Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Lore & Background

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order began development as an original title unrelated to Star Wars, but Electronic Arts felt the action would work well as a Star Wars game, convincing Lucasfilm to authorize and consult on the project. The game's visuals were influenced by Rogue One and Star Wars Rebels, while the combat and levels were inspired by Metroid Prime, Dark Souls, and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. The music, composed by Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab, was recorded at Abbey Road Studios with the London Symphony Orchestra and the Bach Choir of London.

The game adopts a Metroidvania-style level design where new areas are accessed as Cal unlocks skills and abilities. It features five major explorable planets: Bogano, Zeffo, Kashyyyk, Dathomir, and Ilum. The starship Stinger Mantis serves as a hub area for travel and character interaction. The player can use a lightsaber and Force powers such as force slow, force push, and force pull, with a block meter that depletes when blocking attacks. Enemies include stormtroopers, wild beasts, bounty hunters, and Jedi-hunting Purge Troopers, with bosses including Inquisitors and large vehicles like AT-STs.

The story follows Cal Kestis, a former Padawan hiding on Bracca, who is discovered by the Empire and rescued by Cere Junda and Greez Dritus. He is accompanied by the droid BD-1, who helps with navigation, healing, and scanning items. The plot involves Cal attempting to access an ancient vault on Bogano while being hunted by the Second Sister and Ninth Sister, Inquisitors trained by Darth Vader. Other characters include Saw Gerrera, Merrin, and Dark Jedi Taron Malicos.

Reader's Guide

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order received generally favorable reviews from critics, who praised its combat, characters, performance, and world design, though it received criticisms for technical issues at release. It sold over 10 million units by 2020. The game was nominated for several end-of-the-year accolades, including Best Action/Adventure Game at The Game Awards 2020, and won several awards, including Adventure Game of the Year at the 23rd Annual D.I.C.E. Awards. A sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, was released in April 2023.

The game's significance lies in its successful integration of Metroidvania exploration with Star Wars lore, offering a single-player narrative-driven experience that resonated with audiences. The development history—originating as an original title before being adapted to the Star Wars universe—highlights the flexibility of the game's design. The inclusion of characters from other Star Wars media, such as Saw Gerrera from Rogue One and Tarfful from Revenge of the Sith, ties the game into the broader franchise. The Meditation Arena, added via a 2020 update, extended replayability with combat challenges and a battle grid for custom encounters.

Did You Know?

• The game began development as an original title unrelated to Star Wars before Electronic Arts convinced Lucasfilm to authorize it as a Star Wars project.
• Ben Burtt, the sound designer for the original Star Wars films, provided the voice for the droid BD-1.
• A Star Wars Day update in 2020 added the Meditation Arena, featuring combat challenges and a battle grid.