Respawn’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order has a lot riding on it. The majority of Star Wars fans have been hoping that this one would turn out to be more lovable than …well, most of other Star Wars games that have emerged since EA got the license.
So here comes Fallen Order with a single-player adventure to hopefully bring some much needed redemption to the EA arc. Set after Revenge of the Sith, you play the flame-haired Cal Kestis (Cameron Monaghan) as he tries to stay alive while being relentlessly pursued by the Empire, including the Inquisitor the Second Sister.
Here’s a roundup of reviews so far…
Oliver Holmes – The Guardian:
“Whether you love Fallen Order may depend on your view of the most recent Star Wars films. If you’re a fan of the JJ Abrams-directed Force Awakens, a movie that lovingly and religiously captured the original George Lucas feel, then Fallen Order will light you up with the force that binds us all. For those who preferred Rian Johnson’s new take in The Last Jedi, a film that takes risks, breaks taboos and even questions the entire premise of the saga, then Fallen Order will feel a little too straightforward.”
Sean Keane – Cnet:
“Despite some graphical oddities and questionable traversal choices, Respawn’s game offers gripping narrative, intense lightsaber combat and wonderful worlds to explore. It’s an adventure worthy of George Lucas’ galaxy far, far away — a new hope for the single player Star Wars gaming tradition.”
Ben Tyrer – GamesRadar:
“There’s plenty to like about Fallen Order, but it should come with the caveat that it’s slightly rougher than I was expecting. I’ve played the entire game on PS4 Pro and glitches and framerate stuttering have cropped up enough to warrant mentioning. One patch has already been released before launch, and EA has told us that another is on the way, but it did give my initial playthrough a rougher-than-ideal feel.”
Ben Kuchera – Polygon:
“We’ve had so many Star Wars experiences that were first-person shooters, or action games, or role-playing games, and of course all those mobile games. But this is a new idea for how Star Wars games can be structured, and shows how much room there is in this universe to experiment with new ideas of what we want to do in the land of the Jedi and the Empire.”
Dan Stapleton – IGN:
“It’s been ages since we got a great single-player Star Wars action game, but Jedi: Fallen Order makes up for a lot of lost time. A strong cast sells a dark story while keeping things fun and loyal to Star Wars lore, and fast, challenging combat mixes with energetic platforming, decent puzzles, and diverse locations to explore for an all-around amazing game.”
Phil Hornshaw – GameSpot:
“It’s true that Fallen Order borrows liberally from other action games, but those elements work together with Respawn’s combat and environment design, and a story that finds humanity in the Force and in its characters, to hone in on what makes the world of Star Wars worthy of revisiting again and again. Even with some rough edges, Fallen Order represents one of the most compelling game additions to the Star Wars franchise in years.”
Andrew Reiner – Game Informer:
“Jedi: Fallen Order reminds me of Naughty Dog’s first Uncharted game: an ambitious action experience that was just a little off in its delivery. Respawn has made a game that is every bit as ambitious, and despite showing a little sloppiness in execution, is an enthralling and fully featured Star Wars experience, hitting with a commanding bang in its cinematic presentation, environmental exploration, and journey shared between a Jedi and his droid.”
Emma Kent – Eurogamer:
“When I reached the end of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, I didn’t feel like I’d had a rewarding experience. I was relieved it was over. With some side-meandering, it took around 30 hours, and I didn’t enjoy a lot of them. I’ll admit crunching a Souls-like in less than four days is an unnatural and gruelling experience: I imagine if I’d played Fallen Order over several months, I would have been less frustrated, but probably still bored.”
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is out on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One now.
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