Written by Joseph Holgate, who you can follow on Twitter at @joerodholgate
With EA’s latest Star Wars project being binged for nearly four weeks now, it's fair to say Respawn Entertainment has graced our consoles with powerful visuals and jaw-dropping scenery. Whilst you can only take Cal to only six of the galaxy’s planets, there is so much to explore. Two of these planets were designed for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and the remaining four have been massively influential to the Star Wars universe as a whole. For all you Star Wars fans out there, here are some small snippets of background information about the planets featured in the game.
NOTE: There are minor spoilers included in this feature, with major spoilers included in each of the videos. Proceed with caution if you haven't yet completed the game!
Bogano
This unexplored planet, rife with grassy terrain and boggy wetlands, is one of the two planets designed by Respawn Entertainment specifically for Fallen Order. Bogano couldn’t be found on any planetary maps during the Imperial Era, leaving the planet unscathed and unnoticed from the rampant Galactic Empire. Whilst Bogano teems with vibrant and unique wildlife such as Ogdo and Binog, the planet lacks any known sentient species. However, as introduced in the game, the Zeffo civilisation (an ancient force-wielding species) immigrated to Bogano and constructed a giant vault dedicated to the worship of the Force. Jedi Master Eno Cordova hid a holocron containing a list of force-sensitive children from around the galaxy inside the Zeffo vault, away from the grasps of the Empire. In 14BBY, Cal Ketsis and his crew travelled to Bogano to find the holocron in an attempt to rebuild the Jedi Order after the fall of the Republic and the Jedi Purge.
Zeffo
The windswept planet of Zeffo is the second world designed by Respawn Entertainment for Fallen Order. Zeffo was home to the long extinct Zeffo race, as beforementioned, a force-sensitive species. The planet has a mostly mountainous terrain, with ocean water surrounding its landfall. During the time of the Galactic Republic, communities of pioneers and archaeologists peacefully explored and excavated Zeffo vaults, tombs and historical sites. By the time of the Galactic Empire, these communities were disturbed and subsequently destroyed by the imperial might of the Empire. As featured in Fallen Order, Zeffo served as valuable intrigue to both the Emperor and Cal Ketsis due to its insight into the Force and the Ancient Zeffo order.
Dathomir
Dathomir, or “Rancor Planet”, is the home of the Nightsisters, a coven of force-wielding witches who practice the art of “magick”. During the Clone Wars, Separatist Leader General Grievous invaded the planet and slaughtered the majority of the coven. During Fallen Order, Cal travels to Dathomir and, after many setbacks, befriends one of the last surviving witches, Merrin. Dark Jedi Master Taron Malicos made Dathomir his home after Order 66, manipulating the Nightsisters in order to harness their power. The primary terrain of the planet consists of swamplands, boggy forests and sinister mountains. The dark side of the force has an extremely powerful presence on the planet, where it corrupts lifeforms and vegetation alike. Many dangerous creatures live on Dathomir, such as Rancors and Nydarks, but the most prominent species is the immigrated Zabraks, who fill the Nightsister ranks.
Kashyyyk
The home of Chewbacca, Kashyyyk, has suffered extreme highs and lows during the Star Wars series. Whilst it was a member of the Galactic Republic, the planet quickly came under siege by the newly-formed Empire. The native species, the Wookies, were enslaved by the Empire after the Clone Wars for their man power and sheer brute force. Kashyyyk is immensely covered in Wroshyr tree forests and is entirely dominated by vegetation. The jungles and forests of Kashyyyk are home to many species such Wyyyschokks, Slyyygs and the legendary Shyyyo Bird, one which Cal encounters during his time on the planet. During Fallen Order, Saw Gerrera and his partisans fought against Kashyyyk’s Imperial planetary rule.
Ilum
This icy planet is massively important to the Jedi Order due to its natural production of Kyber crystals. These crystals are used to create a Jedi’s lightsaber during a special ceremony known as “The Gathering”, a rite of passage where Jedi Younglings must venture into the icy caves of Ilum and find a kyber crystal in order to create their lightsaber. The surface of the planet is congested with crystallised glaciers, ice plains and snow-covered mountains. Because of the frigid climate, Ilum is not known to support any lifeforms other than immigrated species. In Fallen Order, Cal travels to Ilum to rebuild his broken lightsaber. During the reign of the Galactic Empire, Imperial forces destroyed any Jedi remnants and stripped Ilum for its natural resources, with kyber crystals being the main export. The once beautiful planet became stained with the marks of Imperial oppression.
Nur
Whilst Nur is not technically a planet, this water moon located in the Outer Rim Territories, is Cal’s final destination in his journey to retrieve the holocron. This moon in entirely covered in ocean water with only artificial terrain such as the Fortress Inquisitorius. This heavily guarded imperial stronghold served as the headquarters for the terrifying Order of Inquisitors, an organisation of force-sensitive dark side agents who hunt down the remaining Jedi. Cal travelled to Nur after Trilla – The Second Sister – stole the holocron from him on his second trip to Zeffo. Cal defeats Trilla but is forced to flee from the Dark Lord himself, Darth Vader.
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