For the past six years, Respawn Entertainment has been weaving a new thread into the Star Wars universe with its Star Wars Jedi series, captivating fans by introducing a lightsaber combat style reminiscent of Dark Souls. Before 2019’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order hit the shelves, lightsaber duels in most Star Wars games took inspiration from turn-based battles in Knights of the Old Republic, the combo-driven fights in The Force Unleashed, or the fleeting hero-centered skirmishes of the Battlefront series. However, Fallen Order, along with its sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, shifted the paradigm by letting players explore up to five distinct lightsaber stances with the character Cal Kestis. While this fresh approach has been praised, finding ways to expand on these stances in the upcoming Star Wars Jedi 3 might present a challenge for Respawn.
In Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, players step into the shoes of Cal Kestis, a survivor of Order 66, as he navigates the daunting task of relearning his Jedi abilities while evading Imperial Inquisitors and working to restore the Jedi Order alongside another Order 66 survivor, Cere Junda. Initially, players can wield a single-bladed lightsaber derived from his master Jaro Tapal’s double-bladed weapon. However, those quick with their choices can unlock a double-bladed lightsaber by heading to Dathomir early in the game. As the story progresses and Kestis journeys to Ilum to repair his weapon, he gains the ability to separate the lightsaber, effectively wielding dual single-bladed lightsabers.
These stances make a return in 2023’s Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, with Kestis honing additional skills over the five years between the two games. After reconvening with his allies, including Junda, Greez Dritus, and Merrin, Kestis receives a blaster pistol from his new companion Bode Akuna. This allows him to wield the blaster in one hand and a lightsaber in the other, adding a fresh dynamic to combat. As their journey unfolds, leading them to the secluded planet Tanalorr and a confrontation with their adversaries, Kestis discovers an ancient crossguard lightsaber, further enriching his arsenal after defeating the Raider lieutenant Drya Thornne.
In Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, when players get the chance to wield a crossguard lightsaber, it’s a first in any Star Wars game outside of Kylo Ren’s usage. This iconic weapon adds a new dimension of gameplay that players can explore, setting a high bar for future installments.
Looking ahead to Star Wars Jedi 3, although Kestis hasn’t officially completed his Jedi training, he’s become a formidable lightsaber duelist within the Star Wars saga, mastering nearly all known forms. This expertise might restrict the development of new skills for his existing stances, but there’s still room for innovation. Consider the Inquisitors’ double-bladed spinning lightsabers, which Kestis has encountered but never wielded. Shorter than typical double blades, these can rapidly rotate, providing a tactical advantage, even lifting the user temporarily. Integrating these into Kestis’s skill set could open new paths and adventures, akin to using a jetpack.
Respawn might also delve into the rarely seen lightsaber pike, which made its debut in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. These are like lightsaber glaives, boasting the longest hilts and used primarily to maintain distance from foes.
Possibly the most intriguing addition would be the lightwhip, a weapon newly minted in recent Star Wars lore within the High Republic stories. It looks like a standard lightsaber hilt, but the blade is flexible, posing a deadly challenge to both the wielder and their opponents. Mastering such a weapon could introduce unique gameplay twists, with its unpredictable nature and additional complexity.
By bringing these diverse lightsaber types into Star Wars Jedi 3, Respawn could offer players an array of fresh, dynamic combat experiences and enrich the narrative of Cal Kestis’s ever-evolving story.
