Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles Remaster

It doesn’t do anything remotely interesting and there are plenty of other Star Wars games from the era that are available to play, so unless you have some very specific nostalgic memories tied to Jedi Power Battles, you’re definitely better off revisiting one of those other games and leaving this one alone.

Irritating gameplay issues aside, this is a decently fun nostalgia romp through Episode I's setting.

Star Wars: Episode I: Jedi Power Battles didn’t need a remaster, but it did deserve preservation. Unfortunately, aside from slightly enhanced graphics, little has changed or improved. The controls feel jankier than ever, and the same frustrations from years ago remain intact. That said, it might still shine as a co-op drinking game, taking a shot every time you're knocked down by a blaster shot. Or maybe not, someone could get poisoned.

Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles is a good idea stuck with a mediocre execution. The various mechanics — from the platforming to the combat to the defensive inconsistencies — make what should be a simple game more laborious. While the addition of more characters should be great for fans of Episode I in particular, the fact that none of them play well makes the expanded roster even less appealing to unlock. If you're a very forgiving person, you may have some fun with this, but everyone else is better off playing either another beat-'em-up or another Star Wars game.

To put it simply, if this was one of those retro re-releases that are basically fancy emulators with additional screen filters and save states, maybe online play as a treat, Star Wars: Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles (whew) probably would’ve been alright. Instead, we have this bizarre Frankenmaster that looks and sounds like the end result of someone playing with a PlayStation emulator for the first time and pushing the sliders all the way up. Preservation is important, even for games that aren’t “classics.” This isn't the preservation you've been looking for.