ScottSauselen's review of Star Wars Jedi Survivor
Date last edited: 05-31-2024 at 10:09PM
Rating: Teen
Review:
Scott Sauselen
Catholic Worldview Media
May 31, 2024
App
Title: Star Wars Jedi Survivor
Developer: Respawn Entertainment
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Genre: Adventure, Puzzle, Fighting Game
ESRB Rating: T
My Rating: 5 Stars
Primary Audience: Teens
Release Date: April 28, 2023
Platform: PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S
Introduction
Jedi Survivor is a Star Wars game made by Respawn Entertainment. It is a storyline game starring Cameron Monaghan playing the lead role of Cal Kestis. In this game you play as Cal to explore the galaxy while dodging the Empire and a crime syndicate known as the Haxion Brood, in search of a hidden planet called Tanalorr. During Cal’s journey he comes across different parties who too are in search of Tanalorr and it becomes a race to see who can attain the hidden planet first. As you play through the game you can upgrade Cal’s powers and give him special moves using skill points that you gain from defeating enemies. Along with earning skill points you can also earn unlockables by finding chests hidden around the maps containing pieces to customize Cal’s appearance, lightsaber, blaster, and droid BD-1. Star Wars Jedi Survivor is an action packed adventure game filled with fun gameplay mechanics and an emotionally gripping storyline.
First Media Key: Balance
Balance is the First Media Key. Balance is often described as the foundation of the seven media keys and is used to determine if a form of media is well rounded or not. Determining this factor is done through the process of looking at the media project from all angles and perspectives. When doing this we need to stay informed on what is going on in the world so we can ask questions such as what was the intention of the creator and then be able to relate our findings to the modern day world. The video game Star Wars Jedi Survivor is a well rounded video game packed with everything from fun action sequences to beautiful storytelling. This video game fulfills the remainder of the seven media keys very well making it one of the best Star Wars games ever created.
Second Media Key: Attitude Awareness
Attitude Awareness is the second Media Key. Every media creator has an attitude and it is up to them to determine the attitude their creation portrays. Media creators also tend to include values and messages which they are trying to communicate to the viewer in their media, so it is important that we as the viewers are able to identify these in the media we view. Being able to identify values and messages will help us be less susceptible to being influenced by the creators' biases and agendas. The video game Star Wars Jedi Survivor is not exempt from this as it too portrays attitudes and messages in its storytelling and gameplay. The attitude of Jedi Survivor for the most part is very solemn, dark and intense as it deals with topics like loss of loved ones, war and betrayal. However, portrayal of darkness in media is okay as long as it shows it as a negative things and shows ways to help combat it which ties into the message of this video game. During this game’s story Cal spends his entire life experiencing war and death to the point where he views being a Jedi as an equivalent of being a weapon. As the story continues Cal begins to tap into the dark side of the force and learns that channeling the dark side makes defeating enemies much easier. Luckily, by the end of the story Cal learns that while using the dark side of the force may make things easier, it causes him to do more harm than he should as he begins to kill unnecessarily. Cal’s journey reveals to us the message of the game which is that doing wrong in life, such as cheating or stealing, in order to succeed may make your journey easier, but it is still morally wrong and can affect you negatively causing you to go against what God wants for you. Just because there is an easier path does not mean it is the right one.
Third Media Key: The Dignity of the Human Person
The Dignity of the Human Person is the third Media Key. Media should always be made to reflect, uphold and enhance human dignity. Media should stray away for objectifying and disrespecting people and instead should lean toward showing respect for human life by depicting equality and dignity. Star Wars Jedi Survivor is a video game that successfully shows the dignity of the human person. Showing violence and evil in media is acceptable as long as it is being shown as a negative thing and something to be looked down upon. Most of the time when Cal kills someone in the game it is out of self defense and in the moments when he does kill without self defense purposes it is done in a way that shocks the player and is implied that what he did was wrong shown by how it affects his feeling and reactions of his friends around him. Other moments in the game when killing is done without self defense it is done by a bad guy to help drive home the point that what they are doing is wrong and when Cal does it he is being no better than the bad guys. Another way that Jedi Survivor shows human dignity is how when someone Cal knows or was close to dies, he treats their bodies with respect and gives them a proper burial or cremation. Cal may commit acts that are questionable at times but when he does the game drives home the point that sometimes Cal’s judgment can be jaded and that people should always be treated with dignity and respect.
Fourth Media Key: Truth-Filled
Truth-Filled is the fourth Media Key. Media creators have a responsibility to tell the truth and to not persuade their users with rumors and lies. Media should be used as a way to help spread truths amongst its viewers to help them grow in their connection God and the Church. Star Wars Jedi Survivor never misleads its players in any way or tries to convince them that anything that is wrong is actually right. Jedi Survivor instead focuses on relaying the truth that doing wrong will always affect you negatively both morally and spiritually. The game also leans into the point that wrong actions lead to bad consequences and choosing the path of the light side may be hard at times but is always worth it in the end.
Fifth Media Key: Inspiring
Inspiring is the fifth Media Key. Media has the possibility to inspirie people and lead them to live better lives. This should always be an intention when making media becasue inspiration is an effective way of meeting people’s emotions. However, while media can inspire a world of good it can just as easily do the opposite and inspire people to live lives of hurt and ruin. Star Wars Jedi Survivor is a sad tale but one with an ending of encouragement towards a brighter future. Endings like this may leave the player feeling partly solemn but with an equal amount of hope as the character learns from his hardships to help inspire a future generation. Jedi Survivor can also inspire its players to always do the right thing in life because the game shows that when you choose to do the wrong thing there is a negative outcome but when you choose to do the right thing there is a positive outcome.
Sixth Media Key: Skillfully Developed
Skillfully Developed is the sixth Media Key. When a media creator wants people to pay attention to and enjoy what they create, it is important that they meet the quality standards of modern day society. It is a priority of the Church to ensure that media is produced well becasue it shows dedication and purpose in what you are doing. Star Wars Jedi Survivor is a game of immense quality that is not something to be overlooked. The game’s graphics and scenery look beautiful and are insanely detailed. The shots and angles are always done creatively especially during fight scenes and the cutscenes cinematography is better than most movies. The story is strongly developed, well told and impactful to the player. The developers also took their time making the game, pushing back release dates to make sure that what they were delivering was something of quality. Voice acting was tremendous for the entirety of the game, and with motion capture technology, voice actors also had the chance to act out scenes for their characters so their motions could later be overlayed and put into the video game. When it comes to Star Wars Jedi Survivor, quality is not something they took lightly as they made sure to take all precautions and not take shortcuts in order to deliver a truly beautiful looking and sounding video game.
Seventh Media Key: Motivated by and Relevant to Experience
Motivated by and Relevant to Experience is the seventh Media Key. When making media it is important to keep in mind that what you are creating should always be relevant to humans and their experiences and in order to be successful, should remain relatable to the players and their lifestyles. While we may not be able to use the force and wield lightsabers with the power to do flips over obstacles and defeat enemies with ease, like in Star Wars Jedi Survivor, the game still manages to bring some relevance and relatability to the table. Everyone in their life has experienced loss of people they love and it is important to know how to deal with this pain. Jedi Survivor tackles the pain of loss with Cal’s character and demonstrates to the player both healthy and unhealthy ways to deal with loss and the outcomes of both. Everyone has also felt the feelings of rage and temptation in their life and Jedi Survivor shows why giving into rage and the temptations of evil will have negative outcomes on your life as it can turn you into someone you never wanted to be with less control over yourself and your own life. Just because there are unrealistic aspects in Jedi Survivor does not mean it can not tell a story with relatable and relevant life problems.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Star Wars Jedi Survivor is an action packed adventure game filled with fun gameplay mechanics and an emotionally gripping storyline. Jedi Survivor is the highest quality Star Wars game made so far and it did not hold back from telling a story that would touch the players emotions and make them want to play through the game a second time. The game is also made with enough knowledge of the Star Wars canon that it is hopefully a game that the creator of Star Wars, George Lucas, can look at with relief and can be proud of the story that was inspired by his creation.
Seven Keys:
Balanced:
Attitude:
Personal:
Truth-filled:
Inspired:
Skillfully Made:
Experienced:
Overall Rating: 32/35
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