An elegant tool from a more civilized age, lightsabers in video games have some of the coolest designs in the Star Wars canon. Video game Jedi, Sith, and others pull out all the stops when they design the hilt of their blades, and the cooler the character, the cooler their lightsaber. Given the massive effort it takes to create a lightsaber (as seen in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order), it's no surprise that many end up leaving an impression on players.
Jedi must go through an intensive process to create their signature weapons. After gathering the essential mechanical parts, Star Wars' best video game Jedi must journey to the planet Ilum and delve into dangerously frozen caverns to claim the kyber crystal that powers the blade and gives it its color. But even this process isn't as simple as it sounds, as the crystal must choose the Jedi in order for the blade to function. Blue and green lightsabers are most common, but sometimes Jedi will emerge from the caves with a purple, yellow, or even orange blade. The Sith, meanwhile, bleed their crystals to give them their distinctive red hue.
Jedi lightsaber construction has to take into several factors. The most obvious is how it will function at its intended purpose: being the hilt to a blade. If the wielder can't properly hold a lightsaber while doing battle, no matter how cool it looks, it doesn't serve a purpose. Second is form, or how each Jedi or Sith customizes their hilt to their own personality. Some choose the barest hilt possible, seeing the lightsaber more as a tool, while others choose to customize their saber heavily (which has led to some great Star Wars gaming moments), viewing it as an extension of themselves. All methods lead to unique sabers whose cosmetic features speak volumes about their wielders.
Cere Junda's Lightsaber Reflects Her Journey In Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
A fallen Jedi who has severed their connection to the force, Cere Junda's lightsaber shows a similar neglect in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. The intricate cording where Cere would place her hand has frayed, and the metallic parts from the emitter to the pommel are rusted over. This serves as a poignant nod to Cere herself, who has done all she can to distance herself from the Jedi and the Force after the tragedy of Order 66. This changes when Cal Kestis wields the lightsaber in Fallen Order. He cleans the saber up before combining it with the hilt of his own, which he inherited from his late master following the Jedi Purge.
Jaro Tapal's (& Later Cal Kestis's) Lightsaber Has A Unique Design In Jedi: Fallen Order
The player's default and primary weapon during the events of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is Cal Kestis's lightsaber, which he inherited from his master Jaro Tapal. When Tapal wielded the blade, it was a double-bladed saber with symmetrical emitters on either end. The raised guards on the emitters speak to a Jedi who was cautious of his weapon but knew its value. That changed when Order 66 was called. Tapal was killed, and the saber was damaged, losing one of its emitters in the process. Cal wields it in this state for the majority of Jedi: Fallen Order's Star Wars story, until he combines it with Cere Junda's lightsaber to restore its double-bladed capability and also make it his own, free of the lingering memories of his mentor.
Starkiller's Lightsaber In Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Shows His Heart
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed protagonist Starkiller built his lightsaber under the watchful eye of his mentor, Darth Vader. As such, the hilt bares a resemblance to his master's with a few notable exceptions - the most obvious of which is the exposed innards of the blade, with the kyber crystal clearly visible in its cradle. There could be myriad reasons for this: Starkiller is said to have recently completed his training in the first game in the series, so he may not have had time to finish the blade before being sent on missions.
Another reason could be that Starkiller's notable emotional instability is constantly damaging to the kyber crystal, necessitating replacement often enough to warrant leaving the saber incomplete - or even his lack of commitment to serving Darth Vader and the dark side. Whatever the reason, the heart of the blade is easily seen when not clenched in Starkiller's grip, much like Starkiller's own heart is so often exposed on his sleeve.
Rahm Kota's Lightsaber In Star Wars: Force Unleashed Shows His Calm
General Rahm Kota is a calming force to Starkiller later in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. This comes after Vader's secret apprentice is sent to assassinate the Jedi Master, only to blind him and leave him for dead. Kota keeps his life and his lightsaber, and they are reflections of each other when he is encountered later in the story. The worn leather of the grip has seen many battles, and the bandage around the activator switch mirrors the bandage Kota now wears across his permanently damaged eyes. The metallics of the blade bear similar rust and wear to Cere Junda's, befitting of another fallen Jedi. It is cleaned up somewhat once Kota regains himself and becomes a general in the Rebellion, and will hopefully show up in a new canon Star Wars game after the Jedi's Easter egg in Kenobi.
Kyle Katarn's Lightsaber Emphasizes Function Over Form
The lightsaber Kyle Katarn uses bears all the hallmarks of a former imperial operative turned Jedi. The sleek design uses mainly silver and black colors, and it is designed for practical usability over form. Two grips on the hilt make wielding the saber two-handed easier, while the pommel of the blade is designed to keep it from falling out of his grasp. Ultimately, though Kyle himself was a wellspring of charisma and personality, his saber reflected a more serious side to his personality, and he used it to great effect throughout his journeys.
A Jedi's weapon speaks volumes about the one who wields it. From function over form as in the case of Kyle Katarn to more cosmetic and comfort additions like those of Cere Junda and Rahm Kota, lightsaber hilts in Star Wars games tell a story in and of themselves. Cal Kestis wielding the broken blade of his mentor until he finds the strength and connection wtih the force to reforge it into his own is a tale of self-discovery and resilience that Star Wars can proudly tell.
