Yes, I’m back with another Star Wars post already, sue me. However, this time it isn’t about a movie or show, but the newly-released video game, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

You see, it’s pretty simple. I love Star Wars, I love gaming, put them together and I’m going to be on board. And that’s especially true for a game as well-designed as this game’s prequel, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.

Fallen Order had pretty much everything I love about this universe with a brand new story and cast of characters, plus challenging and enthralling gameplay. The game had some faults, but it still made me feel like a Jedi more than any game before it (as cliche as that line is in game reviews). So when they announced a sequel, and one on the new generation of consoles, I was pretty excited.

Did the game live up to my lofty expectations? Let’s break it down.

My Experience

Before we get into what I liked and didn’t like about the game, I feel it’s important to share some context about how I experienced the game.

As of writing this, I have just completed the main story and done a few side quests. Although I still want to fully complete the game, I feel like I have a very good feeling on my opinion of the game right now.

I also played the PlayStation 5 version of the game as it’s the only one I have access to. I have heard the PC version has more noticeable performance problems, but I can’t speak for those as I haven’t played that version. Trust me, though, we will get to those issues for my version of the game in time.

Positives

To put it briefly, if you liked the first game, you’ll love this one.

First off, this game avoids the trap of many sequels that take away “reset” the protagonist just to start fresh. Cal has most of his abilities from before right from the start, and he’ll only gain new ones as the game goes on. The result is a character who feels far more fluid and fun to control this time around, and you’ll pull of some stunning feats in time.

The combat in this game also feels so much more refined than last time. You now have five different lightsaber stances to pick from, up from the two offered in the last game. From the heavy swings of the Crossguard saber to the fast strikes of the dual-wield style, there’s a playstyle for everyone in this game. And that’s not even getting into Cal’s expanded set of force powers in this new journey.

Speaking of the journey, it is a blast the whole way through. The first two acts are already strong, but the third act is simply amazing with strong emotional moments one after the other. I was on the edge of my seat for at least the last 3-4 hours of the game.

Of course, the story wouldn’t be so strong without a strong cast of characters. Cal goes through so much growth and becomes a much more interesting protagonist, especially near the end. Other returning characters such as Merrin, Cere and Greez also get their moments to shine, as do the new characters like Bode.

Finally, the level of customization in this game is incredible. You can change almost anything, from Cal’s hair and clothes to every detail of your weapons and trusty companion droid BD-1. I’m typically someone who prefers to use a full set of customization options rather than mix and match, but this game appeals to both types of players.

Negatives

As much praise as I’ve given this game, no game is perfect and I do have a couple of problems.

First, and main flaw I have with the gameplay, is the level design can sometimes feel too open. Don’t get me wrong, I love open-world games, as you will surely see with another review coming up soon. For this game, though, I feel like more linear level design plays better with the mechanics. Koboh, the planet you spend the most time on, sometimes feels just too big for its own good. It’s not a big deal, but just a minor gripe.

Second is this game’s now somewhat infamous performance issues. To be clear, my experience with them was nowhere near bad enough to make me dislike the game. However, I still had some noticeable frame drops and my game even crashed at one point, and that was after the patch released on Tuesday to improve performance. To see an AAA game release with such technical issues is always disappointing, especially after multiple delays. This game isn’t a broken, buggy mess by any means, but the optimization could still be much better.

Verdict

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is simply a fantastic time from start to finish. It takes everything I loved from the first game and builds on it substantially. If you’re a Star Wars fan and a gamer like me, then this game is a must-play.