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Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is now available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X, and it has the tough task of meeting the high expectations set by one of the most highly regarded Star Wars games of recent times. Jedi: Fallen Order, which was launched in 2019, revived fans’ hopes with its captivating storyline and challenging combat system that resembled that of Souls-like games, defying EA’s belief that single-player games were no longer profitable. The game successfully blended FromSoftware’s risk-reward mechanics with the thrilling feeling of wielding a lightsaber as a Jedi, although it had some limitations when it came to exploration.
By introducing a huge semi-open world with six planets to explore, an improved combat system, and a fast travel option, Respawn Entertainment has elevated the sequel to new heights. Nevertheless, the critical query remains unanswered – does the expansion of the game’s scope and magnificence lead to a better Star Wars Jedi sequel? Continue reading to find out.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor review – Story
As we arrive at Coruscant, the Imperial city planet, we witness Cal Kestis, who is now considered a ‘terrorist’ and is being roughly handled by his captors while in handcuffs. It has been five years since the events of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and Cal, who has grown stronger as a Jedi Knight with scars and an unyielding determination to overthrow the Galactic Empire, has scattered across the galaxy along with the Mantis crew. The sequel quickly moves on from previous events and provides a brief summary for those new to the story, although some of the terminology and references may still be confusing.
It is revealed that Cal’s actual motive was to get caught so that he could infiltrate Senator Sejan’s stronghold and steal valuable intel. This sparks an exciting, full-length escapade as Cal navigates through the complex facility, leaping over glowing neon signs, defeating Stormtroopers, crossing rusted pipes, and dodging explosive robots.
The tale of Cal in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor persists without interruption, enabling you to utilize the majority of the skills he acquired in the preceding game. Unlike other follow-ups, there is no contrived memory loss storyline that disrupts the immersion by causing the character to forget fundamental maneuvers like double jumps. In essence, you are still managing the identical Cal as before, and the game promptly furnishes you with fresh gear to embark on this thrilling new journey.
Following a thrilling getaway that culminates in a face-off against the psychic Ninth Sister, you’ll unlock three fresh combat techniques and the Ascension Cable, which empowers you to ascend to elevated areas. The unlocking of these abilities is cleverly woven into the storyline, ensuring that no features are missed and providing ample opportunities to experiment with the fighting stances. Later on, I’ll provide more in-depth information on how this process works.
Regrettably, the mission takes a turn for the worse, leaving Cal and his new companion Bode Akuna as the lone survivors. The devastation is compounded by the realization that the Empire has grown even stronger, extending its grasp to the farthest corners of the galaxy. Despite the clichéd Star Wars script, Cameron Monaghan delivers an outstanding performance, skillfully conveying the change in tone and the weight of guilt for leading his comrades on a mission that ended in tragedy. Cal is now a more subdued character, plagued by doubts about whether he made the right decision in entrusting the future of the Jedi to the Force. He resembles a heroic cowboy in an interstellar spaghetti Western, gripping his belt buckle with a steely glare or smirk as he cautiously navigates danger.
Cal’s ship sustains damage during their escape from Coruscant, forcing him to make an emergency landing on the rugged planet of Koboh. Despite its barren landscape, Koboh is a vast playground filled with numerous side quests and collectibles waiting to be discovered. As our base of operations, the desert canyon provides a place for us to rest and socialize with old and new acquaintances while slowly renovating Pyloon’s Saloon. It’s a home away from home. Interestingly, the overall performance of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor noticeably improved once we arrived at this new biome. This is surprising considering the vibrant and expansive environment. In contrast, the cramped and less dynamic spaces of Coruscant and the Mantis ship were plagued with significant stuttering issues.
Upon entering the saloon, we are greeted by Greez Dritus, an old friend with a bushy beard. He rushes over to Cal and embraces him warmly, like a doting grandfather. “Let me take a look at you,” he exclaims, while running his hand over Cal’s face with a broad grin. “You look terrible.” This is a tender moment between the two, as Greez pleads with Cal to stay at his cantina so they can catch up on lost time. He has even prepared a spare room in the basement, complete with Cal’s old Scrapper outfit and decorations, showing just how much he missed the young man. Although the story occasionally falls into clichés, the character relationships in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor are skillfully portrayed, some of which are incorporated into the gameplay through the new companion system. It takes a bit of getting used to, but it’s worth it.
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We’re reunited with Greez Dritus in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Photo Credit: EA/ Respawn Entertainment
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor review – Gameplay
Allies like our mercenary bro Bode Akuna and returning romantic interest Merrin accompany Cal on specific story missions, aiding him in combat by drawing the enemies’ attention. Bode would fly around in his jetpack and blast foes to shreds, whereas Merrin uses teleportation to blink around the battlefield and pick off targets. These actions are completely automatic/ bot-driven, which can be a good or bad thing, depending on your challenge preference. On one hand, these companions don’t get downed or take any damage, so there’s no additional babysitting for you to do. But this also makes it so you don’t have to care about their survival at all — almost as if their lives are devalued. Occasionally, you can ask them to target a specific enemy, but that’s about it — no major stakes.
Conversations with these characters are mainly limited to smaller, scripted segments where you ride around on creatures or walk up to them and trigger dialogue during moments of calm. They’re also pretty selfish. As you traverse through any given section — most noticeable on planets Koboh and Jedha — these companions would often just disappear for long periods and return for the final combat, occasionally popping up in a cutscene for narrative purposes. This leads to a rather lonesome journey, with BD-1 still acting as your constant companion, keeping you engaged with its robotic beep-boop noises.
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Bode Akuna is our new companion, with whom we form a brotherly bond
Photo Credit: EA/ Respawn Entertainment
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor enhances its combat system by offering five stances that gradually unlock as you progress. However, you can only equip two stances at a time. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t encourage players to switch between stances frequently, resulting in players relying on the two safest and most powerful stances to defeat countless Stormtroopers. The first three stances are similar to those found in Fallen Order, providing Cal with the reliable single-wield, dual-wield (two lightsabers), and the double-bladed stance, which is highly effective for taking down large groups of enemies due to its long reach. The twin-blade stance, popularized by Darth Maul in 1999’s Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace, can be used to deflect incoming projectiles and upgraded for creative maneuvers, such as lunging into enemies while spinning the lightsaber. After experimenting with the base stances, I found myself more comfortable with the two newer ones.
The initial stance is the ‘Crossguard,’ influenced by Kylo Ren. Cal utilizes his lightsaber as a weighty broadsword, delivering powerful strikes but sacrificing swiftness. As a devoted Dark Souls strength-build enthusiast, I was instantly drawn to this daring approach to fighting, luring opponents near with the Force and subsequently inflicting a significant blow to their health bar.
The hybrid Blaster stance is another option for Cal, providing a sidearm for taking down basic enemies from a distance. You can experiment with flashy combos or take a more calculated approach, similar to the parrying mechanics in Bloodborne. One unique aspect of this style is the limited ammunition, which can only be replenished through quick strikes with the lightsaber. This encourages players to alternate between close-range and ranged attacks, creating a dynamic and enjoyable gameplay experience akin to a regulated fencing match. Overall, it’s a lot of fun to dart in and out of combat with this style.
Similar to its predecessor, Jedi: Survivor heavily draws inspiration from Dark Souls in its implementation of a comprehensive leveling system. Cal’s Skill Points increase through progress and defeating enemies, which can be utilized at Meditation circles to obtain diverse upgrades. These locations serve as Star Wars’ equivalent of bonfires, where players can fully recover health, engage in training, equip abilities, and even teleport to previously visited checkpoints. The game’s level design is intricately interconnected, featuring numerous shortcuts and inaccessible areas that can be revisited, making the fast travel system a valuable tool in streamlining the backtracking process.
Cal is planning to spend most of his time exploring the stunning and rugged plains of Koboh and Jedha, two of the six planets he will be visiting. These planets are home to exotic wildlife and numerous facilities that offer endless hours of exploration. The levels are intricately designed puzzles that require Cal to use all the tools at his disposal. From hurling explosive orbs to holding up his lightsaber like a glow stick to navigate in the dark, Cal must also rely on his adorable droid BD-1 to scan and open unfamiliar crates. In addition to the action-packed gameplay, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor also offers some slice-of-life elements on the central hub of Koboh, which functions like a space-set Animal Crossing minigame.
Venturing off the beaten path can lead you to discovering non-playable characters willing to join your settlement following the completion of side quests. These individuals possess unique skills that can enhance Cal’s home base, such as tending to the stables or cultivating a rooftop garden. While they do not offer any special abilities or power-ups, these tasks serve as supplementary endeavors to fully engage in the captivating universe.
Workbenches are located all around the world in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, providing players the opportunity to customize their lightsaber and BD-1 companion with new appearances. Unlike other modern AAA games, these workbenches do not offer upgrades to gadget stats, but rather solely focus on cosmetic changes. Initially, I was perplexed by the absence of numerical improvements for combat, but as I continued to play and gather parts, I came to appreciate how Respawn catered to the desires of devoted Star Wars fans by allowing them to personalize their in-game lightsaber. The customization options are extensive, including various grips, vents, pomels, emitters, and blade colors to experiment with. It is a bold and unconventional decision by the developer, and I fully support it.
Despite its promising features, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor suffers from severe optimization issues. I tested the game on a high-end system equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 5800x 4.25 GHz processor, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super GPU with 6GB of VRAM, 16GB RAM, and a 500GB SSD. Even after adjusting the graphics settings to Medium, the frame rate was disappointingly inconsistent, which significantly impacted my overall experience. The frequent micro-stutters prevented the game from reaching its 60fps cap, and I often experienced freezing when entering new areas. The performance was even worse on the Low preset, dropping to 20fps during interior segments. While I didn’t experience any crashes, the poor optimization was still a major issue.
I noticed that Cal’s face was consistently blurry and difficult to make out, unless the game was set to Ultra presets. While setting AMD’s FSR 2.0 to ‘Quality’ improved the situation, it was only a temporary solution as the game’s laggy performance soon became apparent once again.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor review – Verdict
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a remarkable continuation of Respawn’s epic saga set in a distant galaxy. The game’s intricate world-building and layered combat system are truly impressive. While the main storyline is decent, the true brilliance of the sequel lies in its ability to create memorable moments with its characters and locales, providing a creative playground for players. Exploring the expanded world is enjoyable, but those who seek collectibles may find it overwhelming due to the cluttered items. Unfortunately, the game’s performance issues, despite post-launch patches, detract from the overall experience. As a result, I cannot wholeheartedly recommend it until further patches are released. If you’re a die-hard fan, consider purchasing it on sale, but otherwise, it’s best to wait for a while.
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