Jedi: Survivor not only improves on practically everything its predecessor did, but charts a bold, alternative course for what the 3rd-Person-AAA-Action-Adventure genre can be. Mostly by committing to making everything you do fun yet, at the same time, showing that doing so doesn't undermine the ability to be invested in a story or take characters seriously. One moment I'm platforming like Ratchet & Clank, the next I'm at the edge of my seat as characters have a moment.
It forsakes being the prettiest game, having the most elaborate simulations or animations, or having the most ambitious story in the world, for the fun that can be had if you don't take everything so seriously and have a connective tissue of heartfelt story along the way.
What is interesting is that this leads to some of the best setpieces I have seen in a long time. And moment-to-moment gameplay that is a delight. All wrapped in a story that has me absolutely pining for the next game.
Of course, Jedi: Survivor isn't perfect, there are graphical glitches that are distracting, even on Series X, and it feels like you hop back to a planet one too many times making the mid-game drag ever so slightly. But that is all easily overlooked. If you have any affinity for Star Wars, or just like the prospect of a fun game, Jedi: Survivor has you covered.
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One last note, I was super impressed with was how the game took Cal, the generic protagonist, and broke him. So that by the end, he was a real character I was invested in.
Which made the prompt "to embrace the darkness" incredible. I legitimately didn't want him to, but the game didn't just force your hand, but showed you there was no alternative. But then left you with that power for the rest of the game, always tempting you. Even when you didn't need it, you had a "win quick with the darkness" button waiting in the wings. I rarely used it, but there were moments of desperation when I popped it to survive. Just like Cal would. And then I felt bad for doing so, like Cal would.
Many video games try to give you dark powers or let you slide towards darker means, but hamfistedly guilt you for it. Like, "we rewarded you with cool new things you can do! But you are a bad person for using them!" And it sucks because you either have to commit to not fully playing the game or ignore its weird judgement that it hasn't earned.
But somehow Jedi: Surivor nails it. The loop of knowing you have a final resort, resisting the final resort, in desperation using the final resort, and then regretting it is powerful. And then the game sends you to orphan a child.
The last fourth of the game instills a surprising amount of dread because of all the no win situations Cal is put into. He's not necessarily the villian, but he can't keep his hands clean or some code up either. What will it actually take for him to survive? Can he protect his family without falling like the antagonists of this game did? I can't wait to find out.
It forsakes being the prettiest game, having the most elaborate simulations or animations, or having the most ambitious story in the world, for the fun that can be had if you don't take everything so seriously and have a connective tissue of heartfelt story along the way.
What is interesting is that this leads to some of the best setpieces I have seen in a long time. And moment-to-moment gameplay that is a delight. All wrapped in a story that has me absolutely pining for the next game.
Of course, Jedi: Survivor isn't perfect, there are graphical glitches that are distracting, even on Series X, and it feels like you hop back to a planet one too many times making the mid-game drag ever so slightly. But that is all easily overlooked. If you have any affinity for Star Wars, or just like the prospect of a fun game, Jedi: Survivor has you covered.
Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers
Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers SpoilersSpoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers SpoilersSpoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers SpoilersSpoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers SpoilersSpoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers
One last note, I was super impressed with was how the game took Cal, the generic protagonist, and broke him. So that by the end, he was a real character I was invested in.
Which made the prompt "to embrace the darkness" incredible. I legitimately didn't want him to, but the game didn't just force your hand, but showed you there was no alternative. But then left you with that power for the rest of the game, always tempting you. Even when you didn't need it, you had a "win quick with the darkness" button waiting in the wings. I rarely used it, but there were moments of desperation when I popped it to survive. Just like Cal would. And then I felt bad for doing so, like Cal would.
Many video games try to give you dark powers or let you slide towards darker means, but hamfistedly guilt you for it. Like, "we rewarded you with cool new things you can do! But you are a bad person for using them!" And it sucks because you either have to commit to not fully playing the game or ignore its weird judgement that it hasn't earned.
But somehow Jedi: Surivor nails it. The loop of knowing you have a final resort, resisting the final resort, in desperation using the final resort, and then regretting it is powerful. And then the game sends you to orphan a child.
The last fourth of the game instills a surprising amount of dread because of all the no win situations Cal is put into. He's not necessarily the villian, but he can't keep his hands clean or some code up either. What will it actually take for him to survive? Can he protect his family without falling like the antagonists of this game did? I can't wait to find out.