The year was 2019, and it seemed like everything was going to be ok. As it turned out, it was definitely not, but back in the day – we had everything we could hope for. The world was full of promise, and we just got the latest Star Wars game, which was actually good! After dozens of the same titles or EA shenanigans with micro-transactions (you can play for 800 hours or pay us 20 bucks kind of thing), it seemed like we were on the right track with this one!

Cal Kestis is one of the most entertaining characters, and lightsaber fighting was something as good as the old and gold Jedi Outcast games. This was a hit, as Star Wars games tend to be hit-and-miss. But – that was the previous game, so let’s take a look at the need for an improved title from Respawn Entertainment – Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. We already know that every Star Wars fan prefers it to the latest trilogy, but is it the best Star Wars game ever? Let’s find out!

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Fallen Order was kind of a surprise as we did not ever consider that Respawn Entertainment, responsible for some of the most fun shooters in recent years – Apex Legends and Titanfall series, could produce a game in the Star Wars universe that would conquer the hearts of so many! Especially after the controversies surrounding the Battlefront games.

As it turned out, it was one of the best Star Wars games ever and one of the most interesting trilogies since the Jedi Knight games. The prior game was about the fallen Jedi order with bounty hunters all over the galaxy trying to kill off the remaining ones. The Force powers were looking great, combat stances really made it feel like there are different ways to be Jedi, and no performance issues with the PC version – this all made it the fan favorite. So, is the second game better than the first one? Is it a worthy successor to the popular first installment? Well, the people seem to be divided between – good and very good.

The game takes place five years after the events of the Fallen Order game. It’s also somewhere in between the Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. Emperor Palpatine murdered most of the Jedis with the infamous Order 66. The purge is still going on, and even though our favorite heroes are rather powerful, dozens of thousands of clones are just too much for them. Cal Kestis, played phenomenally by Cameron Monaghan, is our protagonist who spends his last few years escaping the clones and bounty hunters, trying to reverse his luck.

Compared to Fallen Order, Jedi Survivor presents a much bleaker landscape where Cal appears more miserable and weathered by time. Amidst little to no resistance and constant pursuit, he finds himself exhausted and less optimistic about the future. Nevertheless, a faint glimmer of hope seems to be emerging on the horizon.

We would not like to get too much into details about the story, as it is the reason why most people play this game. We can say though that it’s one of those epic sci-fi thrillers that grab you at the beginning and won’t let go until the very end. With a cliffhanger suggesting that the third game is right around the corner (and probably the last game in this particular story), this is something that you will enjoy immensely. And it will surely not be reminiscent of some not-that-good sequels from the past.

The whole thing revolves around finding a mythical planet to become a new hideout for the Jedi and bases that will be a place for all the resistance to work in. Cal believes that this location will help to reverse the fortunes and allow the resistance to focus its resources on the fight. We are not the only ones who are aware of this location, and so the race to find it begins!

The game fantastically portrays the level of persecution that the Jedi felt during those hard times. Although stigmatized all over the world, they are still ready for the greatest of sacrifices. The writers put much emphasis on presenting the world where, even if you’re as strong as a Jedi, you will not be able to conquer the world by yourself. And – if pushed, you will have to resort to the most extreme actions possible.

In this 20-hour adventure, we get to meet Cal as he is. You see his conviction as the cause of his reaction to betrayal and such. It feels like a TV series on HBO or Netflix, and one of those that they really put some effort into.

It’s a much more rough version of the world than what we have seen in the previous game, and Cal is definitely not on top of his mental game. There is even a moment where he actually loses all hope and feels like you really cannot do anything to combat the empire.

The story itself is divided into six chapters, each one with a different story to follow. You don’t need to be strictly main-plot oriented, as you will be able to complete lots of side missions, go for a treasure hunt, and see what is going on on many different planets in the universe. Your main friend in this game is BD-1, who helps you explore the various environments you have found yourself in.

Additionally, Greez Dritus makes an incredible comeback with a few rude jokes. We have the Cere Junda as a guide for the Cal and sensitive data protectors. Additionally, there is Nightsister Merrin, who has worked with Cal from the very beginning. Each one of those characters has a unique approach to the task at hand, and we feel like the conclusions to their arks will be something out of the ordinary.

But we also get to meet quite a few new faces during our Galaxy run. Fan-favorite is definitely Bode Akune, who we met at the very beginning of the game. He helps us to steal some data, but, as it turns out, he is a much more helpful and complex character that we will get to meet during our process. He’s helping us quite a bit but also gives us a lot to think about in the long run. We feel like this character is something that will surely make people discuss his arc on Reddit and Discord for a long time. The same thing goes for the main antagonist of this title, although – we will not spoil you as it’s quite a shock, to be frank.

It seems that it’s the second game in the trilogy as it looks. The ending is a giant cliffhanger, and it could surely go either way when it comes to the potential of the story. After ending the game, we can just go ahead and start the New Game+ or just stroll around and do all the missions we have not yet finished. There are a lot of things you can do in this game, so make sure to explore everything there is, as the side quests are pretty interesting. It’s 15-20 hours of additional playtime, so we are positive that you will find something to do.

The first game in the series introduced some incredible mechanics, like a multiple fighting stances skill points system, within which you will be able to modify your existing ones or gain even more skills in the process. In the case of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, it’s definitely an evolution rather than a revolution. The focal point of this game is still the fact that you are Jedi on the run. So, you get some new skills for fighting and environmental puzzles, new stances, and lightsaber combinations. Now, it’s possible to personalize it for your own needs with mods and other elements as well. You can even find your very own color for your lightsaber!

The best thing about this system is that this game is not treating us like idiots. You haven’t forgotten your skills from the first game, because – how would it look? Cal just does not know how to force, push, or jump anymore. This would be ridiculous, right? Well, you get to keep all the skills you had in the first game, and you just add the new ones on top of them. And it’s all within the story, as you are a developing Jedi who is still getting stronger and stronger.

When it comes to elements where the game shines – it’s the exploration part. The additional content to the usual combat elements is unique to the series. There are some technical issues, as every game is a mixed bag, but if you liked the exploration in Elden Ring or similar titles, you would enjoy this one as well!

Each planet has a lot to offer, like pod racing, puzzles, and clashes – it’s definitely something unique and exciting in action role-playing games. This is a feature of this game that cannot be overlooked, especially considering the competition. The world feels rich and full of characters and places from the movies.

But where the game excels is definitely in the combat elements. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order had amazing fighting sequences, but what we saw in Survivor exceeded our expectations. The balance between the difficulty of the fights and the enjoyment you get from mowing down droids and other enemies is simply marvelous. There is a lot of emphasis on observing your enemies, as you need to react to their moves accordingly.

The main story villain fights look and feel great. They are extremely demanding, as the enemies have learned quite a lot during these five years. They don’t just go straight at you, AI has implemented some advanced tactics, with hiding behind covers and such.

Clashes are just fantastic, and it’s not like you can ignore the skills and focus on the lightsaber fighting, as you will surely die quite a lot. The skill tree got upgraded, and each skill you choose can be further advanced. Thus, getting them in the right sequence and at the right level is key to getting in front of our enemies.

But it’s not all about the clashes; sometimes, you are fighting with bullet- or laser-based enemies. And – it’s extremely satisfying to show them how skilled Jedi user you are by dodging, jumping over them, and smashing with our saber. Everything looks hugely cinematic, and it is surely one of the top titles regarding sheer gameplay.

In this installment, there is a much greater emphasis on parrying than just simply attacking. Additionally, there are many blade-wielding fighters, translating into more clashes than in the previous game. You need to find your very own rhythm in order to get the best out of it. This game was able to accomplish something that no other in the Star Wars genre could – make it actually feel like two different stances feel different in fighting. For example, speed tactics are all about offense with not that much power, while power attacks are all about hard blows to the enemy’s defense.

Of course, you can also differentiate between different types of lightsabers. The single-bladed is the most classic Obi-Wan Kenobi medium approach. It’s universal, it’s flexible, and it’s all you’d ever need, right? Well then, what about dual-wielding lightsabers with furious anger? That will do some incredible damage, although – you will have to look out for enemies coming your way.

Finally, you have the Kylo Ren-based claymore that is just full of power that will destroy your enemies and murder their loved ones. Additionally, you can choose the double-bladed staff like Darth Maul, and that’s a new addition – a lightsaber plus a blaster! That is something you have never seen before, haven’t you? Simply cut someone's head and blast them in the face with a laser – ultimate winning tactic!

The game also excels in the graphics department as well. It’s definitely one of the best-looking titles at the moment, as Respawn has upgraded the engine from the first game and developed it even further. We suspect that it is not Unreal Engine 5, as Respawn started developing this game already after the success of the first one, so it would not be possible to use the latest one. Nevertheless, they took everything that there was from it. Whether you have Xbox Series X/S, Playstation 5, or PC – this game will look incredible. Just walk to some high places and turn on the photo mode. Look around. The amount of detail in this game is something else.

Additionally, the creators were able to create a unique look for this game that actually made it feel as if it was something from the Star Wars universe. New characters and the old ones also have this Star Wars feel to them. The combination of colors, the intensity of the lightsabers, planets, and such – we feel like this is something that they really took a lot of time to develop. Everything feels like a combined universe where everything is in its place.

Even more, Cal’s facial expressions and how it feels like a human just show you how much advancement we have made in the motion capture department.

So, is it worth it? In our opinion – definitely so! It does what every sequel does best – bigger, better, and even more lightsaber fighting! The second half of his trilogy looks amazing, feels amazing, and reminds us of the old gold standard from the Jedi Knight games. It is a bit soul-like, so if you like those games, definitely check them out!