‘Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order’ Video Game Gets Free Content Update
With very little fanfare or buildup, EA and Respawn have released a sizable content update for the single-player action-adventure game released last November. The update includes combat challenges, a customizable battle grid, a ‘New Journey +’ mode and new skins for Cal (it’s not a poncho) and BD-1.
The game released to critical success, with people praising the story, gameplay and challenging combat. Unfortunately though, once the story was finished and you’d found the collectables (a mix of force echoes and ponchos) that was it. You could simply start the game again if you pleased.
With this new update that is no longer the case, users now have multiple extras to choose from once they’ve completed the main story line. Let’s take a look:
New Journey +
Respawn Entertainment have been very protective over the integrity of the story and that Cal, the main character’s, journey is an essential part of the game and allowing players to be overpowered the whole way through tarnishes that.
‘A common request we got was for a way to replay the game while carrying some things over. The core experience of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order revolves around Cal’s growth and learning (and relearning) his abilities as he restores his connection to the Force and overcomes his traumas. For this mode, we think we’ve found a good balance between what to carry over while still allowing Cal to discover abilities on his journey.’
Once the player has finished the storyline of the game the main menu unlocks ‘New Journey +’ which allows players to go through the storyline again. This time however, while they’ll lose all their force powers, they will retain all lightsaber parts and modifications, as well as all previously located collectibles, meaning they won’t need to find them in game again.
Once that new game has been started the two biggest additions shine. At the meditation points two new game modes are accessible: Combat Challenges and Battle Grid.
Combat Challenges
‘Combat Challenges will pit Cal against waves of enemies across multiple planetary backdrops from across the galaxy, including the Imperial stronghold Fortress Inquisitorius. Each unique location will feature its own unique challenges, too, allowing for tailor-made experiences that draw from each environment. Different challenges will have different numbers of waves and each will have a three-star completion rating.’
Star 1: Complete the challenge
Star 2: Complete the challenge without healing
Star 3: Complete the challenge without taking damage
There are 12 challenges in total and getting any combination of 12 stars unlocks three new BD-1 skins.
These challenges have been designed for veteran players to really challenge them. You have whatever powers Cal has at the point in the game, meaning for some of the hardest challenges you’d be crazy to do it until you’d almost finished the game through a second time, especially for that 3rd star.
Battle Grid
The next mode is for the dedicated gamers. A sandbox style game in which players can design their own battles!
It allows for customization of not only your enemies but of their difficulty and the location of the fight. Additionally, and minor spoilers here, you can fight your fallen master Jaro Tapal and the dark vision of yourself as an inquisitor.
Expect a lot of videos of gamers fighting impossibly hard, or incredibly funny, variations on this game mode.
Speaking of Cal the inquisitor, in NJ+ you’ll be be able to select him as a skin, along with the crimson blade he wields. As an added bonus, that lightsaber will be available to customize at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Walt at both Disney World and Disneyland.
Bug tweaks and general accessibility features were added as well and for a full list of everything see here.
This is a really exciting update, the only drawback being that, rather than being able to access these updates once the game is finished, you basically need to finish the game again to be able to access these modes and stand a chance against them.
That is a very minor complaint though and this is a great sign for the Star Wars gaming community as a whole: that we’re being listened to, that sales of the game are good, and that, fingers crossed, a sequel, and single-player games similar to this, could be in the cards.
Happy gaming and may the Force be with you, always.
Alex Newman is huge Star Wars fan and loves to keep up to date with the canon. He's also loved movies for as long as he can remember. He's a massive Disney and superhero fan but will watch anything. He's worked at a cinema, a comic book store and at Disney World but is currently working in radio in London!
