Thanks to this year’s The Game Awards, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor received its first gameplay trailer, giving us our first look at how the sequel will build off the previous entry’s sold underpinnings while taking advantage of current-gen technology. I’m already bracing for the lack of stealth options and inability to not kill poor, innocent creatures, but everything else I’m seeing in this trailer looks like a beautiful expansion on Fallen Order’s strengths, which Survivor is set 5 years after (at around the same time as Obi-Wan Kenobi). Out March 17, only a week after its prequel novel on April 28 now, a month after Battle Scars, Jedi: Survivor will hit PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Head below for screenshots from the trailer (Cere Junda’s look new look, Cal’s new pal Brode) and pre-order bonuses (leaked and not leaked)!
Over at the official site, Cal himself Cameron Monaghan hypes up the story and its emotional rollercoaster. I love the idea Cere, with Cal’s help, is trying to build up a library of Jedi knowledge again, though it makes me worried this means she’ll be in an even more supporting role this game; I’ll forever die on the hill she’d have been the more interesting lead character for Fallen Order. The lack of Merrin in any of the images or trailer both makes me curious if we have a big story for her this game and it’s pretty spoilery or…something happens in those five years between games, hence Sam Magg’s Battle Scars? It’d be a real shame to put Merrin, one of the game’s most interesting characters and its few female ones, in the background or not even be in this one, especially with the introduction of another male character (or two), like with Cal’s new companion Bode (who’d get a bit of a pass if this introduces a LGBTQIA+ storyline to game). The other male character is the mysterious Jedi character in the bacta tank, who claims to have been wronged and never wants to be imprisoned again. We later see him sitting with one of the hulking hunters who attacks Cal, wearing gold robes similar to those from The High Republic era. Is he from said era (maybe the tail end of it, since his gold robes look more like those in the leaks for The Acolyte TV show, which is set towards the era’s end)? Why was he imprisoned? Could this be the sins of the past coming to haunt the present? And how will Cal react/deal with the situation? I’m definitely intrigued to lean more about whatever is happening here. Beyond the story, I love the idea of some animal companions or friends, either those to ride or to glide from, but there’s a triceratops looking one you have to fight which seems to confirm there isn’t a third option with facing beasts, unfortunately. Otherwise, the amount of droid enemies I’m seeing both helps with Cal’s high body count but also feels like a copout to the complaint rather than actually adjusting the game to add stealth options or ways around combat. In fact, the lack of showing’s Cal’s blaster, seen in pre-order bonuses below, gives me even more concern stealth was never on the table beyond him using it to not appear like a Jedi in some situations. This is only a trailer mind you and we’re not seeing a lot, so things could change, but I’m not holding my breath. Overall though, the game looks gorgeous, new finishing animations feel even more cinematic, and Cal’s skillset seems to be have some exciting additions. Even if non-combat options remain limited, Jedi: Survivor will be leagues better if it just adds fast-travel. Please!
According to Steam, STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor releases on March 15th https://t.co/E3sr6hoSkg pic.twitter.com/Fs57WxKIxs
— Wario64 (@Wario64) December 5, 2022
Some neat pre-order outfits (less ponchos, for the win!), but the Limited Run Games edition with the lightsaber is a must have for collectors!
Survivor is out April 28 and Battle Scars, the prequel novel, is out March 7. We’ll have a review for the book in time, but my game review will probably be a few weeks behind.
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor.