Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles Adds Jar Jar Binks as Surprise Playable Character

Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles will give Jar Jar Binks his time in the limelight as a playable character when it launches later this month.

Developer Aspyr revealed the surprise character inclusion from a galaxy far, far away with a special trailer today. It’s the kind of reveal die-hard Star Wars fans have only dreamed (or had nightmares) about, as the video shows Jar Jar leaping through iconic locations as he beats down droids with a staff. It’s not quite Darth Jar Jar, but it’s still a goofy addition that few expected to see actually make its way into the upcoming remaster.

Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles originally launched in 2000 and came with more than a few playable characters. Some obvious faces that appeared include Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn, but several deeper cuts, such as Plo Koon and Adi Gallia, are also featured. Although Jar Jar plays a prominent role in The Phantom Menace, the Gungan hero was not originally available to control in the game. Later this month, that will finally change.

Aspyr announced its Star Wars prequel revival late last year, revealing plans to bring the nearly 25-year-old video game to modern audiences with a few new features. Highlights include changeable lightsaber colors and cheat code support. It’s a goodie bag full of upgrades for fans of the original release and sci-fi fans in general, with Jar Jar added to further sweeten the deal. Aspyr also teases “more surprises” for players to find, though it’s unclear what exactly it has in store.

Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles lands on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X | S January 23 for $19.99.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

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