E3 2019 Impressions — Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

@EAStarWars @Respawn @EA

While at E3, I was able to see Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order in a more intimate setting than just a trailer. Here is my take on Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.

If you were watching all of the streams out of E3, you may have seen the new gameplay for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order that EA brought to the world. It was some of the first and not the full bit that was on display out here at the event. Yes, Respawn Entertainment had a long and more detailed bit of gameplay to show off behind some semi-closed doors. As you should have guessed by now, we had a chance to get behind those doors and check out bits of this Star Wars game that you may not have seen. Sadly, we did not get to place hands-on with the game, but that did not stop us from seeing new stuff in motion for it all. Here are some of our thoughts for it all.

One of the bigger differences here for Star Wars Jedi is the fact that we had a chance to see how our protagonist made it into an ATAT and then drive it. All of which played out like a scene from Shadow Of The Colossus as he went through the normal paces of traversal to make it to the top and take out the stormtrooper that was seated up there. As I said, it looked a lot like games in the same vein of gameplay just with a Star Wars twist to it all. This persisted through many other places in the game from the usual climbing, swinging, and wall-running to get around. My guess is that there is some Force action going on as it never felt perfectly fluid in the animations, but that could be something changed as we get closer to launch.

Next we had a chance to see what happens in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order when you do take over the ATAT and it is more or less an on-rails shooter where we are in the pilot seat. The weird thing is that it all felt like it played out as a long cut scene where there never really felt like there was any notification of when we were taking damage in it all. I kept watching all of the lights and sensors on the screen for something that looked like a HUD, given how Respawn Entertainment has handled things like this in the past, but I never did see a thing that showed we were close to dying. Although, it was stated during the demo that our driver for Star Wars Jedi was on the verge of death a few times. I could not see it and that felt off for it all.

After all of that, we went into the more traditional style of gameplay we have been shown for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. A lot of Force pushing and pulling with a lot of lightsaber swinging. Something that looked to play a lot like some of the Souls games. You could switch between enemies on screen and would need to time all of your attacks to parry and strike. Again, it did not feel as fluid as a Jedi should when compared to all of the other Star Wars source material, but this could change by the time the game does actually launch. Especially when you see all of the other enemy types in the game that will require some level of mastery. I have a feeling I will be using more of the pull and quick kills during my play.

Outside of the combat and traversal in Star Wars Jedi, it looks like there will also be some level of puzzle solving in the game too. Most of which look to mix in the companion droid we will have on our backs healing us along the way in the game. In the demo here, we got to see it learn how to override and over-charge the Empire technology in the world when they hindered our path. Again, not the most ground-breaking of elements in the game, but it will keep us roaming and looking around this Star Wars world for all kinds of paths and shortcuts we can take. Even if some of them are required by the game to progress in general. As one would assume.

As of right now, I am still excited for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and will be keeping an eye on it. It does feel like things in the game are still way under-developed, but this could be the state of the demo we were shown out here. Most of the character models did not seem up to par with the game world, but I could see where they could end by the time of launch. That is not to say that I am not excited for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order to come as I do enjoy the varying styles of gameplay for the Jedi in the game. I am also a sucker for a good action-adventure game and that is what this one is shaping up to be. I have faith that in a non-convention setting it will all make better sense and we will have time to see all of the tutorial messages to fill in the gaps.