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Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is releasing soon as a direct sequel to Fallen Order. And from what we’ve played so far, it’s a major improvement over its predecessor, honing the formula and dialing it up to new heights. This includes massive upgrades to its lightsaber combat system, as well as the introduction of new combat elements, such as the new Blaster and Crossguard Stances. These combine to help elevate Star Wars Jedi: Survivor to a whole new level.
Of course, it’s lightsaber duels that are the big focal point. As with every new addition in the Star Wars universe, lightsaber combat is going to be one of the most important elements. Whether it feels clunky and uninspired, or fluid and impactful is going to be a major deciding factor in the quality of the game. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s lightsaber combat definitely lives up to the epic duels, and here’s why:
New Stances Add Much-Needed Variety
Jedi Survivor adds 3 new lightsaber stances to its combat system, for a total of 5 available for the player to choose from. These stances are Blaster Stance, Crossguard Stance, Double Bladed Stance, Duel Wield Stance, and Single Blade Stance, each of which emulates styles showcased throughout other Star Wars media. For example, the Double-Bladed Stance captures the essence of Darth Maul’s fighting style, while the Crossguard Stance shows off Kylo Ren’s heavier attacks.
The combat choices in the new Star Wars game nail lightsabers perfectly by allowing players to fight in styles similar to their favorite characters. Additionally, various finishers and upgrades help keep each style fresh and distinct from the rest. Unlike Fallen Order, which only had two styles, players should easily be able to find something they enjoy in the combat of Jedi Survivor.
Jedi Survivor’s Lightsaber Combat Feels Impactful & Fluid
Despite this, Stance variety would mean nothing if the actual gameplay surrounding lightsaber combat was weak in Jedi Survivor. However, Jedi Survivor has put a huge amount of focus on pulling off seamless combos and abilities in combat. For example, the Blaster Stance transitions between ranged shots with an off-hand blaster to stylish lightsaber finishers, while the new Crossguard Stance adds brutal, yet impactful swings to Jedi Survivor. Now, quickly jumping from enemy to enemy in a single encounter is fairly easy, meaning there are very few lulls in the excitement. Although at times combat with many enemies can get a bit hectic, Jedi Survivor nails lightsaber combat when it gives players a chance to use each lightsaber stance to their fullest.
New Animations Bring Cinematic Star Wars Duels To Video Games
On top of feeling good to play, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s lightsaber combat looks great as well. Despite often having many enemies on the screen at once, everything is very distinct and stands out well, and not much gets lost in the intricate environments. Although a few sparks fly here and there on occasion, particle effects rarely shower the screen, which is also a huge benefit to visual clarity. For the lightsaber stance animations in Jedi Survivor, the finishers of Blaster Stance are amazing to watch, and cutting off limbs of enemies with powerful Crossguard Stance swings is a bit dark but very satisfying. Even more basic actions, like smaller swings, or deflecting blaster shots, are animated very well, probably the best we’ve seen a lightsaber animated in a Star Wars game to date.
Overall, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s lightsaber combat simply nails everything it means to wield a lightsaber. Star Wars fans looking to experience what it means to be a Jedi Knight should check it out after its release. With accessible difficulty and controls, any player should feel right at home pulling off the stunts that make lightsaber battles cool. Despite there never being an exact formula that makes a fun lightsaber battle, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor manages to find the perfect combination between cinematic animations and gameplay variety that will make this one of the premiere ways to experience lightsaber combat in a video game f0r years to come.