The Underrated 85 Metacritic Soulslike Game with the Best Combat in the Genre (Even Compared to Elden Ring)
The Soulslike genre has become a favorite for a lot of gamers ever since FromSoftware launched Demon’s Souls back in 2009. Through the years, the developer has introduced a beloved roster of other games in the Soulslike genre. Between Dark Souls, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Bloodborne, Soulslike games are defined by their challenging combat and rich worlds filled with mysterious lore. There have been plenty of great additions to the genre over the years, but Elden Ring is considered the apex by many. However, there is one Soulslike that surpasses Elden Ring‘s gameplay, and it isn’t even from the developer that pioneered the genre.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor may have gotten off to a rough start with its janky launch state, but looking back, it’s clear that the game excels in Soulslike fighting mechanics. Respawn’s Star Wars Jedi: Survivor brought another chapter of Cal Kestis’ story to life, and while the game isn’t perfect, its combat is one of its main features that shines through.
Elden Ring is Great and All, But Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Nails Soulslike Combat
Don’t get me wrong. I think Elden Ring is a top-tier Soulslike, but Star Wars Jedi: Survivor‘s combat is simply more polished and well-balanced. When Sekiro hit the scene, it really showcased just how much more dynamic and varied Soulslike combat can be, and it’s clear that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor took notes from the game. It’s not that Elden Ring‘s combat is bad because it definitely isn’t, but it does leave a lot to be desired when it comes to the snappy and dynamic fighting mechanics that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has in spades.
To First Understand Why Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s Combat Trumps Elden Ring, One Must First Understand Sekiro
Since Star Wars Jedi: Survivor takes more notes from Sekiro than any other Soulslike, it’s important to make the distinction between the FromSoftware game and its successor, Elden Ring. Sekiro is far more tailored to parry and mechanic mastery, while Elden Ring‘s combat focuses primarily on the build of a player’s character. When it comes to enemies and bosses, Sekiro can feel more rewarding because its one-weapon approach requires each adversary to be more fine-tuned to be able to fight with a katana. With Elden Ring, the customization that players are allowed with their characters means that bosses can’t be as hyper-specific as Sekiro‘s. While Elden Ring boasts the character builds that Sekiro lacks, this also gets in the way of how fine-tuned the bosses can be.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor takes Sekiro‘s tailored approach and loosens it up a little bit. Its parry system is reminiscent, but simpler, and the game still focuses on mastery, while still being more forgiving than Sekiro. With more options to customize Cal, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is ultimately a solid blend of both Sekiro and Elden Ring, even if that wasn’t Respawn’s intention.
Between Sekiro and Elden Ring, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Offers the Best of Both Worlds
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor embraces Sekiro‘s more focused approach, but it also offers the character customization that so many Soulslike fans appreciate about Elden Ring. The main way the game does this is through Cal’s stances. There are fewer options than Elden Ring‘s classes, but it gives the game an extra dose of versatility in its combat.
Every Stance for Cal Kestis in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and What They Do
- Single
- Double-Bladed
- Dual Wield
- Crossguard
- Blaster
|
Stance |
Ability |
|
Single |
This is Cal’s default stance. It’s simple and straightforward, balancing speed, defense, and power. The Single stance’s special attack can still inflict solid damage with a strong target strike. |
|
Double-Bladed |
Two lightsaber blades coming out of one central handle, like Darth Maul. This stance is fast and is great for taking on larger enemy groups, but it’s slightly lacking in power. |
|
Dual Wield |
With the Dual Wield stance, Cal can hold a lightsaber in each hand, which makes for some incredibly fast combat. For those who prefer a more aggressive combat style, Dual Wield is a good option, but its defense is low. |
|
Crossguard |
As the name suggests, this stance adds a crossguard to Cal’s lightsaber that’s reminiscent of Kylo Ren. This essentially acts as a broadsword, making Cal’s attacks incredibly powerful, but slow. |
|
Blaster |
This stance adds a blaster to Cal’s arsenal for more long-ranged attacks and is one of the game’s most varied stances. |
While Star Wars Jedi: Survivor‘s five stances don’t present as much diversity as Elden Ring‘s 10 starting classes, the smaller number of options actually makes combat feel more balanced. Elden Ring‘s many classes and customizable possibilities actually make enemies feel less fine-tuned, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor‘s smaller approach still allows for player freedom while also staying more focused. It’s a blend that not only makes Star Wars Jedi: Survivor‘s combat more diverse but even more fun.
Elden Ring May Still Be Seen as 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: Survivor‘s bad PC performance definitely deserved the criticism, but it also distracted from all the game’s many great qualities. Among both critics and many players, the reception to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor‘s combat is incredibly positive, now that the performance woes have been patched out.
When it comes to the Soulslike genre, it can be really hard to compare each one, since they all share a common core with their own unique twists. A lot of Soulslike fans have their own thoughts on which game in the genre is best, and it can even be controversial to suggest it’s a non-FromSoftware offering. Taste is wildly subjective, but Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has a strong blend of combat mechanics that I find far more satisfying than Elden Ring.
- Released
-
April 28, 2023
- ESRB
-
T For Teen due to Mild Language, Violence
- Publisher(s)
-
Electronic Arts