t get migraines

It’s clear that prior Star Wars games were either shooter-like PC experiences or simple action games/platformers. This one, however, was different – you could play it on your PlayStation and have fun battling robots with lasers until bedtime. I understand! However, without any nostalgia to push me through, this game is quite a struggle to endure due to its self-sabotaging aspects. It’s a disorganized mess, seemingly an update that doesn’t do justice to the original characters or aesthetics. The graphics are awkwardly proportioned and jittery at high resolution; the UI resembles assets from retail chain HR videos; and the sound effects are poorly mixed, making it feel like you’re being haunted by a faulty internet browser soundboard. Questions arise: Why does Yoda giggle when I pick up health, why is his giggle so loud, and why do Qui-Gon Jinn’s boots screech like the San Francisco BART every time I stop running?

At the second stage, you find yourself in a fast-paced running challenge similar to Crash Bandicoot, where dinosaurs accompany your dash. Jar Jar Binks is present, and a loud, piercing yelp echoes frequently, seemingly etched into my memory forever. This sound repeats every other second until a droid battle ensues, and it doesn’t cease until then. He reappears occasionally to intensify the unsettling experience. After defeating a colossal maggot, I encountered issues with its hit detection that were hard to decipher. Upon killing it, there was an unexpected cutscene where my character fell off a cliff due to the maggot’s actions, forcing me to redo the fight. Looking back, that level didn’t provide much enjoyment.

I found the problem

Initially, I mentioned abstaining from criticizing this game earlier, but I didn’t promise to overlook its issues with the new port. Surprisingly, I took an unusual step and booted up the original version on a Dreamcast emulator. To add a touch of nostalgia, I applied a CRT filter, suspecting it would significantly enhance the experience. And boy, was I correct! The filter successfully toned down the character models, softening their peculiarities. However, that’s not all. The sound effects, though still quirky, were remarkably softer and harmonized beautifully with the music. Even the user interface seemed improved, appearing more polished rather than the placeholder-like elements in the port. In essence, while it remains Jedi Power Battles at its core, the memories of pizza nights, Mad Catz controllers, and that goofy Star Wars game we played when friends visited resurfaced vividly.

It’s worth mentioning that I found it difficult to transition from walking to running while holding a block, which made the intense style I was trying to adopt for the new version quite challenging. Therefore, I acknowledge the role the block played in this situation.

Episode 1 – Jedi Power Battles was a modern remake with enhanced graphics, save functions, multiplayer mode, and other improvements, it might have been enjoyable. However, it feels more like an awkward mishmash of various game elements due to overuse of advanced features in the PlayStation emulator, which makes it less appealing. It’s essential to preserve even lesser-known games, but this version isn’t a preservation effort you’d appreciate.

The game “Star Wars: Episode 1 – Jedi Power Battles” can be played right now across multiple platforms, including PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, as well as Xbox One and Series X|S. For this review, I was given a code to play on the PC by the game’s publisher.

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2025-01-24 18:28