Given the enduring popularity ofStar Wars, it is perhaps not surprising that many video game developers have looked to capitalize on it over the years, resulting in over 100 video games being released under theStar Warsumbrella. Most of these have failed to capture the essence of what made the film series so successful though, and a combination of poor visual quality, lazy storytelling, and uninspired gameplay have seen most of these titles resigned to the scrap heap. Still, this isn’t always the case, and when developer Respawn Entertainment releasedStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Orderin 2019, many fans were shocked at just how good it was. Even more surprising was the fact that it borrowed from theDark Soulsgames, resulting in a Soulslike experience like no other.
The release ofDark Soulsin 2011 changed the industry. While technically 2009’sDemon’s Soulswas the first of its kind, it wasn’t until developer FromSoftware’s next game was released that most people really sat up and took notice. The unforgiving difficulty, inspired world design, and cryptic storytelling delighted critics and gamers alike and hurled FromSoftware into the limelight. Such was the game’s popularity that over time it spawned numerous sequels, each one more ambitious than the last. Soon this formula was replicated by other developers looking to emulate its success, and thus, theSoulslike sub-genrewas born.
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A Star Wars Soulslike Works Well
Despite the unexpected pairing ofStar WarsandDark Souls, the two probably have more in common than it appears. Fantasy settings, ancient species, and many forms of magical abilities and weaponry are present in both worlds, not to mention the fact that both are home to some seriously evil entities. That the two turned out to be such a solid match then isn’t as ludicrous as people first thought.Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Orderfollows Jedi padawan Cal Kestis, a young survivor of the Jedi purge who is being hunted by Imperial Inquisitors across the galaxy. Cal’s force powers grow stronger as he progresses and encounters increasingly difficult enemies.
The game shares many similarities with other Soulslikes, such as regular checkpoints and shortcuts connecting interlocking areas, and a challenging but rewarding combat system, but there are a couple of key differences which set it apart. A staple ofDark Soulstitles and the Soulslikes that emulate themis that their story is cryptically told through non-standard methods such as NPC dialogue and item descriptions. Having aStar Warsgame that told its story in this way would be very unusual, as almost everything attached to theStar Warsuniverse usually has its story elements front and center.Fallen Orderis no different, with Cal’s story being the focal point of the game, and cutscene-driven storytelling is used throughout.
God of War-style environmental puzzlesalso play a substantial part inFallen Order, further differentiating it from other Soulslikes. These subtle changes from the typical Soulslike features, along with theStar Warslicense and Metroidvania-style exploration, help to setFallen Orderapart from others in the sub-genre. The game has officially been confirmed as canon in terms of theStar Warsuniverse too, and elements found in the game such as the Inquisitors and their base, Fortress Inquisitorious, were even featured in the Ewan McGregor-led Disney+ seriesObi Wan Kenobi.
The game’s success has spawned a sequel,Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, which was announced earlier this year. Despite this announcement though, both developer Respawn and publisher EA have remained strangely silent about the game, with many feeling thatStar Wars Jedi: Survivorcould get an official release date at the upcoming Game Awards. Respawn appears to have found a winning formula thatSurvivorshould build upon, as the series looks to establish itself as one of the bestStar Warsvideo game adaptions ever made.
