If you've ever wanted to experience a true Street Fighter-esque Star Wars fighting game, this mod for Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy may be exactly what you need.

Star Wars fans finally have the fighting game they've always wanted – as long as they're okay with modding older titles. This newly-released mod for Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy turns the 2003 shooter into a 1-v-1 fighting game with Street Fighter-style perspectives and health bars.

Right now the mod, entitled Jedi Fighter, is in beta and is available to any person who owns Jedi Academy on Steam or with the original disk. All the mod files needed are available on ModDB. The mod allows players to take control of 10 unique Star Wars characters, including Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi, and fight it out in a range of iconic arenas. Each character has their own devastating special moves and force powers, allowing the fighters to each feel and act differently in a tradition fighting game manner.

Whilst this release, beta 2, solely focuses on 1-v-1 matches between human opponents, the next beta will aim to introduce a new machine learning system for bots. According to the game's developer:

"Beta 3 in January will have full fighting game AI based on neural networks. They'll be trained to figure out the best move based on their position relative to the opponent, their speed relative to the opponent, their moves list and health. They will also learn from opponents during matches."

Jedi Fighter runs on the OpenJK engine which players can download from here, along with installation instructions to get the mod going. Whilst AI support is not yet fully optimized, Jedi Fighter does contain a range of impressive features such as a dynamic camera and full widescreen support at custom resolutions. Although Jedi Academy didn't make our list of The Best Star Wars Games, perhaps this mod will also help inspire new players to experience the critically-acclaimed title.

This new mod for Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy is just one of many ways that Star Wars fans can pass the time before Rogue One or 2017's release of Episode VIII. Many fans will also be happy to hear that several classic Star Wars games are now available on the PS4. Current-gen gamers who have already picked up EA's Battlefront will also get access to new DLC, adding costumes and a new map to the best-selling shooter.

Jedi Fighter will finally allow players to experience the Star Wars fighting game that we've been asking for ever since the abysmal Masters of Teräs Käsi for PS1 which was received as grossly unbalanced and highly disappointing. The mod is available now for all Jedi Academy owners.

Jedi Academy was released in 2003 on PC, OS X, AmigaOS 4, and the original Xbox.