Five Years Later, Jedi: Fallen Order Sets Star Wars Standards High

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As a long-time Star Wars enthusiast who’s seen his fair share of adventures in a galaxy far, far away, I find myself utterly captivated by Respawn Entertainment’s masterpiece, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. This game has managed to beautifully weave together the essence of classic Soulslike mechanics with an immersive narrative that leaves me breathless.

Among all Star Wars video games, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic has received an extraordinary amount of acclaim, holding a position that was largely unchallenged for years except by classics like games from the Star Wars Battlefront series, Star Wars: Republic Commando, and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. However, this discussion has become more substantial since the release of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, which introduced Cal Kestis as a young Padawan who experienced Emperor Palpatine’s Order 66 directly when he lost his Jedi Master and fled to Bracca in disguise as a refugee.

Fallen Order” combines various gaming genres such as Soulslike, Metroidvania, platformer, and action-adventure, creating a unique blend. Yet, it maintains a strong and undeniably Star Wars atmosphere. The story of a Jedi in this game feels very authentic since “The Force Awakens,” without being entirely dependent on fan service. Despite its flaws, the game serves as a reminder, after half a decade, that there’s still a lot of potential for original stories and engaging gameplay within the vast Star Wars universe.

Jedi: Fallen Order’s Cal Kestis is One of Star Wars’ Best Protagonists

Cal Kestis might not have been the initial preferred protagonist for Star Wars among all Respawn developers, but he’s rapidly grown into one of the most complex and layered Jedi characters across any medium. Cal’s red, flowing locks and spindly, agile acrobatics make him stand out, but it’s his unwavering goodness and strong moral compass – as a character striving to rebuild the Jedi Order and avenge his Jedi Master Jaro Tapal – that truly sets him apart from other characters.

Absolutely, Cal’s bond with the charming droid BD-1 significantly enhances the gameplay experience in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Accompanied by BD-1, Cere Juna, Greez Dritus, and eventually Nightsister Merrin – collectively known as the Stinger Mantis crew – Cal traverses various planets such as Bogano, Dathomir, Zeffo, Kashyyyk, Ilum, and Nur. Their journeys take them through thrilling landscapes as they dodge the Empire’s Inquisitors, support rebellion activities, uncover ancient secrets to find a Jedi holocron, and ultimately contribute to the larger Star Wars narrative.

Cal’s damaged lightsaber handle exudes such an independent character and bears the somber echo of its past acquisition. At first glance, it may not be immediately apparent that it was split in two, nor that players will later have the opportunity to mend it for a double-edged attachment or even learn a dual-bladed stance attack once Cal crafts his own lightsaber by merging Jaro’s and Cere’s hilts on Ilum.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order’s Metroidvania Level Design Has Its Foot Wedged in a Blast Door

During the Jedi Purge, Cal Kestis’ connection to the Force becomes disrupted, causing him to experience a spell of amnesia and lose command over various Force tricks he had mastered. Remarkably, Cal retained his power to slow moving objects and a rare ability known as Psychometry, which enables him to perceive an item’s past events or history. The storyline in Fallen Order predominantly revolves around Cal recovering the skills he had lost.

In Fallen Order, the gradual unveiling of Force abilities isn’t overly prolonged to the point of becoming monotonous, especially for those who choose to exercise patience and wait until they’ve collected all abilities before exploring the planet’s confined and intricate nooks. However, as time has passed, the game’s level design and player interaction with BD-1’s 3D holomaps have begun to appear outdated. The prizes players receive for their diligent efforts in discovering and hacking each chest – such as color schemes, lightsaber parts, and ponchos – remain a hard item to digest due to their limited value.

While it’s important to note that Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order doesn’t disappoint when it comes to its Metroidvania elements, it does feature a fair amount of exploration and revisiting previously-visited worlds. Players accumulate essential power-ups called stim canisters and collectible items to plant in the Stinger Mantis’ terrarium, which encourages backtracking as they return to planets with new abilities unlocked.

In Star Wars: Fallen Order, optional locations offer players stunning or iconic settings like the wreckage of Zeffo’s Venator. It’s delightful to be able to pick a planet spontaneously to investigate at the Stinger Mantis’ holotable, and choosing to visit Dathomir before Zeffo early in the game is one of the finest examples of player autonomy the game presents. However, players may not progress too far before they encounter an area they aren’t yet equipped or capable of accessing.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Soulslike Mechanics Brought a Balance to the Force

About five years on, what stands out most in the design of Fallen Order is its skillful integration of Soulslike-inspired mechanics into the Star Wars universe. This includes its intricate lightsaber combat relying heavily on parries, save points that offer respawning enemies akin to meditation checkpoints, health restoration items mirroring the Estus flasks from Dark Souls or the healing gourds in Sekiro, enemies with a knack for ambushing players from behind every door and corner, and challenging boss battles that demand tough runbacks.

In Fallen Order, the range and types of adversaries, both from hostile flora, fauna, and the Empire’s forces, are exceptionally diverse and robust. To make matters even more challenging, the terrifying Haxion Brood bounty hunters also join the fray.

It’s more likely that Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order resembles Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice more than it does Dark Souls. This was quite surprising given that they both came out in the same year. The similarities between these two games, evident even five years ago, warrant continuous praise for how Fallen Order adapted and enhanced traditional Soulslike elements, a time when Soulslikes were gaining popularity. Notably, the developers did an excellent job balancing Force-related abilities to prevent them from becoming overpowered, through careful management of a Force meter.

If the forthcoming sequel of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor indeed marks the conclusion of the franchise, it would be profoundly disheartening if the Star Wars series were to abandon the Soulslike genre in the future, given how remarkable its impact has been on the IP.

Jedi: Fallen Order’s Character-Driven Story Held the Star Wars Universe in the Palm of Its Hand

In a comparison, it can be said that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor possibly surpasses its predecessor in terms of developing more diverse lightsaber stances and providing a broader range of exceptional platforming. On the other hand, while the storyline in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order might be considered superior by some, the narrative in Survivor could be seen as simpler, but it holds its own against the complex back-and-forth of Dagan Gera and Respawn trying to justify Bode Akuna’s descent into the dark side of the Force.

Additionally, in the game Survivor, Cal is unnecessarily tasked with gathering up the remnants of his disbanded team, and the camaraderie they shared during their brief time together in Fallen Order is never replicated again. Interestingly, the original game allows its companions to grow gradually, forming intimate connections, and even though Merrin joins the crew late, she still manages to leave a lasting impression on players during their harrowing journey through Fallen Order’s Dathomir. Consequently, when she finally boards the Mantis, she is already a relatable character and provides an amusing contrast to Greez.

Survivor interferes with and slows down the heartwarming progression of these character stories, whereas Fallen Order confidently thrives as a self-contained story that bursts with untapped potential and allure in a distant galaxy. It’s also noteworthy that Fallen Order showcases one of Darth Vader’s most charming and abrupt entrances yet.

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2024-11-15 14:26