So I'll be updating this thread but i got to play the first three hours or so of this game last night, and wanted to share my thoughts with y'all. This will be spoiler free (obviously) and can serve as a "should I buy this" guide. It should be noted this is my perspective of the game being played on the hardest difficulty setting "Grand Master"
First off is the game good?
YesFallen Order plays like a mix of Dark Souls and Uncharted. Big action cutsceney setpeices are broken up by combat consisting of dodges, strikes, and parries. I was concerned about difficulty, as many Star Wars games can lend to the easy side of things, but on GM this game is
hard, but not unfairly hard. Every time I died, its because I knew I made a mistake instead of bad design, and I like that alot. The parry and dodge windows are short, but effective, and enemies are aggressive and unique (even the stormtroopers are pretty distinct from each other in their actions!)
The game also has some elements of the Metroidvania genre, certain locations and paths unavailable to you until you unlock the corresponding force ability or tool. The maps are suprisingly large and twisted, certainly being inspired by Dark Souls in this regard, you can absolutely lose yourself trying to find every little secret on a planet. I spent over 2 of my 3 hours of playtime exploring the first planet you find. Investigating every secret, boss, enemy, pathway etc. I returned to my ship and viewed my completion score for that planet. 60% complete, 2/6 secrets discovered. Okay, I have exploring to do here.
Customization wise, I couldnt be happier, Cal, the Mantis (your ship), and BD-1 all have customize able skins/colors, the lightsaber can be cosmetically modified part by part, with new outfits and saber parts being unlocked along thr way. Your codex has a practical purpose in this game - if you die to an enemy alot check you codex! Sometimes it has hints about that enemies behavior that can help you in a fight.
I was really worried about the villains. The Inquisitors thus far have been kind of a joke in canon, and I was concerned the Second and Ninth Sister wouldnt be very intimidating enemies. I was verrrry wrong on that regard, where I havent seen much of the Ninth Sister yet, the Second Sister from the moment shes in the game makes it clear you are
not prepared to fight her.
Tone of the game is darker than your average fair. We got on-screen character deaths in 30 minutes or less. Its like Dominoes Pizza for dead friends. This game does benefit from a darker tone, as the setting is far from cheery. The game also very much wants to dabble in the mysteries and arcana of the Force, which I *always* welcome.
Save points are very much like Dark Souls bonfires. You can level up Cal's skills, or rest which restores your hp, healing items, and respawns all non-boss enemies.
Also for all of you saying that Cal's lightsaber looks a lot like it was a saber staff: this (non spoiler) pic from my codex is for you:
