1Upsmanship: Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (Feat. Cody Johnston)
Jun 19, 2023
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In this lively discussion, Cody Johnston, known for his sharp wit on current events and his deep love for Star Wars, joins the hosts to explore the intricacies of 'Star Wars Jedi: Survivor'. They dive into gameplay mechanics, critiquing its visuals and lackluster story. The conversation highlights the struggle developers face in creating engaging gameplay for Jedi protagonists. They also emphasize the need for originality in new Star Wars projects, reflecting on the balance between nostalgia and innovation in the gaming universe. Get ready for a fun ride through the galaxy!
The podcast explores how the established Star Wars lore limits narrative engagement, making character journeys feel inconsequential and futile.
Critiques of gameplay mechanics highlight the disjointed experiences caused by mixed styles and frustrating difficulty spikes, undermining enjoyment.
Character development is scrutinized for lacking depth and emotional connections, resulting in players feeling indifferent towards relationships and arcs.
Deep dives
Importance of Star Wars Lore
The podcast emphasizes the significance of Star Wars lore in shaping the narrative and character motivations within the games. Characters like Cal Kestis, who may seem disposable, are placed in a timeline where their actions feel inconsequential due to the established events of the broader Star Wars saga. The discussion highlights the difficulty in crafting an engaging story when the outcomes are predetermined by the existing canon, particularly since fans are already aware that the Jedi Order doesn’t get re-established. This disconnect results in a lack of investment in the characters, as their journeys often feel futile against the backdrop of the established lore.
Gameplay Mechanics and Design Flaws
The podcast critiques the gameplay mechanics of the Star Wars Jedi Survivor game, mentioning that while it introduces some satisfying elements, it ultimately falls short in execution. The mixing of various gameplay styles, such as action-adventure with Metroidvania, leads to disjointed experiences for players, causing frustration during traversal and combat sections. Players noted that the game's difficulty spikes felt artificial, making the overall experience less enjoyable. Additionally, aspects like underwhelming boss fights and lack of memorable rewards detracted from the excitement of gameplay.
Character Development and Emotional Engagement
Character development in Jedi Survivor comes under scrutiny, particularly regarding the emotional connections players should feel towards the cast. The relationship dynamics, such as Cal Kestis' connection with characters like Merin and Seer, often fail to resonate and lack depth, leaving players indifferent. The absence of significant character arcs makes it difficult for players to invest emotionally, especially when there are missed opportunities for meaningful interactions. The hosts express disappointment over how character moments feel forced and shallow, undermining the potential for deeper narrative engagement.
World Building and Exploration Limitations
The hosts discuss the limitations of world-building and exploration within the game, highlighting that despite the promise of an open world, the design often feels linear and restrictive. Players were frequently led back to the same locations, making the exploration feel repetitive and uninspired. Furthermore, the narrative's pacing is hindered by a lack of significant locations, leading to a feeling that the game's environments don’t offer new and exciting experiences. This lack of variety detracts from the player’s sense of adventure, compromising the immersive quality that fans expect from a Star Wars game.
Sloppiness in Game Design
The podcast mentions overall sloppiness in game design, pointing to numerous bugs and gameplay issues that detract from the experience. These included instances where important quest-related battles would inadvertently become unplayable due to glitches, leading to frustrating game states for players. The hosts argue that a more polished product could have resulted in a more rewarding experience, especially given the potential of the Star Wars franchise. There is a call for developers to take the time needed to ensure quality, as rushed releases often result in a compromised gameplay experience.
Vwoom and jedi-leap your way through Respawn’s latest with Adam, Mike, and special guest Cody Johnston! Will this jedi survive to the end of the episode, or even score a spot on the Celestial Hard Drive? To find out, young padawan, you must use this zipline to go over there. This is very important. The fate of the galaxy itself may depend upon you being cool at zipline, can you do that? Use the force if you need to, just get it done.