In comparison to a Master like Luke Skywalker, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor's Cal Kestis may seem more like the small town nobody Luke once was. The Padawan never got to graduate from his apprenticeship status before Order 66, and was forced to live in exile until being discovered by Inquisitors. In contrast, Luke studied under two of the most talented Jedi Masters, became the de facto Grand Master after defeating the Empire, and was part of the strongest force-wielding lineage ever. Indeed, Cal's achievements seem insignificant when placed beside those of Luke's. But Jedi: Survivor's new town hub feature will show that Cal is a truer Jedi than Luke even if he isn't as powerful or accomplished.
The recent Star Wars Jedi: Survivor hands-on previews revealed that Cal will get to engage in town-building mechanics during his next adventure. During his travels, Cal will help restore settlements, particularly the town of Rambler’s Reach on Koboh. This small area becomes the main hub of the game that Cal will continually revisit as he progresses through the campaign. Some of his return trips to Rambler's Reach will occur because Cal recruits people he assists during missions to set up there. After doing so, these NPCs move to Rambler's Reach to create shops or give additional side quests to Cal so that he will help more people.
Cal Is A Better Guardian Of The People Than Luke In Jedi: Survior
The effort Cal puts into helping everyday people while fending off the Empire in Jedi: Survivor makes him a truer Jedi than Luke. The Jedi Code states that "Jedi are the guardians of peace in the galaxy" who "defend and protect" others. Cal upholds this tenet by remaining a member of society and helping those in need. In contrast, Luke cleaves himself and the Jedi Order from society by constructing his Jedi Temple on the secretive planet of Ossus. Because Luke fails to uphold a core tenet of the Jedi Order, he becomes less of a Jedi than Cal despite his prominent status.
Luke And Cal Have Different Understandings Of The Jedi Code
Cal's and Luke's differing attitudes toward larger society might relate to their understandings of the Jedi Code, which makes sense considering its inherent ambiguity, as Star Wars Prequels Channel on YouTube explains. The Jedi Code dictates that the Jedi rid themselves of emotion and attachment in the pursuit of knowledge. Luke appears to interpret this very literally, and even in the de-canonized Legends continuity rewrote the Jedi code to say, "The Jedi seeks not adventure or excitement" but "uses the Force for knowledge and defense," emphasizing passivity and disconnection. Such an attitude is mirrored in Luke's canon behavior, choosing exile on Ahch-To after failing to rebuild the Jedi Order instead of using his strength to help the galaxy oppose the First Order.
Cal appears to take a completely different approach to the Jedi Code in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Rather than completely eschewing emotion or attachment, he instead refuses to not become consumed by them. This is best exemplified by his bravery in the face of danger: he avoids becoming consumed by his fear of the Empire and the Inquisitors (much larger forces than himself), which allows him to remain a guardian of peace and member of society. Interestingly, this is where Luke failed in the Skywalker Saga of Star Wars: his own fear of Ben Solo's capacity to fall to the Dark Side catapults the rise of the Knights of Ren and the First Order. This shows that Cal's more nuanced reading of the code is perhaps the right one.
Luke's potential misunderstanding of the Jedi Code may not entirely be his fault, though. After all, Cal grew up in the Republic before Star Wars Jedi: Survivor; he was trained in a Jedi Temple and thus had teachers guide him through youth. Luke may have been trained by top tier Masters, but his misunderstanding and failure to uphold a core tenet of the Jedi ultimately make him a lesser Jedi than Cal.