top of page
Search

A New Hope For Fans

  • Writer: Vanessa Hart
    Vanessa Hart
  • Nov 25, 2023
  • 4 min read

Updated: Dec 2, 2023

A review of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order


When I first saw the trailer for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, I was filled with uneasiness rather than excitement. It wasn't that the trailer itself was terrible, it was all the history that had come before. Despite being a huge Star Wars fan, the video games had never really stood out to me. When they did, it was for all the wrong reasons. Video game publishing rights to Star Wars have been owned by Electronic Arts (EA) for quite some time and I'd be generous to say it hasn't always been smooth sailing.


EA had published Star Wars Battlefront back in 2015, and it had been a smashing success. Fans couldn't seem to get enough of the multiplayer mania and were clamoring for a sequel. Two years later that sequel was released, and any goodwill EA had built went right out the window. The game was absolutely full of in game purchases and gambling mechanics known as loot boxes. It also expected players to put an insane amount of time into the game just so they could play as recognizable characters. The loot boxes and microtransactions were so bad that EA was actually taken to court. I tried to play through the single player campaign and found it so lifeless and boring that I quit halfway through.


I wasn't jumping out of my seat after the first trailer released, but as I began to learn more about the title, I could almost see a faint glimmer of hope. It was set to be a single player adventure focused on combat and puzzle solving. There were no microtransactions or loot boxes, and although there would be downloadable content it would be purely cosmetic and not required. It really seemed that Electronic Arts was trying to learn their lesson, but only time would tell. The game released in November of 2019 for PS4 and Xbox One and I received it as a Christmas gift that same year. A sequel was released in April 2023.


Set between Episode III and Episode IV, this game tells the story of Cal Kestis, a young Jedi who survived the destruction of the Jedi Order and went into hiding. Five years later, he is forced to go on the run from the Empire. He meets another former Jedi and her pilot who are on a mission to rebuild the Jedi order. He joins their crew and goes on a mission across the galaxy to find a list of the future generation of Jedi Knights.


As I mentioned before, I received this as a Christmas gift - once I started playing, I don't believe the rest of my family saw me until New Year's. I couldn't put it down. The story was exciting, with over-the-top action scenes that felt just right for a Star Wars story. The lightsaber combat has a slight learning curve but is not overly complicated. The player has a chance to learn Force abilities to help with puzzle solving. Although some of these puzzles do require a fair amount of brainpower, I never felt overly frustrated by them. Rather, I saw them as a chance to slow down and take a breath while experimenting with the game’s mechanics.


Right from the opening mission, lightsaber combat is a central focus

I can't talk about this game without mentioning BD-1, The Droid companion who joins you on your adventures around the galaxy. He provides the player with a map of the current area, health restoration items, and can even help the player access certain areas of the environment using a few tools of his own. He might be considered a side character, but this little robot quickly steals the show.


Forget flying cars, I want one of these guys.

One of the main focuses of this game is exploration. Although it's not required of you to find everything, there are chests scattered around the various maps. While some are easily found, others require a fair amount of searching and sometimes a bit of puzzle solving. A small amount of these chests contain health items, but most of them contain cosmetic items. Fallen Order allows players to customize their lightsaber and their outfit as well as the paint jobs of both BD-1 and your spaceship. It may not seem like much, but I find that these small customization options can often help a player feel more connected to their character.


I was able to pretty closely match the design to the lightsaber I built in Galaxy's Edge at Disney World.

Unfortunately, I do have two issues that I came across while playing. The first is the lack of fast travel. Most modern games have a fast travel mechanic that allows the player to easily maneuver between certain landmarks on a map. While this may seem like a minor complaint, it should be noted that the landscapes in Fallen Order often have multiple levels and can be very difficult to transverse. So, if you decide to go exploring and end up on the other end of the map, you have to fight all the enemies again and find a pathway back. The other issue is far more pressing and that is the limited accessibility options. Even for a game that came out four years ago, the options for players with disabilities are severely lacking. That's not to say that the game is impossible, and it does seem that those issues were fixed in the sequel but in comparison to the other titles that I've played through this year it's incredibly disappointing.


I have a deep love for Fallen Order, so much so that I even completed all the achievements in the game. The story is entertaining and the comet and puzzle solving provide the right amount of challenge. Even if you only like Star Wars in passing, I urge you to give this game a shot. This title truly feels like a love letter to Star Wars and playing through it revitalized my love for the franchise. I already have a few lightsabers…maybe I should pick up a droid next?


 
 
 

Commentaires


 Let Me Know What You Think

Thanks for submitting!

© 2023  by Vanessa Hart. Powered and secured by Wix

bottom of page