Star Wars Jedi May Have Reached a Challenging Plateau

For almost six years now, Respawn Entertainment’s Star Wars Jedi series has been breathing new life into the lightsaber combat that Star Wars enthusiasts have long cherished. Before the 2019 launch of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, games set in the Star Wars universe typically featured lightsaber combat that fell into one of a few categories: the turn-based strategy seen in Knights of the Old Republic, the combo-heavy style similar to God of War in The Force Unleashed, or the short-lived character combat seen in the Battlefront games. However, all of that was redefined when Respawn’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor introduced players to Cal Kestis, allowing him to master up to five different lightsaber stances. These innovative stances were well-received, but Respawn may find it challenging to expand upon them in Star Wars Jedi 3.

In the Star Wars Jedi series, specifically Fallen Order, players meet Cal Kestis, a survivor of Order 66, as he navigates the dangerous path of relearning his Jedi training amidst the threat of Imperial Inquisitors, while also attempting to rebuild the Jedi Order alongside Cere Junda, another survivor of Order 66. Initially, players wield a single-bladed lightsaber, which is actually half of Kestis’ mentor Jaro Tapal’s double-bladed weapon. As Cal regains his lightsaber proficiency and Force abilities, players quickly gain access to a double-bladed lightsaber if they choose to visit Dathomir right after leaving Bogano. Near Fallen Order’s conclusion, players adventure to Ilum to recover a new kyber crystal, which allows Cal to repair his saber and ultimately enables a dual-wield option with two single-bladed lightsabers.

These dynamic combat options made their return in the 2023 sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, with added skills for each stance that Kestis picks up over the five-year gap between the two games. After Cal reunites with characters like Cere, Greez, Merrin, and his newest ally Bode Akuna on Jedha, he receives a blaster pistol from Akuna—a new tool that he can pair with his lightsaber in a fresh fighting stance. Throughout the journey to secure access to Tanalorr and confront foes like fallen Jedi Dagan Gera, Rayvis, and the Bedlam Raiders, Cal eventually forges a crossguard lightsaber, inspired by one recovered from Raider lieutenant Drya Thornne.

Cal’s achievement in wielding the crossguard lightsaber for the first time in a game beyond its use by Kylo Ren in the Star Wars canon was a notable milestone in Survivor. Despite not finishing his formal Jedi training, Cal Kestis has rapidly become one of the most adept lightsaber duelists in modern Star Wars lore, mastering nearly all known forms of lightsaber combat. Although this prowess may restrict Respawn’s options for expanding his skill set in the next game, there are still new possibilities to explore. One intriguing potential addition could be the double-bladed spinning lightsabers of the Inquisitors, a weapon style Cal has seen often but never employed himself.

The Inquisitors’ lightsaber, while shorter than a typical double-bladed saber, features a unique spinning capability, potentially allowing users to briefly hover. In Star Wars Jedi 3, Cal could retrieve and adapt such a saber, offering him a creative function akin to a jetpack. Another option could be the lightsaber pike from Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, known for its long hilt and ability to maintain distance from adversaries.

Lastly, an exciting but challenging addition could be the lightwhip. Recently introduced to the Star Wars universe through High Republic narratives, the lightwhip resembles a lightsaber with its hilt but features a flexible plasma blade that makes it quite dangerous for both the wielder and opponent. This flexible blade, difficult to block, could add a thrilling layer to combat in Star Wars Jedi 3, offering players new and exotic gameplay experiences.