Features Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 2 Desperately Needs
EA's run of games based on the legendary "Star Wars" property has certainly seen its fair share of controversy. The company's reboot of the beloved "Star Wars: Battlefront" was seen as a disaster, with longtime fans complaining about the new games' lack of content and pay-to-win features.
But in 2019, EA seemed to correct course with the release of "Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order," a single-player adventure game that took cues from "Dark Souls" and told the story of former Jedi padawan Cal Kestiss — voiced and performed by actor Cameron Monaghan — who went into hiding during the peak of the Galactic Empire's power. After being discovered, Cal must join a ragtag group to ensure his survival from the hostile Empire and its ruthless Inquisitors.
The game was a sales success and was received extremely well by critics, and in January of 2022, it was confirmed that "Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order" would be getting a sequel. But what should the followup to EA's best "Star Wars" game include? Here are the key features that a sequel to "Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order" desperately needs.
Fallen Order 2 needs additional DLC content
Without question, "Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order" told an intriguing story based around multi-layered characters. It even managed to pack in some fan service for good measure. But it definitely lacked in story-related DLC content. The opportunity was there for EA to add a little on the side, such as more side-quests or a small narrative that focused on one of the game's intriguing supporting characters. Instead, as noted by CBR, all fans got was a New Game Plus and a challenge mode upon completing the game.
Yes, "Fallen Order" was a great game, but its sequel could earn even more love — and have a longer shelf life — if Respawn Entertainment continued its story through DLC. This is a tactic the "Force Unleashed" games took with great success, even giving players alternate endings for the game based on how they chose to develop their powers. A "Fallen Order" sequel should take risks with the ways in which it delivers its story.
Players should have a Jedi-Sith path option
2004's "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 – The Sith Lords" is regarded as one of the best "Star Wars" games ever made. In that title, you follow a player-created Force-sensitive character with an ambiguous backstory. Throughout the game, the player is given choices that determine this character's path and whether they are Jedi or Sith. This is a concept that should be explored in any upcoming "Fallen Order" game.
Adding the ability to be either a virtuous Jedi or a vicious agent of the Sith would add an intriguing layer to a strong formula. Having Cal or another protagonist be tempted by the Dark Side — and having that path actually be open for exploration — could also add tons of replayability.
Even Cameron Monaghan himself has spoken of his desire to delve into Cal's heartbreaking backstory and how he copes with it. "I think that there's a lot more story to tell with Cal," Monaghan said in an interview with ComingSoon. "Specifically, I would really like to explore telling Cal's story over time, and seeing how this character transforms as he gets older and how his perspective changes and how the world around him really informs who he is. Cal's story is very tragic and I see us really exploring the darkness of this character and his world."
A different, possibly player-created protagonist
The "Star Wars" fandom has spanned the globe, reaching people of all over. With proper representation being such a huge topic in gaming today, it might be a smart move on Respawn Entertainment's part to introduce a player-created character that could be created the multiple genders, races, and species present in the "Star Wars" universe.
Adding a player-created protagonist would ultimately add to the game's immersion. At that point, players might feel more ownership over their story. After all, what could be cooler than being in the middle of the action with a character modeled after yourself? This exact concept is a large part of why "Star Wars" RPGs have been such huge successes with players in the past.
Other players have argued that the sequel simply needs to bring in more playable characters besides Cal, which would be another way to introduce diversity to this series. Malachi Lyonsdove of GameRant suggested replacing Cal completely with an alien protagonist similar to that of Ashoka Tano, or even shifting the plot's attention to Merrin, Cal's Dathomirian companion.
Fallen Order 2 needs more extensive lightsaber customization
For any user of the Force, a lightsaber is their most important weapon. In "Star Wars", a lightsaber is the ultimate form of self-expression. From the hilt used to contain it, to the Kyber crystal that it draws its power from, every lightsaber has its own story and something that makes it special and unique from all others of its kind. "Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order" certainly did a good job in representing this by featuring a healthy number of lightsaber customization options, but there is the possibility of doing it even better the next time around.
Adding new characteristics such as a curved hilt, crossguard, and even more types of Kyber crystals — such as Kylo Ren's signature unstable saber with a cracked crystal — could be a fun way to individualize everyone's experience in the game and have a virtual avatar that more accurately represents their personality when in combat.
Players should also be given the option to dual wield lightsabers — a technique known as Jar'Kai in the universe — which not only offers more customization options, but a whole new lightsaber combat style.
Fallen Order 2 needs more Force abilities
Outside of their lightsabers, a Jedi or Sith's ultimate ability comes from how in-tune they are with the Force. An extensive knowledge in the art of Force manipulation can give any practitioner a multitude of abilities. "Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order" enables players to use Force abilities to push, pull, and freeze enemies and objects, in addition to maneuvers such as wall-running and double-jumping. But that is such a limited selection in comparison to the canon's documented Force abilities.
In line with adding a Dark Side narrative path and the option of creating a character, the full potential of the Force should be at the player's disposal. This would theoretically includes the ability to use more dark abilities such as Force Lightning and the Dominant Mind, the latter of which could be used to extract information from organic enemy sentries.
Light side abilities can be added upon, too! Recent entries in the "Star Wars" canon, such as "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" and "The Mandalorian," have featured healing abilities for Force users, which could add a whole new layer of strategy to the game.