It’s been over three years since Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order saw the light. Its launch was not a minor issue, as it surprised locals and strangers by demonstrating that EA did have the capacity, through Respawn Entertainment (titandall, Apex Legends), to develop an outstanding experience of the popular franchise. All this success has allowed us, now, to enjoy Star Wars Jedi: Survivorits long-awaited sequel.
At the time, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order marked a before and after for Electronic Arts. Firstly, because it gave them a breather with the intergalactic saga, a much-needed one after the resounding failures of the saga. battlefront. On the other hand, it made it clear that single-player games, those that the company itself opposed in favor of multiplayer titles, had the potential to become blockbusters.
But, as with any success in the video game industry, the bar is raised for a possible sequel. That was precisely what happened around Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. The expectation of the community is at very high levels. I can tell you, from now on, that the title lives up to all that illusion that has accumulated in recent months.
A more ambitious game in every way
Let’s be honest, Fallen Order it was so good that the room for improvement was reduced to a minimum. Yeah, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor it has corrected the few negative points of its predecessor, but, to really make us feel like we are experiencing a true sequel in terms of gameplay, Respawn had an ace up its sleeve.
The creative team’s first big decision was to limit the availability of their game to current-gen consoles, and for a very important reason.
The big bet of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor It is evident as soon as you begin your adventure with Cal Kestis. Everything feels more ambitious and extensive in multiple ways.. There are some ideas implemented that simply would not have been possible on previous generation hardware. Mainly what has to do with the scenarios.
Fallen Order it gave us access to multiple planets with semi-open environments. survivor It takes that premise further, as the stages are significantly larger and the freedom to explore them is even greater. In this game, exploration becomes a fundamental pillar. And it’s not that it didn’t matter before, however, the difference is noticeable.
That “augmented” experience not only goes hand in hand with expanding the dimensions of the new settings, among which are places completely new to the canon of Star Wars and others well known. The above, by itself, would not contribute much if there were not a long list of activities to be carried out in them. However, we have a good number of tasks that you can carry out outside of the main campaign, which I will discuss later.
I invite you to spend time exploring the environments, as there are many surprises and, above all, rewards that can facilitate your journey through the story. At the same time, it serves as practice to improve your movements and combat skills.
The postures, the great novelty of the gameplay
And since I have mentioned the combat systemanother fundamental section of the gameplay, in this installment it feels more refined and with a wider range of movements. Not only does it inherit the basic attack and defense from the previous title, new ones are also added.
At this point you might think that your battles with enemies will become more complex after the introduction of additional moves. However, at Respawn they have found a way to enrich the confrontations without giving up the simplicity that distinguished Fallen Order.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor leans on the postures, which are basically movements grouped into different categories. Five, to be exact, and each with their own unique skill tree. In fact, this thought reminded me of Ghost of Tsushimawhich uses a very similar system to differentiate the fighting style of the samurai protagonist.
In Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, in fact, it has the same purpose. Keep in mind that Cal Kestis is no longer a rookie. His past experiences, including confrontations with some of the franchise’s most feared enemies, have contributed to his maturity. Not just emotionally, but also in regards to his lightsaber skills.
So that, Each position has its advantages and disadvantages., and it will be crucial to know which one to use based on the antagonists that we have in front of us. For example, that of single saber It stands out for being a balanced proposal both in attack and defense. It is ideal for conventional enemies of the Empire.
Although, if we proceed to the position of two sabers —one in each hand—, the experience begins to change. We have a higher attack speed, but it is easier for enemies to deal damage to us. For its part, the double saber – like Darth Maul’s – is ideal for dealing with a group of enemies that surround us, since the range of the Lightsaber is greater.
It also offers the position of the cross guard, which is nothing more than a heavy attack with lethal power. Of course, a lot of speed is sacrificed. If these moves are not executed wisely, you risk leaving Cal completely unprotected. Finally, there is the position of the blasterwhich offers a pistol to hit enemies from a distance.
All of the above, of course, is accompanied by a wide variety of enemies, because it is useless to add more movements if there are no rivals that invite you to use them. You’ll see familiar troops, and others making their debut in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. The best thing is that there come times when you have to determine what is the best position to face them due to the obvious differences in their ways of attacking and defending. This allows the existence of a strategic component that enriches the gameplay.
A proposal that left me a pleasant surprise is the character customization level both in their behavior and visually. In the first area we have implemented a progression system with the classic skill trees. Some of them, as I already pointed out, are linked to the postures, while others operate independently.
The amount of debuting skills is considerable. Also, you have the freedom to prioritize the trees or branches that best suit your playstyle. My advice is to get a balancesince the game is designed to take advantage of every ability sooner or later.
Regarding the appearance of the character, there will be no shortage of costumes and designs for the lightsaber. There is something for everyone and you can get them by completing activities, or as a reward for hard exploration.
Another thing I really liked, and that any sequel game should replicate, is that you don’t need to learn everything from scratch. survivor assume you enjoyed the previous adventure and it doesn’t waste time explaining how mechanics work that you’re supposed to already know. Consequently, he spends the time teaching you the real news.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor proposes a dark and deeper history
At this point it is opportune to talk about history. Without delving into narrative details other than those already revealed by EA prior to launch, I can tell you that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor takes place five years after Fallen Order. The expansion of the Empire does not stop and Cal Kestis continues to try to prevent it with the few resources and support at hand. A daunting task, no doubt.
In contrast to the campaign of the first game, survivor changes the tone to denote that Kestis is no longer a simple Padawan. While learning never ends, the knowledge and skills you are acquiring at this stage make you a fearsome jedi.
It is clear that the game proposes a dark atmosphere. Not only because of the dominance of the Empire, but also because Kestis, aware that he is now a killing machine, explores its moral limits; those that no longer make much sense after the fall of the Jedi Order. The narrative dares to delve into the internal conflicts of the protagonist and the consequences of making use of himself, many times alone, in a universe full of dangers.
Respawn hit a new high when it comes to storytelling. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor It has a solid and complex storyline that is enjoyable from start to finish, constantly making you curious to see what happens next. It’s nice to see that video games can also be a valuable narrative source for the franchise’s canon.
One point that you should consider -if you had not intuited it before- is that the history of survivor is closely linked to the events of Fallen Order. If you have not had the opportunity to enjoy the latter, I do not recommend you enter into the new adventure. There are many references to the previous game, and as I mentioned previously, gameplay-wise they assume you already know the main mechanics.
A graphic and artistic section that does not disappoint
graphically speaking, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor It lives up to what you might expect from a current-gen AAA title, however, cannot be considered as a visual exponent. It is clear that much of Respawn Entertainment’s efforts were focused on offering a deeper narrative and improving gameplay.
Be careful, it does not mean that it is visually disappointing, but there is room for improvement that can be used in a hypothetical third installment. Despite this, it can be highlighted attention to detail in the settings. They have grown in size, but there is not a single corner that feels neglected or empty. Everything has a reason for existing and coexists in harmony with the gameplay.
What he does excel at is artistic direction. There is excellent work in the way of imagining planets, creatures, weapons, enemies and costumes. The soundtrack, for its part, is exceptional.. Honor the ever-distinctive melodies of Star Wars and it is composed to attend to the great diversity of situations that you are going to experience. From moments of joy, to those dangerous fights against final bosses.
In general terms, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor it’s a fantastic delivery. Respawn achieved what seemed impossible: exceed the quality of Fallen Order. And he did it by implementing fresh ideas in a genre that doesn’t give much room for innovation. The gameplay conveys excellent sensations and varied experiences through a character that is deadlier than ever. And if the above seems little to you, the study continues to climb steps in the narrative field. Undoubtedly, this is a contender for game of the year.