The world of Star Wars has been an integral part of our lives since its inception in 1977. With numerous films, TV shows, books, and comics, the franchise has managed to capture the hearts of millions of fans worldwide. One of the latest additions to the Star Wars universe is the video game, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. In this article, we will discuss the game in detail and why it is a must-play for any Star Wars fan.
When I first started playing Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, I was terrified and worried. I kept asking myself, “How could Respawn follow up on its outstanding Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order?” However, after spending so many hours playing the sequel, I discovered how they got it right, Cal Kestis grew stronger, and I learned how to get along with others. And now we are back where we started, in deep space… okay, okay, don’t go! I’ll quit. The point is that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is, in many respects, the Batman: Arkham City to Fallen Order’s Arkham Asylum due to its vastly expanded combat options, larger, more open maps, vastly more abilities to play with, and enough collectible stuff to fill a Correllian freighter. This is because Star Wars Jedi: Survivor features vastly expanded combat options, larger, more open maps, and vastly more abilities to play with. And just as the Arkham games did for Batman, this does a much better job of convincingly capturing what it is like to play as a user of the Force than anything else.
I really like that the sequel begins with most of the powers and upgrades that Cal had already acquired – there isn’t any lame amnesia or other “Oh no, my powers are gone!” type of plot device like there was in Fallen Order if you haven’t played it before starting Survivor. This is especially important when you consider that there’s no reason not to play Fallen Order before beginning Survivor if you haven’t already.” gimmick that requires you to relearn how to double leap or utilize the force push, and no Jawas sneaked up on you and stole the climbing claws that make scaling walls much faster or the Scomp Link that allows BD-1 to hack stuff. This is more or less Cal as we left him five years ago, with the exception of the fact that you will need to earn back your healing canisters, as well as your life and Force bar extensions.
The game takes place shortly after the events of Revenge of the Sith, where the player character, Cal Kestis, is hiding from the Empire on the planet Bracca, working as a scrap salvager. After using the force to save his friend, he becomes a target of the Empire and is forced to go on the run. Along the way, he is joined by a former Jedi Knight, Cere Junda, and a small droid, BD-1. Together, they must evade the Empire, learn the ways of the force, and eventually confront the inquisitorious, the group of force-sensitive agents tasked with hunting down Jedi survivors.
The storyline is well-written and engaging, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the player on their toes. The characters are well-developed, and the voice acting is top-notch, adding to the immersive experience.
When everything finally gets underway, there is a brief caper on Imperial Coruscant that makes a reference to A New Hope before there is an exciting escape. This means that we are already off to an exciting running start. You are immediately thrust back into the action of using the Force to knock Storm Troopers off of ledges and stringing together various movement stunts, such as sprinting up walls, climbing, swinging from ropes, and sliding down ramps. And that’s just the beginning; the Spider-Man-style grapple, which can only be used at certain predetermined moments, is unlocked before you even reach Coruscant, and the unlocks keep arriving at a rewarding rate after that. When you unlock the mid-air dash ability to pair with your double-jump, things really start to take off. You are able to cover such insane distances without touching the ground, changing directions twice to reach things around corners, and I had to completely rethink what was possible because of it. Although it’s not like Survivor invented the air dash, Respawn makes excellent use of it, further flexing those Titanfall muscles in the process.
Moving around is undeniably enjoyable, but lightsabers are, without a doubt, the most important weapons in this conflict. With five distinct fighting positions, each of which is masterfully animated, Survivor amps up the already impressive battling from Fallen Order several notches, resulting in some of the flashiest and fiercest Star Wars combat battles I’ve ever seen. You don’t even have to be all that good at nailing the timing of strikes, parries, and dodges for fights to look spectacular and smooth as you carve a swath through enemies (but if you are it looks even cooler), and the fact that arms and legs can now sometimes get severed from Storm Troopers and other humanoids – not just droids and creatures, who get absolutely shredded – makes it feel more satisfyingly powerful than it ever has during kill animations.
Lightsabers are, without a doubt, the most important weapons in this conflict.
After experimenting with the single, double-bladed, and dual-wielding stances that carry over from Fallen Order, I decided to use the two new ones: the Crossguard style, which is inspired by Kylo Ren, and the hybrid Blaster stance, which provides an answer to the question, “Wouldn’t it be cool if Han Solo was also a Jedi?”” The Crossguard treats your lightsaber as a slow and heavy broadsword that is great for hammering a stunned target into the floor, while the latter equips you with a sidearm to dispatch small enemies without having to close the gap, and it sure makes short work of flamethrower troopers, packs of animals, or other opponents who like to get in close. It is, in every sense of the word, a great time. It goes without saying that once I earned the ability to toss my Crossguard saber to attack adversaries a little farther away, I felt as though either stance was capable of bringing down just about any monster when it was necessary, and I settled in for the ride. These lightsabers go well with the extended range of force powers that give you the ability to do things like pull in a whole group of foes and then execute a spinning slash that cuts them all down like individual blades of grass.
You may only equip two of the five stances at any given time, which first appeared unnaturally limited – and it is, when you stop to think about it – but I learned to love it because it gave my interpretation of Cal more individuality as a fighter. You can, of course, change your stances at any meditation circle; however, this might be difficult in the early hours of the game because you have a limited number of skill points to distribute (and you are only allowed one free respec). You are encouraged to specialize, as each stance has its own skill tree. By the time I reached the second part of the tale, I already knew which stances were my favorites, and I had no regrets about my choices.
When I got to the second half of the story, I already knew which perspectives were my favorites, and I had no regrets about my decisions.
The narrative does a good job of doing what it has to accomplish, which is to move you quickly from one spectacular action scene to the next. Cal finds himself in a race early on and very literally by falling into it by mistake. The goal is to uncover what is practically a map to a sunken treasure planet. This gives you lots of opportunities to visit ancient (well, old and abandoned at least) mystery rooms where you have to use your wits, the Force, and an enlarged variety of gadgetry to solve them. This is very much in keeping with the idea of him being the Nathan Drake of the Star Wars world. Importantly for a game like this one, it rarely feels like there is a lot of time pressure to rush to the next objective, so taking a detour on a side quest to investigate missing prospectors in a mine, find out what went wrong in a droid factory, or investigating the many other rumors you’re presented with by locals does not feel like you’re neglecting a responsibility to save the galaxy.
My primary complaint with the plot, despite the fact that it is a fairly fun adventure, is that nearly every major twist is heavily foreshadowed, to the point where it was never a question of if a disclosure would occur, but when it would occur instead. The identity of the primary antagonists are still a secret as of this moment and will not be revealed in this article; nonetheless, it is not hard to guess who they are even from a lightyear away. In any event, at least they are written and portrayed with such depth that they do not feel like retreads of anyone else that Cal has encountered before, and neither is a one-dimensional Sith Lord who has somehow made a comeback. There’s more to them than that, especially considering how well Survivor manages to put character development ahead of story development for the most part.
The members of the cast that I had such a good time with in Fallen Order are all present and accounted for.
The cast that I liked so much in Fallen Order is back in full force to go through those motions, and this time Cameron Monaghan’s performance as Cal is not as readily overshadowed by the other members of the crew of the Mantis. His reasons go beyond just wanting to defeat the Empire at this point; rather, they center on the question of whether or not he can lead a life in which he is something other than a resistance fighter, let go of his guilt, and locate a place to call home that is secure. His path after evading Order 66 is set against the backdrop of what might have been had he prioritized different things and taken a different approach to decision-making. This provides him with a significant amount of character development that he did not have when he was simply a terrified fugitive learning how to become a Jedi. His choices carry significantly more weight, which helps him become a significantly more realized protagonist in this iteration of the story.
Naturally, BD-1 was never far from Cal’s side, but the rest of the crew is given very human motivations for why they parted ways after the events of Fallen Order and why they are reuniting now. Greez’s lovable cantankerousness earned him a fan favorite, and he is delighted to give more of that along with some elder wisdom as he pilots the Mantis. However, he does his best to avoid overusing his “grab some seat” catchphrase. Merrin makes her comeback with a fresh appearance, which immediately rekindles some of the romantic spark between herself and Cal. In addition, after having toured the galaxy, Merrin has adopted a more laid-back demeanor, which makes her even more endearing. And despite the fact that she is less of a constant presence on the show now that Cal does not require a mentor, the always intense Cere is more powerful than ever, and this power is exhibited in a memorable way during one of Survivor’s most intense fight scenes.
Cere’s strength is put on show in a memorable way during one of Survivor’s most intense fight scenes.
Bode is the second new member of the team, in addition to a wide ensemble of interesting alien side characters, such as an antique protocol robot with a loose screw and a silly sea slug with a reverse diving suit and a heavy Scottish accent. He’s another shady mercenary type who, much like Cal did in Fallen Order, first appears to be somewhat unremarkable as the two bro it up to establish the camaraderie they’ve struck up battling the Empire together. He’s a rogue mercenary, but he’s no Cal. He’s a rogue mercenary. However, as his tragic history is revealed in greater detail, he develops into a more intriguing traveling companion.
Watching Merrin use her Nightcrawler-like teleportation to blink around the battle and pick off targets is a treat, and getting to fight alongside allies on certain story missions this time around is a treat as well (riding on her coattails leads to Jedi Survivor’s single most thrilling action sequence). You won’t have to worry about managing or watching over them while they’re in combat because they can’t be killed or brought down, but if you want to, you may have them focus their attention on a particularly troublesome raider to keep them occupied while you reduce the number of his allies in the group. Their banter and companionship definitely liven up the scenes in a way that BD-1’s adorable bleeps and bwoops couldn’t do on their own. Beyond that, they’re only really used to open up paths for you to reach new areas, which boils down to you pushing a button when prompted. But beyond that, they’re only really used to open up paths for you to reach new areas.
The fact that Survivor takes place in the middle of the time span between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope is used to its advantage in the story.
After a complete game of fighting largely Imperial Inquisitors, it’s a relief to see that the Empire’s involvement in this conflict is more subdued in the background. Of course, with new friends must also come foes (at least it made sense in my thinking), but it’s a pleasure to see that the Empire’s role is more subdued in this conflict. After you’ve been fighting the main enemy army of raiders and their salvaged Separatist battle droids for some time, their parade of different types of troopers and security droids are mostly here to provide some variety in the fight. It’s a creative method to realistically mix the foes from the original trilogy and the prequel trilogy together into the same game, and it makes use of the fact that Survivor takes place almost exactly in the middle of the time between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope.
There are also a plethora of monsters that are similar to those that we saw in the Fallen Order expansion. It would appear that no matter where you go in the Star Wars galaxy, nature always finds a way to create enormous, hostile wampas and bugs. It is a good mix of enemies and subtypes that builds on Fallen Order’s already respectable lineup, and when I found myself in the middle of a brawl where different factions are fighting it out (including any weak-minded enemies I’d temporarily Force-confused to my side), it was a great time.
Regarding the topic of animals, one of the many new skills that Cal has acquired is the ability to tame peaceful animals and turn them into mounts that he can ride. However, this ability is rarely put to use other than to allow Cal to gallop through empty areas slightly more quickly than he could have done so on foot. Given that running does not deplete his stamina, it would appear that the purpose of this feature is primarily aesthetic and intended to discourage people from asking Respawn if they can ride the animals. It’s true that it’s fairly awesome to witness the towering, long-legged spamel carry you across the sands of Jeddah, but that’s not the whole story. (Yes, they actually called an alien camel a spamel.) There’s also a flying mammal that can be used as a glider, albeit only at very precise spots; hence, it’s not much of a game-changer either; although, it does play neatly into environmental puzzles.
They are not at all like the typical Star Wars planets with a single distinct feature, such as Tatooine or the forest moon of Endor.
Getting back to the subject of ecosystems, our trip leads us to a number of planets that have never been explored before, some of which are enormous and include a wide variety of incredibly distinct regions inside their borders. Koboh, for example, is home to a variety of ecosystems, including meadows, swamps, underground facilities, a gigantic sunken Separatist ship, and even its very own version of Cloud City. They are a far cry from the typical monotonous planets in the Star Wars universe, such as Tatooine or the forest moon of Endor, which are, respectively, completely covered in redwoods or a desert with no vegetation whatsoever.
When I first entered a new section, the first thing I did was turn the camera around and look for telltale indicators that the level designers had left behind to suggest that a wall could be run along, a ceiling could be clung to, a crevice could be squeezed through, and other similar things. Because there are just so many, by the time I was finished with my 30-hour run through the story, I had trouble even remembering how to use all of the abilities I had gained. There are just that many. When I took into account all of the resources at my disposal, it was extremely rare for me to come across something that didn’t feel intuitive or fair, and levels themselves are puzzles that have been painstakingly designed and crafted in their own right.
The Star Wars Villains That Jedi: Survivor Faces Off Against
The fact that there is such a diverse range of puzzles to solve is a plus for this adventure, which features nearly equivalent amounts of action and brainteasers to solve. The puzzles that deal with directing energy beams and even painting paths are interesting and nicely done, on par with (and even sharing some ideas with) a significant portion of what we saw in God of War Ragnarok last year. Some of them require you to utilize the BD-1 to fire projectiles in order to activate remote switches; others use rolling homing bombs; and still others make use of deployable balloons that you may grapple to and then launch off of. I had to scratch my head for a few minutes before the solution to a number of the important storyline riddles came to mind, which indicates that the level of difficulty is about correct. They don’t feature any innovative elements in their construction, yet they never fail to provide a good time.
Survivor is an absolutely stunning game from beginning to end.
Survivor is a wonderful game with finely detailed environments and people, but possibly as a result, it is not one of the finest performing games. Despite all, Survivor is a beautiful game. My playthrough of the game on the PS5 experienced some very severe slowdowns from the typical 30 frames per second in 4K Quality Mode, particularly when battling around haze or fog, which made it difficult to time my parries and dodges. Even the 1440p Performance Mode doesn’t come close to maintaining a steady 60 frames per second. This is disappointing. In addition, I experienced a few crashes and problems that prevented me from progressing and required me to exit the game and reload my save file (although this was before the day one patch). EA has understandably guaranteed that additional patches would follow with improvements on all platforms, but if the past is any indicator, it might take a little time before it is totally worked out.
When facing off against Survivor’s multiple lightsaber-wielding bosses, having a smooth frame rate is certainly important, as there is no shortage of difficulty to be found in learning the timing of parrying their strikes and dodging their unblockable attacks. Survivor was developed by Relic Entertainment. I have a confession to make: after spending several hours bashing my head against the brutal final boss, I ultimately succumbed to reducing the difficulty down a notch in order to witness the finale in time for this review. This humiliated me because I had made it to the final phase of his fight, but I just couldn’t get across the finish line.
Having said that, there wasn’t a whole lot about these battles that struck me as being particularly innovative. They’re nicely made, but conventional, and this is one area that hasn’t seen a significant upgrade from Fallen Order. When you are killed by a boss, the next time you go after him, he will not glow yellow to indicate that you will regain your health the first time you hit him like a normal enemy does. This is a clever change that stands out from the rest and is worth mentioning. However, there is a glowing pillar of light at the location where you fell, and picking it up will heal you. It is a sensible and welcome refinement of Fallen Order’s already ingenious method of shifting the scales in your favor when you need it, and it allows you to reserve the full-health pick-up for when you need it rather than just as the combat begins. This is a huge improvement on the game’s original design.
I have lost count of the number of times that dreadful rancor’s grab-and-snack attack has finished me out in a single blow.
When it comes to finding those bosses in the first place, I absolutely value the fact that the Jedi games provide you with a map (unlike other games of this sort that I could name that take pride in having you figure it out), but the utility of the map leaves something to be desired. This map, just like the one in Fallen Order, seems to be so committed to the concept of imitating a light-blue Star Wars hologram that it isn’t often simple to make out what you’re looking at, and the directions that its waypoints provide you aren’t always right. However, the dotted lines on it were generally sufficient to point me in the right direction when I struggled to find a path forward or was feeling lost, or to redirect me when I was trying to figure out a way to get past an obstacle for which I did not yet have the appropriate equipment. Also, this time around, Respawn has given us the ability to fast-travel between save points, which, when the objective is on the opposite side of one of these massive, maze-like maps, feels like an act of mercy.
These maps are also very detailed, and the side quests in Survivor are jam-packed with activities to complete. There are legendary beasts, bounty hunters, and other adversaries to hunt down and eliminate, as well as a variety of other types of combat challenges. It is impossible for me to tell you how many times I was murdered in a single hit by that damned rancor’s grab-and-snack attack; all I can tell you is that it was literally dozens of times. Some of them are very challenging, even on the default difficulty level for Jedi Knight. But in the end, I was successful! Once you have completed the main storyline, you will be able to unlock the complete New Game+ mode. This is a very welcome addition, as Fallen Order did not have this mode until more than six months after the game’s initial release.
On top of everything else, there is a daunting quantity of content to gather, such as flora and fish, which may subsequently be displayed at the cantina in your base town on Koboh. But even if there are some unlocks waiting for you at the end of those sidequests, it won’t do much to convince you that these are activities that you should spend a significant amount of time on… unless you really enjoy sowing seeds on rooftop gardens or looking at fish in a virtual aquarium.
There are some rewards that a Star Wars enthusiast will find considerably more appealing than others. Even though you can hardly make out those details when you’re using it in a fight unless you zoom in with the photo mode, it’s still a fantastic, loving bit of Star Wars detail to obsessively mess with whenever you find a new piece. Cal’s lightsaber and blaster both have many customizable cosmetic parts that you can mix and match to form your own creation.
Additionally, a short time after the beginning of the game, all of the different colors of lightsaber blades become unlocked, allowing you to personalize Cal from the very beginning of the game. This holds true not just for his selection of clothes, which is significantly expanded in comparison to previous iterations, but also for his broad repertoire of new hairstyles and facial hair alternatives. Your soul-patch and mullet-wearing figure will have a totally different vibe than mine, who has a crew cut and a beard that resembles a redheaded version of Amos Burton from The Expanse. He’ll always be the same Cal Kestis underneath it, though. It is true that finding hair and beard alternatives in treasure boxes is a bit ridiculous, but why not include them anyway?
In a similar vein, I couldn’t be happier with how the personalization turned out for BD-1. His enduring popularity (which led to his Mandalorian cameo) has paid dividends because now we get many more options for components on his face, head, “ears,” body, and legs, as well as detailed color options and even the level of wear and tear on his armor. In the first game, you could only change his paint job. Just wait until you see how his body responds when pieces are swapped out in the customization menu; you won’t believe what you see! In a game that has so many wonderful subtle touches like this one, there is still another one.
Conclusion
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor wall-runs with what Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order accomplished, then double-jumps and air-dashes straight into an epic lightsaber combat. Instead of starting Cal’s trip over as a Padawan, we are given control of a full-fledged Jedi Knight who we can train to become a master of superhuman mobility as well as magnificent and challenging fighting. Rather than this, we are taken back to the beginning of Cal’s adventure. Survivor delivers a story that, while it may be predictable, is nevertheless entertaining and, at times, emotional to see play out thanks to a new set of larger, more diversified, and densely packed worlds to explore and a memorable cast of returning characters. Survivor also features a memorable cast of returning characters. Putting aside the performance concerns that occurred before launch, it is a sequel that improves on almost every aspect of the game’s predecessor, which was already an excellent Star Wars video game. If Respawn is able to create two more games like this one, they will have created the best Star Wars trilogy in the past three decades.
One of the most impressive aspects of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is its storytelling. The game manages to capture the essence of the Star Wars universe, with its rich lore and captivating characters. As players progress through the game, they will encounter a diverse cast of characters, each with their unique personalities and backstories. From the wise Jedi Master Cere Junda to the charming droid BD-1, each character adds depth and meaning to the game’s narrative.
In terms of gameplay, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order does not disappoint. The game features a seamless blend of exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving. Players will need to use their wits and their lightsaber skills to navigate through the game’s various environments, which range from lush forests to treacherous caves. The combat system is challenging but rewarding, with players needing to strategize and plan their attacks carefully. The game also features an upgrade system, which allows players to improve their skills and abilities as they progress through the game.
The game’s graphics and sound design are also top-notch. The game’s environments are stunningly detailed, with each planet having its unique look and feel. The game’s sound design is equally impressive, with the sound effects and music adding to the game’s immersive experience.
In conclusion, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is an excellent game that any Star Wars fan should play. With its engaging storytelling, challenging gameplay, and impressive graphics and sound design, the game manages to capture the essence of the Star Wars universe. We highly recommend this game to anyone looking for an epic adventure in a galaxy far, far away.
The game’s length is also impressive, offering around 20-25 hours of gameplay for the main story, and plenty of additional content for completionists. The game also features multiple difficulty settings, allowing players of all skill levels to enjoy the experience.
Can I play Star Wars Jedi Survivor on multiple platforms?
Yes, Star Wars Jedi Survivor is available on Xbox, Playstation, and PC.
Is the game suitable for children?
The game is rated T for Teen, with violence being the main factor in the rating.
Do I need to be a Star Wars fan to enjoy the game?
While being a fan of the franchise will certainly enhance the experience, the game is enjoyable on its own merits and can be enjoyed by anyone who likes action-adventure games.
Can I customize my lightsaber?
Yes, the game features a robust lightsaber customization system, allowing players to change the color, hilt, and even the material of their lightsaber.
Is the game worth the price?
In our opinion, yes. The game offers a lengthy and engaging storyline, satisfying gameplay mechanics, and a well-realized Star Wars universe.
