Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has the best enemy from The Phantom Menace
They see me rolling
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A brand new gameplay trailer just dropped forStar WarsJedi: Survivorpromising lightsaber battles, dramatic chase sequences, and cinematic cutscenes galore.
Set to release April 28 forXbox X|S,PS5, and PC,Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’slaunch is all but imminent, and its latestgameplay trailerhas made some big promises. In the “final gameplay trailer”, we see our Jedi protagonist, Cal Kestis, tangle with Imperial Stormtroopers, explore mysterious new planets, and even make a [return to the Imperial Capital] and ex-home of the Jedi Order: Coruscant.
However, the biggest surprise didn’t come in the form of the trailer’s gorgeous locales and exciting setpieces. Having played the wheels off ofJedi: Survivor, I know that such things are par for the course for the series. What surprised and delighted me most about the trailer was the inclusion of a severely underrated enemy type first introduced inThe Phantom Menace:Destroyer Droids.
Those who have seen the first prequel trilogy movie will remember these spherical rollies from the opening act, where Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi fight their way out of an ambush, only to be accosted by these menacing and ammo-loaded balls. Destroyer Droids, or Droidekas to some, embody the futuristic anachronism of the Star Wars style.
As a child watching the movie for the first time, I was awe-struck by these cool-yet-goofy robots. The bassy sound of their blaster cannons and the shimmering glow of their shield generators captivated my young brain, and I can’t wait to see their latest incarnation inJedi: Survivor.
Having a ball
Jedi: Survivor’spredecessor,Jedi: Fallen Order, is chocked full of delightful references to beloved parts of the Star Wars universe.Fallen Orderfeatured the KX-series security droids, famously made popular by the sassy and memorable K-2SO inStar Wars: Rogue One, played by the wily Alan Tudyk. While Tudyk’sRogue Onecharacter was brazen and lovable, the less free-thinking KX droids inFallen Orderproved to be terrifying adversaries, their intimidating, gangly forms packing powerful attacks.
Fallen Orderalso took players to Illum, a famous planet from Star Wars history from which the crystals that power lightsabers originate. We’d already seen a take on Illum in BioWare’sStar Wars: The Old RepublicMMORPG, but seeing the planet’s frozen ruins through the eyes of Cal Kestis was a real treat inFallen Order.
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Amongst all the silent nods to the original movies, Jedi: Survivor looks poised to do justice to the Star Wars fantasy
Perhaps most famously of all, Fallen Order also saw the return of the terrifying Darth Vader; the iconic villain and antagonist for much of the Star Wars saga. To avoid spoilers, I won’t go into too much detail; suffice it to say that Cal’s encounter with the Sith Lord does justice to Vader’s terrifying power. Few times, in gaming, have I been as scared as I was when the fallen Jedi turned up towards the end of Cal’s adventure in the original game.
Amongst all the silent nods to the original movies, Jedi: Survivor looks poised to do justice to the Star Wars fantasy. I can’t wait to get my hands on the game and experience the next chapter in Cal’s story as well as the loveable Destroyer Droids we were promised in the trailer.
An editor and freelance journalist, Cat Bussell has been writing about video games for more than four years and, frankly, she’s developed a taste for it. As seen on TechRadar, Technopedia, The Gamer, Wargamer, and SUPERJUMP, Cat’s reviews, features, and guides are lovingly curated for your reading pleasure.
A Cambridge graduate, recovering bartender, and Cloud Strife enjoyer, Cat’s foremost mission is to bring you the best coverage she can, whether that’s through helpful guides, even-handed reviews, or thought-provoking features. She’s interviewed indie darlings, triple-A greats, and legendary voice actors, all to help you get closer to the action. When she’s not writing, Cat can be found sticking her neck into a fresh RPG or running yet another Dungeons & Dragons game.
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