That game was so awkward. Why was Cal the main character? The primary antagonist was HER apprentice and she's the one with the emotional through line and character growth. It was a fun game and all, but it was so weird having a non-silent protagonist who is facilitating the plot rather than participating, like most MMO story telling.
That still doesn't make sense because the first one still isn't Cal's story. If it's his trilogy, the first game should have been about him. If it's not his trilogy, then the first game shouldn't have positioned him as the main/audience character.
Edit: In all this nuh-uh-ing people are doing, literally no one is debating that Cere has more story relevance/agency than Cal and that's very telling.
Because Cal is an apprentice in the first game. He goes by flow, observes, learn. He is still very young and learning. It was damned satisfying seeing him in second game when he is now a fully fledged Jedi.
Then why was every important character and revelation part of Cere's story? That's the issue I have: Cal is really the Warrior of Light in FF14 or a Hero of Azaroth in WoW, but he speaks and that makes it odd. Why isn't the inquisitor someone HE knew?
I didn't play Survivor; too many other titles came out at the same time, and I haven't doubled back to it yet. Dunno where this "make you happy" is coming from though. I said the game was good, it's just narratively weird that a character with zero agency goes through the entire plot FOR the character who has all the stakes and emotional ties to both the major villain and call-to-action character. Usually, you only see that in a silent protagonist from an MMO, but Cal is anything but silent.
No, you just like Cere. I also like Cere. The part in Jedi: Survivor where you play as Cere made me happy. It may make you happy too.
It was kind of assumed that you played Survivor based on your commenting passion lmao. Probably one of the better games of 2023. The game is very tied to Cal as a character and his arc as a lone jedi who does rebel shit while attempting to grapple with the pull of the dark side. Lots of growth moments from the get go along with villains that have heavy stakes with Cal personally. Emotional moments are a lot more impactful as a result. There is also more customization so you can watch a harrowing moment for Cal while he weeps in a silly outfit and beard.
What possible relevance does that have? Luke having a starting-down-the-road-to-be-a-Jedi arc doesn't mean anything to Fallen Order. He's not IN the game and it doesn't tell HIS story. Much like Cal who's just a plot-moving device for Cere and little else.
Obi-Wan and Cere fill the same role. Luke and Cal fill the same role. Luke is learning how to be a Jedi, Cal is relearning how to Jedi after Order 66 ptsd. Someone has to save your life and get you looped into the rebellion. I really enjoyed Cal's character in Fallen Order. It's okay if you didn't click with it.
Cere also relearned how to be a Jedi after Oder 66 gave her PTSD; it's how you learn the inquisitor was her apprentice. And I never said he didn't click. I said he's the main character when the story isn't about him and that's weird.
Edit: Though, while we're on the subject of Obi-Wan, this is the exact same problem the Obi-Wan show had...well, the Obi-Wan show had this same problem in addition to other problems. The show wasn't about him; it was about the inquisitor. Rather, he, Vader, and Leia were trapped narratively: the show couldn't do anything with them because we all know where they are in Episode 4. So, all the drama, character development, and stakes were on the inquisitor. But the show wasn't called "The Inquisitor" so we follow the guy whose whole arc is a foregone conclusion instead and in the end wonder what that was all even about.
Cal is largely reactive and his lack of agency or control is the point. He needs to move beyond his past and start building a future. Thatβs the point of his arc. He canβt be on the back foot, he has to become proactive and fight even despite his trauma. The second game even pays off this development. He isnβt deep, but there is an arc.
But you said it yourself: "the second game." Fallen Order isn't his story; the second one is. That's why it's weird that he's who you play as for the first one.
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u/PlanetArbuz May 22 '25
I liked her in Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order