Failure Is Not The End: The Journey of Jedi Fallen Order

With Respawn Entertainment's hit action adventure title Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order turning a year old, I recall the journey of the game, the thematic importance of the game's mechanics and design, and the resounding message about failure, trauma, and the hero's journey.

CHAPTER SELECT
00:00 Intro
5:36 The Journey
9:52 The World of Zeffo
12:28 Kashyyyk Threatened
13:24 Back to Zeffo
16:48 Return to Kashyyyk
18:36 Onto Dathomir
22:43 Reforged on Ilum
26:56 Opening the Vault
28:48 Fortress Inquisitorius
33:23 Conclusion
37:49 Outro

I tell stories about stories. With acclaimed documentary-style video essays on your favorite movies, shows, and video games-- including Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Last of Us: Part II, and Cyberpunk 2077-- ArTorr combines a love for storytelling with high-production and a personal edge. Consider subscribing to support the channel!

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Thank you for watching!!
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[willp]

One of the writers for the game just tweeted this video out, so at least there is some justice in this world

[mathiaskolding]

This channel is so criminally underrated it’s unbelievable

[logicaldude]

The "failure is not the end" scene was absolutely amazing. It gives me goosebumps. I have played through the game a couple more times just to build up to that scene. When Cal repairs his lightsaber and ignites it, you get this overwhelming sense of fulfillment and it's clear that the game is telling you, "He's a Jedi Knight now". This game was so well done it actually shocked me.

[ShadowofMephiles]

Saw this in my recommended rewatching the “Failure is not the end, my friend” Ilum scene.
Glad I clicked.

[owenwindsor]

Imagine if in Jedi: Fallen Order, instead of getting to choose the colour of your Kyber crystal, it's based on your playstyle e.g. Green if you use force abilities more often, Blue if you use your lightsaber most etc.

[matias]

Jedi Fallen Order is probably my favorite Star Wars story. Diverse cast, deep characters, awesome villain, and incredible gameplay. Not that it necessarily needs to, but it also follows George Lucas' "formula" for a good Star Wars story: mentor figure, comedic relief, redemption and adds to it. Cal Kestis, Cere Junda, Trilla Suduri, and Merrin are among some of my favorite Star Wars characters ever.

[Nargon]

I wish more people in the fandom as a whole, particularly us Prequel/Clone Wars fans appreciated this game. Everything about it would make an amazing movie, and it's even better that we get to play and experience it!


AND THE MUSIC OMG

[fraserduffy]

This is an absolutely excellent deconstruction of the game. It certainly wasn't the gameplay that gripped me, but the growth of Cal's character and his dynamic with varied characters throughout the game. This is a quality analysis I don't see often on YouTube. Thank you.

[yiyithewuster]

I'll never see Cameron Monaghan again without subconsciously linking him to proto-Joker from Gotham

[SdeshowRob]

This game blows TFU out of the water, I’ve always thought that game prioritized flashy “badass” actions and that’s just not what the force is about for me. This game feels like it fits right in the canon and could be a movie or show. Plus, the souls-like genre is perfect for the atmosphere of the story. You’re not some great Jedi hero, you’re a kid with a lightsaber whose training was cut short by order 66. Also Trilla is a fantastic villain

[Quarmacy]

Bro I've been looking for someone who writes video essays of your quality and have been looking for one for Fallen order for a while now. I loved your video on TLOU2 and am exited to see this one.

[berraloks]

Cameron Monaghan’s delivery in that Is amazing

[conorc.]

Dude, this was absolutely incredible and insightful. I've delved into the story of Jedi: Fallen Order and its protagonist, Cal Kestis, for a while now and you've offered some new insight I've never considered before, such as the thesis of trust. I also really loved your analysis of the Hero's Journey to Cal and the analysis of the ludonarrative of the game. Two things I'll add is that Cal has a unique internal arc: He goes from being very self-confident to humbled by his experiences in his journey. Many Jedi, such as Luke and Ezra, go through the opposite, which is fine. But it's so interesting that the writers flipped it around for Cal, making him a unique Jedi in the process.

The other thing is about the ludonarrative and Cal's journey throughout Dathomir. Cal goes through A LOT on Dathomir with facing various creatures, undead Nightsisters/Nightbrothers, and Gorgara.

So, to me, an additional factor that could show why Cal failed is because of the challenges he faced in traversing back up to the Temple which exhausted him greatly in addition to the darkness imbued throughout Dathomir that fed into Cal and affected his ability with the Force to patiently meditate in order to reconnect.

[AL-eyfx]

I believe in this game, just as producers of The Last Of Us once said they intended, one never feels overpowered. As you say, every encounter is a struggle to survive. You never feel as a Jedi Master (though there is a difficulty setting for that) but still as a young and nieve apprentice.

[elliotkouame]

I watched your entire clone wars 3-parter without looking at your subscriber count.
I had assumed it was at least in the tens of thousands, given the quality of your videos and insight.
Here’s one more sub, let’s start by getting you to 1000.

[DJXelto]

I keep coming back to this video for the incredible intro. A lovely edit that perfectly captures the tone of the game using all new canon in game assets but it feels like prime Star Wars. Brilliant, just brilliant.

[damkoehlernumber]

how does this masterpiece not have a million views? Incredible work, glad I can say I was here before his channel blew up

[lvbuckeye]

I loved this story so much that I replayed SWJ:FO about 7 times on Grandmaster difficulty during the shutdowns. (It helped that the gameplay is fluid and fun.) I know the story in the game is official canon, but I REALLY want to see Cal Kestis in a future show. Edit: I LOVE that the game characters actually look like the actors.

[seerooster]

Another incredible video! Good job, man. Loved Fallen Order and adored watching this.

I just finished Rebels. I can't wait for your Star Wars: Rebels video coming hopefully soon.

[guard]

I went in Fallen Order blind with the urge to scratch a certain lightsaber itch. I didnt expect a flushed out story with gripping gameplay. 10/10 respawn.