User Interface & HUD Explained
Understanding the User Interface (UI) and Heads-Up Display (HUD) in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is essential for effective gameplay. These elements provide critical information about Cal Kestis's status, available abilities, and the surrounding environment, allowing players to make informed decisions during combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving. Familiarizing yourself with the HUD ensures you're always aware of your resources and objectives.
The primary components of the HUD include the Health Bar, Force Meter, and Experience Bar. The Health Bar, typically located at the bottom left of the screen, indicates Cal's remaining health. When it depletes, Cal will be defeated and respawn at the last Meditation Point. Adjacent to the Health Bar is the Force Meter, which represents Cal's available Force energy. This meter depletes when using Force powers and regenerates over time or by interacting with specific points. The Experience Bar, often shown as a progress bar, indicates how close Cal is to leveling up and earning a Skill Point.
Other important HUD elements include the mini-map, objective markers, and enemy health bars. The mini-map, usually in a corner of the screen, provides a localized view of your surroundings, highlighting nearby paths, points of interest, and Meditation Points. Objective markers guide you towards your current quest goal. When engaging enemies, their health bars will appear above their heads, indicating their remaining health and sometimes their vulnerability to certain attacks. Critical hits or successful parries might be indicated by visual cues or sound effects.
| HUD Element | Location | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Health Bar | Bottom Left | Indicates Cal's remaining health |
| Force Meter | Bottom Left (adjacent to Health) | Shows available Force energy |
| Experience Bar | Bottom Center/Left | Tracks progress to next level |
| Mini-map | Corner of screen | Shows local environment and objectives |
| Enemy Health Bar | Above enemy head | Indicates enemy's remaining health |
Additionally, prompts for actions such as attacking, parrying, dodging, and interacting with the environment will appear contextually on screen. These prompts are crucial for executing specific moves and navigating the game world. Pay attention to these prompts, especially during combat, as they often indicate the optimal time to perform a parry or dodge. BD-1 also provides visual cues and audio feedback through the HUD, such as when he has a new ability or when Cal is low on health.