Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
Best Prices Today: Star Wars: Jedi Challenges
If you ’ve ever dreamt of being a Jedi Knight , here ’s something well than just swing around a plastic lightsaber miniature — now you may wield a plastic lightsaber that pairs with a headset , let you battle against familiar Star Wars villain in the solace of your life room .
Lenovo’sStar war : Jedi Challengesis an augment reality experience that is powered by the iPhone 6 or newer and compatible Android flagship smartphones ( list here ) , which slip into the headset and allow for the visuals . This is n’t practical realness , however : You ’re not close off from the remote humanity while playing , since the images on the phone covert are mirror and projected onto a semitransparent plastic vizor in front of your oculus — and thus , atop your real surroundings . We ’ve previously called it one of ourtop pick for Star Wars fans .
Your phone sits snugly in a tray that slots into the headset , providing the brains of the operation .
Once you ’re plug in and looking through the vizor , your motion - sensing lightsaber controller advance a digital vane you may use to duel the likes of Kylo Ren and Darth Vader , and even the red armor - cloak Praetorian Guards fromStar Wars : The Last Jedi . Emerging victorious in battle require a mix of defensive posture , well - time strikes , and the occasional Force power attack , and the skirmish can be amazingly challenging . They also look passably slick , with fluidly - animated 3D competitor in view .
Jedi Challenges packs in a distich of other AR games , as well . One modal value plays out like a real - time strategy secret plan , in which you ’ll place down gun enclosure towers , soldier , and Jedi warriors onto a battlefield from an overhead view . That ’s solidly compelling . On the other hand , Holochess — the iconic , holographical chess game - with - monsters instrument panel game from the original film — proves reasonably dull in this rendition , allow for little in the way of tactical scheme as you overlook pieces .
enemy do n’t feelquitethis imposing thanks to the limited field of vision , but at least this mockup image is thematically on item .
But while Star Wars : Jedi Challenges prove off the baron and potential of AR play , it also show that there ’s still some ways to go in terms of refinement . You ’ll have four unlike battery - powered spell to keep powered — the headset , lightsaber , light - up tracker , and your iPhone — and grow up and run can take a few minutes of setup each metre . Furthermore , while the headset is gratefully roomy enough to accommodate glasses , the massiveness of my iPhone X had it flag awkwardly on my nerve no matter how much I play with the strap .
And sadly , the lightsaber trailing is inconsistent : After a few frenzied swings , you may see that the digital brand is no longer coming straight out of the restrainer . you could bear the lightsaber directly ahead and press a button to readjust the range , but having to do that several time during a battle takes you out of the experience . Playing Jedi Challenges feels like playing some of the camera - driven Xbox Kinect game from a few years ago : when the tech is antiphonal and works exactly as intend , it can be a lot of fun . When it does n’t , the illusion break .
Bottom line
Luckily , Star Wars : Jedi Challenges strike more than it lose . Despite its technological rub , Lenovo ’s AR bundle is a novel and entertaining digital - meets - strong-arm experience for franchise die - hards . At the new lower MSRP of $ 150 , it ’s still a morsel pricey for a gaming package that ’s strictly about Star Wars , so casual buff can safely steer absolved — but if you could abide the investment and deal with some irritation , Jedi Challenges really is rather cool .
