Spoilers for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Ahead
Before Disney purchased Lucasfilm, one of the few waysStar Warsfans could get new stories was throughThe Clone Warsor the video game industry. One of the most popular gameplay experiences during this era wascombat inStar Wars: The Force Unleashed.It went a long way in expanding the franchise in exciting ways, but it has been retconned since the acquisition. Instead, players have had to turn toStar Wars Jedi: Survivorfor their force user fantasy.
As of now, it does not seem like Starkiller will ever crop back up in the newStar Warscanon. There just does not seem to be a place for him currently, but Respawn’sStar Wars Jedi: Survivorseems to be picking up the slack. While Cal Kestis may not be Vader’s secret apprentice, he may be as close to Starkiller as modernStar Warsvideo games will get.
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Cal Kestis is Starkiller on a Different Journey
Star Wars: The Force Unleashedtold a brand-new story set betweenRevenge of the SithandA New Hope. It followedDarth Vader’s secret apprentice Starkilleras he hunted down Jedi survivors after Order 66. At the same time, he planted the seeds for the Rebel Alliance which Darth Vader was going to use to overthrow the Emperor. As the story progressed, Starkiller would slowly begin to question his actions and ultimately head toward the light.
The biggest highlight was thatStar Wars: The Force Unleashedgave raw power to the player. Not only were players able to cut down foes with their lightsabers, but they also had incredible force powers at their disposal. They could unleash devastation on their enemies and would only grow in power as the story progressed. It felt like the perfect force user power fantasy, even if he may have been a bit overpowered at times.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivortells a similar story from a different perspective. Instead of being Vader’s secret apprentice, Cal Kestis isa Jedi on the run after Order 66. On his journey, he sees some of the earliest forms of rebellion and must question his role in all of this. As the story progresses, he even begins to teeter towards the darkness in the face of insurmountable odds and immense pain.
Respawn has also given players the tools to devastate their enemies, and these abilities only grow stronger as the story progresses.Cal can utilize all sorts of lightsaber techniquesand unleash powerful force powers to accomplish his goals. Near the end ofStar Wars Jedi: Survivor, Cal feels almost unstoppable with hatred on his side. While his actions may be purer than Starkiller’s, they both do whatever it takes to win the day.
Cal Kestis and Starkiller come from vastly different places, but they may be two sides of the same coin. One was forged by Vader while the other one was forged by rebellion, but they both ultimately do what is right in the end. Their journeys see them grapple with both sides of the force, their own mortality, and what their role in the universe is. They are also powerful force usersduring the rise ofStar Wars' Empireand are relatively unknown to the greater galaxy outside their respective series.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashedwas a pretty special game that gave players the tools to unleash devastation, and it seems likeStar Wars Jedi: Survivoris carrying on that legacy. Starkiller and Cal Kestis may be different people, but both seem to fulfill the same purpose in the end. While Starkiller may be canonized one day, Cal Kestis seems to be filling his immensely powerful shoes fantastically so far.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivoris available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S
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