The Star Wars franchise has always been known for taking inspiration from various sources to create its iconic characters, locations, and plot points. While sometimes these inspirations are not immediately apparent, they nevertheless contribute to the franchise’s overall success.
The Star Wars Jedi games from Respawn Entertainment are a prime example of this. The first game in the series, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, borrowed heavily from the Metroidvania and Souls genres of video games, resulting in a unique blend of exploration and combat.
The recently released sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor , takes this formula and runs with it, confident in its ability to provide an enjoyable experience for players.
Jedi Survivor takes place five years after the events of the previous game and opens with the protagonist, Cal Kestis , being captured and taken to a senator on Coruscant . This senator wants to capture Cal before Darth Vader can, and Cal’s crew hatches a plan to use the senator’s yacht as part of a heist.
The ensuing action-packed adventure feels like something straight out of The Mandalorian or one of the animated Star Wars shows, complete with bombastic heroics and unexpected twists.
While some may accuse the game of plagiarism, the truth is that it builds upon the established Star Wars universe while incorporating elements from other popular media.
This blending of inspiration is what makes the Star Wars franchise so enduring, and Jedi Survivor is a prime example of how it can be done successfully. Ultimately, the game succeeds because it knows what it is and isn’t afraid to embrace its influences.
The Star Wars Jedi games developed by Respawn Entertainment have managed to capture the essence of what makes the franchise so popular. The games draw inspiration from a variety of sources, including Metroidvania games and FromSoftware’s Souls titles, blending exploration and timing-heavy combat seamlessly.
The newly released Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, a sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, embraces these inspirations even further, creating a fun and exciting experience for players.
The game’s opening sequence on Coruscant establishes how much the protagonist, Cal Kestis, has grown since the last game. The game also manages to carve out its own niche in the Star Wars universe by getting just enough distance from the larger goings-on of the franchise.
The second planet, Koboh, is a convergence point for the franchise’s recent points of interest, with its hub town feeling like a space western thanks to plucky guitar strings, prospectors, and a friendly saloon droid. At the same time, it has armored raiders harassing the locals with prequel-era battle droids and ancient Jedi structures dating back to the High Republic.
Read more: Mark Hamill coaches Cameron Monaghan in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor promo.
The authenticity of the game’s locations is crucial to its success, with each world feeling like a place with history behind it. The cast of original characters created for these games is compelling, with even the villains being well characterized. Respawn has managed to strike a balance between ambition and playability, creating a game that is both memorable and enjoyable.
Overall, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a charming game that captures the essence of what makes Star Wars so appealing. Respawn has done an excellent job of understanding the franchise and creating a game that is fun, exciting, and authentic.
