Star Wars Jedi Faces a Potentially Challenging Ceiling to Surpass

For almost six years now, Respawn Entertainment has been redefining Star Wars gaming by introducing fans to a lightsaber combat system that’s reminiscent of Dark Souls. Before 2019’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order hit the scene, lightsaber duels were either turn-based as seen in the Knights of the Old Republic series, combo-heavy like in The Force Unleashed, or fleeting power trips in games like Battlefront. Fallen Order, along with its sequel Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, shook things up by letting players explore up to five different lightsaber stances with the protagonist Cal Kestis. While fans have welcomed these options, Respawn now faces the challenge of evolving this system further in the anticipated Star Wars Jedi 3.

In Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, we follow Cal Kestis, a survivor of Order 66 who is on a mission to resurrect the Jedi Order and outrun Imperial Inquisitors. At the onset, players harness the power of a single-bladed lightsaber—a keepsake from his mentor, Jaro Tapal. As he hones his skills throughout Fallen Order, players who venture to Dathomir early on are rewarded with a double-bladed lightsaber. Near the game’s climax, a trip to Ilum sees Kestis repairing his lightsaber with a new kyber crystal, enabling him to split it for dual-wielding action.

Fast forward to 2023 with Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Cal has not only refined his lightsaber proficiency but also innovated new stances in the years since Fallen Order. Upon reuniting with old allies like Cere Junda and new faces like Bode Akuna, Kestis is introduced to a novel combat style involving a blaster gifted to him by Akuna. The adventure led through confronting adversaries like fallen Jedi Dagan Gera and resulted in acquiring an ancient crossguard lightsaber after defeating a Raider lieutenant.

Interestingly, Cal’s use of the crossguard lightsaber in Survivor is a first among canon Star Wars games, making it an exciting addition for players.

Looking ahead, Star Wars Jedi 3 could explore new combat styles despite Kestis’s already extensive expertise. Among the possibilities is the Inquisitor’s double-bladed spinning lightsaber—a weapon designed to not only dazzle opponents with its rapid spin but also potentially allow Kestis to hover across hard-to-reach areas. Another fascinating option could be the lightsaber pike, notable for its extended reach and origin in The Force Unleashed.

One of the most intriguing prospects is the lightwhip. This unconventional weapon has a flexible plasma blade, providing a unique but risky fighting style for Cal to master. Its complexity could test the player’s skills, introducing dynamic and thrilling gameplay aspects in Star Wars Jedi 3, ultimately keeping fans of the series on their toes.