"Trivial opposition… Unproductive human… Valueless… Unessential''. The security droids in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order do not hold back from sassing me in combat. I mean, damn. The trash talk sounds like it's inspired by my own mind during a particularly bad bout of low self-esteem. Unexpectedly, though, put-downs from enemies become a powerful motivator that makes me determined to succeed and push on. I'll show you trivial opposition, I think to myself. Taking swings with Cal's lightsaber, each blow I land feels like a small victory. All the while, I'm dodging and diving every which way so as to avoid the droid as it charges at me with its arms outstretched. When I evade its arched fist, it seizes me by the neck and throws me down on the ground. "Incompetent", the humanoid machine jibes, adding yet more fuel to the increasingly blazing fire that is my resolve.
Getting back up, I realise I'm not just fighting the Imperial KX-Series robot at this moment. I'm also striking back against my own neuroses and trying to gain a hold on my evaporating confidence. Enemies can call me an "Inferior Jedi" all they like – I'm proving to them, and, crucially, myself that I can do this. I can win this fight against the droid, and any other that lies ahead for that matter.
