Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order | PS4 Review

Once in a lifetime, you’re going to find that game that just speaks to you. Operates on your every wavelength. Star War Jedi: Fallen Order is that game for me. I’ve never before played a game that has spoken so directly to my sensibilities. If I were going to make a game, this would be the kind of game I’d make.

Execute Order 66

Being on the run from Emperor Palpatine’s great Galactic Empire is no easy life to live. Cal Kestis has survived Order 66 by keeping as low a profile as possible. Barely existing as a person, going day to day dismantling large starships. Everything changes when the Inquisitors come to Bracca. Cal is forced to reveal himself and flee. Thus beginning a grand adventure.

You’ll meet several characters along the journey, as you follow the path of Jedi Eno Cordova and the mysteries he’s hidden away. What follows is a story filled with twists and turns, and one that really accelerates in its final hours. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is surprisingly reserved in its storytelling, unfolding character arcs over a large swath of time. Of particular note is the myriad quiet character moments.

Search Your Feelings

The interpersonal relationships of your crew can be both beautiful and heartbreaking. There’s a lot of trauma in the pasts of Cal, Cere, Greez, and the rest. How these people come together to deal with the trauma is, frankly, beautiful. The writers should really be applauded, as well as Respawn Entertainment as a whole for choosing this quieter path for its characters. There’s obviously plenty of high drama, heavy action, and lightsaber duels, but it all works together as a cohesive and wonderful whole.

The story is nothing short of excellent, and the same can be said for the gameplay. It’s true there’s no denying Fallen Order barely has an original bone in its body. There’s equal parts of plenty differing games here. Unlike most “jacks of all trades,” however, this game is a master of all.

A Surprise to be Sure, but a Welcome One

The platforming is a throwback to several video game generations ago. There’s a whole lot of jumping and climbing in Fallen Order. Wall runs and double jumps all feel immaculate in the way you expect from the studio behind Titanfall. In an unexpected move from Respawn and EA, you can even mess it up. Player input is at a premium here that it simply isn’t in most AAA-budget games. You will miss jumps because it’s your fault, not the game’s. That’s simply refreshing.

Exploration is akin to many 3D Gear Gated games. complete with a map that is a godsend of annotations and information. There are so many nooks and crannies to explore, with secrets and collectibles to discover. True to the genre, Cal and BD-1 (the most adorable droid buddy you could hope for) get upgrades and items throughout the campaign. Instead of unlocking all of these via skill trees as with most modern games, they’re earned through progressing the story. It makes each of them feel meaningful, especially as they help in both exploration and in combat.

Even the skill tree Fallen Order does have makes sense. Cal has cut himself off from the Force, and must slowly reconnect. This upgrade tree is a representation of that, being one of the few games to narratively justify its skill tree. The abilities you learn from it make sense as a Padawan learning to become a Jedi Knight.

The level design is astounding in this game. You could go 40 minutes in a direction, only to find an unmarked path. Travel this path and you’ll discover a shortcut that seamlessly circles back to the opening area. It’s staggering to consider how this game could have been designed in such a way.

Blasters, So Uncivilized

The combat is more effective at making the player feel like they’re wielding a lightsaber than any Star Wars game before it. Timing is everything, with a particular focus on parrying. Even sending blaster bolts back at ranged opponents requires the player to be on their toes at all times. The melee combat is careful and considered; just a hit or two will require the player to heal. Even basic Stormtroopers that die in a single hit can do serious damage to Cal. There is no resting on your laurels here. Bosses, in particular, require the absolute best the player can muster. These grueling battles often feel like lightsaber duels pulled right out of the films. A cinematic flair has been brought to Soulslike encounters.

Do or Do Not, There is No Try

Speaking of Soulslike, the burgeoning genre plays a central role in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order even outside of the challenging combat and bosses. The Meditation points will restock your healing items, but at the cost of respawning all the enemies in an area. These safe zones are spread relatively far apart, to really put the player to the test.

Any enemy that kills you will take your XP. In a nice twist, you won’t have to kill that enemy to recover your losses. All you have to do is land a single strike. Doing so will also refill your Health and Force meters, allowing for some extra strategy in getting past trickier encounters.

There are a thousand little touches that help this game’s charm. For example, the performances are standout. Listing every actor would take a while, but they are all perfect. The Second Sister is a villain I won’t be forgetting anytime soon. The animations in platforming and combat are a sight to behold. The way stormtroopers talk to each other and Cal during combat is especially charming. They may talk confidently, and slowly grow more cowardly as all of their friends are wiped out. There’s a garden onboard your ship, and a cute little pet to find. There’s a whole lot of heart in this massively budgeted title.

May the Force be With You

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is not the game I expected it to be. It’s better than I thought it could be in every conceivable way. I kept shaking my head in disbelief over what I was playing. I’ve been unable to put it out of my mind. It’s a dream come true that I never thought I would see. All my favorite things about gaming are in a single title. This is a gold standard for video games going forward.

This review is based on a purchased PS4 copy of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. It is also available on Xbox One and Microsoft Windows.