STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order™

Developer: Respawn Entertainment
Release: Nov 14th 2019
Platforms:
Action
Adventure
Immersive
Strategic
Engaging
Backtracking
Platforming
STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order™ Poster

" Immersive action-adventure with strategic lightsaber combat but tedious backtracking "

STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order™ Review

STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order™ is widely praised as a compelling single-player action-adventure game that successfully captures the spirit of the Star Wars universe. Players appreciate its well-crafted storyline following Cal Kestis, a young Jedi Padawan, which offers emotional depth and classic Star Wars themes of hope, loss, and redemption. The game blends challenging, tactical lightsaber combat inspired by Soulslike mechanics with Metroidvania-style exploration across diverse, richly detailed planets. The semi-open world design encourages curiosity with environmental puzzles, secrets, and upgrades that enhance traversal abilities. Graphically, the game impresses with atmospheric lighting and authentic Star Wars settings, complemented by a strong audio design that includes satisfying lightsaber sounds and a fitting soundtrack. The cast’s voice acting adds emotional weight, while the balanced difficulty makes the game accessible for both newcomers and veterans. However, some players note occasional technical issues and design choices that can impact pacing and navigation.

Highlights

Players especially praise the satisfying lightsaber combat that emphasizes timing and strategy, making duels feel impactful and rewarding. The exploration mechanics, featuring classic Metroidvania elements like backtracking and unlocking new abilities, are engaging and enrich the gameplay experience. The storyline and characters, including the memorable droid BD-1 and antagonist Trilla, are well-received for their emotional resonance and faithful Star Wars tone. Visually, the game is lauded for its beautiful environments and detailed character models, while the audio design enhances immersion with iconic sounds and a fitting score. Overall, the game is considered a standout Star Wars title with a strong single-player focus.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include tedious backtracking due to the lack of fast travel, which can make exploration feel repetitive and frustrating. Some players find the platforming mechanics clunky and imprecise, occasionally leading to unfair deaths or missed jumps. The difficulty scaling is sometimes seen as simplistic, relying mainly on damage and parry window adjustments rather than introducing varied challenges. Combat can feel repetitive after extended play, with limited enemy variety in later stages. Additionally, the map design is often described as confusing and hard to read. Minor bugs and occasional performance issues, especially on older hardware, are noted but generally not game-breaking. Some players also feel the story pacing is uneven and the ending sets up a sequel without full closure.

Pros

  • Satisfying and strategic lightsaber combat with tactical depth and timing.
  • Engaging Metroidvania-style exploration with rewarding backtracking and secrets.
  • Strong, heartfelt story capturing classic Star Wars themes and characters.
  • Beautiful, diverse planets with detailed environments and atmospheric lighting.
  • Immersive audio design including iconic lightsaber sounds and fitting soundtrack.
  • Balanced difficulty accessible to both newcomers and Soulslike veterans.
  • Memorable supporting cast, especially droid BD-1 and antagonist Trilla.

Cons

  • Lack of fast travel leads to tedious and repetitive backtracking.
  • Clunky and sometimes imprecise platforming mechanics cause frustration.
  • Difficulty adjustments mainly affect damage and parry timing, lacking depth.
  • Combat can become repetitive with limited enemy variety late game.
  • Confusing and hard-to-read in-game map hampers navigation.
  • Some puzzles are tedious or poorly guided, disrupting pacing.
  • Minor bugs and occasional performance issues on older systems.

Rating Criteria

Story
Difficulty
Graphics
Duration
Stability
Worth the Price
Capsule image

A galaxy-spanning adventure awaits in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, a 3rd person action-adventure title from Respawn. An abandoned Padawan must complete his training, develop new powerful Force abilities, and master the art of the lightsaber - all while staying one step ahead of the Empire.

Release Date Nov 14th 2019
Publisher Electronic Arts
Developer Respawn Entertainment
Platforms

User Reviews

Very Positive (76,858)
90% Positive 10% Negative

Online Reviews

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Metacritic
81