Star Wars: Episode I: Jedi Power Battles | PS5 Review

Surely we all remember where we were in the summer of 1999, when the hype surrounding the first Star Wars film in over 15 years had reached a fever pitch, the likes of which we haven’t seen before – or since for that matter. Merchandise flooded stores, people bought tickets for unrelated films just to watch the trailer, and every multiplex around the country became temporary homeless encampments as fans camped for days and weeks to be the first in line to packed theaters. But, when Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace hit the big screen, it became one of the most infamous letdowns in pop culture history.

Make no mistake, The Phantom Menace was still a box office behemoth and a cultural juggernaut, which naturally translated to a wave of tie-in video games. However, it didn’t just get one—it got four, with the most memorable being Star Wars Episode I: Racer. The others included the official Phantom Menace tie-in game, Battle for Naboo—a flight combat title and spiritual successor to Rogue Squadron—and finally, Jedi Power Battles, a beat-’em-up that rounded out the roster of games bearing the “Episode I” moniker. Now, 25 years later (yikes), the fine people at Aspyr have resurrected this often-forgotten title, giving it their usual dash of modernization and a fresh coat of paint, while maintaining the spirit (and frustrations) of its original release.

Negotiations Were Short

Originally released in 2000, Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles is an arcade-style beat-’em-up with some mild platforming. The story loosely follows the plot of Episode I but skips over some of the film’s more—shall we say—problematic bits, focusing instead on the hack-and-slash action of playing as Jedi Knights. That means no politics, no trade disputes, no midichlorians, and a lot less Jar Jar. Some would call that an improvement.

That said, the game still features the same locations and set pieces from the movie, even if some of the playable characters weren’t actually present in those scenes. At launch, players could choose from five Jedi: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, Mace Windu, Plo Koon, and Adi Gallia. The latter three were Jedi Council members who never saw action on-screen—at least, not until Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. With only two active Jedi in The Phantom Menace, the developers expanded the roster with these Council members, giving fans a chance to wield their lightsabers years before the later prequel films did. This also gave the devs creative freedom to craft unique fighting styles for each character, without clashing with the established lore.

Fear Leads to Anger

At its core, Jedi Power Battles is a classic beat-’em-up with lightsabers, and that remains true in this remaster. The game modernizes some aspects—such as improved visuals, smoother performance, and quality-of-life tweaks—but, like all of Aspyr’s previous Star Wars remasters, it still very much plays like a game from the year 2000. So expect some stiff platforming, a sometimes unforgiving difficulty curve, and the occasional bout of clunky hit detection.

That being said, the combat system, while simple by today’s standards, still holds up as a fun arcade-style experience. Each Jedi has their own unique fighting style, with different lightsaber combos and Force abilities, offering some variety. Co-op play adds another layer of enjoyment, making it easier to deal with the game’s often brutal enemy encounters. However, don’t expect the fluid, cinematic combat of later Star Wars titles like The Force Unleashed or Jedi: Fallen Order—this is old-school action through and through. And just like the original, co-op is limited to local couch play only, with no online functionality.

As a bonus, Aspyr has expanded the initial roster to include over 20 playable characters, adding more replayability. Notably, this includes non-Jedi like Padmé Amidala and Captain Panaka, who wield blasters instead of lightsabers. Playing as these characters completely changes the experience, transforming Jedi Power Battles from a melee-focused beat-’em-up like Golden Axe into something more akin to Contra, with run-and-gun gameplay that makes the game feel surprisingly fresh, and easier to play.

Anger Leads to Hate

Most of us who remember playing Jedi Power Battles back in the day likely associate it with the original PlayStation, but we often forget it also saw a release on the Sega Dreamcast. Being a next-generation platform at the time, the Dreamcast offered the best experience in terms of graphics and fidelity. The Dreamcast version didn’t suffer from that “warbling texture” effect that often plagued PS1 titles, making it a smoother and more visually appealing experience overall. Naturally, it’s the Dreamcast version this remaster is built upon, bringing its visual enhancements forward while refining them for modern displays. 

One small but notable change is the color of Mace Windu’s lightsaber. In the original 2000 release, Windu’s saber was simply a generic blue, as the now-iconic purple color wasn’t yet established for the character. It wouldn’t be until Attack of the Clones that Samuel L. Jackson’s request for a unique purple lightsaber became part of Star Wars lore. In this remaster, his saber has been updated to its proper purple hue, staying true to the established canon while offering a bit of fan service for those who were paying attention.

Despite the modern updates, it’s hard to escape the fact that Jedi Power Battles still looks like a game from the late ’90s/early 2000s. The polygonal characters and environments retain that distinctly blocky, angular aesthetic of the era, which may feel nostalgic for some, but certainly makes the game look dated by today’s standards. While Aspyr has added a fresh coat of paint, the fundamental visual style hasn’t strayed too far from its original design.

The audio design remains largely intact, including one particular sound that’s lived rent-free in my head for 25 years. Every time you pick up an item or health pack, you’d hear a giggling sound from Yoda. For some reason, even with the limited time I spent playing this game at the time, that sound has stuck with me. Now, playing this remaster, just when I thought I had finally evicted that memory, the giggle will now likely live on for another 25 years as a squatter in my head.

Hate Leads to Suffering

Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles Remastered is a nostalgic trip down memory lane for those who enjoyed the original back in the day. For just $20, this remaster offers a charming, if dated, experience that’ll bring back memories of simpler times when lightsaber combat and beat-‘em-up gameplay were all the rage. The graphics and performance updates, based on the Sega Dreamcast version, make it feel fresh enough for a quick revisit, while the expanded character roster adds fun variety.

However, for those coming to it for the first time, it can be a hard sell. Jedi Power Battles was a product of its time, and while it paved the way for future Star Wars games, it’s clear that titles like The Force Unleashed have since perfected the formula. It’s hard to walk when you’ve been so accustomed to running—while Jedi Power Battles laid the groundwork, it’s the more modern games that have truly raised the bar for Star Wars action.

If you loved it back then, this remaster will give you a solid fix of nostalgia. But if you’re new to the game, you might find it difficult to enjoy in the shadow of the more refined Star Wars games that have come since. Still, as a brief trip into the past, Jedi Power Battles Remastered remains a fun, albeit imperfect, slice of Star Wars gaming history.

To hear me talk more about Star Wars: Episode I: Jedi Power Battles, be sure to listen to the January 29, 2025 episode of The Gaming Outsider podcast around the 1:32:32 time stamp.

This review is based on a PlayStation 5 copy of Star Wars: Episode I: Jedi Power Battles provided by Sandbox Strategies for coverage purposes. It is also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.