Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order is the perfect example of what a good Star Wars game can be. With its epic narrative, strong characters, beautiful environments, and slick combat, Jedi Fallen Order has made a name for itself as one of the best Star Wars video games of all time. Join us as we revisit this modern classic and explain what makes it such an underrated masterpiece that all fans of Star Wars must experience.
Jedi Fallen Order: A Captivating Star Wars Story
Respawn Entertainment’s 2019 smash hit Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was released to massive critical acclaim. One of the game’s biggest strengths is its thrilling story. Set shortly after the events of the Clone Wars and a few years before A New Hope, we follow Jedi padawan Cal Kestis as he nobly attempts to keep the legacy of the Jedi alive while simultaneously trying to stay one step ahead of the Galactic Empire. When we first meet Cal, he is working as a scrapper on the planet Bracca, stripping valuable parts from derelict vessels to make a living. Cal has thus far kept a low profile as a Jedi, but that soon changes.
When his friend Prauf almost falls to his death, Cal saves him with the Force, but an Imperial probe droid witnesses this. Soon, Darth Vader’s Inquisitors are sent to Bracca to capture the Jedi and kill Prauf for standing up to the Empire. Cal is forced to escape Bracca and meets former Jedi Cere Junda and Stinger Mantis pilot Greez Dritus. Cal seeks to rebuild the Jedi Order, so the crew goes to a vault built by the ancient Zeffo on the planet Bogano. Here, Cal meets BD-1, a droid belonging to Jedi Master Cordova, BD-1 becomes an inseparable companion to Cal; opening doors, hacking enemy droids, and throwing Cal health stims.
The gang soon discovers that Master Cordova hid a Jedi holocron that contains a list of Force-sensitive children and their locations across the galaxy. Of course, the Empire also wants the Holocron, so the crew has to act fast. In order to open the vault and retrieve the Holocron, the crew travels across the galaxy looking for clues. Along the way, they meet characters such as Forest Whitaker’s Saw Gerrera, Wookie chieftain Tarfful, and Dathomirian Nightsister Merrin. Cal also fights various bounty hunters, Inquisitors, and aggressive fauna throughout his galaxy-spanning journey.
Jedi Fallen Order: What Doesn’t Kill You…
Cal Kestis, played by the great Cameron Monaghan, is a very likable and relatable protagonist. We learn that his master was killed during Order 66, the Emperor’s plan to eradicate the Jedi. Cal was very young during that event, still in training as a padawan. In the years leading up to the story in Fallen Order, Cal has been lying low and hiding his Jedi nature. As a result, his skills are somewhat rusty and must be relearned. This is a good storytelling device that compliments the gameplay as Cal has to get experience to gain new abilities. It provides Cal an opportunity to grow both as a person and a Jedi warrior.
One of the biggest prevailing themes of Jedi Fallen Order is overcoming trauma. Cal carried immense guilt over the death of his master during an already highly traumatic point in his life. Throughout the game, and with help from his friends, Cal finally learns to let go of his guilt. This is also seen with Cere, who briefly turned to the Dark side after learning her padawan Trilla had become an Inquisitor, and soon after walled herself off from the Force, out of fear of what she could become. Cere overcomes the guilt and trauma and reconciles with Trilla late in the story.
Merrin goes through a similar process as her people were brutally slaughtered by a former Jedi. She harbors great distrust and animosity toward what Cal represents but finally comes around after Cal offers her compassion and understanding, fundamental values of the Jedi way. Through working together and supporting each other through dark times, the Mantis crew forms a strong bond that even the Empire can’t break. Jedi Fallen Order shows us how helping each other and being compassionate and understanding can make us stronger not only as a group, but as an individual.
Jedi Fallen Order: Oh, The Places You’ll Go
The various planetary environments of Jedi Fallen Order serve as interesting locations to explore and do battle on. From the industrial scrapyards of Bracca to the lush jungles of Kashyyyk, Fallen Order captures the iconic feel of the Star Wars universe. You can’t help but marvel at the amount of beauty and detail these planets have as you run, jump, climb and swing your way across their exciting landscapes. Each planet also has its own unique host of indigenous fauna and flora, with creatures like rancors, and the terrifying wyyyschokk. All these planets have a unique atmosphere and harbor hidden secrets.
Bracca is the first planet we’re introduced to in Jedi Fallen Order, filled with heaps of decommissioned starships and sprawling slums. This is probably the least exciting planet, so thankfully we don’t spend much time here. Bogano, by contrast, is a very green planet with dense amounts of grassy mesas and vast wetlands. It is definitely a breath of fresh air after running for your life in the cold, grey steel of Bracca’s industrial zones. Dathomir on the other hand, is a very bleak, hostile world that presents a gloomy, foreboding atmosphere with its aggressive denizens and red-tinged skies.
Kashyyyk is one of the prettier planets, with its dense forests and gigantic trees that reach into the sky. Climbing the colossal Origin Tree is one of our personal highlights that is a truly breathtaking experience. The snow-covered world of Ilum makes an appearance, being home to an ancient Jedi temple. The mountainous Zeffo is another picturesque landscape that hides many ancient secrets beneath its surface. We also get to see Nur, a moon of Mustafar that the HQ of the Inquisitors is located upon. Nur is covered by its ocean, and the only part we explore is the underwater Fortress Inquisitorius.
Jedi Fallen Order: An Elegant Weapon For An Uncivilized Age
The gameplay of Jedi Fallen Order is soul-like with platforming elements. Scattered throughout each map are meditation points, which act similar to the bonfires of Dark Souls. Resting at these points refills your health and stims, but also respawns all enemies, making their use require a little bit of foresight and strategy. There is a lot of platforming in the game, resembling games like Uncharted and Tomb Raider. These sections are creatively done and aren’t really immersion-breaking despite their very game-y nature. The combination of combat and platforming blend well together and provide an authentic Star Wars experience.
Cal uses his master’s lightsaber, which is very modular and customizable. You can change the color of the kyber crystal inside, which affects blade color, as well as modify the hilt, switch, grip, and emitter of the lightsaber. Later on in the game, Cal an use a double-bladed version, and even briefly separate the weapon in two to dual-wield. The lightsaber cuts through most things with ease and is even able to repel blaster shots back into the stormtrooper that fired them. Cal has a block meter, which when full leaves him open to attack. The saber can be used to parry as well as perform devastating combo attacks.
Cal also has upgradeable Force powers that range from slowing time to throwing enemies. These Force powers are necessary for the game’s many puzzles, most of them often requiring the use of a specific Force power to progress. Cal has three skill trees he can put skill points into Survival, Lightsaber, and Force. Allowing Cal to grow and further develop his abilities is critical in order to go toe-to-toe with the game’s many intimidating bosses. Lightsaber and Force abilities can be used in conjunction to form a deadly, dazzling spectacle of fast-paced acrobatic wizardry.
An Epic Adventure
With its epic campaign, intriguing characters, and slick gameplay, Jedi Fallen Order has cemented itself alongside KOTOR and Star Wars Battlefront as one of the greatest Star Wars games of all time. Cal Kestis has won the hearts of many fans, embodying the spirit of the Jedi while also showing his vulnerable humanity. The story fits in perfectly with the greater Star Wars universe, bringing the series’ themes of epic adventure, the battle between good and evil, and reconciliation of the past into a more contained personal story that delivers spectacularly on all fronts.
If you haven’t played Jedi Fallen Order, now is the time. Any fan of Star Wars should experience this game at least once. Fans will love its planet-hopping story, great characters, smooth combat, and fantastic visuals. As with any recent Star Wars property, there is plenty of fan service present in the game as well, with appearances from Saw Gerrera and Darth Vader as examples. There is even an arguably superior sequel, Jedi Survivor, which came out last year. As beloved as Jedi Fallen Order and its charming protagonist are, we can’t wait to see what’s next for Cal and his friends in a third game. Fingers crossed.
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