For many PlayStation 5 and Xbox gamers, Star Wars: Outlaws is one of the games most anticipated. We got to put quite a few hours into the game before its release.
Quite a few Star Wars games have already been released, but an open-world game wasn’t there yet. Ubisoft is now changing that with Star Wars: Outlaws.
But is it a good game, and can Star Wars fans really enjoy it? After all, after The Acolyte, they are ready for something that makes them happy. Can the game live up to the high expectations?
This is Star Wars: Outlaws
Kay Vess spent years growing up on her home planet. From a young age, she’s been exposed to the criminal life. Really she’s not much more than a petty thief, but she wants to commit bigger robberies and burglaries.
But as soon as she tries that, things go all wrong and only get worse. It seems like bad luck keeps haunting her. Her freedom is constantly in danger. Was she actually born for the thieving life?
Fortunately, she doesn’t have to go through everything alone, because she has her loyal friend Nix with her, who supports her unconditionally. This critter helps her pick pockets and can open doors from a distance thanks to his small stature.
The bond between the two is wonderful to see and makes for a fun dynamic during Star Wars: Outlaws, especially when you encounter all sorts of unsavory types in space, although there are some real friends among them. You have to work for various cartels in the game and build a reputation with them. However, these groups can’t stand each other, so if you steal something for one from the other, it can have both positive and negative consequences for your reputation. These consequences, in turn, determine whether you get better or worse rewards.
Lots of action
This system in Star Wars: Outlaws is pretty simple, but it works. You occasionally have to really think before doing a mission and decide who you would really like to stab in the back.
For those shadowy gangs, you have to carry out all kinds of missions that gradually get bigger and bigger. The cool thing about this is that you can choose how you tackle them. Do you shoot straight away, or go for a silent approach? What’s also great is that the locations of the missions lend themselves to different approaches. You can get from A to B and sneak around in all sorts of ways.
(Image: Ubisoft)
However, it is a pity that the fighting is sometimes a bit monotonous and the opponents are sometimes a bit stupid. When you whistle for the umpteenth time to lure an enemy towards you, only one enemy always comes instead of several. In addition, when you knock someone down, you cannot move them, which simplifies tactics a bit.
Of course, a Star Wars game is not complete without space battles in your spaceship. Although this can also get monotonous, it is much better developed than in Starfield, for example. You can deftly fly your spaceship between obstacles on your way to other planets.
Alone in the world?
The world in Star Wars: Outlaws is big, and Ubisoft games have a stigma by now: huge worlds filled with all sorts of icons you can go to. It was like really checking off dots, which could get a little boring.
Fortunately, I can put that out of the world right away, because that is not the case here. In fact, you are challenged to go on adventures, through missions, rumors you catch or data you find in certain places.
(Image: Ubisoft)
Of course in a Star Wars game you have several planets. In Outlaws, it’s no different. Each planet has a different vegetation and appearance. While you will know some from the many movies, series and comics, there is also a planet that is completely new to the franchise. So you will encounter iconic places as well as big surprises.
And those worlds are really quite vivid. You really feel like you’re in the Star Wars universe. So this will feel very nice for fans, especially if you can cruise around on your pimped-up Speeder. Secretly, then, the creators took a good look at Red Dead Redemption, where the world is also vibrant and you can come across something by chance.
Lots of minigames
Ubisoft has put a lot of minigames in Star Wars: Outlaws but it is not always successful. For example, you have to open locks by pressing the button at a certain rhythm. However, this gets a bit monotonous. The same can be true when cracking larger safes. This is a kind of Mastermind where you have to find the correct code after several attempts.
In addition, you can also play Sabacc, a type of poker made famous mainly by Han Solo from the movies. That game is easy to learn and offers enough variety to leave the fighting behind for a while. This is another of the many details included in the game from the real Star Wars series.
A game for the true Star Wars fan
Perhaps Star Wars: Outlaws is not very original, yet it is very entertaining. You really get a Star Wars feel and that is perhaps the most important thing. You really notice that the game was made by real fans who really give their baby a lot of love.
Finally you are really part of the Star Wars world and can do whatever you want. Also, Kay and Nix’s story is really nice to follow and doesn’t get boring. It really keeps you motivated to continue. So if you crank up the game, you really are in for quite a few hours.
Star Wars: Outlaws is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X and PC.
Star Wars: Outlaws
Ubisoft
7
Score
Plus points
A game made with love Real Star Wars vibe The characters Different ways to do your missions The world
Minuses
Sometimes boring minigames Opponents not as smart
Star Wars: Outlaws really lets you as a fan experience Star Wars. Finally you can really explore worlds and do whatever you want. It may not always be original, but that doesn’t diminish the fun of the game. The game is going to entertain you for quite a few hours anyway.
