Cal Kestis returns in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, a sequel that builds upon the foundation laid by Fallen Order while introducing new gameplay mechanics and expanding the narrative. Five years after the events of the previous game, a more mature and experienced Cal continues his fight against the ever-expanding Empire. While Survivor delivers a compelling Star Wars experience with improved combat and a larger world to explore, it’s not entirely without its shortcomings.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor picks up five years after the original game. Cal, no longer the Padawan seeking his place in the galaxy, is now a seasoned Jedi Knight, more confident in his abilities and his role in the rebellion. However, the emergence of a new and formidable enemy forces Cal to confront his motivations and ambitions, adding a layer of depth to the narrative that wasn’t present in Fallen Order.
The character development in Survivor is a significant strength. Cal’s growth is palpable, solidifying his position as a compelling force within the Star Wars universe. The supporting characters, both returning and new, are well-developed and contribute meaningfully to the story. The game’s antagonist, while remaining somewhat shrouded in mystery to avoid spoilers, presents a unique and intriguing conflict for Cal to overcome.
While the narrative is generally engaging, the pacing suffers in the mid-game, where the plot feels somewhat stagnant. The conflict between Cal and the main antagonist could have benefited from further development. Despite these issues, the story still delivers high-stakes Star Wars drama that keeps players invested.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor significantly enhances the gameplay of its predecessor. Cal retains all his previous abilities, and Survivor expands his arsenal further with five distinct lightsaber stances. Each stance offers a unique playstyle, adding variety to the combat encounters.
A disappointing aspect of the combat system is the limitation of equipping only two lightsaber stances at a time. Switching stances requires visiting a rest area, preventing players from utilizing their full combat potential in any given encounter. This restriction feels arbitrary and detracts from the overall combat experience.
The upgrade system is largely unchanged from Fallen Order. Players earn experience points through various activities, which unlock skill points to invest in different skill trees. While relatively basic, this system allows players to customize Cal’s abilities and specialize in preferred playstyles.
Beyond lightsaber combat, Survivor offers platforming challenges, puzzles, and boss battles. The game shines when these elements are combined creatively, such as in a mid-game sequence that blends platforming and combat seamlessly against a colossal boss.
Jedi: Survivor offers a much larger world to explore compared to Fallen Order. The planets are more expansive and feature various secrets, collectibles, and side missions. While offering dozens of hours of content, some of these side activities feel less substantial than others.
Customization options abound in Survivor, allowing players to personalize Cal’s appearance, lightsaber hilt, and BD-1’s design. These unlockable cosmetic items add a layer of personalization to the experience.
Despite its visual strengths and the leap to next-gen platforms, Survivor suffers from performance issues. Frame rate dips and texture pop-in, particularly in larger areas, detract from the overall presentation. Hopefully, these issues will be addressed in future updates.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a commendable sequel that enhances many aspects of its predecessor. Despite pacing issues and performance problems, the engaging narrative, improved combat, and expansive world make it a worthwhile experience for Star Wars fans. Cal Kestis continues to shine as a compelling protagonist, solidifying his place among the best new Star Wars characters of the Disney era.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor was reviewed on PlayStation 5. The game is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
