Jedi Fallen Order - Preview, Respawn is in full control of the force

The brand Star Wars, in general, it has always been very difficult to deal with, mainly due to an avid, ambitious fanbase that demands that the iconic brand be treated with almost religious respect. Despite a good deal of exaggeration on the part of these users, it must be said that in general the Star Wars, at least within the videogame panorama, they have never shone for too much originality - especially in recent years, and thanks to the various Battlefront EA has done nothing but fuel rumors and controversy against him, at least until about a month ago. In fact, we were all hugely impressed by the development house's choice to bet on Jedi Fallen Order, a title linked to storytelling and of course singleplayer that will put the player in the shoes of a jedi. This type of product has always been cyclically requested by players who, finally, will be satisfied in November. Thanks to the videogameplay published during theE3 2019 we were able to see the multimedia work in action, and despite a profound fan service and mechanics that were certainly not innovative the idea we have made is that of a solid and engaging product.  

The Force flows mightily 

Regarding the story we do not have much information, except those known to all: Jedi Fallen Order is set between episode 3 and episode 4, right after the proclamation of order 66 and the consequent fall of the Jedi. The protagonist, called Cal, he is a young padawan who has been hidden for a long time, but who is nevertheless discovered and forced to flee. From the latest gameplay trailer released, we understand that he collaborates with the resistance, committed to bringing down the tyrannical Empire. Although the premises are among the most classic within the videogame panorama, we know that the actions we will experience in the game will in all respects be canonical for the purposes of the general plot.  

This of course, if on the one hand it pleased some fans, others have turned up their noses, but only time will tell who will actually be right. However we expect a deep story with some significant twists: Although the purpose of the title is to make all users feel like the most powerful jedi, to announce a narrative-based singleplayer with a plot that could turn out to be flat, is not particularly a good move. From this point of view we cannot expose ourselves that much, given that the game aims to combine an interesting story with a gameplay that, although it takes its foundations from already consolidated titles, promises to be varied and layered.  

Padawan or jedi?  

Jedi Fallen Order it has within itself the soul of two great titles: the first is undoubtedly Uncharted, for that it is enough to see the platform sections and the choice of the positioning of the camera, the second is Dark Souls, as can be safely seen from the lightsaber combat sections. The danger of reproducing, albeit with a superior technical quality, previous products such as The Power of the Force is still one of the main fears today, not because it was a bad game, mind you, but because thanks to current technologies it could give a more marked depth. to all aspects of production, which at least in appearance EA is trying to do. The puzzles shown in the dedicated phases seemed quite simple and specific in using the Force, nothing too complex or original. The video game, however, shows its muscles on the front of the combat system which, in addition to a good dose of spectacularity, seems to offer a vast strategic component. Although the battles against the stormtroopers were without substantial difficulty, the fight against that sort of "jedi hunter" seemed much more challenging and dynamic. EA itself then confirmed that the title was played by a rather practical user, so it is not excluded that in the end there is also an excellent level of challenge. What we saw from the trailer were just the basics of a much wider combat system, we hope to be able to make the most of it once we have the full game in our hands.  

However, there are still doubts about the nature of the work: although it strengthens a rich and successful imagery, having combined different genres is a safe and not very courageous choice. Although the mechanics and contents proposed by the trailer are very solid, we have not seen a particular desire to innovate something, a decision that in a certain sense directs the game towards a naked and raw fanservice. Not that this decision is particularly wrong, especially if the final product proves to be up to expectations, but with an increasingly evolving market it would be reasonable to expect a step forward from all productions in general, rather than the same cornerstones proposed in different sauces.  

While we wait to find out more about the plot of Jedi Fallen Order, we can say that what has been shown has convinced us, even if there are still doubts to be dispelled. The diversification of the enemies will be crucial, as well as the characterization, both aesthetic and mechanical, of the various planets on which we will set foot. The only sure thing for now is that EA's ambition is to make us feel like jedi to all effects, as well as developing a new IP that can last over the years and that finds the consensus of a large slice of Star Wars fans. We will see what awaits us in the future.