The greatest Star Wars game in a long time
IT certainly has been quite a stretch since we have seen a Star Wars game that anybody would consider truly groundbreaking. EA’s acquisition of the rights to the Star Wars video game division has gifted fans just two mediocre titles in six years, with only one of which featuring a single-player campaign.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order seeks to rectify the wrongs inflicted on Star Wars fanatics and under the guidance of modern classic developer Respawn, Fallen Order emerges as the greatest Star Wars game in a decade.
Thankfully, Fallen Order places the story front-and-center, expanding on the dark events between Episode 3 and Episode 4, where you play as the young Jedi hero Cal Kestis. Under your impeccably-acted and anguished mentor Cere Junda you seek to make sense and gain revenge during the fallout from Order 66. While Cal is acted impressively, there’s not a lot of depth to a character portrayed as an unflinching ‘good guy’. Cere, on the other hand is a many-faceted diamond, equal parts strong and anguished and delivered with an incredible performance. Even the main antagonist - the Jedi hunter known as Second Sister - is not just a two-dimensional villain á la virtually every bad guy that the Star Wars universe has produced.
The main quest will send you to various locations that span across several planets. For a game world of such scope, it is a testament to Respawn’s expertise that every single scene is detailed and beautiful to the extreme, sometimes to the detriment of your graphics card but never comprimising on aesthetics.
Of course, there is no real point to beautiful set-pieces and worlds if they don’t inevitably explode around you and it doesn’t take too long for Fallen Order to happily make this concession. There are plenty of Uncharted-esque action sequences where the environment crumbles as you make a mad dash towards your destination. Combat is smooth and precise, with the light saber being the only actual weapon available, along with a small selection of force powers. The small size of your arsenal only makes for more powerful abilities, with each force power feeling mechanically precise and the saber battles being the most authentic ever seen in a Star Wars game.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is the best Star Wars game in a long time and a recommendation for absolutely anyone. It is thrilling and dark while still maintaining the charm and wit that Star Wars is known for. It also looks absolutely fantastic, to boot.