There are no cutscenes to connect the dots between missions, no character development, and little sense of narrative cohesion. It’s purely a backdrop for action. Particularly back in the 2000s when this was first released, full-motion video clips from the movie itself would’ve been a nice addition for more flair in the re-release. Unfortunately, that’s asking a little too much because this remaster feels more like a direct port with minimal substantial updates, changes, or quality-of-life improvements for approximately $30 AUD.

Let’s dive into what’s different in the remaster. To be playable on modern consoles, the controls have been updated to be more intuitive and smoother. A lightsaber colour toggle has also been added for customisation so you can finally play as Mace Windu wielding a purple lightsaber (blue in the original game). Additionally, there are 13 new playable characters, including the Rifle Droid, Jar Jar Binks, and even a generic Rodian—yippee! The updates feel like a barebones effort that doesn’t sufficiently improve the game.

Admittedly, couch co-op in Jedi Power Battles can be fun, especially when played with friends or family. The simple, hack-and-slash gameplay lends itself well to multiplayer, as you and your partner can just dive into the action, taking on droids and bosses, and have a laugh. All characters are unlocked from the start, too, which is a nice touch for players who want to jump straight in.

Still, not all game modes hold up. Gungan Roundup, for instance, is essentially a frustrating soccer game that struggles against the game’s outdated mechanics and systems. Kudos to the developers for trying to fix some issues, but moments like this remind you how dated a mediocre game from 2000 is in 2025.

Platforming sections are infamous and remain a major pain point in the remaster. The physics are floaty, collision detection is inconsistent, and the 2.5D perspective makes judging jumps a nightmare. The developers claim to have improved the jump and balance systems, basing them on the Dreamcast version which was better than the PlayStation 1 release.

In my playthrough, jumping between platforms was still an exercise in frustration. I frequently slid off edges or misjudged jumps, particularly in some training missions with tight time limits. It’s an improvement on paper, but in practice, it doesn’t fully fix the platforming woes that plagued the original.

Even with adjustments to the jumping and balance mechanics, the game still feels unnecessarily punishing and outdated. When the biggest challenge is battling the mechanics and physics rather than the gameplay itself, it’s clear there’s a serious issue. While I can appreciate Aspyr’s “additions, not revisions” intent on preserving the true experience, this remaster was a golden opportunity to fix inherent flaws and transform the game into fantastic couch co-op action. It could have been perfect for those who played it as kids and are now adults, or for Star Wars fans simply looking for something fun to enjoy together. Instead, what we’re left with is an incredibly disappointing experience.

The audio design is a mixed bag. The soundtrack, heavily influenced by John Williams’ iconic Star Wars compositions, remains one of the game’s strongest elements, adding grandeur and familiarity. However, the sound effects fall short. Lightsaber clashes and blaster shots lack the punch and depth you’d expect, and the voice acting can feel stilted and poorly synced at times.

There are also several small issues with the user interface. The main menu uses a scrolling list that hides options until selected, which can be frustrating. There’s no option to remap controls, the mission complete screen offers little information, and the concept art menu is a basic slideshow with no thumbnails for easy selection. Despite the “quality of life improvements” touted by the developers, these design choices detract from the overall experience.

On the technical side, the game performs well. Frame rates are stable, and load times are noticeably faster than the original versions. These improvements don’t do much to address the game’s deeper flaws. What’s worse is, this is becoming a reoccurring issue for Aspyr. The studio’s last remaster of Star Wars: Bounty Hunter didn’t prove to be much better.