In which 1997 game did players first wield a lightsaber in first-person?

In which 1997 game did players first wield a lightsaber in first-person? Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II. Released for Windows in 1997, the game transformed the Dark Forces formula by giving Kyle Katarn access to both the Force and a lightsaber. Players could still use blasters and other weapons, but the lightsaber became a defining part of the gameplay after the early levels.

The game was developed and published by LucasArts as the sequel to 1995's Star Wars: Dark Forces. Its new Sith engine supported more advanced 3D environments, hardware acceleration, free-looking, and a switchable third-person perspective. Although the lightsaber could be viewed from another perspective, it was fully usable during first-person play.

A common mix-up is Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, released in 2002. That sequel is often remembered for its deeper lightsaber combat and multiple fighting styles, but Dark Forces II introduced the lightsaber to the series years earlier. The game also introduced Force powers and branching Light Side and Dark Side progression.