For almost six years now, Respawn Entertainment has been welcoming both die-hard and new Star Wars enthusiasts into a world where lightsaber combat gets a fresh spin, reminiscent of Dark Souls’ challenging style. Before 2019 gave us Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, most Star Wars games either drew on turn-based battles, such as those in the Knights of the Old Republic series, borrowed the combo-centric style of God of War seen in The Force Unleashed, or focused on temporary heroic gameplay like the Battlefront titles. With Fallen Order and its sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Respawn took a different route by enabling Cal Kestis to master up to five distinct lightsaber stances. While these options were warmly received, expanding upon them in Star Wars Jedi 3 might pose quite the challenge for Respawn.
In the game that started it all, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, we meet Order 66 survivor Cal Kestis. His journey to restore his Jedi training comes amid battles with Imperial Inquisitors while striving to rebuild the Jedi Order alongside fellow survivor Cere Junda. Players initially wield a single-bladed lightsaber, which is actually half of Cal’s late Master Jaro Tapal’s double-bladed weapon. As Cal gradually relearns his combat skills and Force abilities, savvy players can quickly gain access to a double-sided lightsaber by heading to Dathomir right after Bogano. Near the climax, Cal must journey to Ilum to procure a new kyber crystal and mend his saber, resulting in the ability to split his weapon to wield dual single-bladed lightsabers.
Fast forward to 2023’s Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, and those familiar lightsaber stances haven’t been forgotten. Cal, having honed his skills over five years since Fallen Order, reunites with allies like Junda, Greez Dritus, Merrin, and new companion Bode Akuna on Jedha. Here, Akuna gifts Cal a blaster pistol, introducing a novel stance where Cal pairs a single-bladed lightsaber with the blaster. Their adventure leads them into an altercation with the fallen Jedi Dagan Gera, Rayvis, and the Bedlam Raiders, where Cal eventually crafts a crossguard lightsaber after retrieving one from Raider lieutenant Drya Thornne.
Speaking of new toys, Cal’s newfound crossguard saber marks an exciting first for players in Star Wars canon games, with the exception of Kylo Ren’s use. Looking ahead to Star Wars Jedi 3, there remains a potential to introduce even more lightsaber stances for Cal. Despite never quite finishing his formal Jedi education, Kestis has proven himself a formidable combatant, mastering nearly every known form. This spins a challenge for Respawn in terms of developing more skills for his existing stances, yet leaves room for him to potentially encounter other unique lightsabers. One possibility could be the whirling, double-bladed lightsabers favored by the Inquisitors. While Cal has faced these weapons numerous times, he has yet to wield one himself.
The unique design allows blades to spin rapidly, which can even briefly lift the user off the ground. Perhaps in Star Wars Jedi 3, Cal could adapt a modified Inquisitor’s weapon to hover over tricky terrain. Additionally, the franchise might delve into less common variants like the lightsaber pike—a hybrid with elements akin to a traditional polearm, lending itself well to keeping adversaries at a respectful distance.
Another interesting form worthy of exploration could be the rarely-seen lightwhip. Recently introduced to modern Star Wars lore via the High Republic stories, it mirrors a typical single-bladed lightsaber in terms of its hilt. However, its blade is not solid; instead, it’s a flexible plasma lash, presenting a fantastic yet challenging addition for gameplay. With so many unexplored avenues, these exotic combat forms hold the promise of injecting fresh, engaging options into Star Wars Jedi 3, enriching the Star Wars universe and delighting fans who are eager to wield something new in a galaxy far, far away.
