"No activation or online connection required to play." This is incorrect, apparently. I got excited hearing about this release on GOG because I thought that maybe it meant that the always-online requirement was gone. This is false and this has the same level of DRM that it has on Steam and every other platform. It does not belong on GOG until this is corrected. I will update my review if and when this changes.
Out of all the Star Wars I have played in my life and out of all the ones available now on gog, this one stands alone as my all time favorite. There are two kinds of Jedi Knight fans: those who prefer Outcast and those who prefer Academy. I am obviously the latter. The reason for this is twofold: the improved saber combat and the mission selection. The saber from Outcast was given many, many more options and moves than in Outcast. You even have the ability to eventually choose between single, double-bladed, or dual sabers with 3 fighting styles each. This allows for insane replayability and extraordinary variation in the multiplayer. On top of this is the fact that you begin the game with your saber itself. Some people might criticize that as making the game too easy, I'll just say that I consider it making the game too fun! The shooting in Outcast for the first few levels was a weak point IMO because the horribly slow nature of the blasters just isn't that fun to shoot when it's all that's at your disposal. The single player missions in Jedi Academy are uniquely presented to you selectively. As the story progresses you are given 5 missions to complete but are only required to do 4 of them. This allows you to either prolong or quicken the pace of the game to your liking as well as find a level or two that you don't like and skip it every time if you wish! I prefer this when it comes to replaying the game as sometimes I just want to do all the quick missions and get to the endgame as soon as possible where the whole thing consists of dozens of amazing saber duels. However, massacring stormtroopers is its own kind of fun. This game is a top notch Jedi combat simulator from beginning to end that is unmatched when it comes to the gameplay. Yeah the story might be a little cheesy but it more than suffices. If story is what you want, I'll point you to KOTOR II. If you're here for the most addicting and fun third person combat you've ever played, look no further.