Now that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has arrived on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles, many of you are no doubt beginning your adventure in this sequel set in A Galaxy Far, Far Away. Although we have already published a Star Wars Jedi: Survivor” target=”_blank”>review of the game, in which we talk about our experience from a critical point of view, some of you may be looking for a few tips on getting started and surviving in this challenging title. Since this is the case, we’ve collected eight tips we wish we knew before starting Survivor.
Don’t make battles too complicated
Survivor lets you play with a range of different lightsaber modes that allow Cal to attack in unique ways. The Dual-Wielded is faster but weaker, Crossguard packs a punch but is slow, Blaster adds ranged capabilities, and so on. You’ll see many of these options and want to use them all, but in practice it’s best to just learn the intricacies of a few stances and really master them.
We suggest a balance between a better overall fighting stance, like Crossguard or Single, and then matching that with a more niche style, like Blaster – if jetpack Stormtroopers give you grief – or Double-Bladed Lightsabers if you’re overwhelmed by enemy numbers.
Remember that Jedi’s are not masters of everything about the Force. Some are better swordsmen, while others are more skilled in the Force itself. Do not strive to be a master of none, become a master of one or two.
Choose a path that suits you and stick to it
And following on from the previous point, there are many skill trees in Survivor and many more individual skills to unlock, so many that you’ll probably never fully upgrade Cal. So determine the attitudes that suit you, figure out your play style and specialize Cal to get better at those things.
If you don’t use the Confusion Force extra often, don’t bother upgrading it, and similarly, if you’re a fan of dragging and pushing Stormtroopers and Battle Droids around, it might be an idea to improve your available Force and how easily you can regenerate it.
Complete the story first and foremost
It may seem strange to say, but leave exploration until you’ve beaten the main story. You will encounter many goodies along these main beaten paths anyway, allowing you to improve Cal considerably, and to the point where the bosses and enemies you encounter along the line won’t be too much of a bother.
The reason we suggest completing the story before exploring is because Survivor uses a level design style that mirrors a Metroidvania game. You encounter numerous zones and sections that are impossible to access or pass through, and it’s not until you find a new item or skill further into the story that these inaccessible areas become, well … accessible. So, leave the exploration for now, wrap up the story and then get back to mapping and helping the natives of the galaxy with their little tribulations.
It’s okay to run away
If you decide to ignore our last point and want to go off the beaten path, it’s wise to know when to walk away from a problem. Often you’ll run into an opponent who will pound you into the ground without breaking a sweat, and while theoretically you can always take out an enemy in Survivor, since the game contains no leveled enemies, it would be in your best interest to leave them to their business while you train, learn some new moves and skills, Acquire some more Stim Canisters, and generally improve your combat techniques.
At the end of the day, that enemy will be there when you decide to come back.
Death markers can be useful
When you are defeated in Survivor, the game places a death marker on the enemy that defeated you or the place where you died. This appears as a bright golden glow, and when you enter it or damage a marked enemy, it will replenish your current health and Force meter, as well as regain any experience toward a Skill Point.
You’ll often see this in battles and want to grab it immediately, in case you fail again and lose it permanently, but we’re here to tell you that this can essentially serve as an extra Stim Canister when you need it. When times get tough, save the stock of BD-1 and instead run over or damage the marked enemy, and bam, the tables of a combat encounter can be well and truly turned.
The Tactical Guide is your best friend
We as gamers don’t pay enough attention to the databases and lore items developers use to enhance their titles. But we have to. Especially in the case of Survivor. Not only is this guide packed with Star Wars lore and information that will whet the appetite of any fan of the sci-fi world, but it’s also a great resource if you find yourself stuck or struggling with a specific boss or enemy type.
In the Tactical Guide, you’ll find real tips that talk about the mechanics and tricks enemies use, so you can get the jump on them and beat them at their own game. As we move into this digital age, the days of getting folders with cheat codes next to games may be over, but these in-game databases and guides are often great substitutes.
Collectibles are a ticket to a stronger Cal
In many games, collectibles are there just to fill time and give the player something to do other than the main gameplay, albeit while often sharing some extra story and story beats along the way. This is only partially true of Survivor, as here you can use certain collectibles as currency to be spent at vendors in the galaxy.
These vendors not only open the door to new customization options for Cal’s appearance, BD-1’s aesthetic, and colors and parts for Cal’s Lightsaber, but they are also a place to acquire Stim Canisters, additional Perk slots and more. Just bring Priorite Shards, Data Discs, Jedha Scrolls, and so on, to the respective appropriate vendors, and you can significantly improve Cal without having to confront some of the pesky world bosses.
Play your way
Survivor will always give you tips on the best way to approach certain situations, and while they will help to some extent, we know that everyone wants to be their own kind of Jedi. So embrace that.
If you only want to fight with the Blaster stance because of how it makes you feel like some kind of Han Solo-Luke Skywalker crossover, then do it. Similarly, if you want to constantly switch between stances when you reach a meditation point, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
This is a game about being a Jedi, and while there are morals and codes for living that life, it’s not the same as being under the thumb of the Empire, where rules and regulations dictate every aspect of life.
Hopefully these tips and tricks will not only help you become a Jedi Master, but they will also help you better understand and enjoy the planets and galaxy that Respawn Entertainment has devised in this Star Wars sequel.