Star Wars Outlaws is breaking new ground as the first open-world entry in the franchise’s nearly 50-year journey, offering players a unique perspective outside the typical Jedi and Sith narratives. However, amid the thrills of exploring a vast galaxy, it’s disheartening to find the landscape feeling somewhat empty.
This engaging title from Massive Entertainment immerses players in the story of Kay Vess, a street-smart scoundrel, and her quirky sidekick, Merqaal Nix. This narrative shift away from the traditional Jedi escapades is a refreshing approach for long-time fans and newcomers alike. While there are many aspects to love in Outlaws, it ultimately misses a chance to enrich the Star Wars lore beyond its cinematic boundaries.
As a dedicated Star Wars aficionado, the opportunity to delve deeper into the life on familiar planets is truly exciting. Each world is bursting with lore and atmosphere, and Outlaws invites players to engage intimately with these settings. Whether traversing the bustling streets of Canto Bight or exploring serene wineries scattered across the galaxy, players are treated to an immersive experience filled with lively interactions. Engaging in conversations brings new secrets to light and suggests new paths for exploration, making the environments vibrantly alive.
Kay Vess herself is a character who resonates well with players. Her quick wit and relatable misunderstandings of the overarching Star Wars saga serve to ground the storyline. Yet, it’s the supporting characters that truly shine. ND-5, a repurposed battle droid, earns a special place alongside fan-favorites like R2-D2 as he showcases real emotional growth through the game. Similarly, Ank, a bat-like Chadra-Fan with a penchant for explosives, brings an entertaining dynamic to the team. And let’s not forget Nix, Kay’s charming Merqaal companion, who provides a second playable option, allowing for clever antics like playing dead to evade enemies.
However, the open-world aspect, heralded as a major selling point for Outlaws, leaves much to be desired. The arid expanses of Tatooine and the lush jungles of Akiva are rife with empty spaces, turning long quests into tedious journeys. This trend of crafting open worlds for the sake of it, rather than for practical engagement, is all too familiar in modern gaming. Just like previous titles such as Halo Infinite and Gears of War 5, Outlaws falls into the trap of offering vast landscapes that lack compelling points of interest. While Tatooine fits narratively, it feels overused in the Star Wars universe, evoking Anakin Skywalker’s infamous disdain for sand.
Kay Vess’ origin story also treads familiar ground. Abandoned and yearning for a brighter future in the galaxy echoes the experiences of Anakin Skywalker and Rey, making it feel recycled and less impactful.
Star Wars Outlaws’ chief flaw lies in its attempt to integrate various gameplay mechanics without injecting anything fresh into the mix. Familiar features from titles like Assassin’s Creed and the recent Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora are glaring, as players encounter obvious yellow signs indicating where to climb, or glaring arrows leading them to objectives.
Though modern game conventions ensure such features are often overlooked, Outlaws suffers from clunky mechanics in traversal, combat, and stealth. Wall climbing can feel inconsistent, leading to frustrating moments where players may fall to their demise. Jumping mechanics often oscillate between superhuman leaps and failures to scale even small ledges. Combat lacks the punch fans expect, with Kay feeling underwhelmingly novice in her blaster skills compared to legendary figures like Han Solo or Boba Fett. Though she possesses an adrenaline-fueled ability to slow down time for dramatic shots, overall, it can feel like firing BB guns at enemies.
The stealth mechanics are equally disappointing. Despite the studio’s experience with stealth in the Assassin’s Creed series, Outlaws features enemies displaying the intelligence of a wet blanket or spotting you from considerable distances, making stealth tactics clunkier than anticipated.
In conclusion, I find myself in a precarious position with Outlaws. While it offers a fun experience for Star Wars enthusiasts and provides a chance to explore the galaxy in more detail, it ultimately falls short of being a must-play title. There’s no denying it didn’t meet the lofty expectations many had. I envisioned an open world teeming with potential and endless possibilities, yet the result feels lackluster, leaving me to ponder how much better it might have been with a mission hub model and smaller, more thoughtfully designed environments.
If the developers can overcome the gameplay hurdles and populate the world with engaging activities, perhaps Outlaws could have stood shoulder to shoulder with Jedi Survivor. For now, it provides a handful of fond memories and enjoyable moments, but I can’t foresee a return to this galaxy anytime soon.
Pros:
- Engaging cast of characters
- A refreshing departure from the Jedi-focused narrative
Cons:
- Clunky mechanics in traversal, combat, and stealth
- Open-world design falls short of expectations
- Repetitive origin stories
Note: A copy of this game was provided by Ubisoft for review. Reviewed on Xbox Series.
