How Star Wars Jedi Has Future-Proofed Holotactics’ Minigame Shelf Life

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As a die-hard Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order fan, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia for Cal Kestis and his band of misfits. The holotactics mini-game was one of my favorite parts of Survivor, and I eagerly await its return in the next installment. The thought of battling new enemies like nexus or Gorgara-like chirodactyls in holotactics is almost too much to bear!

In the game “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order,” Cal Kestis was unexpectedly pulled from his peaceful life on Bracca, leading him to spend his days evading the Galactic Empire and its powerful Inquisitors. Instead of finding a sense of ‘home’ in a specific location, he found it in the company of his fellow travelers, with their ship, the Stinger Mantis, initially serving both as their recreational vehicle and later becoming merely a means of transport in “Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.” However, the sequel introduced the concept that Cal and Greez Dritus might establish roots at a bustling cantina on Koboh, filled with vibrant NPCs and entertaining activities.

In the sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, they might abandon the concept of multiple locations if Cal, the Stinger Mantis crew, and the Hidden Path’s anchorites all seek refuge on Tanalorr. However, this is only speculation, as Greez’s actions at Pyloon’s Saloon could potentially lead to a chain of cantinas instead.

Star Wars Jedi’s Holotactics is Basically an Enemy and Creature Bestiary

Engaging in a game similar to dejarik, the holotactics in Star Wars Jedi functions as a gridless, holographic combat simulator where two players choose their opponents’ adversaries and hostile creatures. The players can pick holographic units from a catalog of enemies they’ve scanned for selection.

In every turn, each playable unit comes with a specific number of battle points that players must spend to utilize them. However, each player has a limited supply of battle points per round. This allows players to pick several lower-cost units in the hope of outlasting their opponents’ units or to invest all their points into one powerful unit at once if they think it will overpower their opponent’s selection. If their chosen units are stronger, they progress to the next round.

In comparison, an AT-ST unit is quite expensive, setting you back 25 points. On the other hand, a shiverpede is relatively cheap at only 4 points. Generally, units with higher point values tend to be more efficient in tactical simulations. However, players may choose to save points for future rounds if they prefer.

Holotactics Can Represent New Enemies Debuting in Star Wars Jedi’s Upcoming Threequel

It’s worth noting that since holotactics in the game Survivor relies on BD-1’s scans of enemies encountered and defeated throughout the game, it provides a great opportunity for the sequel to expand upon the tabletop mini-game by incorporating any new enemy types it introduces. For example, Rancors were not included in holotactics previously, but they could easily be added in the sequel. Additionally, the Star Wars universe is rich with droids and creatures that Respawn’s Jedi series has yet to explore, even during its post-Clone Wars era, which opens up plenty of possibilities for new additions in the sequel.

In the final Star Wars game, it would be amazing for Cal Kestis to engage in combat with Nexus, just so he could utilize them as a team in strategic battles. Maybe even a Gorgara-like creature or an Oggdo Bogdo-like entity could make an appearance as a nostalgic unit, but with a significantly high battle point requirement due to its immense power and ferocity.

In the upcoming Star Wars Jedi, we can expect fresh adversaries amidst hordes of stormtroopers, and what better way to honor them than by enabling players to identify and deploy these enemies in holotactics? The holotactics system could be enhanced further if it offered more distinctive or significant rewards for each foe that Cal engages with. However, its fundamental design is already quite refined, requiring only the addition of diverse enemy types to potentially make gameplay rounds more varied and strategic.

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2024-12-01 14:53