Star Wars Jedi: Survivormakes some interesting twists and turns in its narrative, but many of its key beats are either predictable or familiar if fans have been keeping up with modern AAA games lately. It is true thatStar Wars Jedi: Survivorbeing leashed to theStar Warscanon means it cannot make any bewildering choices, but its introduction of the High Republic and its dissection of Jedi morality were fascinating to explore. In more ways than one, though,Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s Cal Kestissits under the shadow ofGod of War Ragnarok’s Kratos.
Cal and Kratos couldn’t be more dissimilar when it comes to their backstories, let alone their general d, but their respective sequels have a lot in common.Star Wars Jedi: SurvivorandGod of War Ragnarokare obviously both the sequels of their own franchises, but they instill the same beats in many ways through how their protagonists have developed sinceStar Wars Jedi: Fallen OrderandGod of War. Both games are likely to get sequels of their own, as well, and may therefore have the same trajectories planned for their protagonists.
RELATED:Overwatch 2’s Most Promising Upcoming Feature Comes Straight from Jedi: Survivor
Cal Kestis and Kratos Both Long for Purpose in a New World
Cal is still incredibly young, and therefore his life should be full of potential and joy, even if he happens to be alive during the Empire’s sudden reign throughout the galaxy. Finding purpose is what drives him inStar Wars Jedi: Survivor’s narrative, which is ironic sinceStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Orderended on the idea that he had found that with the Stinger Mantis crew.
Most of the crew is back together by the end ofStar Wars Jedi: Survivor, and on the newfound planet of Tanalorr it seems clear that a sequel would have Cal and Merrin raising Kata Akuna. There is an obvious comparison to be made toGod of War’s Kratoswith Cal as a father figure, but there is an even greater similarity made when considering how Kata could be Cal’s new purpose, like how Atreus was Kratos’ purpose.
Atreus has left Kratos at the end ofGod of War Ragnarok, but his purpose is fulfilled once more when he learns that he could be revered as a benevolent god in Midgard. Either way, Cal struggled to find his place in a galaxy he found unfamiliar, just as Kratos struggled to find purpose in a new mythological realm.
Cal Kestis and Kratos Are Both Becoming Irrelevant in Their Franchises
Star Wars JediandGod of Warare both interesting franchises because they seemingly make their respective protagonists inseparable from the series. Cal is the Jedi thatStar Wars Jedi’s franchise title refers to, though it doesn’t refer to him exclusively inStar Wars Jedi: Survivor.
Similarly,God of Warrefers to Kratos as the eponymous figure, but he is not the only god of war. It would be simple enough forStar Wars Jedi’s franchise to replace Cal with another Jedi, butGod of War’s franchise would be thrown off severely if Kratos was substituted withGod of War Ragnarok’s Tyr, for instance.
Star Wars Jediis essentially built around Cal asGod of Waris built around Kratos, but both protagonists seem to be getting pushed further out of the width of what those franchises need to continue and iterate upon themselves.Atreus is almost guaranteed to get a standalone gamein a new realm, for example, and it is fully possible that Kata could become a playable protagonist in theStar Wars Jedifranchise’s future if Cal decides to settle down and retire his lightsaber.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivoris available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE:Jedi: Survivor Missed a Massive Opportunity to Bring Back One Iconic Star Wars Character
