Latest Updates

If Thoughts Could Kill: D20 A Psionic Accessory and Adventure for 10th-Level Characters (2001) [Second Hand] now available pre-owned.
Exalted: The Books of Sorcery, Vol. I: Wonders of the Lost Age (2006) [Second Hand] now available pre-owned.
Exalted: Aspect Book Wood (2005) [Second Hand] now available pre-owned.
Exalted: The Book of 3 Circles (2001) [Second Hand] now available pre-owned.
Exalted: The Outcaste (2004) [Second Hand] now available pre-owned.
Exalted: Savant and Sorcerer (2004) [Second Hand] now available pre-owned.
Exalted: Book of Bone & Ebony (2005) {Second Hand] now available pre-owned.
Exalted: Games of Divinity (2002) [Second Hand] now available pre-owned.
Exalted: Cult of the Illuminated (2005) [Second Hand] now available pre-owned.
Exalted: Castebook Eclipse (2003) [Second Hand] now available pre-owned.

Who's Online

Guests: 37, Members: 1
HaseoVII


Please sign in to add comments
Tea
11 July at 14:55
yeah that was super cool! Assassinations to low fi = win
phreak
11 July at 12:14
@tea: I was NOT expecting optional Beat Takeshi camera modes and Samurai Champloo style lo fi music.
Tea
11 July at 10:21
Its Suckerpunch - so its an insta buy for me! (Plus I LOVED Ghost of Tsushima)
phreak
11 July at 8:04
Morning.

Have to say..impressed with Ghost of Yotei after that showcase.
Gameplay, graphics. ect looks great.
Fighting also looks way more smooth now.

Definitly playing it with the Japanese du band subtitles.
Like Yakuza/Like a Dragon and Tsushima it just feels wrong to play it with the EN dub. lol
KnightFall500
10 July at 15:02
@Tea Yea BB!
Will keep a look out for him
Tea
09 July at 16:29
@Knight- That was such a cool find! Was it BB? I know Kideo Kojima is in there, but never found him
KnightFall500
09 July at 14:19
Found a Death Stranding ester egg in Cyber Punk the other day
Tea
09 July at 9:42
Also - Holy heck - Death Stranding 2 is EPIC.
Tea
09 July at 9:42
Morning all! Sorry for the radio silence my side - I was away. Wil reply to PM's now
Tea
09 July at 9:41
@phreak - I feel your pain - that has happened to me twice in the last few years!
View all posts »

Cart Contents

Item: Price: Qty:
Total: R 0.00

View Cart
Checkout

Message Content


View All Messages


New Message
Outbox

User Content

Login / Register

Latest Poll

Which SA Hobby Events Do You Attend?

This poll is restricted to members only

  • Home (current)
  • Brands
  • News
  • Forum
  • Events
  • Contact us
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Podcasts
  • Tech
  • About Us

Review

Review: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Cal Drake.

by Robert de Wit on 15 November, 2019

    9   5

     

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order delivers one of the best Star Wars video game experiences, and I will go so far as to say that it was far better than Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Respawn was able to provide a good balance - there will be many-a-Star Wars pun here - between the multitude of elements that they have opted to incorporate in EA’s latest Star Wars outing, and despite some stumbling points along the way, it is a masterful showcase; though, this might not be for everyone.



Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order is set after the events of Order 66; the Jedi Order has been destroyed, the Empire is at its strongest, and the remaining Jedi and Force-sensitives are being hunted down by the Inquisitors. Here we follow the journey of Cal Kestis, a Jedi padawan who has been in hiding, and must now face his destiny. While the story of Cal is not extremely complex or convoluted, it is still deeply personal, and in typical Star Wars fashion, he suffers tragedy from the opening of the title.

Early on, we are met with the game’s central antagonist, an Inquisitor known as the Second Sister; a brutal and unempathetic Empirical warrior, and one of the strongest members of the elite team. She, along with her fellow Inquisitors, have a singular objective: eliminate all remaining Jedi and Force-sensitives who were not killed during Order 66. The first impressions of the Second Sister paint a one-sided image of a fairly generic Star Wars antagonist which makes it difficult to feel anything towards her, focusing rather on our protagonist, Cal.



Cal is a rather quiet character to start, mainly down to him keeping his head down to avoid being noticed. Exploring Cal’s history, we learn of how he has lost his connection with the Force after the events of Order 66, as well as his Master. Seemingly isolated incidents are interestingly intertwined to weave a relatable narrative, as we form a connection with Cameron Monaghan’s portrayal of the Jedi padawan. Other characters we meet along the way are given personalities in their own right, and while their stories are not explored as in-depth as a select few, the glimpses we do see offer enough to make them 3-Dimensional.

Though, this isn’t just the story of Cal, but rather an introspection into what so many had to endure as a result of Palpatine’s act. We also dive into the past of one of your crewmates, Cere, whose story is what we could expect from a Star Wars epic, but thanks to the more poignant focus, it becomes a heart-breaking experience. In fact, most of the personalities you come across are written in such a way that the lines between light and dark are blurred.



All of this is brought to light by the excellent writing on the part of Respawn - the same developer that made me fall in love with a mech - which trickles all the way down from the over-arching storyline to the dialogue heard throughout the various worlds. Exceptionally included are the countless easter eggs heard, especially among the Stormtroopers that make you chuckle in between - even during - intense encounters. The Empire’s legion is often heard trash-talking you at the start of a fight, only to, and I quote, say “Oops, no, I am not ready, I regret taking him on”. Initially, this might seem to take away from the seriousness of the combat but as you progress, you realise that these are more than just quick querps, but add more life to otherwise random enemies. At the heart of it though, it also shows how the developers had fun on this project, which is translated into every aspect of the game.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order swaps mindless lightsaber swings for thoughtful and planned combat...


Despite the rebuttals of Respawn regarding the combat mechanics, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is reminiscent of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. However, it is spectacularly well implemented, making each combat encounter challenging but fun. You will need to learn to dodge, parry, and combine your Force powers, along with your lightsaber, to take various enemies down. The combat will be the most divisive aspect of this game, and the simple truth is that it will not be for everyone. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order swaps mindless lightsaber swings for thoughtful and planned combat, requiring you to formulate a plan before tackling enemies.



Bosses are brutal in punishing you for careless combat, requiring you to learn randomised attack persons, knowing when to attack and when to defend, as well as recognizing offensive opportunities rather than hack-and-slash. A theme that pops up throughout Fallen Order is that failing is a necessary part of any journey and that “persistence will reveal the path”, which is a fantastic summary of the gameplay loop. No matter how many times I failed, I was transfixed in finally conquering the obstacle before me, leaving each battle with a sense of pride and victory. The use of the From Software gameplay style also enhances lightsaber duels, turning them into dramatic, colourful, fluid, and satisfying action sequences that are breathtakingly intense.

No matter how many times I failed, I was transfixed in finally conquering the obstacle before me...


The other half of the gameplay revolves around platforming, and the inspiration from titles such as Uncharted and Tomb Raider are clear as day, and just as well-executed, resulting in beautiful set action-pieces that truly push the limits of the Unreal 4 Engine. Each location you visit is so vast, I often got lost in them, exploring the varied levels filled with puzzles to solve and progress. There are few occasions where it can be overwhelming but Respawn’s ability to combine such intricate exploration in a fairly linear and self-contained experience, is a testament to their expertise in story-driven games.



As with any Jedi Knight, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is not without faults. The controls can be clunky at times, which can be frustrating during some platform sections, as well as fast-paced action or combat confrontations. While I appreciate any opportunity to send my lightsaber through the flesh of my foes, some fights felt unnecessary, and while they weren’t forced, they just didn’t add any real benefit. Though, this only extends to some slightly tougher NPCs that you stumble across, rather than any of the mini-bosses. Some further optimisation is needed for Fallen Order, as there were a number of performance issues throughout our 25-hour playthrough, such as texture popping, collision issues, as well as the odd frame rate dip. In saying this, we were fortunate enough not to suffer from any game-breaking bugs or technical issues, which is - sadly - something to be exited in modern-day releases.



Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order delivers a magnificent Star Wars experience that lives up to so many expectations, and then some. The marvelous blend and execution of platforming, challenging combat, and developed characters woven into a singular adventure is simply mesmerizing, unfortunately, marred by some slight hiccups. However, this is a step in the right direction for Star Wars video games, and EA as a whole, as when you give a passionate developer the freedom to explore, they create something truly extraordinary.

9
Fantastic combat
Excellent platforming
Packed with lore
Satisfying progression
Easter eggs
Lightsabers
Unnecessary enemy encounters
Controls can be clunky
Performance issues
9
See our scoring policy here

Robert de Wit

Loves games with deep character development and a rich storyline. Also, shooty-shooties. Loathes microtransactions. Likes to use sarcasm and metaphors.

See more articles by Robert

There are 5 comments

Blaze
@Tebulot There are parts that call back to SW lore, but for the most part, it's a standalone adventure.
Magius
Keen to get home and test this out, hopefully, the PC version isn't too buggy as I see a few reviews mention that.
Coffeboy
cant wait to sink my teeth into this!
Lurch
Nice! Outside of the KOTOR RPGs, the first Force Unleashed was the last time I would consider a Star Wars game "great"
Tebulot
Will this be entertaining for a non-Star Wars fan? (Asking for a friend! Not me! Hail Star Wars!)

Please login to post comments.


More Reviews

Review

9.5

Review: K-Pop Demon Hunters

K-Pop Demon Hunters is one of Netflix’s newest animated movies to be released this year, and wow, has...

11-07-25 Read more

Review

9

Review: Ruffy and the Riverside

Playing Ruffy and the Riverside has been like jumping back into the past. Like way, way back into the...

10-07-25 Read more

Review

8.5

Review: Predator: Killer of Killers

It’s certainly no secret that the Predator franchise has not exactly spawned what one would describe...

04-07-25 Read more

Review

9

Review: Nintendo Switch 2

After spending around a month with the Nintendo Switch 2, I can very confidently say that Nintendo has...

30-06-25 Read more

Review

8.5

Review: ASUS ExpertBook P3405

For those looking for a business-centric notebook, the ASUS ExpertBook P3 wants your attention. The ...

30-06-25 Read more

Review

8

Review: System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster

Nightdive Studios’ System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster gives modern gamers, across all current...

26-06-25 Read more

Review

10

Review: Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

The first Death Stranding was the hardest review I've ever had to write for a video game because there...

23-06-25 Read more

Review

9

Review: The Alters

The Alters is a streamlined and mechanically satisfying survival-game that also asks the question: what...

17-06-25 Read more

Review

9

Review: Mario Kart World

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe marked the pinnacle of Nintendo’s acclaimed kart racing franchise. Everything that...

12-06-25 Read more

Review

9

Review: ASUS ProArt P16

The ASUS ProArt range has always been one of my favourite notebooks to review. Somehow, ASUS keeps refining...

02-06-25 Read more

Load More

Overview


Add to cart

Developer

Respawn Entertainment

Publisher

Electronic Arts

Platform

PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Release date

15 November 2019

Latest Reviews

9.5

Review: K-Pop Demon Hunters

9

Review: Ruffy and the Riverside

8.5

Review: Predator: Killer of Killers

9

Review: Nintendo Switch 2

8.5

Review: ASUS ExpertBook P3405

8

Review: System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster

Browse All Reviews

What's Next

02
Jul

Hunter x Hunter Nen x Impact [MULTI]

11
Jul

The Thing: Remastered [MULTI]

18
Jul

Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered [MULTI]

29
Aug

Lost Soul Aside [PS5]

Latest Podcasts

Checkpoint Chat: I'm Carrying Cargo Here, Mate

EPISODE 272

Oops! Your browser does not support this audio.

Checkpoint Chat: Tony Hawk's Mario Kart

EPISODE 271

Oops! Your browser does not support this audio.

Checkpoint Chat: Surprise Sounds

EPISODE 270

Oops! Your browser does not support this audio.
Browse All Podcasts
Tweets by NexusHubZA
  • Digital
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Opinion Pieces
  • Videos
  • Podcasts
  • About Us
  • The Team
  • Our Scoring Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact Us
  • FAQ
  • Retail
  • Game
  • Watch
  • Read
  • Collect
  • Wear
© Copyright NexusHub 2025 | Privacy | Terms & Conditions