Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is the new single-player Star Wars game from Apex Legends developer Respawn. Here’s what we think after watching 25 minutes of extended gameplay at EA Play 2019
It’s one of the great mysteries of our time that since it took over the Star Wars videogame licence, EA has so far failed to release a big budget single-player game in that universe, despite multiple attempts. Jedi: Fallen Order looks to finally fix that.
From developer Respawn – best known for Titanfall and the battle royale smash Apex Legends – Fallen Order blends the cinematic set piece platforming of Uncharted with the challenging dodge-counter-parry melee combat of Souls games as you fight your way through a Star Wars universe still reeling from the impact of Order 66 – the command that killed the Jedi.
EA showed off gameplay from Fallen Order for the first time at EA Play, just before E3 2019, and we got to watch an extended hands-off demo including loads of moments not feature in the public stream.
The game isn’t out until 15 November 2019 – when it releases on PS4, Xbox One, and PC – so there might still be a bit of a wait before we can actually play it. Until then, here’s what we think.
If you watched the 14 minutes of gameplay footage that EA shared online then you’ll know that it featured protagonist Cal Kestis – a half-trained Jedi padawan – making his way through an Imperial sap refinery on the Wookie planet of Kashyyyk.
That footage mostly focuses on the heart of the game: lightsaber combat. Reassuringly, this looks pretty ace. The combat borrows from the rhythm of Souls games, with an emphasis on dodges, counters and parries, with perfect timing keeping you safe from harm and maximising your damage output.
The complicating factor is that it’s not all melee, and plenty of Cal’s Stormtrooper opponents will keep their distance to pummel you with blaster fire while others – including the new Purge Troopers, trained to fight Jedi – will get up in your business.
