While Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is considered a faithful installment in the long-running sci-fi saga, the game's version of Wookies looked more than a little strange. The third-person action game puts players in control of Cal Kestis, a former Jedi Padawan who managed to survive Order 66 and go into hiding. The game lets players visit a number of unique planets and encounter some memorable characters from throughout the franchise, but while Star Wars hero Chewbacca and his Wookiee race are an iconic part of the series, Jedi: Fallen Order fails to capture their traditional appearance.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order takes Cal Kestis on a quest to unlock a hidden vault that holds a Jedi Holocron, which contains a list of Force-sensitive children. This roster could help rebuild the Jedi Order, but the path to entering the vault and obtaining the Holocron takes Cal and his allies across the entire galaxy, including places like the Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor was announced in May, with the sequel set to follow Cal on another cosmic adventure, but of the many things fans may expect from the sequel, a better representation for Wookiees may be close to the top of the list.
When Cal is unable to enter the vault early in the game, he and his allies travel to the sprawling jungle world of Kashyyyk in order to meet with the Wookiee chieftain Tarfful. While there, Cal allies himself with the insurgent Saw Gerrera in order to free a group of Wookiee who have been captured and enslaved by the brutal Empire. Later in the game players return to Kashyyyk, with Cal finally making the acquaintance of Tarfful before climbing the massive Origin Tree to learn the next step on his quest.
Unfortunately, the Wookiee designs used in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order leave much to be desired. The furry warriors all look a bit off in-game, compared to other Star Wars Wookiee game designs and live-action appearances. Their fur is rendered unconvincingly, looking more like the shiny plastic on a Chewbacca toy than the natural hair of Kashyyyk's native people. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order also gives the Wookiees a longer facial structure than the films do, making them look bizarre with large foreheads and shallow mouths. The odd designs are particularly noticeable since Kashyyyk is one of the most important locations in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
The Wookiee designs in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order may miss the mark, but as a whole the game is a beloved addition to the sci-fi series' canon. Cal Kestis is a likable protagonist, and the title's combat truly captures the dream of fast-paced lightsaber duels. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor's new villain is set to add even more menace to the upcoming sequel, and hopefully the game can deliver more authentic and less silly Wookiee designs too.