I really like reaching the point in a playthrough when you begin to be able to push/pull multiple enemies around. I do agree the lightsaber+force power combat in Outcast/Academy was an improvement over the originals though. Sure, if you take a step back and look at the layouts of the older games then the designs can seem pretty crazy, but a lot of that was likely down to engine limitations and I think they did a pretty good job overall. I remember that sandworm level but only because it was always one I felt bored playing through, there wasn't much to it. Many of them still stand out in my mind many years later while the newer games mostly just blur together. The level design in JK+MotS is (again IMO) better than the later games.
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The level design felt significantly more inventive/adventurous/atmospheric, it was a lot more challenging in a good way, I liked the plot, there were some neat force power puzzles involved, and you got to play as Mara Jade (this was really cool as someone who absolutely loved Timothy Zahn's Thrawn Trilogy)! IMO it's still one of the best examples around of how to put together a good expansion pack. I've always thought it was one of the few expansions that actually managed to improve on its original game. It might be partly down to nostalgia but I'd reverse those rankings! In particular I'm surprised to see MotS getting that sort of abuse.
OK, I'm afraid I am going to have to totally disagree with you here :) I thought that one was by far the worst Jedi game, cheap and nasty.
Basically, I'd rank the four games as Outcast > Academy > Jedi Knight > Mysteries of the Sith.