The release of Dark Souls in 2011 changed the industry. While technically 2009’s Demon’s Souls was the first of its kind, it wasn’t until developer FromSoftware’s next game was released that most people really sat up and took notice. The unforgiving difficulty, inspired world design, and cryptic storytelling delighted critics and gamers alike and hurled FromSoftware into the limelight. Such was the game’s popularity that over time it spawned numerous sequels, each one more ambitious than the last. Soon this formula was replicated by other developers looking to emulate its success, and thus, the Soulslike sub-genre was born.
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A Star Wars Soulslike Works Well
Despite the unexpected pairing of Star Wars and Dark Souls, the two probably have more in common than it appears. Fantasy settings, ancient species, and many forms of magical abilities and weaponry are present in both worlds, not to mention the fact that both are home to some seriously evil entities. That the two turned out to be such a solid match then isn’t as ludicrous as people first thought. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order follows Jedi padawan Cal Kestis, a young survivor of the Jedi purge who is being hunted by Imperial Inquisitors across the galaxy. Cal’s force powers grow stronger as he progresses and encounters increasingly difficult enemies.
The game shares many similarities with other Soulslikes, such as regular checkpoints and shortcuts connecting interlocking areas, and a challenging but rewarding combat system, but there are a couple of key differences which set it apart. A staple of Dark Souls titles and the Soulslikes that emulate them is that their story is cryptically told through non-standard methods such as NPC dialogue and item descriptions. Having a Star Wars game that told its story in this way would be very unusual, as almost everything attached to the Star Wars universe usually has its story elements front and center. Fallen Order is no different, with Cal’s story being the focal point of the game, and cutscene-driven storytelling is used throughout.
God of War-style environmental puzzles also play a substantial part in Fallen Order, further differentiating it from other Soulslikes. These subtle changes from the typical Soulslike features, along with the Star Wars license and Metroidvania-style exploration, help to set Fallen Order apart from others in the sub-genre. The game has officially been confirmed as canon in terms of the Star Wars universe too, and elements found in the game such as the Inquisitors and their base, Fortress Inquisitorious, were even featured in the Ewan McGregor-led Disney+ series Obi Wan Kenobi.
The game’s success has spawned a sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, which was announced earlier this year. Despite this announcement though, both developer Respawn and publisher EA have remained strangely silent about the game, with many feeling that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor could get an official release date at the upcoming Game Awards. Respawn appears to have found a winning formula that Survivor should build upon, as the series looks to establish itself as one of the best Star Wars video game adaptions ever made.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is currently in development.
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