Jason Savio

Star Wars is the gift that keeps on giving, for better or worse. From the formation of the Jedi to the current battle between the Resistance and the First Order in the new movies, there is a seemingly endless amount of stories waiting to be told in Star Wars’ timeline. The newest addition to that ever-growing timeline is the video game “Jedi: Fallen Order.” Taking place between Episodes III and IV, “Fallen Order” mines the relatively unexplored period when the Empire is the new kid on the block and bullying everyone else around. Chief among those victims are the Jedi, who have either been murdered as part of infamous Order 66, or are in hiding. One of the latter is young Cal Kestis, who spends his days as a scrapper in a shipyard until he is ousted, accidentally revealing his true identity as a Jedi and becoming a target of the Empire and its Jedi-hunting Second Sister Inquisitor. For those not familiar with why the Jedi are being hunted by the Empire—and what Order 66 is—it would be a good idea to watch “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith” before enjoying “Fallen Order.” Playing as Cal Kestis, you get to see firsthand the dire situation the remaining Jedi are in as they try to pick up the pieces of what was once a thriving and powerful legion of heroes that has been unfairly shamed by the Emperor and good ‘ol Darth Vader. There are also flashbacks to Cal as a young padawan throughout the game, allowing the player to help Cal through his training. But the best part of the “Fallen Order” is the present. The game gets off to a rocking start, introducing the badass Second Sister and Purge Stormtroopers who try to end Cal’s journey before it even begins. Needless to say, the story doesn’t end there, as Cal joins up with another Jedi on the run, Cere Junda. Together, they embark on a mission to rebuild the Jedi Order and take down the Empire. If this all sounds too familiar, that’s because it is. But “Fallen Order” gets a pass because it’s a visual feast for the eyes. The worlds are rich with aliens and creatures previously unseen in Star Wars. When on planet Bogano, for example, you’ll repeatedly hear a deep breathing coming from somewhere out of site. Finally, once you climb to a peak outside, you’ll spot where the breathing is coming from: a giant dragon-like creature, the length of four Millennium Falcons, peacefully sleeping. Details like that make “Fallen Order” a treat for Star Wars fans. Using an openworld (or galaxy) approach allows the player to really explore the planets in the game freely whenever they want, giving more opportunity to discover new things separate from the main story. The downside to the open-world approach is that many times you’ll find yourself lost and walking around in circles (yes, there is a map, but good luck with that). Another factor that will have you lost is the bland and confusing puzzles in “Fallen Order.” Sure, a challenging puzzle is always welcome, but make it fun and exciting. Using the Force is key to solving many of these puzzles, and ends up being a saving grace for the game in more ways than one.