Reviewed on: PC (EA), PS5

Also available on Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam, Epic Games)

In 2019, the release of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order proved to be a pivotal moment for EA and Star Wars games. Cal Kestis’ story of loss, survival and rediscovering one’s self received a strong reception from many fans and critics. It was a game that helped change EA’s perception of story-driven, single-player games.

Of course, that’s not to say that it was perfect, I often look back at the overreliance on backtracking, lack of fast travel and an awkward map as some of the main culprits that held it back. But if those issues were fixed, and Respawn were to expand on Fallen Order’s strengths in a sequel, it could certainly make a claim as one of the best Star Wars games since Knights of the Old Republic.

After rolling credits on Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, it’s clear that the game belongs alongside the likes of KOTOR as one of the all-time greats. Not only that, but the game will also go down as one of the best Star Wars stories ever told in the saga’s near-fifty-year history.

Return of the Jedi

Five years have passed since the events of Fallen Order, and with the Mantis crew scattered across the galaxy, Cal and BD-1 continue their fight against the Empire. It’s an uphill battle that’s clearly taken its toll on our hero, as he begins to question his cause after suffering significant losses. After an action-packed opening on Coruscant, Cal travels to Koboh where he reunites with Greez Dritus, now the owner of Pyloon’s Saloon in the frontier town of Rambler’s Reach. However, it’s not long before Koboh’s secrets are revealed to Cal, as he discovers a High Republic plot which could lead him to a safe haven, free from the empire.

I’ll refrain from diving into any more plot details, as the story is full of surprises and spectacle that’s typically reserved for the big screen; there were plenty of moments that were able to trigger an audible gasp or had me grinning from ear to ear.

It’s stories like this that show Star Wars at its best. Jedi: Survivor blends the right mix of intense action, lovable characters and stunning locations into a captivating, unforgettable plot. All of this is led by an outstanding performance from Cameron Monaghan, who expertly portrays Cal as an experienced, yet rugged Jedi, scarred by never-ending conflict. I can only hope we see more of Cal in the future, as I firmly believe it’s only a matter of time before he makes his live-action debut – come on Disney, make the call.

As for the supporting cast, all members of the Mantis crew return in Jedi: Survivor and excellently expand upon their characters as they find their place in the galaxy. Alongside the returning cast is Bode Akuna, the newest member of the Mantis crew. Bode is probably best described as a combination of Han Solo and Peter Quill; he’s a witty, swashbuckling rebel who’s more than capable of putting up a fight with his jetpack and blasters.

Throughout the game, Cal and Bode will strike up a great friendship, which is reflected in both cutscenes and gameplay. Watching that relationship develop was delightful, as both characters do their part to secure a future free from the empire. I’d be remiss if I didn’t praise Noshir Dalal for his brilliant performance as Bode, who will undoubtedly go down as a fan favourite.

“Jedi: Survivor blends the right mix of intense action, lovable characters and stunning locations into a captivating, unforgettable plot.”

Much like Fallen Order, Survivor is an action/adventure game with a healthy dose of Souls-lite gameplay mechanics. You’ll still be battling enemies to acquire skill points while unlocking new meditation points to upgrade abilities and resupply. However, the difference in Survivor is that much of this has been expanded to offer players more options.

Perhaps one of the best examples of this is the introduction of two new lightsaber stances, raising the total to five (single, double-bladed, dual wield, crossguard and blaster). The introduction of new stances allows for greater variety in gameplay, offering more build diversity to accommodate a broader range of playstyles. Better yet, you’ll have access to all five stances fairly early into the game, roughly around a third of the way into the main story.

Throughout my playthrough, I spent time with all five stances before finally settling on the dual wield/crossguard combo, opting for a flurry of strikes before switching stances to inflict a powerful killing blow. The blaster stance is also a refreshing addition, serving as a ranged solution that can be upgraded to provide an alternative, Bloodborne-style parry.

Jedi: Survivor continues to build on its predecessor through exploration and traversal. As previously mentioned, one of Fallen Order’s shortcomings was the sheer amount of backtracking needed to reach objectives. While Survivor doesn’t eliminate this issue entirely, new abilities like the dash and ascension cable help make traversal feel less repetitive and contribute to more diverse level design.

Like Fallen Order, one of Survivor’s best qualities is the experience of playing as a Jedi. It might sound very typical to say that the game ‘really makes you feel like a Jedi’, but quite simply, it’s the truth; deflecting blaster bolts, using the force and building a lightsaber all contribute to a thrilling Jedi fantasy.

“deflecting blaster bolts, using the force and building a lightsaber all contribute to a thrilling Jedi fantasy.”

There’s been plenty of discourse surrounding the technical state of Jedi: Survivor, with the PC version being the worst offender. Trying to achieve 60FPS on PC is a herculean effort, you’ll encounter framerate inconsistencies and stutter that hold the game back. Despite a couple of patches since launch, the situation remains mostly the same for many players at the time of writing.

I will say that despite having to battle with this rough PC port, it didn’t stop me from enjoying what the game had to offer. Of course, that’s just my take, your mileage may vary.

There’s more positive news for those on consoles, specifically when running the game in quality mode, which provides a near-locked 30FPS and great visuals. Hopefully the game’s performance issues are fixed soon, because when the game runs smoothly, it’s truly spectacular.

Verdict

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor builds upon everything that made its predecessor great, while also improving in every other aspect. It tells a story that’s worthy of the big screen, featuring an excellent cast of new and returning characters led by an outstanding performance from Cameron Monaghan.

Despite its performance woes, particularly on PC, Jedi: Survivor still stands as one of the best Star Wars games of all time. If Respawn were to make a third game of this quality, then the Jedi games would go down as one of the greatest trilogies in Star Wars history.