Survivor Review – Game of the Year

In 2019, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order did something unthinkable: It unified the fandom, as the universal consensus was that it was an excellent adaptation of a galaxy far, far away. Now the sequel, Stars Wars Jedi: Survivor, has arrived. The question is whether this is a sequel closer to The Empire Strikes Back or The Rise of Skywalker.

RELIEF: Is PSVR 2’s Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge worth playing?

Picking up five years after the previous story, we find a tougher and more hardened Cal Kestis, accompanied of course by his droid BD-1. Cal still believes in the way of the Jedi, but he struggles to keep his head above water as the Galactic Empire hunts him and his rebel friends. However, he finds something on a planet that could herald a very different future for him and the Rebellion.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is much bigger

From a continuity perspective, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor keeps everything that worked in its predecessor and expands outward. This means bigger worlds, more gameplay options, and more characters than before. Planets, like Koboh, are vast and encourage the player to get lost in exploration, offering special discoveries where you least expect them.

Fallen Order was a magnificent game, taking all the right lessons from the Star Wars universe, and the sequel follows suit. Not only are the character and creature designs perfect – and even Cal, BD and the lightsabers can be customized – but the environments are also magnificent and capture the space western atmosphere of the franchise. The locations are also varied, with Cal traveling the galaxy to complete missions. Some places feature more exotic flora and fauna, while others are sandy (someone please console Anakin) and bare to the bone. There are also the more high-tech areas which illustrate the industrialized side of Star Wars.

RELATED: The 8 Best Star Wars Characters of All Time, Ranked in Order of Importance

May the force be with you

Where Star Wars Jedi: Survivor shines the most is in its gameplay mechanics which were already fantastic but have been significantly improved. Let's be clear: The skill tree is absolutely fundamental to the development of the player and the abilities available. It will shape the player's performance throughout the game, and decisions made about whether or not to improve will impact what happens next.

As in the previous installment, Cal has different lightsaber stances, and new stances have been added for this game. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, and it's a matter of finding the one that best suits combat and combat. playstyle. Use of the Force is equally important, as different abilities are available. It's not just about throwing enemies away or bringing them closer, but also using various Jedi sleights of hand.

Throughout Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Cal will also interact with several allies who will prove important to the battle. They have their own abilities and players can use commands to ask these NPCs for help in sticky situations. At the same time, some creatures, like spamels, will prove essential for transportation, so get used to moving around on fantastical beasts.

RELIEF: Cal Kestis' new live-action Star Wars TV series is about to see the light of day

This is Star Wars

From the first note of Stephen Barton's score, it's undeniable that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor was made with fans in mind, but also with the intention of bringing something new to the franchise. The biggest criticism of movies and TV shows recently has been the fact that they constantly return to the Skywalkers, almost shying away from doing anything new in that galaxy.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is an exception. Yes, there are obvious callbacks and references to the original films and stories, but like its predecessor, this is a story that isn't afraid to stand on its own two feet. It makes Cal his own hero and establishes him as worthy of his own story arc that doesn't feel like an extra. In many ways, Jedi: Survivor is the kind of Star Wars story that builds on the work created by George Lucas rather than following in its footsteps. It's also a great video game that might just be the game of the year.