Star Wars is not something that held my attention after childhood. I don’t know a ton about the lore, but I did absolutely love it as a kid. That being said, I think Jedi: Fallen Order is incredible. It had me jumping out of my seat with excitement, crushing my soul with dread, jumping for joy after a hard boss fight, this game is a reminder why I love to play. Developers at Respawn Entertainment dropped this title in 2019 to a positive reception, which made publishers at Electronic Arts happy enough to order a sequel, “Jedi: Survivor,” due in Spring.

A couple years ago I sampled this game, but found it too difficult to continue. Reason being a lack of experience with the brutal, “Souls-like” melee action genre. However, after playing certain games recently I felt ready to attempt the genre again. I even turned up the difficulty from “Jedi Knight” to “Jedi Master,” the second hardest difficulty. This was an excellent adjustment. The game gets better when it is challenging. I like that it is not an overly complex formula. A lightsaber and the Force. The difficulty curve meant the game’s approach was not a nightmare.

Much can be done wielding a Jedi’s toolkit. Feeling the awesome power of being one of these divine beings. Force pushing stormtroopers off ledges, taking on an AT-ST, swinging a glorious lightsaber, and serving as a beacon of hope. Enemies come in many varieties, few of which are truly annoying. Most of them are just unique challenges. Every enemy poses a substantial threat. Also, there are parkour exploration elements that add to the fun with interesting set pieces and twisted level design that opens up as you unlock more abilities.

A next-gen update for this game now exists to enhance the graphics and performance. On my Xbox Series X it looks beautiful. Everything except hair looks stunning. Bad news for the Wookies. Certain scenes in particular I found thrilling, most of which I don’t want to spoil because they felt special discovering them for myself. But no matter where you go, there will be cool stuff to look at, with rich detail. Sound design is also stellar, including music from an orchestra that feels characteristically “Star Wars.” Voice acting is some of the best around, with fantastic talent including Cameron Monaghan and Debra Wilson.

The story of Fallen Order takes place about five years after the end of Revenge of the Sith. Jedi have been nearly exterminated, and are being hunted viciously to their end. Cal Kestis was a mere child Jedi in training when this started, and like others who survived has some serious survivor’s guilt. He is hiding away as a scrapper on an abandoned shipyard, when fate comes calling. Following the clues laid out by an old Jedi who saw the collapse coming, his adventure begins as he fights to protect what few Force sensitive people remain. 

Fallen Order is punishing. Boss fights truly test your strength, patience and resolve. One boss near the end I am still amazed with myself for defeating. You may spend a long time going a very short distance, but that is the manner of this game. An enemy encounter is serious business regardless of what enemy. And when you die, all the experience you’ve gained since your last skill point is held by the individual that killed you, until you strike them before dying again to get it back. Also, all foes respawn when you die or rest. The pacing works. Cut-scenes tend to pay off, even if sometimes they could never match the spectacle of the battle that preceded it. Persistence and strategy will be rewarded.

I may not have been too deep into Star Wars before, but I am now. After playing this game I understand why people spend hundreds of dollars on toy lightsabers, and themed gear. My intention is to give the sequel trilogy a full watch finally, then perhaps get into some of the acclaimed shows like Andor. There were moments in this game that totally reawakened the childlike love I used to have for Star Wars. So, if you are a major geek of the franchise, be assured this game should not disappoint. My praise of Fallen Order doesn’t come from a dogmatic love of Star Wars, it comes from a casual fan, who just loves quality video games.

While researching this game, I found that it can be beaten in an average of 15-20 hours. I played well over 30. Some stones remain unturned, but I did do a lot of rose sniffing along the way. I enjoyed finding new customization options, and there’s plenty of hidden experience points hidden, too. All that said, I think I am done with the game. It isn’t impossible that I revisit it someday. For this reason I am glad to have the option of a New Game Plus. Still, I hunger for more. I am ecstatic about Jedi: Survivor arriving relatively soon. I can’t wait to see what the next chapter holds for these characters, and to enjoy playing through their journey more.

Star Wars fans do not want to miss Jedi: Fallen Order. Truthfully, neither do action/adventure game fans. This review has been nothing but raving, as is my wish. Dynamite game design. Graphics, audio, storytelling, gameplay, setting, it has it all. Perfection may not have been achieved, but it is of wonderful quality nonetheless. It was hard to put the controller down. I found this game to be very inspirational, in certain ways. The dedication of the Jedi, and healing power of meditation, for example. Find this title on Xbox, PlayStation or PC. I am beyond eager for the sequel, and now feel brave enough to try other games I previously found too difficult. Jedi: Fallen Order is a game I am going to remember for a long time.

Credit: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Screenshots by me.