Before starting a new game, there are some things you should know before playing Star Wars Jedi Survivor. A lot has happened since the Fallen Order, and this new chapter in Cal Kestis’ story is rather complex as he fights both the Empire and remnants of the Separatists. It’s easy to get lost in everything that’s happening. Here are 10 facts you should know before you play Star Wars Jedi Survivor.
1. It’s Been Ten Years Since Order 66
Star Wars Jedi Survivor takes place ten years after Order 66. Cal is a survivor of the Jedi purge and has hidden himself as a scrapper before being found. Fallen Order takes place five years after Order 66, making there a five year time skip between this game and its predecessor.
Cal has learned new skills during the years before Star Wars Jedi Survivor. Having grown a beard isn’t the only thing new, as he now has five distinct lightsaber fighting styles he can use on the fly. It’s safe to say he’s now a lot stronger compared to the inexperienced padawan he was in the Fallen Order.
2. There’s a Novel Tie-In That Happens Before Survivor
Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars is a novel that depicts what happened between the five year time skip of Fallen Order and Survivor. In it, we get to see the life Cal Kestis and the Mantis crew built for themselves after the first game. On their journey, they meet a Stormtrooper deserter who tells them of a tool that could put the Empire on its backfoot.
Unfortunately, problems occur, and eventually Cal faces off against the Fifth Brother and almost loses his life. If not for Greez jumping in to save him, Cal might not be with us today. It’s a pretty interesting read that helps bridge the gap between the two games.
3. A New Enemy From the Past
Cal is facing much stronger enemies than in the first game. Star Wars Jedi Survivor has him facing off against a Gen’Dai villain who’s nearly unkillable, even by the Jedi. However, he also faces off against a disillusioned High Republic Jedi who was recently awakened from the Bacta tank.
As a survivor of Order 66, it’s interesting to see the kind of interactions between Cal and this new foe. Both of them are Jedi who both survived Order 66. As to what this new enemy wants from Cal despite the presence of the Empire, that is something we have yet to see.
4. Survivor Has a Bigger World to Explore
While Fallen Order did let you explore around, Survivor has a much bigger world. Big enough that you can tame animals in the wild to use as mounts to get around faster. There are tons of side content to explore away from the main game that will have you investing a lot of time. Unlike its predecessor, Survive has fast travel mechanics that let you take full advantage of the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S’ SSD hard drives.
5. New Padawan Difficulty Setting
Star Wars Jedi Survivor isn’t meant to be easy; however, Respawn wants to be accommodating to players of all skill levels. In Fallen Order, the developers stated that, based on the data they gathered, 40% of players chose to play in Story Mode. There is now a new setting called Padawan in addition to Story Mode, Jedi Knight, Jedi Master, and Jedi Grandmaster to address the skill gap between Story and Jedi Knight.
This mode is a step above Story Mode. It won’t be so easy that you’ll breeze through it, but it’s going to be easier than being a Jedi Knight. It’s a neat option for those not yet used to Souls-like games like Star Wars Jedi Survivor.
6. Jedi Chambers Puzzle Dungeons
Fallen Order had wonderful puzzles to tackle in its main journey. In Survive, there are dedicated areas called Jedi Chambers where Cal can use the Force to solve puzzles. Some of these Jedi chambers may be optional if you prefer to tackle the main story instead. However, they’ll offer enticing rewards for sure.
7. Deeper Customization
Cal Kestis now has a more mature aesthetic. While there were customization options allowed in Fallen Order, they pale in comparison to what you’ll get in Star Wars Jedi Survivor. Not only are there new outfits to unlock, but Cal also has a new hairdo and facial hair, which make him seem more mature.
There are even bonus customization content depending on what Star Wars Jedi Survivor edition you buy or if you pre-purchased it. It’s nice to travel the galaxy in an outfit that you like.
8. Cal Can Fight With Others
Ever feel like Cal is fighting by himself, even with the Mantis crew? Not any more. Cal has a few friends in the Star Wars Jedi Survivor cast of characters, and they know how to fight. Fight side by side against the Empire with familiar and new faces. Nightsister Merrin and bounty hunter Bode Akuna show Cal that they can fight alongside him.
9. New Force Powers
As a full-fledged Jedi Knight, Cal is stronger than ever. He now has access to new Force powers such as Force stasis, which freezes time around him. Cal has become even more clever with his use of the Force, such as grabbing enemies and using their own weapons against each other.
Improvements have also been made to the old Force powers that Cal already knows. His Force push is stronger now and affects more enemies. He can even levitate enemies in the air before pushing them off the map.
10. Deadly New Lightsaber Stances
Cal is no slouch in combat, but his lightsaber skills have seen much improvement in the past five years before Survivor. He now has five fighting stances to choose from, and they’re all deadly. Cal can now use two lightsabers at the same time in a variety of ways, either as a saberstaff or by dual wielding them in separate hands outright.
There are a few pros and cons depending on which fighting style you use. Using two lightsabers in both hands is fast and deadly, but it’s also riskier. You can only equip two fighting stances at once and change them only at Meditation Circles. No doubt you’ll pick your favorites among the five to master.
Those are the 10 things you should know before playing Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. We had a chance to make our very own Star Wars Jedi Survivor Hands-On Preview, and we’ve very much excited for what’s in store for us. The game is set to release on April 28, 2024, for the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
You might be interested in this Youtube video from AndyReloads who also dives deep into the Star Wars Jedi Survivor lore.