Video games have a rocky history with the Force. For every Knights of the Old Republic, there are three or four titles that feel like cheap cash-ins designed to sell plastic action figures. But Respawn Entertainment changed the math. When Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order dropped in 2019, it didn't just give us a lightsaber; it gave us a reason to care about the Dark Times again. Cal Kestis wasn't a god. He was a scared kid. Honestly, that’s why the Star Wars Jedi series works so well. It treats the universe with a level of grit and vulnerability that the recent films sometimes gloss over in favor of spectacle.
You’ve probably played the games, or at least seen the memes of Turgle from the sequel. But there is a depth here that most people miss. We aren't just looking at a "Soulslike" set in a galaxy far, far away. We are looking at a fundamental shift in how Lucasfilm tells stories. Stig Asmussen, the director behind the first two entries, brought a God of War sensibility to the movement, but it’s the writing that sticks. It’s heavy. It’s lonely.
What the Star Wars Jedi Series Gets Right About the Force
Most Star Wars media treats the Force like a superpower. You wave your hand, things move, and you're the hero. In the Star Wars Jedi series, the Force is a burden. Cal Kestis starts Fallen Order with a fractured connection to his abilities because of the trauma of Order 66. This isn't just a gameplay mechanic to explain why you don't have all your powers at level one. It’s a narrative choice. Psychometry—the ability to touch an object and see its past—is Cal’s primary gift. This forces the player to experience the galaxy through echoes of death and regret. It’s haunting, really.
The combat reflects this fragility. You can't just mash buttons. If you try to play this like The Force Unleashed, you’ll get killed by a basic Scout Trooper in five seconds. You have to parry. You have to wait. You have to think.
It’s about the struggle.
The sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, takes this even further. It moves the timeline forward five years. Cal is older, beardier, and much more cynical. The game asks a hard question: what is the point of fighting an Empire that has already won? Most Star Wars stories focus on the "New Hope" or the "Return." This series focuses on the middle—the long, dark night where everything feels hopeless. It’s a vibe that resonates because it feels more "human" than the epic space operas we usually get.
The High Republic Connection
One of the coolest things Respawn did was tie the story into the High Republic era. Before Jedi: Survivor, that era was mostly confined to books and comics by authors like Charles Soule and Claudia Gray. By bringing in Dagan Gera—a Jedi from that golden age who fell to the dark side—the game bridges a massive gap in the lore. It shows that the "perfect" Jedi of the past were just as flawed as the ones in the prequel era.
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Maybe even more so.
Dagan isn't your typical "I want to rule the galaxy" villain. He’s obsessed with a lost paradise called Tanalorr. His fall is tragic because it’s rooted in obsession, not just hate. This kind of nuance is exactly why the Star Wars Jedi series has garnered such a massive following among hardcore lore nerds. It doesn't spoon-feed you. It expects you to pay attention to the environment.
Combat Stances and the Evolution of Gameplay
Let's talk about the actual "playing" part. Fallen Order was a bit stiff. The map system (that holographic holomap) was basically a nightmare to navigate. Everyone hated it. Respawn listened, though. In Survivor, they opened the world up. They added fast travel. They gave us mounts. But the biggest change was the combat stances.
You have five distinct ways to fight:
- Single: The classic, balanced approach.
- Double-bladed: Great for crowd control but lacks heavy damage.
- Dual Wield: Fast, high-risk, high-reward.
- Crossguard: Basically a heavy claymore (think Kylo Ren). It’s slow, but it hits like a truck.
- Blaster: The "uncivilized" way. Combining a saber with a pistol.
This variety matters because it lets you express Cal’s personality through your playstyle. Are you a traditionalist? Or are you a survivor who will use any dirty trick to stay alive? The Blaster stance, in particular, caused a bit of a stir among fans. Is a Jedi "allowed" to use a gun? Within the context of this story, the answer is a resounding "whatever it takes."
Why the Critics and Fans Disagree on Performance
It hasn't all been smooth sailing. When Jedi: Survivor launched, it was a technical mess on PC. Stuttering, crashes, frame rate drops—the works. Digital Foundry did an extensive breakdown showing how the game struggled with VRAM management. It’s a shame because the actual content is arguably some of the best Star Wars media ever produced.
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Even a year later, the game can be "heavy" on mid-range rigs.
But if you look past the bugs (many of which have been patched), the scope of the worlds like Jedha and Koboh is staggering. Jedha, in particular, is a masterclass in level design. It feels vast and ancient. It makes you feel small. That scale is something the Star Wars Jedi series excels at. Whether you're climbing a massive Shyyyo Bird on Kashyyyk or navigating the wind-swept ruins of a desert moon, the sense of "place" is undeniable.
The Importance of BD-1
We can't talk about this series without mentioning the real star: BD-1. Droids in Star Wars can sometimes feel like gimmicks, but BD-1 is essential. He’s your map, your health pack dispenser, and your only friend in some of the loneliest parts of the game. The bond between Cal and BD-1 feels earned. When the droid gets hurt or separated, you actually feel a twinge of anxiety. It’s a testament to the animation team at Respawn. They managed to give a bipedal binoculars more personality than most human protagonists in other games.
Addressing the "Soulslike" Label
Is it actually a Soulslike? Sorta. It has the bonfires (meditation points), the respawning enemies, and the loss of XP upon death. But it’s much more accessible. You can change the difficulty at any time. If you just want to experience the story of the Star Wars Jedi series, you can play on "Story Mode" and feel like an absolute powerhouse. If you want to suffer, "Jedi Grandmaster" will break you.
This flexibility is why it succeeded where other clones failed. It took the tension of FromSoftware games but stripped away the elitism. It’s a gateway drug to harder action games.
Where Does the Story Go Next?
We know a third game is in development. Cameron Monaghan, the actor who plays Cal, has confirmed it. Without spoiling the end of the second game, things are... complicated. Cal is walking a very thin line. He’s using powers that look a lot like the Dark Side. He’s lost people. He’s tired.
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The next entry will likely deal with the "Path," a hidden network used to hide Force-sensitives from the Empire. This ties directly into the Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+. It feels like all these disparate threads of Star Wars media are finally weaving together into a cohesive tapestry.
There’s a lot of speculation about whether Cal will meet a live-action end. Fans are desperate to see him in a movie or show. But honestly? The games might be the better medium for him. We get twenty to thirty hours with him per entry. A movie gives us two. In the Star Wars Jedi series, we grow with him. We learn the moves as he does. We fail when he fails.
Actionable Insights for Players and Fans
If you're looking to dive into the series or just finished your first playthrough, here is how to get the most out of the experience:
- Don't rush the main quest: The best upgrades and the most interesting lore bits are hidden in side paths (Rumors). On Koboh, specifically, talk to the NPCs in the cantina. They open up "Jedi Chambers" which are basically puzzle rooms that reward you with powerful Perks.
- Master the Parry, don't just dodge: Dodging is fine for big unblockable attacks (the ones where the enemy turns red), but parrying refills your Force meter. If you don't parry, you'll constantly find yourself unable to use your powers when you need them most.
- Explore the "Tactical Guide": Every time you scan an enemy, BD-1 adds an entry. These aren't just fluff. They explicitly tell you which attacks can be interrupted and what the enemy's weakness is. It’s the difference between a ten-minute boss fight and a two-minute one.
- Watch the "Battle Scars" novel: If you want the bridge between the two games, read Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars by Sam Maggs. it explains how the crew of the Mantis drifted apart and introduces some key tensions that are present at the start of the second game.
- Check your accessibility settings: If the navigation or certain platforming sections feel too frustrating, the games have excellent toggles to slow down combat or automate certain movements. There's no shame in using them to enjoy the view.
The Star Wars Jedi series represents a rare moment where a massive corporate franchise allowed a developer to take real risks. It’s dark, it’s mechanically deep, and it treats the player like an adult. Whether you're a casual fan who just likes the "vwoom" sound of a lightsaber or a die-hard theorist tracking every mention of the Zeffo, these games are the definitive modern Jedi experience.
To fully prepare for the final chapter of the trilogy, go back and complete the optional legendary beast hunts in Survivor. They offer the toughest combat challenges in the game and force you to master the nuances of every stance, ensuring you're ready for whatever the Empire throws at Cal next. Keep an eye on the official EA Star Wars social channels for patch updates if you're playing on PC, as stability improvements are still being rolled out to optimize the experience for higher-end hardware.