STAR WARS: FALLEN ORDER REVIEW

Star Wars has had a rough time lately. That's a shame, because it is my favorite fictional universe. Since the release of The Last Jedi, I have a 3000-word essay about my thoughts on Star Wars on my hard drive. It is a lot of which, shall we say, "critical" (read autistic screeching). These films are well worth the time. However, we also have the DICE Battlefront games which were not very well received (feelings of accomplishment anyone?). You can find out more.

It's also not like Star Wars had an oversupply of amazing games before Disney bought it. It felt more recent shows (like the) were available despite there being so many options.Force UnleashedOrSWTORAlthough he never lived up to his promise, people continue to return to him.ReallyOld favorites likeKOTOR. It is not surprising, then, that this happened.Jedi: Fallen OrderIt was called one of the most important Star Wars games ever (and even one of the greatest ever) by many outlets. You can travel through the Star Wars Universe and wield a lightsaber. This game allows you to fantasize about being a Jedi, but it is actually single-player with a real storyline and no loot boxes.

Our standards are dropping, good lord!

In the same way that for a while we were seeing a lot of Arkham-style combat games, then father-figure-protects-child games, another of the current trends is the so-called Souls-likes and Fallen Order is snuggled ever-so comfortably into that niche. This means 3rd-person dodge/block combat, metroidvania exploration and checkpoints for restoring health and making enemies respawn.

It's basically doing the triple-A standard of drawing inspiration from many popular things in order to make it widely accessible. The story hits many familiar notes, and it's the same. The story is about a lonely hero who is saved from poverty and obscurity by his tortured mentor and a rogueish pilot who has a heart of gold. A brand new companion droid is also available. Cal "Lower Jaw," an ex-Jedi Padawan, is now playing as Cal Kestis. He has escaped Order 66. Now he is hiding from the Empire. However, he is starting his new mission to locate a list force sensitive children and create a new Jedi Order.

It's becoming a bit silly, by the way, just how many Jedi and force sensitives managed to escape Order 66. In the beginning, it was limited to Obi Wan, Yoda, and the twins. Because every piece of Star Wars media must have a Jedi (and this is unironically because 90% of what I love Star Wars are the lightsabers), that means that every show, movie, or game between Episodes 3-4 introduces a NEW Jedi. Or multiple Jedi. They were obviously hidden from the Empire, and couldn't have been of any assistance to the Rebellion at any time.

The Sith "rule" of two has been so strained by this point, it's likely more of a "suggestion" of two, given that your main enemies are the Inquisition. They are a bunch Kylo Ren wannabes, who is also a Darth Vader wannabe.

However, there was an alternative choice. That would have meant that lightsabers were completely absent, and that is unacceptable.

I admit that I'm terrible at Souls games. I have dipped my toes in Dark Souls and Bloodborne the same way that a middle-aged woman would. It was very brief and it caused me to scream. Nevertheless, I have enough information to conclude that Fallen Order is not comparable in difficulty. This will likely make it easier to access. It isn't easy to play the game, especially on the second most difficult difficulty. However, it is possible to complete large chunks of the game without needing to be very careful. It can be challenging, but it is one that one can usually overcome in a few attempts without being punished again and again.

Except for the boss. I only died a handful of times in the game, and about two-thirds of those deaths were during the boss fight. Her creator needs to be praised for inventing a boss who can switch between unblockable, almost unavoidable attacks without warning. It is very difficult to predict and distinguish. Yes, I will be salty about this fight for a long time.

Combat is generally a lot of fun, despite all that. It is very satisfying to fight stormtroopers of different classes and the occasional giant monster. There are also a variety of enemies which requires you to be alert and responsive. The skill system allows you to expand a few fun and cool abilities. You know what? I love that you can switch between a single lightsaber or a double-bladed lightsaber. It's so cool. While the combat is fun and exciting, you will find it difficult to remember the boss fights. A few monsters are simply bigger, more powerful versions of the creatures that you encounter while exploring. They are very boring and the lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat is extremely limited.

As I mentioned, the plot is based on a lot of old tropes. It doesn't really hit any new beats. However, it does have an issue with too much development. It reminds me quite a bit ofThe Plague Tale of InnocenceBecause of the way the writers appeared to have forgotten about developing characters' relationships,Say itThe relationships were now stronger. Your mentor might say to you that she knew that you weren't trustworthy after a particularly difficult session of fighting monsters or zipping around on ziplines. I was shocked and asked my screen "I don’t?" "Why don't you?"

You might even have to talk with your pilot about how you won his trust, helped him make a decision and made it a great time. The final highlight is the time you spend several hours adventuring, culminating in a boss battle that causes quite a bit of destruction and nearly kills you at times. After the battle, you return to the ship and have dinner. It is quite jarring, and it makes it seem as if there are no conversation or interaction.

It's almost like you are in theIntentionCal was originally going to have more radio banter with his crewmates (as there is occasionally chatter between them), but this may have been cut because it interfered with pacing or simply because it wasn't appropriate in the lonely adventuring spirit. It seems that there are very few moments where each character is in a good relationship (I.e. The loss of trust, reconciliation or finally the melting of an icy heart), without ever earning it. It's only the end-product, and not the development.

Another complaint is that there was not enough fan-service. It feels as if it's supposed to be a story that can stand on its own in Star Wars Universe without the help of a mentor or villain. Tarfuul and Saw Gerrera are the most prominent characters (I know, I know). Who is this? My cynic side suspects this was done to avoid making the same accusations against the films. It feels like it doesn't connect to the Universe at all, and that the absence of bigger names is a little bit of a missed trick.

One moment at the end has a fan-service feel. This was a really cool moment. But it is only one short aside from a very original Star Wars visit.

What's the deal with the music, if we are talking about "missed opportunities", These are some of the most memorable, emotive and emotional soundtracks in media, but the music from the films is a rare exception. One point in the film where Imperial March is barely detectable, and another where it seems like it drifts into the main theme but it's still an original soundtrack. Although the music has a Star Wars vibe, there were times when it yearned for Imperial March, Duel of the Fates, or Binary Sunset. It was lacking in a lot of its impact without the original music. It seems like a simple decision. It may be another attempt to distance itself from existing IP and stand on its own, but music is the one area in which Star Wars has always lived up to its expectations.

There are also some issues with the game's exploration. Although you can climb and jump in Uncharted/Prince of Persia style (rather that Assassin's Creed), there are times when areas that appear to be possible are not. There will be occasions when Cal should be able to hang on to an object or jump onto it. The computer will tell you no and you'll plummet to your deaths.

The exploration function of the game is metroidvania-style, except for that frustration. The best examples of metroidvania come from areas where different routes are blocked at first, but cross and become intertwined with the initial paths. Fallen Order allows you to travel to different planets, and then encounter several gates that lead to completely different areas on the map. Each gate requires different abilities to reach each one.

The game is fun to play and very easy to navigate. A 3D map is provided that you can actually read. It clearly shows where you are able to go and where you need to go. They are unique, interesting, and all very well-designed. It's important to note that exploration can feel worthwhile just for the sake of exploration, which is a good thing since the rewards are often quite lackluster. You might find a story-related "echo", or even a small character boost, but 90% of the game's exploration rewards are cosmetics for your lightsaber, spaceship, or poncho. These items are either never on screen at all, too small to see or barely visible at all. A poncho is to character design what an enormous lava castle to a boss. When asked about the design of things, it's just a designer making "etcetera...tera" noises.

Although the character design is a bit boring, the animation of the characters is amazing. Although I believe that a lot of mocap was used, facial expressions and individual movements seem so real and authentic. It's almost odd that the characters seem animated at a slightly higher level than their surroundings.

My criticisms about the music and the application of this game to the widest possible audience (which makes it very difficult to critique the game) are minor. The biggest problem with Fallen Order was the disconnect between the lightsaber-swinging, jumpy exploration game and the story going on behind the scenes. Although there were some great voice performances, I never felt connected to any of these characters. Also, so much of the plot and character development was rushed or glossed over. This can make it a very enjoyable and enjoyable experience.