Star Wars Jedi: Survivoris jam-packed with content as it takes Cal and crew back to another complicated adventure through a galaxy far, far away. Thanks to a brief but pretty comprehensive intro sequence, new players can enjoy the tale and understand the Jedi’s previous tale without having played the first game.
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Although there are quite a few stark differences that clearly differentiate Survivor from Fallen Order, there are a few touches and references that simply hit differently for players that have already been there since the original game.
10Mantis Redecoration
The Mantis is ever reliable as the team’s ship, but it has seen some interior decoration changes that reflect the shift in its occupants through the years. The biggest change that Fallen Order players will notice is the lack of a terrarium. There was a special section in the ship reserved exclusively for collected plants from different planets that Greez cultivated.
If you went through the trouble of collecting every seed, you may be disappointed to see that this collection has since been replaced by a shelf full of mementos from Cal’s history. It’s safe to assume Greez took his little garden with him, as you can eventually grow plants on the rooftop of Pyloon’s Saloon if you still likestretching that green thumb in games.
9Your Bogling Pal
You can see tons of boglings when you explore the planet Koboh. Theseadorable and tiny creatureswill jump around and greet you, even frequently giving you the opportunity to pet them. There are a few lines that explain their presence on a planet not native to their species, but players from the first game will know exactly what happened.
In Fallen Order, you can find a hidden bogling on Bogano and it becomes a stowaway aboard the Mantis. If you understand the feeling of “Oh my God, what happened to the baby bogling we rescued and why isn’t it here?!” that quickly rises when you play the intro levels of Survivor, then you’ll be glad to know that it likely hopped off on Koboh when Greez left the team to start his cantina.
Mosey explains that Greez accidentally brought the bogling population to the planet when he arrived. When you first meet them, you will also see one that Cal pets and notes as looking “familiar.” We’ll take that as the confirmation needed to know that she made it just fine.
8Less Flounce, More Force
Fallen Order players may notice just how much Cal’s fighting style has matured. He moves differently, with more direct and powerful blows. Plus, he now has a penchant for combining sabers and blasters.
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Every move is less flowery and considerably minimal for a Jedi. It’s still flashy, but that’s what makes it so great to watch! The way Cal uses the Force has also expanded, often going the route of mind manipulation to get his way. His connection with the Force is clearly stronger now, but he also gets comparatively dark with it now. Maybe it’s just a way to make gameplay feel more robust, but you can’t help but see the years in Cal’s style as he uses environmental hazards and slams entire groups of stormtroopers into the ground.
7New Arms, Same Greez
When we meet the original pilot of the Mantis again, we see a Greez that is the same lovable and caring Latero while sporting more beard and less arm. Survivor touches on the new bionic arm a number of times if you interact with people at the cantina, but those that played the previous game will immediately notice the new arm.
A canon novelization actually explains how he lost his arm protecting Cal. One more thing that Fallen Order players may note is how Merrin actually once cracked a joke about sacrificing Greez’s arm for a cloaking ritual, so it’s quite the irony that he would actually end up losing it for real. Aside from that, he still loves to cook, cares deeply about the people he considers family, and hates anything creepy or ghost-adjacent. He also tries not to gamble anymore, which should give previous players relief considering what happened last time.
6Cal’s New Persona
If you just hop into the game blind, it’s easy to accept Cal as the capable leader that is worn from time but also happens to be a wisecracking charmer. Those who played the first game will notice that this is a different Cal from the one that was still trying to reforge his connection with the Force.
Of course, it’s natural that age and experience make Cal’s personality shift accordingly, but it’s a pretty distinct difference from the young and earnest Padawan we saw before. While he is still sincere in his actions and tends to carry each burden heavily, he is also more cynical and confident. You may even notice that the way he uses the force often teeters ever so closely to the dark side, with only his will and Cere’s teachings keeping him from going astray.
5The Ol’ Enemies to Lovers Arc
Cal and Merrin’s romance is very clear in Survivor. Without spoiling every beat, the subtext flies out of the window so fast that the “sub” just got an offer for a full-time position. The narrative makes the history between the two very clear, but Fallen Order players will understand every reference and exactly why the bond is sealed.
As you may very clearly remember, this all started with Merrin trying to get Cal killed via an army of undead Nightsisters. The significance of the change in their disposition is important when you know just how much disdain Merrin once had for the Jedi Order. She is even responsible for coining the whole “we’re survivors” thing in the first game, nicely teeing up the new title. No wonder Cal got shaken when she decided to seek out the galaxy without him.
4The Poncho Hate Brigade
Survivor has way more customization in terms of weaponry and outfits.You can even change Cal’s hair and beard. Of course, you can still unlock Cal’s old scrapper gear and poncho if you want him to have that look.
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If you do want the poncho, you’d largely be alone, as there are tons of references littered throughout the game where your old crewmates will pretty much question Cal’s fashion taste. Old players will know these digs are directed toward all those ponchos you could collect in Fallen Order. Cal will also mention how he likes being a “poncho guy”, so don’t let anyone stop you from living your snuggly garment life.
3The Eno Cordova Reveal
Although Survivor makes it clear that Eno Cordova is a man of importance and is a major figure to every character, his introduction is especially impactful for those that played Fallen Order. That whole slow pan up from the feet to build up the reveal?
His literal final message in the previous game was very much giving “goodbye forever” vibes, so it’s truly poignant to see that he is not only alive but actively working with Cere to keep the Order’s archives alive. It also makes BD-1’s reaction to meeting him feel more touching because Fallen Order players know how he had to regain his memories of his previous master and ultimately used his final transmission to help Cal overcome the direst moment.
2Unfinished Bogdo Business
Hidden underneath a trap door in Koboh lies a legendary creature with a deep disdain for one Cal Kestis. Should you rid the place of enemy droids and drop down, you will find the Spawn of Oggdo. This won’t really mean much to new players aside from being a boss fight with some loot, but Fallen Order players will likely remember Oggdo Bogdo from Bogano.
He was one of the first major optional bosses you could discover in the first game, and defeating him was like a plunge into the fire of the game’s combat system. His spawn is one of the many Bogano inhabitants that have since been transplanted to Koboh. Oh, and he also happens to be even more of a menace to fight, and you can’t cut his tongue off.
1Cere’s Closure
Cere takes on a very different route than Cal, though it is by no means a lesser one. Leading the Hidden Path and sporting a new quintessentially Jedi Master look, Cere is preserving the Jedi archives and providing a sanctuary for force sensitives and those being prosecuted by the Empire.
If you played Fallen Order, you will have a deeper reference for how she takes on the fight. Later in the new game, Cere faces an old adversary and concludes that she has let go of her fear completely since their last standoff. Old players will know that this isn’t simply about loss or fighting. Cere is able to fully embrace her Force abilities and become stronger because she is no longer afraid of turning to the dark side and failing her people. She even mentions Trilla, who players of the first game will definitely be familiar with.
