Video Game Review - Star Wars Outlaws
Star Wars Outlaws is one of those games that attempts to move away from its source material. Instead of battling Jedi and Sith, Outlaws takes its narrative in a different direction, and it’s one that’s rarely explored in that galaxy far, far away…
Set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, Outlaws dives into the galactic underworld as we take on the told of Kay Vess, a scoundrel who finds herself navigating the treacherous underworld of crime syndicates whilst staying one step ahead of an Empire that’s dealing with the aftermath of the destruction of the first Death Star, whilst clamping down on any sign of rebellion. Along with her alien pet/companion Nix, Kay embarks on a galaxy-wide adventure that’ll take her into the clutches of some nefarious characters.
With the narrative being very character-driven, the cast plays a big part in bringing Kay’s story to life. As such each character we meet is very well developed and is perfectly suited to delivering the wider story experience. Kay herself stands out as quite a complex protagonist. While her life as an outlaw brings her close to that moral grey line, her past experiences allow her to balance her morals against those who are currently taking advantage of her specific skill set. Even with her skills, Kay is quite vulnerable and naive to the wide goings on in the universe. She often reminded me of Han Solo where she’d attempt to wing it in a rough situation rather than blast her way out. However, across her interactions with Nix and the other supporting cast, we soon see the depth of her resilience.
The bulk of Star Wars: Outlaws sees Kay taking on tasks for one of the main criminal organisations (Crimson Dawn, Hutt Cartel, Ashiga Clan, and the Pykes). Each outfit will throw Kay into the middle of their battles and power struggles with Kay’s reputation with them on the line. Sabotage too many opportunities with one organisation will see you shunned and even hunted by its members, while favouring another will see Kay rewarded with untold riches indeed rare loot. It all ties into the life of a Star Wars scoundrel whose sole purpose is making credits, even with being able to double cross your employers its ramifications aren’t that wider reaching. Even if you do become wanted by one organisation, you’re never locked out of their content. A few quest givers deal with all four organisations so you’ll always regain lost favour without a second thought.
Gameplay comes in the form of a typical 3rd person action game. Kay comes equipped with her blaster which comes customizable with an array of features and attachments that can be swapped on the fly if needed. Nix is also along for the ride and the cute critter soon becomes an integral component of the game. Nix can be used in a multitude of ways such as stealing items from enemy NPCs, along with causing distractions and attacking to then allow Kay to follow up with her attacks. In a pinch, Nix can also be used to scavenge weapons and bacta tanks from fallen foes.
When it comes to the world itself Outlaws is truly an open-world adventure game. Each planet is packed with the typical open-world elements with plenty of items to discover and random moments to enjoy. The formula itself is very reminiscent of other Ubisoft titles and considering that Outlaws is developed by Massive, its world is in good hands. Kay also has access to a speeder which is used to travel around the world, however, its use is restricted within settlements such as Mos Eisley. In true fashion, this can also be upgraded and customised as you journey through the story. There are also fast travel points to be unlocked but to be honest, Outlaws is best explored by taking to the open road.
Another big aspect of Outlaws is the ability to venture out into space. A part of the build-up was highlighting that Outlaws offers seamless travel from planet to orbit. While space transition is far smoother when compared to Starfield it’s not technically seamless. Granted we don’t have a cut in gameplay, but we are stuck in an in-game loading screen. It’s not a big issue by any means, but one that’s worth mentioning. Anyway, early into the game Kay acquires access to the Trailblazer which is essentially her version of the Millennium Falcon. It’s nowhere near the sleekest of Star Wars ships, but it packs quite a punch. For fans of Battlefront 2, the Trailblazer takes the good parts of its vehicle controls to then offer an accessible approach for those who didn’t graduate from Top Gun. Space combat is also a joy and whether you’re dogfighting TIE Fighters, or protecting freighters from local pirates, there’s plenty to see and do.
Even if you’re not living the scoundrel life there’s plenty to see and do. Major cities are packed with various activities and vendors who are all vying for Kay’s hard-earned credits. From arcade machines to gambling, to simply exploring off the beaten track, each city and settlement is jam-packed full of life and atmosphere. You can even find food stalls across the cities where a droid chef will cook up a meal for Kay and Nix. While these food stalls may seem like an added distraction, they’re well worth seeking out. Not only do you get an interesting peak into Kay and Nix’s relationship, but the meals also add passive benefits to Nix and his abilities.
Star Wars: Outlaws is a game that's truly made by Star Wars fans for Star Wars fans. It oozes the atmosphere and grandiose that made the Original Trilogy such a hit. Whether it’s tangling with Imperial patrols, blasting your way out of heists that have gone wrong, or simply taking it all in, Star Wars: Outlaws has all the look and feel of the Star Wars universe. It’s both nostalgic and exciting at rhetorical same time, and if like me you’ll soon be drawn back to that time when the Star Wars franchise was good.
Yes, I did spend a day re-watching the Original Trilogy for the umpteenth time!
Overall there’s a lot of fun to have with Star Wars: Outlaws. The game isn’t perfect by any stretch and does suffer with the odd stale moment. However, it’s a fun open-world experience that’ll keep you entertained for its 20-30 hour runtime. Its narrative does a great job of highlighting a portion of the Star Wars universe that’s rarely explored, and it stands well without any mention of Luke Skywalker, the Jedi, Darth Vader, and every other “classic” Star Wars trait. If you’re on the fence I encourage you to give Outlaws a go. Ubisoft has done well creating the first true Star Wars open-world adventure game, it’s 100% worthy of your time!
Rating: 8/10
A code was kindly provided for this review.
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