A couple of years ago now, I reviewed Jedi: Fallen Order. High expectations largely met with sloppy/floppy movement, spongy combat and a threadbare story with flourishes of what it should have been or could be.
So when Jedi: Survivor was announced and subsequently released, my interest wasn’t there at all. Taking note of the bugs at launch, feeling vindicated in my choice to not try it out.
One by one, the comments and reviews noted how much better it was as a game. One by one, I ignored them. Until I didn’t….
Off the back of a few months focused on Monster Hunter Wilds and Two Point Hospital. I had a hankering for a single player campaign, and was mid re-watch of the Star Wars movies, and there was a sale….so I buckled.
And damnit if I wish I hadn’t got to it sooner.
This time around, it feels like Respawn has really tried to build on that initial foundation, giving us a deeper look into the lore, refining the gameplay, and delivering a more grown-up story.
About 12 hours into Jedi: Survivor, here’s the ninjarefinery.com “Quick Look” where we semi-review it as we play and eschew the usual drawn-out process to share some quick notes and thoughts.
Jedi: Survivor
Survivor jumps ahead five years from Fallen Order.
Cal’s not a rookie anymore; he’s a seasoned Jedi, battle-hardened and carrying the weight of the galaxy on his shoulders.
The narrative definitely goes to some darker places, exploring the sacrifices you have to make when you’re fighting for your life and trying to keep hope alive when things look really bleak.
Cal’s on a mission to find Tanalorr, this mythical world that could be a safe haven from the Empire, and along the way, he’s dealing with new faces like Bode Akuna, as well as catching up with old friends like Cere Junda and Merrin.
There’s also a big focus on the High Republic era, which adds a whole new layer to the Star Wars universe.
I love the High Republic aesthetic and the history that’s always hinted at here. It helps with the depth and the texture/layers that are presented in the game.
Gameplay
Jedi: Survivor takes what Fallen Order did and cranks it up a few notches, especially when it comes to combat and how you get around.
The combat system feels tighter and more versatile. You’ve got five different lightsaber stances to play with, and each one has its own skill tree, so you can really mix things up.
With your classic Single Blade, Double-Bladed, and Dual Wield, but then they throw in the Crossguard stance, which is slow but packs a punch, and the Blaster Stance, which lets you combine your lightsaber with a blaster for some real Han Solo action.
This gives you a lot more options when you’re facing down different enemies. Although I only really enjoy the classic single light saber and the double one. It’s nice to have variety and see how the game is expending Cal’s repertoire.
Exploration is also bigger and better in Survivor. The environments are larger and more complex, and there’s a lot more to discover.
It’s got that Metroidvania vibe, where you unlock new areas as you get new abilities, which encourages you to go back and check out places you couldn’t reach before. And Cal’s got some new moves, like a grappling hook, that make getting around a lot more dynamic, especially when you’re exploring vertically.
Also, if you’re into customizing your character, Survivor gives you plenty of options. You can change Cal’s outfits, hairstyle, and even swap out parts of your lightsaber, so you can really make him your own.
Games, shops and bounty hunters
With the world feeling more alive and lived-in. Having places to go, people to check-in on and things to do away from the critical path feels natural and is generally fun.
The gardening on the roof of the bar. A fish tank in the bar and even a strategic combat mini game.
Add to it some stores that take collectible currency that different worlds have hidden around (encouraging discovery and venturing off the beaten path). You’re in a world of customisation and little additions.
All superfluous to the story of Jedi: Survivor and not required in any way. But it adds texture to the world and gives you reason to explore.
Similarly, Bounty Hunters have a price on your head, and every now and then you end up facing a new foe that wants to take you in, dead or alive. It feels dynamic enough that it’s engaging and additive to the game and not an additional chore. You can even take names and go hunt them down first!
Visuals and performance
Jedi: Survivor is a great-looking game, with a ton of detail in the environments, characters, and special effects.
The environments feel way more real, weathered and lived-in. Whilst Fallen Order was no slouch in gloss, it felt surface-level and hollow. By comparison Jedi: Survivor feels much richer and deeper.
Respawn has really pushed the hardware to create a super immersive and visually rich experience. That being said, the game did have a bit of a rough launch, especially on PC. There were a lot of reports about frame rate issues and stuttering. They’ve released some patches since then, which have helped, but those initial technical problems definitely put a damper on things for some players.
My visual fidelity is still in a weird place, too. It runs great, I can push it to highest settings, but it still has muddy/blurry models, particularly with Cal. I haven’t cracked it yet, but it plays smoothly, texture pop-in is sometimes noticeable but not an issue. I just wish it didn’t look quite so muddy/fuzzy.
Overall
Jedi: Survivor feels like the game I wanted Fallen Order to be.
The Jedi power fantasy is cranked-up. The movement and combat feel better and the story is more interesting with antagonists and character depth.
With proper exposition and opportunity for growth and storytelling, the world feels more established and lived-in. I want to be a part of it, I want to see where the story and the characters go.
I look forward to playing it and moving things forwards most days. If only I could get to the bottom of the visual issues that persist.
It feels like Respawn have hit their stride now and I can only hope for a sequel. But we’ll have to see, based on recent redundancies and EA layoffs.
Highly recommended!
