It is not easy to build a brand new experience in a universe so rich in lore and story like Star Wars, but that is exactly what Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment are trying to do with Star Wars Outlaws.
As Kay Vess and her furry companion Nix, players will travel the galaxy in search of opportunities to make a difference. This means getting into all sorts of trouble, combat and stealth, and aligning and betraying the various factions that call the shots. In essence, you are being tasked with becoming a true scoundrel, making your way up in the world.
That all sounded really exciting, and despite some early misgivings about the Ubisoft formula, the few hours we spent with Star Wars Outlaws definitely lived up to what we wanted out of this adventure, even if not everything is groundbreaking.
If you have played any of the recent Ubisoft games, you would be familiar with the mechanics that power most of Kay’s upcoming adventure. There are locks to pick, guards to assault, trinkets to obtain, puzzles to solve, platforms to climb, and the occasional blaster combat, just to name a few. That is not to say that such sequences aren’t fun, but it definitely helps that they are all wrapped up in a Star Wars coating, allowing the world-building to shine through whenever players are active.
Whether we were trying to infiltrate a faction’s stronghold to steal some valuable data, or making our way through an Imperial starship, there is plenty to keep players busy. Alternate paths offer treasure and useful resources, while reaching objectives largely depends on how you want to navigate the world and its denizens.
Even armed with her blaster, Kay is not exactly a hardened warrior. She might be able to take a guard or two, but overwhelming numbers will often make it hard for her to survive. Better gear and upgrades will remedy that, but until players are able to scavage the world to craft recipes and buy better gear from vendors, stealth is always a better option. The presence of Nix is a plus point, providing players with an option to distract guards or reach far objects, giving the furry creature plenty of opportunities to be a valuable companion while keeping you safely in the shadows.
With various planets and systems to visit, the exploration in Star Wars Outlaws is something that definitely feels good at this early stage. Jumping on a speeder and venturing out into the wild is always refreshing, and there is much to see across the lands, just as the developers intended. This also extends to space, where the Trailblazer does a great job of giving players the chance to survey wrecks and engage in dogfights, creating more ways to enjoy the game. Going from the surface of a planet and into the darkness of space is an experience that never quite gets old as well.
Making your way across the galaxy plays a huge part in progression too, as there is no traditional levelling system in Outlaws. Not everything good can be found in stores, and certain skills require tracking down experts and convincing them to hand over their knowledge. For those who want to create the best version of Kay, that means going all-out when it comes to exploration, getting to know the right people, and finding the right ingredients to kickstart the whole process.
Out of everything present in the game, the faction system is perhaps the most intriguing of systems in Star Wars Outlaws, bestowing players the autonomy to choose their way forward. Working for one faction exclusively gives you special perks, like discounts and black market gear, but that comes at the cost of your relationship with the others, even turning them outright hostile. Try to play everyone at the same time, and you might just find yourself with no friends in your time of need. It is a delicate balance, and it remains to be seen just how much of the story can be affected, but the checks and balances promise an intriguing prospect, to say the least.
Developing memorable characters will go a long way in helping that process, and aside from Kay and Nix, there seems to be room for others to take the spotlight, and that’s a good thing. Being able to flesh out the people living in the galaxy will go a long way in making it an immersive journey, and leave room for references that fans would likely love and go crazy about.
The art direction is most certainly something to admire in the game too. While the animations may not be on the same level as Star Wars Jedi, there is still something there that makes the adventure believable as part of the larger universe. From the diverse populations to the recognisable locales, there is much to see and revel in if you so wish.
Ultimately, it would be the narrative that does most of the heavy lifting in Star Wars Outlaws, at least from our perspective. It is clear that the gameplay is not the deepest or most challenging, and for some fans, that would be enough. But if the final product is able to combine all of that with an engrossing tale that somehow manages to tie into the larger story, then this scoundrel’s tale has every chance of becoming a true legend. Fingers crossed then.
Star Wars Outlaws launches this coming August 30 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
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