Summary
TheStar Wars Jedifranchise has never struggled to put Cal Kestis through an emotional wringer, and that’s never made more apparent than in the opening sequence ofStar Wars Jedi: Survivoralone. Cal has experienced great loss in his life, butthe tutorial sequence on Coruscantforces him to suffer even more when his merry band of rebels gets killed off one by one around him. It’s interesting to see Cal express his anger when a traditional Jedi might be more composed, and that humanity is what makes Cal a far more intriguing character than many Jedi tend to be.
Of course, not many Jedi are left at this point and those that are around are in hiding or have been turned to the dark side already.Bode Akunaexists somewhere in that grey area, for example, while Cal is one of the few Jedi who wields their lightsaber defiantly as a symbol of hope against the Empire. Cal’s Force attunement is also repaired now, and he’s learned several new tricks alongside his unique Psychometry ability. One new ability players get to see isSurvivor’s Mind Trick gimmick in sparse, scripted moments, and though that is a fun way to represent the iconic ability it could be made much more engaging in a sequel.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s Mind Trick Only Barely Scratched the Surface
Survivor’s Mind Trick Ability was More of a Gimmick Than a Feature
Interrogating Senator Sejan inSurvivorleads Cal to use a Mind Trick ability on him that requires players to choose between two dialogue options with an expiring timer. However, because either dialogue option results in the same outcome, it hardly has an effect outside its fun reference to the humorous gimmick in otherStar Warsmedia.
There are several more that players come across but they each similarly have no wider effect on the story or any changes in outcome. Therefore, while fun as an inclusion, it is yet another mechanic in games that gives players the illusion of choice when there really is none.
There’s no way to make Mind Tricks more difficult and maybe not having them determine an actual outcome is for the best for that reason, but creating branching paths seems obligatory when a choice like that is presented to the player. Otherwise, it loses all the luster and tension that such moments have in other representations.
The Mind Trick shouldn’t be conflated withSurvivor’s Confusion Force skill tree, even though they are fairly similar in theory, but that’s where a sequel could make the most use of improving the Mind Trick’s functionality in gameplay.
Survivor’s Sequel Can Let Mind Trick Be Significant to the Story
Fortunately for Respawn, the Mind Trick ability has nowhere to go but up fromSurvivor. InSurvivor’s inevitable sequel, it would be excellent to see Mind Tricks be far more substantial and actually lead to diverse paths, even if they’re unable to have a profound impact on the story at all.
This way, if players fail a Mind Trick they would be set on a different path from other players and eventually reconvene on the main path later on. This is sort ofwhatMarvel’s Guardians of the Galaxyattempted to achievein its own choice-based interactions, andStar Wars Jedicould make that premise even more engaging by sending players down perilous paths if their dialogue choice is an improper one for the circumstance.
Soulslikes tend to mislead players into misfortune, andSurvivor’s sequel could easily make quick work of such pitfalls, traps, and mob ambushes in similar scenarios. Of course, Cal failing to Mind Trick an ordinary stormtrooper seems impossible, especially with Cal being as skilled as he is now, so it may be more difficult to implement Mind Tricks in a way where the player either suffers or is awarded for their related choices.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
WHERE TO PLAY
The story of Cal Kestis continues in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor™, a third person galaxy-spanning action-adventure game from Respawn Entertainment, developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games. This narratively-driven, single player title picks up five years after the events of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order™ and follows Cal’s increasingly desperate fight as the galaxy descends further into darkness. Pushed to the edges of the galaxy by the Empire, Cal will find himself surrounded by threats new and familiar. As one of the last surviving Jedi Knights, Cal is driven to make a stand during the galaxy’s darkest times - but how far is he willing to go to protect himself, his crew, and the legacy of the Jedi Order?Explore an Untamed Galaxy – Discover new planets and familiar frontiers in the Star Wars galaxy, each with unique biomes, challenges, and enemies. Master new skills, equipment, and abilities that will augment the ways you explore, fight, and roam. With larger areas to explore and more to discover off the beaten path, players who adventure beyond the horizon will find hidden rewards.
