Star Wars Jedi: Survivor – A worthy successor

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a worthy sequel to its predecessor, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, delivering an exhilarating experience that expands on the combat options and exploration of the Star Wars universe. The game builds on the success of Fallen Order, offering bigger, more open maps, an array of abilities, and an abundance of collectibles to keep players engaged.

One of the game's strengths is its seamless transition from the previous installment, allowing players to start with most of the powers and upgrades acquired by the protagonist, Cal Kestis. There are no contrived amnesia or power-loss gimmicks, which is a refreshing breath of air. We would have hated to do all of that over again. All we had to focus on was earning back our healing canisters and expanding life and Force bars, which we were more than happy to do. 

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Gameplay

The movement mechanics in Survivor takes things a level or two higher than Fallen Order, with wall-running, climbing, swinging, and sliding down ramps seamlessly integrated into the gameplay. The introduction of a Spider-Man-style grapple adds another layer of mobility, which when paired with the mid-air dash, and the double-jump, allows for some impressive aerial maneuvers. Considering that this is made by the same folk behind the fantastic and underappreciated Titanfall series, you can tell that Respawn Entertainment definitely knew what they were doing.

The combat in Fallen Order was good, and Survivor once again, only further improves on this. The game introduces five different fighting stances, each brilliantly animated to deliver flashy and intense melee battles. Cal is definitely not holding back this time around, and watching him chop enemies up to bits is extremely satisfying. And totally not at all disturbing. 

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The variety of fighting stances offers players the opportunity to personalize their combat style. The Crossguard style, inspired by Kylo Ren, provides a slow and heavy broadsword-like saber, perfect for overpowering stunned enemies. On the other hand, the Blaster stance allows players to wield a sidearm alongside their lightsaber, dispatching smaller foes with ease. Both stances become formidable with the ability to throw the Crossguard saber, extending their reach. The game encourages specialization by dedicating a skill tree to each stance, allowing players to strategize their approach and develop their preferred combat style.

Survivor takes advantage of its position in the Star Wars timeline, bridging the gap between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. The game combines enemies from both the prequel and original trilogies, presenting a diverse array of adversaries. The Empire's presence serves as a backdrop, while raiders and salvaged Separatist battle droids provide the primary enemy forces. The inclusion of various creatures and beasts, reminiscent of Fallen Order, also helps keep combat encounters fresh.

However, it may not be enough, because combat can start to feel a bit tedious after a while. While the boss encounters are challenging and require precise timing and strategy, they don't introduce many new mechanics or surprises. If you've played Fallen Order, you'll find the combat mechanics to be familiar, with the addition of the new lightsaber stances and expanded Force powers. That said, the core combat mechanics are still solid and feel good, so we aren’t complaining too much.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Story

We’ll keep this part short to avoid spoilers, but the gist of it is that Cal needs to locate a map to a lost planet. You’ve got a good mix between the main storyline and side quests, providing ample opportunities for exploration and character development. Plus finding all those upgrades we were talking about earlier. There’s no shortage of action across the board, which is nice. You’ve got returning characters from the first game, and the interactions between Cal and his companions, including BD-1, Greez, Merrin, and Cere, bring liveliness and emotional weight to the narrative.

Overall, we found the story to be pretty enjoyable, but fairly predictable. We pretty much saw everything coming, but the character writing – main villain included – kept things fresh and enjoyable enough to keep you going.

A Star Wars game, through and through

One aspect of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor that stands out is its attention to detail and immersion in the Star Wars universe. The game captures the essence of the galaxy far, far away with its stunning visuals, authentic sound design, and faithful recreation of iconic locations. From exploring ancient temples to battling enemies on the rooftops of Coruscant, the game offers a diverse range of environments that feel true to the Star Wars universe. The attention to detail extends to the characters as well, with the voice acting and performances bringing the cast to life and making them engaging and relatable.

The narrative in Survivor, while not groundbreaking, serves its purpose well. It provides a compelling backdrop for the action-packed gameplay, with themes of redemption, self-discovery, and the struggle between light and dark. The story keeps you engaged and invested in Cal's journey as he navigates the challenges of being a Jedi in a galaxy under the control of the Empire. While some of the plot twists may be predictable, the well-developed characters and their personal arcs add depth and emotional resonance to the overall narrative.

The game does suffer from the occasional frame rate drops, especially in graphically demanding situations. We’ve also heard of, and experienced instances of crashes and bugs. While patches and updates are expected to address these issues.

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Star Wars Jedi: Survivor – The Verdict

In conclusion, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor successfully builds upon the foundation laid by its predecessor, Fallen Order. With expanded combat options, larger and more open environments, and a plethora of abilities and collectibles, the game offers an immersive and thrilling experience as a Jedi. While it may not introduce many innovative elements to the genre, it excels at capturing the essence of playing as a Force user in the Star Wars universe. The attention to detail, engaging characters, and solid narrative make it a worthy addition to the Star Wars gaming franchise. Despite its technical shortcomings, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor delivers an enjoyable and memorable adventure that will satisfy fans of the series and action-adventure gaming enthusiasts alike.

SKOAR! – 8/10

MOAR!

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows

Developer: Respawn Entertainment

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Played on: PlayStation 5

Price: INR 3,499 (PC), INR 4,499 (PS5)

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Manish Rajesh

Manish can usually be found fervently playing video games of all kinds or… no wait he’s pretty much always playing games View Full Profile