Jedi: Survivor: The Galaxy is Expanding

There is no denying that the lines between video games and cinema are beginning to blur. Video games have come a long way from the days of games like ‘Pong’ or ‘Pac-Man’. No video game illustrates this more clearly than ‘Jedi: Survivor’.

‘Survivor’ is a sequel to the acclaimed ‘Jedi: The Fallen Order’. A game that managed to be more than just a cheap spin off. ‘The Fallen Order’ was a revelation. It not only added meaningful lore to the Star Wars universe, but was an excellent stand alone adventure. The story follows Cal Kestis, a long Jedi trying to survive the fallout from Order 66. What follows was an adventure so well put together, it was actually better than some of the Star Wars movies, and that’s saying something.

In ‘Jedi: Survivor’ the setting is five years after the original game. Cal has devoted himself to bringing down the Empire, and has become more rugged. He has a beard, and even sports a few new scars. Cal is far more battle experienced and this adds to a great combat system, more on that in a moment. When Cal discovers a mysterious facility he finds a strange individual trapped in a bacta tank for decades. Upon releasing the prisoner, Cal is horrified to learn he has unleashed a Sith of terrible power, and with a mad dream for the galaxy.

The game mechanics for ‘Survivor’ are incredibly smooth. This might seem obvious, but the primary issue plaguing the majority combat games is a lack of refinement. Here, every control feels completely natural. Doing things like swinging a lightsaber around may be unrealistic, yet this is what makes playing ‘Survivor’ such an amazing experience, even the lightsaber combat feels realistic.

One of the elements that really sets ‘Survivor’ apart from its predecessor is the new combat styles. There are now multiple lightsaber stances you can now equip that can alter the game completely. Stances like the cross guard, turning your lightsaber into a massive broadsword basically. Or you can equip a combination of lightsaber and blaster, which if used properly is incredibly effective at breaking your opponents guard. The point is, there are now a myriad of ways to strategize and achieve victory.

Another addition to your weapons are other features like gadgets and collectibles. Gadgets like a zipline, allowing you to make otherwise impossible jumps and bridge gaps. Collectibles like Republic data disks or Jedda scrolls can be traded in for rare items at various shops across the galaxy.

I want to take this moment and acknowledge just how cinematic this game feels. I don’t mean just graphically, while yes, visually the game is jaw dropping. I’m referring to sheer cinematic quality. I’m constantly impressed at how ‘Survivor’ manages to create a meaningful cast of characters. Cal Kestis feels authentic and relatable. Various flashback scenes lend a depth into the game’s villain, showing how even a good man can become corrupted. Themes of loyalty, strength and redemption are strewn throughout the game. Even the various NPC’s are given meaningful moments, which is no small achievement. I’m already looking forward to replaying the game, just to savor the story.

I came into this game with very high expectations. Growing my favorite video game was “The Force Unleashed”. I’m not making this up, I’m pretty sure I replayed that game at least twenty times. When I played ‘The Fallen Order’ it quickly became my absolute favorite game ever. I loved the way it managed to take Star Wars and spin a completely original and complex story from it. As I followed the release of ‘Survivor’ I found myself wondering if it could re-capture the emotion and sense of adventure I got from its predecessor. I’m more than happy to report that ‘Survivor’ is better in every single way. An incredible adventure that will linger long after you come tot he end, I couldn’t recommend this any higher.