Star Wars is a huge franchise full of memorable characters, and Respawn Entertainment’sStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Ordermet most fans' expectations with stories old and new. Lightsabers and Force powers are two pillars of the game’s combat, letting players loose across several planets while progressively becoming more attuned to Respawn’s narrative-driven action.Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Orderwas a strong outcome of the collaboration between Lucasfilm and Respawn Entertainment, so it makes sense to see a sequel on the way.
Taking place betweenStar Wars: Revenge of the Sithand the original trilogy of films,Fallen Orderexplores a period in the timeline also being tackled by Disney+ series such asThe Bad BatchandAndor, but Respawn endeavored to capture the dramatic fate of the Jedi Order. Following the formation of the Empire, secretly led bythe villainous Sith Lords, the Jedi are marked for death and hunted down. This premise provides a chilling backstory for the survivor Cal Kestis and his crew, but it also opens up plenty of opportunities to connect with relevant elements of theStar Warsuniverse.
RELATED:Everything Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Can Learn from Fallen Order
Droids That Appear in Jedi: Fallen Order
The newly formed Galactic Empire sometimes depends on droids to carry out routine functions from maintenance to security. These robotic characters feature heavily inJedi: Fallen Order, some as foes and others as worldbuilding props. The KX-series security droids fromRogue One: A Star Wars Storyreturn as a challenging enemy type that brawls with the strength of an industrial crane - proving to be a great challenge even for the Jedi protagonist.
While the KX units are challenging enough for most players, other - albeit less intimidating - Imperial assistants include Viper probe droids and Astromechs, which can both be thrown toward hostiles in the heat of battle. Moredroid-related content inStar Wars Jedi: Survivorsuggests that theFallen Ordersequel will not stray far from these quirky beings, several of which can still be adapted from existingStar Warsprojects.
Star Wars Comics and Prequel-Era Characters
Although Cal’s story is fairly self-contained, Respawn’s action-adventure title reflects on the aftermath of conflicts that unfolded during the prequel trilogy. Remnants of the Clone Wars are bound under a new, sinister order after years of interplanetary turmoil. One such figure from this era is Saw Gerrera, a resistance leader from Onderon who was first introduced inStar Wars: The Clone Warsanimated seriesbefore becoming an important figure inRogue One. Players meet with Gerrera on Kashyyyk, who points them to Tarfful - a Wookiee leader fromRevenge of the Sith.
Yaddle and Yoda are mentioned in passing, and players can find a holocron message from Obi-Wan Kenobi warning the Jedi about Order 66. On the darker side, the Nightsisters of Dathomir is a witch tribe fromThe Clone Warswho are accompanied by the allied Nightbrothers, and there are subtle references within Force echoes to Mother Talzin and General Grievous. Additionally, theInquisitors inFallen Orderplay a major role in pursuing Cal, and the Second and Ninth Sisters from the 2017Darth Vadercomics operate as major boss battles.
Jedi: Fallen Order’s Original Trilogy Reveal
Despite the game taking place years before the Galactic Civil War,Jedi: Fallen Orderstill taps into the events of the original trilogy to show how the Galaxy evolved under Imperial rule. The 2019 release puts forth interesting questions about the moral duality of the Jedi and Sith, with one of the most memorable encounters being a horrific confrontation with Darth Vader himself. Out of the shadows, the tortured Sith Lord gives chase as players attempt to escape the Fortress Inquisitorius. Cal and company barely make it out alive, leaving open whetherDarth Vader will return inJedi: Survivor.
The cameos inFallen Orderlargely symbolize archetypes in a time before the Rebellion properly organizes against the Empire. Respawn utilizes the source material well by developing a plot that does not rely too heavily on callbacks, instead celebrating theStar Warssetting as a whole. Its 2023 sequel might include more recognizable characters in service of meaningful storytelling, but players should also expect to discover never-before-seen secrets withinJedi: Survivor’s new planets.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Orderis available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
