The first game had a lot of strong aspects that Jedi: Fallen Order 2 should continue to use. The expansive Metroidvania style levels, inventive combat systems, and relatively open skill tree all helped players feel like they were the Jedi. Cal Kestis’ character and the Mantis crew were also some of the most compelling Star Wars characters in recent history, with rich backstories and thought-out consequences to their actions. The Jedi: Fallen Order sequel will likely build on the areas that the original excelled in, but its strengths will most likely come from external sources. Things like movies and TV shows are the backbone of the Star Wars Canon and would likely beef up a sequel.
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Star Wars Video Games and Movies
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order inhabits an expansive canon that continues to grow after decades of content. While the game’s universe is somewhat limited, there is a lot from outside sources that could be interacted with in the sequel. The need to expand on the stories for characters like Merrin and Cere Junda has been discussed plenty of times, but the influence of the greater Star Wars Canon is yet to be fully felt by the game’s main cast. As it stands now, Jedi: Fallen Order is still a product of the Star Wars prequel trilogy and not much more.
With the roadmap that Disney has provided for Star Wars as well as the franchise’s previous releases, there is a lot that can be tied into Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 2. Star Wars: Rebels, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and Andor are all set between Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: A New Hope. These installments cover a lot of time, space, and a plethora of characters: the type of people and places that could be interacted with without disrupting larger events in the galaxy.
A thread for this had already been well placed in the first Jedi: Fallen Order. Throughout the first portion of the game’s time on Kashyyyk, the Wookie homeworld, Saw Gerrera is an ally to Cal and the Mantis crew. While interactions with Saw Gerrera are minimal, he is a character that was well established in both The Clone Wars animated show and Rogue One. The continued use of secondary Star Wars characters like this would help Jedi: Fallen Order 2 feel independent of the prequels and the Great Jedi Purge while also offering information on how people lived their lives between major Star Wars events.
Cal Kestis and Ahsoka Tano
With the release of shows like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka also on the horizon, there are more opportunities for Cal to meet with other Jedi that have evaded the Empire and Darth Vader. Obi-Wan Kenobi’s story would likely not be overly entangled with the likes of Cal Kestis and the Mantis crew, but Ahsoka Tano’s active fight against the Empire and post-rebellion activities could easily lead her towards Cal. The Force united Cere and Cal in the first game and is perfectly capable of repeating a similar action.
Ahsoka’s character as depicted in the TV shows could also prove a solid middle-ground for how Cal develops his force powers as a Jedi. It has been speculated that, due to Cal’s reconnection with the Force as well as the unorthodox nature of his current training, his character may be enlightened to a less stringent approach than previous Jedi. Ahsoka is a character that willingly left the Jedi Order and has spent her life forging her path. While not yet declared an official Gray Jedi, she still has a connection to the Force, unlike Cere, and wields her lightsabers.
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With Ahsoka’s position as both a knowledgeable and powerful character in the Star Wars Canon and her acquaintance with many characters, her story could be a phenomenal way to connect the Jedi: Fallen Order games to the movies and shows. The TV shows specifically have shown a willingness to incorporate well-known and important characters into new stories a technique that Jedi: Fallen Order should incorporate more for itself.
While it is unlikely that Cal would interact characters with Luke Skywalker and Grogu, he could find himself acquainted with a growing list of others. The longevity that Force users experience in the Star Wars universe should not rule out things like a time skip in Jedi: Fallen Order 2 and the game’s introduction to later mainstay characters.
Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order 2’s Connection
Considering all this and more, it feels time that Star Wars back up its canon video game material with tie-ins to its TV and film media. With the clear interest that the franchise has expressed in subjects like the Unknown Regions, the complementary relationship between video games and TV shows could provide a perfect stepping stone. These stories do not have to contain major plot points like the Death Star or First Order, but they can facilitate other lore pieces and characters. Species like the Chiss, Grand Admiral Thrawn’s species, find their home in the Unknown Regions, so it is probable that ancient and important stories exist in the region of space.
Without the full release of Star Wars newest shows available, it is still too soon to say what and how they can exactly interact with a future video game, but it is an option that should be heavily considered. The expansion of the Star Wars Canon relies on all its threads to be independent and yet interconnected at the same time. If Jedi: Fallen Order continues to exist on its own, it could find itself greatly limited in its impact and appeal. While fans love The Mandalorian, it had to address a similar problem and did so in the same way that Jedi: Fallen Order 2 should, by introducing and connecting with established characters and locations instead of fording the galaxy on its own.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is available on PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.
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