Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order received a major reveal at Star Wars Celebration 2019. Developer Respawn Entertainment showed off not only the debut story trailer for the game, but also confirmed several details about the project, including an overview of the game. The game follows a Jedi Padawan named Cal in the wake of Order 66, and will be a single player, microtransaction-free experience that releases on November 15.

This means that Jedi: Fallen Order follows in the footsteps of some classic titles from the Star Wars video game library. The best Star Wars games have fallen under this bracket in some way, whether it be the stunning RPGs of Knights of the Old Republic or the long-running Jedi Knight action series following Kyle Katarn. After all, there have certainly been some fantastic Star Wars games along the way.

Some of these classics could give Respawn some guidance for what works - and what doesn’t work - when it comes to Star Wars in games. Here are some examples of what Respawn could learn through looking at those games that have come before.

Make Lightsaber Combat The Priority

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order put players in the role of Cal, a Jedi Padawan played by Gotham’s Cameron Monaghan. A game where the main character is a Jedi lives or dies on its ability to recreate lightsaber combat, and in the history of Star Wars games those Jedi-centric action titles that failed to deliver in lightsaber duels tend to struggle in general.

This is easier said than done. Games like Jedi Outcast and Jedi Academy had extremely memorable combat, with fights against Sith and Imperial Remnant forces seen by many as a highlight. Meanwhile, the occasional clunky moment in The Force Unleashed games meant that they never quite reached the level of acclaim that they could have achieved otherwise.

Combat is at the forefront of Respawn Entertainment’s work on Jedi: Fallen Order. As part of the discussion of the game, the studio explained at Jedi: Fallen Order will include “thoughtful combat” that will test the skills and patience of the players. So far, no gameplay has been shown, but if Respawn can get this nailed down then it will be a very positive step.

Mix It Up With Varied Force Powers

Throughout Star Wars video game history, the Jedi have played an extremely important role when it comes to playable characters. Whether it’s the facsimile of Luke Skywalker seen in Super Star Wars or player-created characters in The Old Republic, playing as a Jedi has always been a tantalizing prospect. A big part of the allure is the ability to use those trademark Force powers, whether mind tricks and healing or the more destructive (and fun) pushes and lightning.

Jedi: Fallen Order will include these powers, as confirmed by Respawn Entertainment and shown in the Star Wars Celebration trailer, but the game does put players into a situation where the developer could deliver something new. Cal is inexperienced and doesn’t appear to have finished his training, meaning there’s surely a possibility that such powers could at the very least put a strain on the young Padawan. On top of that, his need to hide such powers from the Inquisition could make for an interesting mechanic, where the player needs to be mindful of where these powers are used.

Most importantly, though, Respawn needs to recreate that thrill of using these powers, particularly as Cal grows stronger and the Force powers become more integral to gameplay. Pushing a squad of Purge Troopers off an ill-placed, rail-free walkway or leaping away to escape from the Second Sister should be some of the most exciting elements of Jedi: Fallen Order, as typified by other classics. Should Respawn nail these mechanics, then it will go a long way to making the game an excellent one.

Page 2 of 2: Don’t Stray From What Makes Star Wars Unique

Have Ramifications For Straying To The Dark Side

Force powers are a lot of fun, but the power that comes with them has been deceptive throughout Star Wars video games. Jedi: Fallen Order should bear this in mind, and think about how it balances the dark side of the force. As shown by Knights of the Old Republic, as well as games like Jedi Outcast and Jedi Academy, the struggle between the light and dark side of the Force can be a really powerful mechanic.

This is another area where Cal’s relative inexperience could form an important part of the gameplay. He is far from an expert in the Force, and although it appears as though he has some guidance from Cere, a former Jedi Knight, that might not be enough to replace years of training. Does he truly understand how to use his powers responsibly? Can he control himself?

This is a great place for Jedi: Fallen Order to build its characters, and add some impact to its story. Just having Cal on the run won’t do much for his development, but if he needs to resort to actions that he otherwise wouldn’t to either save himself or those he cares about, it could showcase just how difficult it is to balance the responsibility of such power. With Cal’s lightsaber up for modification too, there’s also the space there for the player to turn from that blue to a shade of red depending on their actions during the game.

Telling a new story is of utmost importance in Jedi: Fallen Order, but if the game avoids some of the larger elements of the Star Wars story it could feel isolated. Not only that, but it could miss out on having something powerful to say during one of the darkest periods of Star Wars history. This is another area where Jedi: Fallen Order could look to its peers, as something that the best Star Wars games have done is use their new stories to build upon Star Wars lore as a whole.

The Jedi Knight games in particular were a perfect example of this, weaving themselves into the original trilogy and the Legends (formerly Expanded Universe) lore with character appearances that didn’t feel intrusive. Meanwhile, titles like Republic Commando and the wonderful Rogue Squadron series do the same, blurring the various strands of Star Wars storytelling into one.

With its positioning between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, Jedi: Fallen Order straddles the original and prequel trilogies. It’s not the only work within Star Wars to do so, either, particularly when looking at the well-received animated series Star Wars Rebels. We’ve already seen a crossover with the Inquisition appearing, courtesy of the Second Sister, but is there more on the way?

Don’t Be Afraid To Show Something New

Although previous tales need to be respected, Jedi: Fallen Order shouldn’t just be full of callbacks to others. It needs to forge ahead with its own story, and truly give its players an authentic and original Star Wars tale. The library of Star Wars video games provides plenty of examples of where this has worked incredibly well.

Kyle Katarn took on a role of his own from his initial appearance in Dark Forces, growing into a Jedi Master and mentor figure in his own right across various media. Characters like Kyle Katarn have become become well-loved parts of Star Wars Legends, while Knights of the Old Republic is for many the definitive answer for what happened a much longer time ago in the overall lore.

Already, Respawn looks like it is aiming to have plenty of new ideas. It’s positive that Jedi: Fallen Order will start off on the new world of Bracca, and its setting during a relatively mysterious period should give the developer lots of wiggle room to try out interesting ideas. Should Respawn bear this - and the above - in mind, then Jedi: Fallen Order could be a serious success.

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