Star Wars Jedi: Survivor makes some solid improvements on the gameplay of its predecessor, Fallen Order, though it’s not without a few technical hiccups, especially on the PlayStation 5.
Here's a closer look at how it stacks up and where it still has some growing pains, particularly in terms of performance.
Gameplay Enhancements
Expanded Combat System: One of the big upgrades in Jedi: Survivor is the combat. The sequel brings in new lightsaber stances and Force abilities, giving you more tactical options when you’re fighting.
Our research suggests that these additions make the combat feel more varied and interesting, especially against tougher enemies and bosses.
Enhanced Exploration and Environments: Exploration has also seen significant improvements. The environments are bigger and more detailed, with more hidden areas, puzzles, and side quests to discover.
If you enjoyed exploring in Fallen Order, you'll find the worlds in Jedi: Survivor even richer and more engaging.
Improved Customization Options: Customization is another area that got a boost. You can now tweak Cal Kestis' appearance, lightsaber, and even BD-1, his droid companion, in more detail.
This added personalization can make you feel even more connected to the game's universe.
Technical Performance on PS5
Initial Challenges: When it first launched, technical performance was one of the main issues, with problems like frame rate drops and crashes reported, especially around mid-2023.
These issues were highlighted in professional reviews, including those from Push Square and IGN.
Performance Mode: The game has a performance mode aiming for 60 frames-per-second at 1440p resolution on the PS5.
While there have been patches to fix some problems, occasional frame rate drops and inconsistencies still pop up during gameplay and cutscenes. This has been a letdown for those expecting a smooth, next-gen experience.
Post-Launch Improvements: While patches have addressed some of the issues, technical performance remains a bit inconsistent.
The game is definitely playable, but these glitches can be annoying, especially if you’re sensitive to performance drops.
Conclusion
All in all, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor builds well on Fallen Order with improvements in combat, exploration, and customization.
However, its technical performance on the PS5 has been a bit of a mixed bag.
If you can look past the occasional performance issues, you’ll find a rewarding and immersive Jedi adventure that adds to the Star Wars lore.
For fans of the series, the gameplay improvements are likely to outweigh the technical drawbacks, making Jedi: Survivor a pretty solid sequel.