Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Review
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has a lot of changes to the first game.
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00:00 [Gunfire]
00:08 Early on playing Star Wars Jedi Survivor, I made aware of how different a game this is.
00:13 I came across a sleeping Bile Maw, and thanks to Cal's new Force Confusion ability,
00:18 I'm able to influence the beast for a short time, and turn it on nearby enemies.
00:23 Rising from its slumber, the creature spews out an unpleasant brown gunk all over the unfortunate fellows nearby.
00:29 The sludge-spouting animal makes quick work of the stormtroopers for me,
00:33 but it's not long before the effects will wear off, and I'm its next target, so I better leave.
00:39 Every movement from Cal feels more fluid.
00:42 He has clearly grown from the Padawan he once was, and his connection to the Force is stronger than ever.
00:47 While the combat itself is very familiar, new Force abilities, additional stances,
00:52 a wealth of cosmetic customisation options, and the introduction of new means of traversal,
00:57 mean this is a very different game.
00:59 It feels bigger in every sense, and just as I use the Bile Maw to take out my foes instead of attacking them head-on,
01:05 the new powers have been brought in to encourage different approaches in combat.
01:09 We wanted to introduce new powers that could make you approach encounters in different ways,
01:13 so that's kind of our high-level goal as designers.
01:16 You know, push and pull.
01:18 You could do different things to certain enemies that make you play a certain way,
01:22 or an encounter may end faster. Stuff like that.
01:25 So, more agency for the player to approach encounters in different ways.
01:29 I think it was kind of always the goal.
01:31 And we see what power works and what doesn't, and we work with Lucasfilm and make sure it feels authentic where it can,
01:37 says design director Jason DeGeras.
01:40 My time with Star Wars Jedi Survivor begins an hour into the adventure on the planet of Kobo,
01:45 after the Mantis crashes.
01:47 From the off, this planet feels much bigger than anything I've explored before in Fallen Order,
01:51 promising so much to discover and explore.
01:53 Survivor still retains the Metroidvania-style setup of old,
01:57 with blocked paths that you must navigate or puzzle your way through.
02:01 But it's vastly more open.
02:03 Kobo is also teeming with life, and not just of the hostile variety.
02:07 So many local residents dotted around the locations will speak of "notable areas" or "occurrences"
02:13 that will trigger side missions.
02:15 I set out to find ship parts, but it's the mention of one familiar name that sends my excitement soaring.
02:20 GRIS. The lovable forearm pilot now owns a cantina on Kobo,
02:24 and nothing motivates me more than the prospect of a reunion.
02:28 So, as keen as I am to see GRIS again, there are happy distractions along the way,
02:32 and you're always rewarded for doing so,
02:34 be that by the way of new unlockable cosmetics, force echoes or force tears.
02:39 Just like Fallen Order, it's always hard to tear yourself away from the exploration,
02:43 but it's even harder in this game, since the planet has so much more to offer.
02:48 Not only that, but the expanded means of traversal brings freshness to exploration.
02:52 Now that Kal has restored his abilities, he's more agile, and can make use of new ways to reach areas.
02:58 The ascension cable grappling hook, for instance, is a welcome addition that zips across walls
03:03 and latches onto vines to be climbed.
03:05 Kal can also now wall jump between tight spaces to access higher platforms,
03:10 and I occasionally found myself climbing across ceilings.
03:14 The ability to tame creatures is also a great addition,
03:17 with the Neko for travelling across distances on land,
03:20 and the flying belter that lets me glide through the air.
03:23 To aid this sense of fluidity, you can now fast travel from meditation points.
03:27 FINALLY!
03:28 As De Harris explains, making Kal feel better in terms of combat and traversal
03:33 was something the team were eager to bring to the experience of Survivor,
03:36 along with additional lightsaber stances, of which there are five in total.
03:40 The twin stance was something we always wanted to do in the first game,
03:43 but we had to cut it for time.
03:45 So obviously that was one of the first things we worked on to flesh it out.
03:48 And then from there, we kind of had our three stances.
03:50 And then we kind of say, "Okay, where do we want to go with the other two?"
03:53 And that's kind of what was the driving force behind that.
03:56 So for game design and gameplay, make Kal feel better in traversal and combat.
04:00 While the improvements and new features in combat and traversal definitely excite me,
04:04 the characters and the bonds they share continue to be the biggest draw for me.
04:08 Once I finally find my way to Grease's Cantina in the town of Rambler's Reach,
04:12 the saloon is full of its regulars who can all be interacted with,
04:15 which just makes everything come to life with so much character.
04:18 Of course, it's not complete until Grease finally enters the picture.
04:22 And just as it's a reunion for Kal, it really feels like I'm seeing an old friend again.
04:27 The relationship between the pair and the conversations they share
04:30 continue to be highlights, just as they were in Fallen Order.
04:33 What's most interesting, though, is that my presence in Rambler's Reach
04:36 actually has an effect on the town, with new shops and activities opening up as a result.
04:41 As I discover, Survivor will see you encounter different outposts
04:44 that you can influence by recruiting residents around the locations to come and assist your journey.
04:49 I don't get to see too much of this new feature,
04:51 but I love the idea of having a direct effect on the places I visit as Kal.
04:56 And with the chance to open up new elements in the outpost, there's added incentive to do more.
05:00 When my session came to an end, I didn't want to stop playing Star Wars Jedi Survivor,
05:04 which I think says it all.
05:06 There is so much to do and see, so many new things to discover,
05:09 and yet, with so many features returning, I felt right at home in this follow-up to Fallen Order.
05:15 The wealth of new features, quality of life improvements, new narrative stakes
05:19 make everything feel bigger and better, as an experience that builds on just about everything that came before.
05:25 It's clear Respawn is striving to make this a Star Wars adventure anybody can enjoy.
05:30 So, what are you most looking forward to now that you've seen a bit more of Star Wars Jedi Survivor?
05:35 Let us know in the comments below.
05:38 Take a look at that view!
05:40 Is that a giant crater? Wow!
05:44 I got it so easy. Guard the cliff, crush the locals, look at the scenery!
05:49 Nobody's getting past me, not without a blaster hole in 'em.
05:53 I wonder if I'll get promoted for doing such a good job.
05:56 Then I'll get the other droids to guard the cliff.
05:59 Oh, but then I won't see the scenery.
06:02 Hmm, now that's a dilemma.
06:04 Dilemma?
06:06 Dilemma solved.
06:10 (electronic music)
06:12 (cat meows)