The eagerly anticipated Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a fantastic new addition to the Star Wars gaming universe, developed by Respawn Entertainment. Unlike Fallen Order, it’s only available for the latest generation of consoles, pushing the audiovisual envelope even more than the first game did. Does it live up to its well-received predecessor? Let’s find out.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor follows the ongoing story of Cal Kestis, a Padawan who survived the purge of Order 66 and is now on a mission to rebuild the Jedi Order – picking up a few years after Fallen Order ended. The game’s narrative is one of its strongest aspects, with engaging character arcs, exciting plot twists, and an immersive world that captures the essence of the Star Wars universe with plenty of nods to the beloved films.
The game’s design is similar to its predecessor, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, with a third-person action-adventure style. However, it features a more open-world design that allows players to explore various planets and engage in side quests with more freedom than you had before. The level design is well thought out, with plenty of puzzles and challenges that require the use of Cal’s force abilities and lightsaber combat.
The combat system is one of the most satisfying aspects of the game. The lightsaber combat is fluid and precise, with various combos and techniques that players can learn and master. The force abilities are also well-implemented, giving players a range of offensive and defensive options that they can customize to suit their playstyle. The game’s difficulty is also well-balanced, with a range of difficulty levels that cater to different player skill levels.
The game’s graphics and sound design are fantastic, with stunning visuals and iconic sound effects that capture the Star Wars universe’s essence. The character models are detailed and realistic, with expressive animations that add to the game’s immersion. The game’s voice acting is also well-done, with talented actors bringing the characters to life with their performances. The decision to make this one ‘next/current gen only’ pays off, though slight performance issue unfortunately popped during our playthrough that will hopefully be addressed soon.
The game’s story is well-written and engaging, with plenty of plot twists and character development. However, some players may find the story to be predictable, with some plot twists feeling underwhelming. Additionally, the game’s AI can be inconsistent, with some enemies being too easy or too difficult to defeat. This is especially true if you’re well versed in action adventures and have played through Fallen Order.
One of the most impressive aspects of the game is the variety of planets players can explore. Each planet has its unique environment, wildlife, and challenges, making the game feel like a genuine Star Wars adventure. The game’s side quests also add to the game’s replay value, with plenty of additional content to keep players engaged. The story itself doesn’t branch out much though, so once you’ve completed the story there’s little replay value beyond going through the excellent story once more – we recommend tackling as much optional content as possible on your first playthrough.
In conclusion, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is an excellent addition to the Star Wars gaming universe. The game’s engaging story, exciting gameplay mechanics, and stunning graphics and sound design make it a must-play for fans of the franchise or action-adventure games in general. While it may not be perfect, the game offers a genuine Star Wars experience that is well worth checking out, and a worthy successor to Fallen Order.
Score: 8.7/10
Press Play Media 