PGC NEWS

The Star Wars universe is vast, encompassing countless games across various genres, from the playful Lego Star Wars series to the expansive MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic, and even the space flight simulation of Star Wars: Squadrons. Since Disney acquired the franchise and granted EA publishing rights in 2013, the focus shifted towards online multiplayer experiences, exemplified by DICE’s Star Wars: Battlefront series. However, the resounding success of Respawn Entertainment’s 2019 single-player action-adventure title, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, prompted a reassessment of the genre’s importance. Now, its sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, arrives as a true next-gen experience, leaving behind the previous console generation. Does it live up to the legacy of its predecessor and solidify the place of single-player Star Wars games? Let’s delve in.

Cal Kestis in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

A Compelling Narrative Journey

Set five years after Fallen Order and following the events of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Survivor continues Cal Kestis’s struggle against the Galactic Empire. Having destroyed a holocron to protect potential Jedi younglings, Cal and his faithful droid companion BD-1 find themselves separated from the Stinger Mantis crew. After a dramatic opening sequence, a forced landing on the planet Koboh leads Cal to uncover ancient High Republic ruins, sparking hope for a counteroffensive against the Empire and Darth Vader. The narrative unfolds with surprising twists and turns, exploring themes of camaraderie, loss, and the enduring conflict between the light and dark sides of the Force. While not overly complex, the story focuses on Cal’s emotional journey and his relationships with his companions, enhanced by strong performances and compelling writing.

Exploring the world of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

An Expansive Galaxy to Explore

Survivor offers a greater sense of freedom and exploration compared to its predecessor. Linear level design gives way to vast, open areas, providing dozens of hours of gameplay. Koboh, in particular, is a breathtaking environment, reminiscent of the realms in God of War Ragnarok. Cal’s mobility is significantly improved, with the ability to tame mounts and even hitch rides on certain creatures, adding a new dimension to traversal. Fast travel between Meditation points streamlines exploration, especially with objectives spread across the map. Beyond the main and side quests, there’s a wealth of content to discover. Pyloon’s Saloon, Greez’s establishment, serves as a central hub, allowing players to invite NPCs, each offering unique benefits from changing the saloon’s ambiance to unlocking a compelling holotactics minigame. Collectible seeds can be planted to cultivate a vibrant rooftop garden, while hidden Jedi Chambers offer challenging puzzles for those seeking a mental workout.

Customizing Cal's appearance in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

A Jedi’s Wardrobe: Customization Options

Survivor introduces a robust character customization system. Players can now personalize Cal’s appearance, from hairstyles and beards to jackets, shirts, and pants. Channel Han Solo’s rugged style or don Obi-Wan Kenobi’s iconic Jedi robes. BD-1 also receives customizable parts and paint jobs. This adds a layer of personalization to the experience, allowing players to truly embody their Jedi identity.

Traversing the environments in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Refined and Engaging Combat

Survivor boasts some of the most satisfying lightsaber combat in any Star Wars game. The simple act of wielding a lightsaber feels incredibly visceral and responsive. Cal retains his skills from Fallen Order, including double jumps, Force abilities, and lightsaber stances like Double-Blade. New stances, including Dual-Blade, Crossguard (Kylo Ren’s style), and a Blaster/Lightsaber hybrid, each with unique skill trees and combat applications, add depth to the combat system. Players can equip two stances at a time, encouraging strategic loadout choices. Force powers are more potent, with new abilities like Focus Sight for effortless parries and counters, and Confuse to turn enemies against each other. The defensive mechanics, inspired by Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, combine blocking, parrying, dodging, and a Block Meter, creating tense and rewarding encounters.

Engaging in lightsaber combat in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Performance Issues: A Looming Threat

Despite its next-gen status and visual splendor, Survivor suffers from significant performance problems on PS5. The massive 150GB install size is a considerable drawback. More concerning are the frequent frame rate drops, particularly in open areas on Koboh. These drops can cause noticeable lag and stuttering, even in Performance Mode. This impacts visual fidelity, resulting in grainy visuals, pixelation, blurry textures, and unconvincing shadows. While a Day-1 patch addressed some issues, minor bugs persist, including trophy glitches, disappearing objects, and audio desynchronization. The lack of HDR support also contributes to dull colors and poor contrast. Reports of poor PC performance further raise concerns about optimization.

Performance issues hamper the experience in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Conclusion: A Galaxy Worth Exploring, But Proceed With Caution

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor expands upon its predecessor in nearly every way, offering a compelling narrative, expansive exploration, engaging combat, and robust customization. However, the significant performance issues hold it back from reaching its full potential. While the core gameplay loop is undeniably enjoyable, the technical shortcomings can detract from the overall experience. Hopefully, future patches will address these problems and allow players to fully immerse themselves in this captivating Star Wars adventure.