The Soulslike genre has become a favorite of many gamers ever since FromSoftware launched Demon's Souls back in 2009. Over the years, the developer has introduced a beloved list of other games in the Soulslike genre. Between Dark souls, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twiceand Blood borneSoulslike games are defined by their challenging combat and rich worlds filled with mystical lore. There have been many good additions to the genre over the years, though Fire Ring considered the pinnacle by many. However, there is a Soulslike that surpasses Fire Rings gameplay, and it's not even from the developer that pioneered the genre.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor may have gotten off to a rough start with its lackluster launch state, but looking back, it's clear that the game excels in Soulslike combat mechanics. Respawns Star Wars Jedi: Survivor brought another chapter of Cal Kesti's story to life, and while the game isn't perfect, its combat is one of its main features that shines through.
The Ring of Fire is good and all, but Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Nails Soulslike Combat
Don't get me wrong. i think Fire Ring is a top class Soulslike, but Star Wars Jedi: Survivors combat is simply more polished and well balanced. When Sekiro hit the scene, it really showed how much more dynamic and varied soul-like combat can be, and it's clear that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor took notes from the game. It's not that Fire Rings combat is bad because it definitely isn't, but it leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to the fast and dynamic combat mechanics that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has in spades.
To first understand why Star Wars Jedi: Survivor's Combat trumps the Ring of Fire, one must first understand Sekiro
Then Star Wars Jedi: Survivor taking more notes from Sekiro than any other soulslike, it is important to make the difference between the FromSoftware game and its successors, Fire Ring. Sekiro is much more tailored to parry and mechanic mastery, whereas Fire Rings combat focuses primarily on building a player's character. When it comes to enemies and bosses, Sekiro can feel more rewarding since its one-weapon approach requires each opponent to be more finely tuned to fight with a katana. With Fire Ringthe customization that players are allowed with their characters means that bosses can't be as hyper-specific as Sekiropp. While Fire Ring boasts the character builds it Sekiro lack, this also gets in the way of how finely tuned the bosses can be.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor takes Sekiros tailored approach and loosens it up a bit. Its parry system is similar, but simpler, and the game still focuses on mastery, while being more forgiving than Sekiro. With more options to customize Cal, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is ultimately a solid mix of both Sekiro and Fire Ringalthough that was not Respawn's intention.
Between Sekiro and Elden Ring, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor offers the best of both worlds
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor embraces Sekiros more focused approach, but it also offers the character customization that so many Soulslike fans appreciate about Fire Ring. The main way the game does this is through Cal's stances. There are fewer options than Fire Rings classes, but it gives the game an extra dose of versatility in its combat.
Every pose for Cal Kestis in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and What They Do
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Only
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Double leaf
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Double wheels
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Cross guard
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Blasters
|
Position |
Ability |
|
Only |
This is Cal's default setting. It's simple and straightforward, balancing speed, defense and power. The single's special attack can still deal massive damage with a strong target. |
|
Double leaf |
Two lightsaber blades emerge from a central handle, like Darth Maul. This stance is fast and is great for taking on larger groups of enemies, but it lacks a bit of power. |
|
Double wheels |
With the Dual Wield stance, Cal can hold a lightsaber in each hand, making for incredibly fast combat. For those who prefer a more aggressive fighting style, Dual Wield is a good option, but its defense is low. |
|
Cross guard |
As the name suggests, this stance adds a crossguard to Cal's lightsaber reminiscent of Kylo Ren. This essentially functions as a broadsword, making Cal's attacks incredibly powerful, but slow. |
|
Blasters |
This stance adds explosiveness to Cal's arsenal for more long-range attacks and is one of the game's most versatile stances. |
While Star Wars Jedi: Survivors five positions do not present as much diversity as Fire Rings 10 starting classes, the smaller number of options actually makes combat feel more balanced. Fire Rings many classes and customizable capabilities actually make enemies feel less fine-tuned, and Star Wars Jedi: SurvivorThe smaller approach still allows the player freedom while remaining more focused. It's a mix that doesn't just do Star Wars Jedi: Survivors fight more diverse but even more fun.
Elden Ring may still be seen as the King of the Soulslikes, but Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is an underrated contender
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor's Launch Issues gave it an unfair reputation
When the game was first released, players were plagued by various performance issues, especially on PC. Star Wars Jedi: Survivors poor PC performance definitely deserved the criticism, but it also distracted from all of the game's many great features. Among both critics and many players, the reception to Star Wars Jedi: Survivors battle is incredibly positive, now that the performance issues have been fixed.
When it comes to the Soulslike genre, it can be really hard to compare each one, as they all share a common core with their own unique twists. Many Soulslike fans have their own thoughts on which game in the genre is the best, and it might even be controversial to suggest that it's a non-FromSoftware offering. Taste is very subjective, though Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has a strong mix of combat mechanics that I find far more satisfying than Fire Ring.
- Released
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April 28, 2023
- ESRB
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T For teenagers due to mild language, violence
- Publisher
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Electronic Arts
