After four long years, we finally have this thoroughly anticipated sequel to the fantastic Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. This game begins five years after the events of its predecessor. We follow Cal, now a fully-fledged Jedi, as he attempts to get the team back together to fight the Empire and protect the freedom of the galaxy. Cal's progression from a damaged padawan in the previous game to this confident Jedi Knight is impressively done, but it’s not just his skill sets that have improved. In fact, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor upgraded from its predecessor in nearly every regard. While this did lead to performance issues occasionally, the game overall somehow manages to be greater than the sum of its excellent parts. 

The game delivers a soul crushing story that goes hand in hand with the breathtaking gameplay experience. Cal has a growing darkness that peeks through as you advance through the game, and the way it’s explored as the story progresses was fascinating. The themes of guilt and obsession are also ever present and what it means to be a Jedi is repeatedly questioned. The exquisite cutscenes add to this as they are both gorgeously directed and emotionally resonant. However, the best aspect of both this game and its predecessor has to be the way the Empire is presented. It is painted as a real, omnipresent threat that is always lurking in the shadows, which adds to the suspense and terror of living in that kind of authoritarian state.

The sequel combat is another clear place where this game stepped up from the original. The combat opens up through its variety of stances. Unfortunately, due to the difficulty I was playing on (Jedi Master), I did feel stuck to the one stance that allowed you to both animation cancel and  halt  attacks. Nevertheless, this was very much a clever way to make you strategize with how to make your next move, especially as the game progressed. The boss battles in particular were intense and kept you on your toes. I had an especially memorable experience during the final battle, which was visceral in a way I won’t soon forget.

Another great touch was the semi-open world, especially since more exploration rewarded you with the ability to further customize your own lightsaber. I do wish the option to customize the Mantis wasn’t taken away, but this addition was genius regardless. The level design was simply stunning throughout, and I loved how distinct each area was. The different puzzles were a surprise, but a thoroughly welcome one! The jaw-dropping semi-open world was enhanced by the excellent sound design paired with the impeccable soundtrack. Hearing your lightsaber effortlessly cut through metal has never been done better.

Overall, Jedi Survivor is a nuanced, emotional, and enjoyable game that engrossed me every step of the way. I loved every bit of it, and I'm confident that if a third one drops, it'll comfortably be the best Star Wars trilogy since the original one. It’s without a doubt a must-play game, so check it out if you haven’t yet!

9/10