The mechanics of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order are wholly familiar but while there’s nothing in the gameplay you haven’t seen before, its a welcome return back into the Star Wars universe and developer Respawn Entertainment’s level of polish. This latest title easily stands as among the best Star Wars games ever released. It may be imitative of many other recent titles , but it’s hard to care when all of those moving parts are interwoven so successfully.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order tries to look beyond the trappings of Star Wars. It’s not just another Jedi power fantasy, although wielding the Force with skill and resolve will certainly make you feel powerful. Like the best Star Wars games, it’s one that adds to the ideas of the films and other material, exploring new corners of the galaxy while focusing on the core themes of the franchise: knowing yourself, fighting your own darkness, and braving adversity with the help of friends.
Friendship has always been one of the main drives of Star Wars, especially in the original film trilogy, and it’s the core of what makes Jedi: Fallen Order work in both story and gameplay. The primary relationship of the game is between Cal Kestis, a Jedi padawan in hiding in the aftermath of the Jedi Purge that took place in Revenge of the Sith, and BD-1, a droid entrusted with a secret mission by the Jedi Master that previously owned it. Once Cal and BD-1 meet, they become inseparable, working together as partners to solve puzzles in forgotten ruins, navigate alien environments, and beat back the Empire.