Star Wars Jedi: Survivordoesn’t feign a subtleStar Warsfranchise’s subtle darkness, namely the mature tones peppered throughout its predecessor,Fallen Order. Respawn couldn’t duck around such somber content matter sinceStar Wars Jedi’s protagonist is chiefly and inseparably connected to the slaughter of the Jedi Order and the rise of an oppressive Galactic Empire, which involved Force-sensitive children being cut down, if not psychologically tortured and manipulated—Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order’s portrayal of the Second andStar Wars Jedi: Survivor’s portrayal of the Ninth Sister alone reflect that sufficiently.
However, to say thatFallen OrderandSurvivorare fully cynical and dark would be nonsense. So much of what makes Respawn’s franchise refreshing is how lighthearted it is in its intimate moments and humor is undoubtedly rampant—some beats are more explicit and familiar, like whenever Greez Dritus is around, while some beats catch players when their guard is down, such as whenStar Wars Jedi: Survivor’s Rick the Door Technician appears as a trivial yet hysterical boss. BD-1 is always a source of whimsy and cuteness, too, butSurvivoralso played heavily into an adorable trope regarding otherwise antagonistic droids.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s B1 Battle Droids Have Cute Monologues When Eavesdropped on
BD-1 has always been an extraordinary companion and is arguably one of the cutest droids that have been conceived for theStar Warsmythology; plus, the fact that BD-1 has stuck his neck out for Cal against foes as revered as Darth Vader makes him one of the bravest. That said, it would be preposterous not to sing B1 battle droids’ praises since they contribute so much tosemi-open-world shenanigans and laughter inStar Wars Jedi: Survivor.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s B1 battle droidsare endearingly inquisitive, talkative, and naive, and while some players may rush to defeat them, they are commonly positioned so players can choose to eavesdrop on them if they’d like and hear a funny bit of dialogue.
This is not unlike how theBatman: Arkhamgames allow players to constantly overhear enemy dialogue, which can oftentimes grant revealing details about the games’ story or characters. The conversations and asides battle droids lack such narrative gravitas, but they’re nice to listen to anyway and cement B1s as some of the most amusing droids in the galaxy.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s Sequel Should Lean More into Endearing NPCs and Enemies
If Respawn has taken anything from its implementation of dynamic tones in bothFallen OrderandSurvivor, it’s that the nextStar Wars Jedigame should continue to masterfully blend the horrific tragedy of the era the series is set in while also instilling it with cheerful joy and wit. Humor in this franchise should never veer too far into a territory where it mocks or satirizes the events going on, especially if Respawn wants to maintain a brooding atmosphere looming overStar Wars Jedi’s key characters.
Yet, the frivolity of B1 battle droids ensures that players aren’t always steeped in a gloomy mood that the story is usually delivering.Characters likeStar Wars Jedi: Survivor’s Turgleare another perfect example of how Respawn has inserted comedic relief intoSurvivor, introducing a character who is wholly loveable, though Turgle could also be perceived as an irritating figure if the sequel’s attempts at humor do nothing for them.
Meeting Turgle for the first time outside of Pyloon’s Saloon, it is important that Turgle’s rescue is layered with a proper introduction to the Bedlam Raiders via atonally serious tension that’s thick enough for a lightsaber to cut between Rayvis and Cal Kestis. If more NPCs are featured inStar Wars Jedi: Survivor’s sequel and have a similar comedic role as B1 battle droids or Turgle, they’ll still need to be balanced appropriately so that the game’s overall tone is not in jeopardy but it would not be aStar Wars Jedientry without that much-needed levity.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
WHERE TO PLAY
The story of Cal Kestis continues in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor™, a third person galaxy-spanning action-adventure game from Respawn Entertainment, developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games. This narratively-driven, single player title picks up five years after the events of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order™ and follows Cal’s increasingly desperate fight as the galaxy descends further into darkness. Pushed to the edges of the galaxy by the Empire, Cal will find himself surrounded by threats new and familiar. As one of the last surviving Jedi Knights, Cal is driven to make a stand during the galaxy’s darkest times - but how far is he willing to go to protect himself, his crew, and the legacy of the Jedi Order?Explore an Untamed Galaxy – Discover new planets and familiar frontiers in the Star Wars galaxy, each with unique biomes, challenges, and enemies. Master new skills, equipment, and abilities that will augment the ways you explore, fight, and roam. With larger areas to explore and more to discover off the beaten path, players who adventure beyond the horizon will find hidden rewards.
