Star Wars Jedi: Survivor could be excellent, but rampant performance issues and a somewhat uneven story make it settle for “good.” This is very much a “wait a few months” game, as it needs a bit more time to cook to reach its full potential.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Developer: Respawn Entertainment
Price: $70
Platforms: PS5 (reviewed), Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
MonsterVine was provided with a PS5 code for review
I’m a big fan of Jedi: Fallen Order, which took the “Jedi who survives Order 66” angle and makes it more personal and accessible to even the lightest-read of Star Wars fans. Now, the sequel has finally dropped, and Jedi: Survivor is indeed more of what I loved. It’s tinged with things that I don’t love and a haze of technical issues, but a bit down the line, this could mostly be the sequel fans are looking for.
Combat can be a lot of fun, though it has the occasional issue in certain fights and situations. Hacking and slashing at droids and stormtroopers is exciting and the added light dismemberment helps make the lightsaber seem more powerful than it did in the first game. The various lightsaber styles allow for mixing and matching your favorite moves, allowing for some smooth combat that is tailored to whichever style you like best. You’ll likely find one or two and largely stick to them, but the variety is appreciated.
Force powers are just as excellent this time around, as things like drawing enemies to you and slashing them in a swift motion are as cool as it gets. Cal having to remember how to push things up and down is a little silly, but for the most part, I didn’t feel as though my powers were stripped away like in a Metroid sequel. Cal does seem to be a more fully-fledged Jedi, and his fighting styles and Force abilities/mastery better reflect this.
“The music is beautiful too, adding to the atmosphere while feeling distinctly Star Wars while rarely actually using the iconic tracks.“
Battling multiple enemies can be bothersome in some situations, as some enemy encounters don’t seem designed with much in mind beyond being a gauntlet. There are a couple of infamous optional bosses that can be an absolute pain to deal with due to sheer damage sponginess, while a couple of sections really do just throw enemies at you a bit mindlessly. I also still don’t entirely understand the lore explanation behind meditation points reviving fallen enemies. I get that it’s akin to the Souls series checkpoints/fires, but it’s very odd to have Cal’s foes suddenly reappear in this dynamic world after he closed his eyes for a moment.
The way that the story continues from Fallen Order surprised me in a positive way. A good few years have passed since the previous game, meaning each of the main characters is in an entirely new place in their life after separating from one another in the in-between. This makes the first half of the game a check-in with each team member, providing lots of pleasant story moments that show how everyone’s grown.
While the main group of characters are all as likable as ever, there are some plot developments that feel out of place. The pacing is a little bit all over the place, as there were a few occasions that seemed like the end of the game that led into an actual ending that felt sudden. For the most part, the story is great, but one certain narrative beat and the pacing make it a bit less strong than it could be. I look forward to the next sequel’s story, however, as it’s been set up to be the biggest one yet.
On PS5, Jedi: Survivor struggles to hit 60fps – even on performance mode with all the settings turned off that online guides suggest. It dips below 30fps frequently and has lots of pop-in, which heavily distracts from the gorgeous environments and atmosphere. On a technical level, I Get the impression that this game simply wasn’t quite ready yet, as it’s missing the polish that a massive title like this deserves. I’m sure the devs will fix it up with further patches in the coming weeks, but playing it at launch is a more mixed technical experience. I even had multiple crashes throughout my playthrough – a major pain in a manual checkpoint-oriented game.
It’s a shame, as the different planets you visit are indeed stunning. Each is distinct and has its own unique features that make revisiting for collectibles all the more appealing, while the abundance of fast-travel meditation spots makes collecting quite convenient. The music is beautiful too, adding to the atmosphere while feeling distinctly Star Wars while rarely actually using the iconic tracks. I’d personally love to hear a bit more of the incredible music the franchise already features be used in appropriate moments, but the original stuff is great.
The Final Word
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has all the makings of a great game, but its performance issues and occasionally wonky story hold it back a bit. Cal and his friends are as fun to follow as ever and combat can be a blast in most scenarios – maybe just give this one a couple of months to reach its full potential.
MonsterVine Rating: 4 out of 5 – Good
