A hands-on look at Star Wars Jedi: Survivor shows just how much the series has grown after Fallen Order. Survivor comes from developer Respawn Entertainment, which, alongside previous entry Fallen Order, has produced titles like Apex Legends and the Titanfall series. Screen Rant had the opportunity to spend several hours with the upcoming game, which showcased Star Wars Jedi: Survivor's new planet, some of its key characters, and how much Cal Kestis has evolved in both his combat skills and overall outlook.
The preview's gameplay began about an hour into the title, picking up just as Cal and BD-1 are about to leave for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor's new planet Koboh in search of Greez. On their way in, the Stinger Mantis ship mysteriously malfunctions, crashing into Koboh and necessitating Cal seek out spare parts from Greez at his cantina for repairs. As players venture through Koboh's wilderness on the way to Rambler's Reach - the town Greez calls home - they'll begin to see everything the planet has to offer, from lush areas filled with glistening pools of water to more rocky, desert-like environments covered in tar.
Koboh is full of wildlife and dangerous enemies, from dinosaur-esque bilemaws to battle droids and raiders. The Star Wars Jedi: Survivor planet is home to two main factions: prospectors who have come to make it rich off of Koboh's plentiful minerals, and the Bedlam Raiders, a dangerous gang led by a Gen'Dai named Rayvis. Cal comes face-to-face with Rayvis as he reaches the Rambler's Reach cantina, where he's threatening a frog-like creature named Turgle for selling him a counterfeit relic.
Cal stepping in to defend Turgle is the impetus for the preview's first boss fight against Zeik, a Bedlam Raider, which highlights the changes made to combat. Players now have a myriad of stances in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor they can switch between, beginning the game with three - single, double-bladed, and dual wield - with two more that can be accessed later on, crossguard and blaster. Although there were special moves in Fallen Order that allowed for brief dual wield attacks, these new options greatly expand on Cal's combat abilities, letting players change stances situationally.
Cal also has special new Force powers in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, as well as those players will recognize from Fallen Order. Alongside pushing, pulling, and slowing down opponents, players can now utilize Force Confusion, which will briefly cause enemies to attack their allies. Although not all abilities were unlocked during the preview, a combat showcase at the end of the event showed even more powerful capabilities, like a move that lifted entire groups of enemies into the air.
Rayvis relents after Zeik's defeat, although it's heavily implied he will play a larger narrative role. After the fight, Doma Dendra, who's described as the de facto mayor of Rambler's Reach, commends Cal's bravery and vows to keep his Jedi nature a secret. Subsequently, Doma opens up a shop in which players can buy cosmetic items with the Priorite Shards found throughout the world. This sets up how the area will serve as a sort of hub in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, as players can recruit others to set up shop at the Rambler's Reach Outpost throughout the game.
As Cal and BD-1 search for spare parts, they make a series of discoveries that help set up the main narrative of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, which centers around seeking out the anomaly known as Tanalorr. However, there is plenty for players to discover outside the search for Tanalorr as well, with lots of side quests - referred to in the game as Rumors - and secret areas. Just as in Fallen Order, Cal can find Force Echoes that tell stories of the fallen, and players can now also come across two new areas that offer special rewards: Force Tears, which are unique platforming levels, and puzzle-based rooms called Jedi Chambers.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor's customization options are more diverse, both cosmetically and when it comes to growing Cal's skills. The new addition of a workbench allows players to customize both BD-1 and Cal's lightsaber, changing things like their color and wear condition in an effort to make Cal feel more personalized. Alongside a detailed skill tree system, players can now utilize special bonuses called Perks; Cal begins with three Perk slots at the start of the game, gaining additional ones as time goes on, with some more powerful Perks taking up multiple spaces.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor won't nerf Cal's powers from the previous game, meaning players won't need to unlock what they had from Fallen Order.
Traversal in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is also more varied than its predecessor, both improving upon existing moves and adding entirely new ways to get around. Things like wall running and climbing - which could feel clunky at times in Fallen Order - are much smoother, with climbing no longer necessitating an extra button push. Cal now has an ascension cable at his disposal as well, allowing him to latch on to far-away surfaces and quickly zip towards them.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor manages to feel like a continuation of Fallen Order while still bringing a myriad of improvements and new mechanics to the table. It's clear Cal Kestis has changed since the events of the first game, now a seasoned Jedi with more powerful combat techniques and a different outlook on his place in the world. Players will be able to experience the brand-new world of Koboh and everything it has to offer when Star Wars Jedi: Survivor launches later this spring.
Source: EA Star Wars/YouTube
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor will release April 28 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Screen Rant attended a special hands-on event for the purpose of this preview.