Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order manages to stretch across many genres and categories, such as having the characteristics of Soulslike and Metroidvania games, but the last thing players would associate it with is detailed or satisfying customization. Thankfully, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor took that on as a big area of improvement and has given fans a lot more to reskin and play around with. Interestingly, though, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has decided to omit one of the customization features that was already available and unproblematic in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
That is not to say Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order’s customization wasn't still fun to experiment with, but it had truly limited options when it came to such cosmetics. Instead, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s loot chest cosmetics are detailed down to whether Cal has stubble or a clean-shaven face, and there are even multiple achievements for Jedi: Survivor that involve particular actions made with certain cosmetics equipped. The customization included in the game is thorough and that is surely appreciated, but it is strange regardless that there is no longer an option to customize the Stinger Mantis.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order’s Customization Only Lacks When It Comes to Cal Kestis
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order dipped its toes lightly into customization features since it only involves colorway swaps for BD-1, the Stinger Mantis, and Cal’s jumpsuit and ponchos. The ponchos are slightly different and obviously not all identical, but they are similar enough that it is hardly an exciting customization feature if fans couldn't care less about Cal’s ponchos in general. Players can get the poncho in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor as a nostalgic and fun cosmetic, but this skin was still highly controversial concerning how limited customization options were in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
BD-1 and Stinger Mantis customization were less controversial because they were simple reskins, and lightsaber customization eclipsed all other custom cosmetics in the game because it allowed players to replace different components and make it look authentically unique. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor takes all of these customization features and improves them, but its decision not to reprise Stinger Mantis customization is baffling as a result.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Needlessly Omits Stinger Mantis Customization
Because Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s customization revolves around being able to outfit different compartments or pieces of a skin, perhaps Respawn wanted to omit Stinger Mantis customization due to not wanting the ship’s aesthetic changed. If this is the case, changing its colorway like in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order would have been a welcome enough reprisal.
Rather, there are so many other customization features in the game that perhaps it was decided that one needed to be cut for the sake of loot chest asset occupancy in the game. Players also do not spend as much time with the Stinger Mantis as they did in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, where it was their remote hub. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s Rambler’s Reach cantina on Koboh and all its moving parts may have taken priority over the Stinger Mantis this time around, too.
No matter the reason, it is a glaring omission since it already had a place in the franchise. It is always possible that a future patch or update could include Stinger Mantis customization, but for now, players still at least have their hands full with regard to how BD-1 looks, how their lightsaber and blaster look, and how Cal looks after a makeover in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
