Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order took many gamers by surprise with its pleasing blend of narrative, exploration, and Souls-lite combat, but fan expectations are towering for the sequel. Satisfying Star Wars fans with Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 2 will be no easy feat, with Respawn having its work cut out for it, but it could make big improvements to the franchise by refining features from some other action titles.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 2 would do well to look to the examples of The Last of Us 2 and God of War, in particular, for their innovative use of AI partners in solving puzzles, combat, and narrative. But rather than merely borrowing mechanics from other games, Respawn has the skills to refine those concepts into a system that is entirely unique and extremely compelling.
One idea is that Cal should take an apprentice in Fallen Order 2 would be an excellent way to incorporate some backup for the newly minted Jedi Knight. But why settle for one partner when the Mantis’ crew provides players with so many exciting options to choose from? Being able to freely switch between partners to suit different situations would add a ton of depth to the sequel.
God of War showed players how apprentice-based combat can work beautifully. Atreus can get Kratos out of a tight spot, make certain enemies vulnerable, and set up amazing combos. Cal being able to Force push a foe into his apprentice’s lightsaber or the apprentice launching Cal into the air for a free, aerial assassination strike would be able to capture that same beauty.
While pure cosmetic items are always fun, there’s also no denying Fallen Order‘s outfit system was a missed opportunity. Cal’s wardrobe would benefit from following Kratos’ and Atreus lead, with certain clothes offering synergy with specific partners. Making a full jump to an RPG-like loot system might be a bit much, but an extra degree of mechanical customization would be a fun addition.
Finally, Fallen Order 2 has an opportunity that God of War: Ragnarok likely lacks. While Kratos and Atreus’ journey is deeply personal, Cal has a broad variety of potential allies in the Mantis’ crew to choose from, and even more characters who could be pulled from other corners of Star Wars canon. Certain partners could be better suited to assist in different missions; for example, t would be wild to see Greeze providing four-armed cover fire while spouting grouchy comments.
Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us franchise could be a case study in evolving character relationships. It would be interesting if Fallen Order 2 could mechanically expand on those themes by allowing Cal to level up with his respective partners as he travels with them, unlocking new abilities and as their narrative bonds deepen. The Last of Us also excels at using AI partners to solve tricky puzzles, as well as assisting in combat. If anything, the wide variety of the Mantis’ crew’s backgrounds offers even more opportunity to expand on puzzle solving.
If Cal takes Merrin on as an apprentice (or merely a mission partner), her Nightsister Force powers have a ton of unique applications that Cal cannot imitate. Cal could also rely upon Cere for puzzle hints, or assistance with obstacles that require a little extra Force power, such as moving enormous objects. Assuming Fallen Order 2 takes this ensemble approach, it would be great if each planet features areas that are only accessible with a specific partner’s abilities, allowing for more unique exploration opportunities and replay value. Again, while The Last of Us and The Last of Us 2 focus on bonds between a handful of characters, there isn’t an abundance of mechanical difference between them, which is something Fallen Order 2 could capitalize on with its Sci-Fi setting.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but it should be a take and give relationship. Without extra innovation, borrowing elements from other games comes across as derivative. Allowing Cal to rotate between a large cast of characters would be a great way to add depth to the new partnership trend in adventure games, while also allowing Respawn to craft the memorable single-player sequences that have earned Respawn renown.
It is also important for Fallen Order 2 to maintain its identity, however. Cal should go it alone for the majority of the game—aside from the always-delightful BD-1, who should remain a constant companion. Using partners sparingly will keep the mechanics from being gimmicky, or denigrating the sense overwhelming challenge that is so crucial for Souls-lite combat. Boss fights in particular should be one-on-one affairs…with one possible exception.
Respawn’s use of Darth Vader poses problematic questions to Star Wars’ lore, seeing how the Dark Lord of the Sith must remain undefeated following the events of Fallen Order, and very likely, the entire Fallen Order franchise. Cal only managed to survive his encounter with Vader thanks to the intervention of both Cere and Merrin, and similar teamwork could be used to explain how the group survives future encounters—although developing fresh foes would still be preferential to overusing Vader.
A fun finale sequence could be surprising players with a full-squad, similar to Ghost of Tsushima’s centerpiece missions, where Jin is accompanied by all of his allies. Rather than running from the empire, or fending off imperial invasions, that kind of firepower would allow Cal and co. to go on the offensive, storming imperial bases, rescuing allies imprisoned on Star Destroyers, or undertaking other high risk missions.
Only time will tell what influences Respawn draws from for Fallen Order 2, but given the first game’s bricolage of Metroid, Dark Souls, and Uncharted, looking to other landmark adventure games makes good sense. And improving on those influences is the best possible way to satisfy fans’ expectations, and address accusations of derivation—one of the few criticisms leveled at the original Fallen Order.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 2 is in development.
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