Major Spoilers AheadStar Wars’ Jedi characters are always intriguing based upon where their predilection in the Force is oriented. Seeing Jedi grapple with actions and choices that would put them on the dark side of the Force makes them appear more human, and that subtle teetering can sometimes result in a dramatic shift in a character’s development as a result. It is easy to assume that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s Cal Kestis could eventually turn to the dark side for a number of reasons, but since he has not yet made that plunge fully, Respawn cannot undo all the positive developments it has given him thus far.
Considering how few options are left for Cal’s gameplay moving forward, it would not be wholly surprising to see the Star Wars Jedi franchise offer him more dark-side abilities in order to spice up its combat. This would surely be fun from a gameplay standpoint, but if it is not earned in the narrative then that could feel wasteful for the protagonist. Because Cal has primarily been able to stifle any dark-side tendencies and remain a decent person throughout both Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, it would be a shame to see him become bad in the future.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Teased Cal Kestis Potentially Becoming an Inquisitor
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order features a tragic narrative about what had happened to some of the Jedi who did not successfully flee the Galactic Empire’s Jedi Purge, with Trilla Suduri being tortured and indoctrinated into becoming an Inquisitor—and thus becoming one of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order’s best characters. Cal’s fate could have easily been the same, as is shown in a premonition, but he was lucky enough to find companions who could rescue him from Bracca.
Cal losing his Jedi Master and his friend Prauf could have been what tipped him over to a darker path, but he remains largely composed and does not waver in his decency. Gameplay feeling dynamic was likely never an issue to contemplate for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order’s Soulslike combat due to Cal’s dissociation from the Force. This way, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order could gradually introduce each basic Force ability throughout the narrative and leave Cal a proper Jedi Knight by the time he destroys the holocron.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Keeping Cal on the Light Side Can’t Be Squandered Now
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor seemingly had a much more difficult task ahead of it when deciding how to iterate from where Cal left off in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order’s ending, but still manages to introduce new abilities that are satisfying as well. Narratively, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor begins with the same dark tone and Cal suffers the loss of many more companions, only to be betrayed later on by one of his last surviving crew members.
Cal actually does give into his darkness in gameplay through a new Force Slow ability that lets the player dash around at normal speed and attack with much greater damage. This is an ability players keep thereafter, and is especially climactic in Cal’s escape from Nova Garon, home to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s best and easiest boss.
Cal later uses the same ability to turn the tables on Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s Bode Akuna in his boss fight, but he never goes as far as killing someone out of anger. This implementation of dark-side abilities is exciting, and Respawn could probably do well with the premise in a sequel, but because Cal has shown such resolve and not yet turned to the dark side it would feel as if Respawn simply did not know what else to do with his character.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
