The force is strong with this one
Making a good Star Wars game seems like the easiest and yet most difficult task on the planet. The idea of wielding a lightsaber or blaster in a world filled with unique and interesting characters lends itself to the medium with ease. Yet most developers struggle to really capture what has made the franchise so popular since its inception. When EA got the license to make Star Wars games it was exciting, a big budget publisher with seemingly infinite resources and developers to create interesting titles in that world. Up to this point, though we have seen only two multiplayer shooters that were met with middling results. Now with Jedi Fallen Order though, the ante has been upped.
Developed by Respawn, Jedi Fallen Order is ticking all the right boxes. It is a story-driven single-player game focusing on a lone Jedi in a world post Order 66, the event in which all Jedi were set to be eliminated. Players take on the role of Cal Kestis, one of the younglings that escaped during the purge of the Jedi. The game begins with him in hiding working on at a salvage yard when events lead him to embrace his Jedi destiny. One of the coolest things is that this game is actually canon and explores events fans have not really seen in the new timeline.
MSRP: $59.99
Platforms: XB1 (reviewed), PS4, PC
Price I’d Pay: $59.99
One of the biggest questions after Respawn showed off Fallen Order was exactly what it was. It seemed like a standard adventure/action game with elements of Uncharted, but as we learned more and more it also contained thoughtful combat ala Dark Souls and a mix of Metroid exploration. Combining all of these elements is dangerous as slipping up on any of them could drag the entire experience down. I am happy to say that it nails almost everything.
The combat is what I would describe as Dark Souls lite. It is parry and timing based. Mashing buttons on any difficulty outside of Story mode will result in plenty of deaths. Players are trained to watch for windows, block regularly, and look for openings to launch their attacks. It is not quite as elegant as the aforementioned From Software titles, but it is also not a button masher. What I really appreciate it is unlike those games, anyone can still enjoy Fallen Order. Dropping down the difficulty can be done at any point while playing, and on Story mode mashing will certainly get players through the experience for those that only want to indulge in the story.
Dying in Fallen Order attempts to mimic the Dark Souls formula. Any XP I was carrying at the time is lost to the enemy that slain me. All I had to do to get it back was to find them and land one hit, which is easier than having to kill them. Meditation spots are also used to refill health and stim packs, Cal’s trusty droid can offer up a healing item during combat as there are no health packs or health regeneration. These can be upgraded and, well let’s just call them what they are: Estus Flasks. Meditation spots can also be used to upgrade Cal’s skills, so we will also call them bonfires.
Adventuring through the galaxy is done via the Mantis, a ship that Cal gains access to after the intro mission. Players are able to journey to a handful of planets throughout the game and even return to them after obtaining powers to explore even more. Each planet is skillfully designed to offer up a playground of things to do. There are hidden cosmetic items and lore to unearth as well as plenty of bosses and environmental puzzles. The game rarely lacks in things to see and do.
One area that became a sore spot for me in the later game was returning to older planets. Some of them are absolutely massive and the gamer in me wanting to 100% each area is a chore thanks to the lack of fast travel. Cal can rest at meditation spots throughout the world. These refill his health and allow him to spend skill points on upgrades. These could have easily been fast travel points as well. This would make traversing these massive worlds to find secrets much more tolerable. Planets such as Zeffo and Kashyyk are so massive that going back was overwhelming at times.
Traversing these worlds is fun thanks to Cal’s abilities, jumping, climbing, and Force pushing items around makes for interesting set pieces. There are shortcuts that can be unlocked but the fast travel spots would have made a world of difference. If there is one thing that everyone can agree on though, it is that the sliding sections are absolutely abysmal. I swear I died more times on these poorly designed sections than in any combat encounter. Cal falls off the sides, the correction on turns is awful, and sometimes he would hit the ledge and simply fall to his death. It is the most infuriating and frustrating part of the entire game.
The journey is well worth these headaches though. The story is one of the best in the Star Wars video games since the original KOTOR games. Cal is an interesting character and there are plenty of cameos and new characters that make this feel like the Star Wars world we have all wanted for years. It also doesn’t hurt that the game is absolutely stunning. Each world is beautifully crafted and the use of 4K resolution and HDR is simply gorgeous. There are some rough patches and glitches scattered around for sure and the frame rate is not at its best on consoles. I highly recommend performance mode as the resolution might take a hit, but it isn’t as noticeable as in other games.
Jedi Fallen Order is one of the best games in the Star Wars franchise and one of the best games of 2019. It has some sore spots, but the story, characters, worlds, and combat more than make up for its shortcomings. Fans of Star Wars will love it. Fans of action/adventure games will have a fantastic time. It is great to finally see Respawn branch out and get a chance to craft something they clearly have a passion for. This is not a game to be missed and gives me hope for the future of the series.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
