Respawn Took Some Inspiration from Metroid for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is arguably one of the most highly anticipated titles of the year and after a brand new look at the game and a slew of new details at E3 2019 fans have only gotten more hyped about its release. Now, in a new interview with Game Informer, Respawn shares that they took some inspiration for the exploration in the upcoming game from none other than Metroid.
Yes, you read that right. Of all games, lead level designer from Respawn, Jeff Magers recently discussed Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order with Game Informer and confirmed that Metroid was a game they took inspiration from, alongside Dark Souls and The Legend of Zelda franchise. Here’s what Magers had to say, “Metroid absolutely served as an inspiration for us. What the Metroid-style level design does for us is somewhat [of] a way to give the player guided exploration. A ton of freedom within the world, but at the same time we can deliver really handcrafted moments and really focus on the moment-to-moment.”
So what exactly does Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order have in common with Metroidvanias? It seems the answer can be found in the backtracking, hidden secrets, and abilities and weapons that unlock new areas. “Force powers are lock-and-key mechanisms. Maybe there’s a whole other area [or] maybe there’s a little secret.”
And considering the hidden pathways and various secrets to discover Jeff Magers affirms that Jedi: Fallen Order isn’t really all that linear. “We have linear sections of the game. And each, I’d say 30-minute to one hour section that we call a level… will be somewhat linear, although there [are] different branching options, different choices to make, different secrets to find [and] areas to explore. But when it really opens up is kind of at a macro level. You will be retraversing through these levels that earlier was kind of more of a linear experience…with your new tools and your upgraded hero. It really aligns with kind of the goal of the game, which is to become a Jedi.”
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is set to launch on November 15 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. What do you think about these new details about the games exploration? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below and don’t forget to keep it locked for updates!