Here’s why you should play Xbox Game Pass Ultimate’s Star Wars Jedi: Survivor for May 4

We had the prospect to have a go at Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order when the TrueAchievements staff went to X019. It was plenty of enjoyable (though it actually appeared to love chucking Cal down sudden drops for infinite sliding sequences) and the complete recreation was simply as pleasing when it launched in 2019. You would inform even then that although it was a little bit tough across the edges and a bit extra formidable than it might handle, the second recreation may be capable to polish up all these rougher bits to create the sort of expertise that the primary recreation simply missed the mark for. That turned out to be the case with Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, which constructed upon the primary recreation, streamlined a few of its wonkier bits, and gave Cal a wonderful new journey to embark on. So right here’s why, in honor of Could 4, you need to be taking part in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor whereas it’s in Recreation Go (and Free Play Days)!There is a honest quantity of labor to place into the Star Wars Jedi: Survivor achievements, and in the event you performed via the primary recreation or tried for the completion, you may bear in mind the relentless backtracking via finicky areas you’d already coated many occasions earlier than. It was typically irritating to say the least, and one nice change in Survivor is that shortcuts and quick journey factors really feel rather more beneficiant. That is particularly good since one other enchancment with the sequel is that its worlds really feel rather more open for exploration. It’s nonetheless extra linear than open-world, however every little thing feels on a grander scale versus a few of the narrower sections within the first recreation. There are nonetheless story sections the place you’re on a strict path, however total there’s rather more freedom of exploration to discover. You do often come throughout areas which you can’t entry but, however selecting to discover off the crushed path typically rewards you with higher perks or different useful issues which give Cal even higher possibilities of surviving in future.

To make issues extra manageable, you even have mounts to ferry you round. I’m a giant fan of issues like this and whereas there isn’t a lot behind the mechanic — it’s type of like Cal’s simply borrowing random beasties for a bit reasonably than having one other companion — there are some fairly spectacular colours, and whereas Cal may insist he’s in hiding, it’s nice enjoyable to ship him round on an enormous neon pink ostrich-type alien.

One space which Survivor improves on is by supplying you with much more customisation choices with Cal, BD-1, and Cal’s lightsaber. Slightly than simply set outfits, you may combine and match separate items of Cal’s clothes in addition to colors. You’ll be able to change up his coiffure and facial hair too. It’s a little odd to die time and again making an attempt to succeed in a far-off level on an odd planet solely to open a chest and discover a mullet, nevertheless it provides extra flexibility to creating your personal Cal. BD-1 and the lightsaber’s choices are nonetheless extra intensive, as you can’t solely combine up types, components, and colours, but additionally how well-worn or brand-new every little thing seems to be.

Among the best bits about Survivor, although, is the addition of a hub space to return to with Pyloon’s Saloon. Fairly other than giving Cal one thing of an anchor as a substitute of leaving him to wander round alone, this hub space step by step fills up with extra newcomers who provide you with rumors to chase up, new outlets, background lore, and a little bit of life to what generally is a fairly remoted galaxy. It’s a good way to see a few of the impression of Cal’s actions, as individuals he rescues begin popping up there and the locals begin warming as much as him. Within the grand custom of RPGs, they’ll reward you for saving their lives by pelting you with requests and favors, and it’s right here that you just’ll see examples of a few of the extra expanded dialogue to be discovered within the sequel. What’s extra, you may see this base enhancing as you progress via the sport, with the belongings you do having an precise impression — whether or not it’s filling up the large aquarium, or bringing again seeds to populate the rooftop backyard. It additionally introduces a really cool minigame — I don’t need to spoil it in the event you’re new to the sport, nevertheless it makes BD-1’s dedication to scan enemies rather more helpful.

In the event you had been annoyed with the way in which you needed to construct up key skills within the first recreation, then it’d swimsuit you that Survivor lets Cal hold his skills and construct upon them. He additionally has new lightsaber stances, and the entire thing works nicely with the concept Cal is now a drive to be reckoned with. He’s gruffer and grimmer than earlier than, however he’s additionally extra highly effective, and a little bit extra unforgiving. It’s at all times enjoyable to drag enemies in the direction of you solely to fling them over cliffs, sending them crusing to their doom at the same time as they’re insisting they’ll beat you simply, however Cal has some new methods of combating which opens issues up nonetheless additional.

Traversal is made a lot smoother too, which is an effective factor, as Survivor has simply as a lot — if no more — wall-running, ziplining, and climbing as earlier than, in addition to some attention-grabbing gliding bits due to Cal’s new capacity of befriending alien beasties. It takes plenty of frustration out of a recreation which asks you to take action a lot precision motion when you may really do the issues it’s asking you to.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor feels prefer it actually does construct on what the primary recreation promised. We all know Respawn is “engaged on a 3rd” recreation, and whereas we anticipate any information on that, you may take a look at every little thing we learn about Star Wars Outlaws for extra on one other upcoming Star Wars recreation!