Star Wars has always been a popular setting for video games. Sometimes these titles follow the movies and sometimes they expand upon the canon. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was one of the adventures that expanded upon the universe. Released in November 2019, the game followed the story of Cal Kestis during the beginnings of the Empire’s dominion of the galaxy. The game was well-received by critics and gamers alike, and the rumors of a sequel have been spreading for a while. Recently those hints of a sequel have been especially promising, but what could it add to the original?
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is a third-person action game that has some similarities to FromSoftware’s Dark Souls series. Players have a number of planets to explore using a mix of puzzle-solving and Jedi athletics. Combat requires the use of Cal’s lightsaber and the Force powers that are slowly unlocked throughout the campaign. The combat is unforgiving, requiring players to manage their stamina and have precise timing in order to be successful. This foundation is great, but it can be better.
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Deeper Combat Systems
The combat in Fallen Order is enjoyable, especially the lightsaber battles, but there isn’t a huge amount of variety. The lightsaber has two forms available, single-bladed for individual opponents, and double-bladed for dealing with multiple foes. Fallen Order 2 has the chance to expand upon the combat by using the in-canon lightsaber forms.
Lightsaber forms are essentially different ways of using a lightsaber to combat various threats. If Fallen Order 2 adds them, then it would allow Cal to switch his form to best combat his opponent. This could also create an almost rock-paper-scissors aspect to battling Sith opponents as each swaps form to counter the other. Unlocking these styles could also be integrated into the plot as Cal works to improve his Jedi skills.
Immersive Lightsaber Effects
Fallen Order‘s combat felt stellar for the most part, with the lightsaber feeling weighty and strong. However, the visible damage of the lightsaber was quite weak and not what many fans expected, especially compared to past games. There was little variety in what was cut off in combat and it was often part of an animation. This was by no means bad, but it broke the immersion for some players.
If Fallen Order 2 gives the option to have more detailed dismemberment, then it would increase the cinematic feel of the game. Having your lightsaber cut off the limbs of opponents would connect the game to the films and bring back memories of the many dynamic duels of the saga. It could also be added as part of the strategy against certain opponents, something the prior game very rarely implemented.
New Force Powers
Fallen Order allows players to slowly rebuild Cal’s connection to the Force. Each power has a use in both combat and in solving some of the puzzles. The main powers that aren’t movement-based are Force Push, Pull and Stasis. These can be upgraded to be more powerful and have a wider area of effect. Fallen Order 2 should take the time to expand upon these abilties but also add some more options.
One potential addition could be Force Lightning. Force Lightning is a dark side ability that is pretty self-explanatory. It’s a power that can work for both combat and for puzzles. Adding dark side powers could also be a part of the story if Cal slowly turns away from the light. New abilities shouldn’t be limited to Cal only, as it would be good to see BD-1 have more utility in combat other than hacking as well.
Robust Character Customization
One of the main complaints about Fallen Order was the lacking customization. The game allowed you to change your ship’s paint scheme, BD-1’s paint scheme, parts of your lightsaber and the clothes Cal wore. However, the options were very limited, with Cal really only having the option to change his poncho.
Fallen Order 2 should allow players to customize Cal with outfits that are more than a simple palette swap. Star Wars has always had an interesting variety of costumes on display, from armor to flowing robes, and not exploring that is a mistake. The costumes could also have an effect on combat, giving players a reason to try different gear.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is a great game and a great addition to the canon as a whole. The sequel has to try new things in order to retain its relevance and keep players interested. Fallen Order is a great starting point and hopefully its sequel takes all the lessons learned and builds upon them for a better game overall.