Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Review

GamesRadar

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has a lot of changes to the first game.

Transcript

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)

Category

Transcript

Recommended