Star Wars Outlaw Review

  • Release Date: August 30, 2024

  • Platforms: PC, PS 5, Xbox Series X|S

  • Developer: Massive Entertainment

  • Publisher: Ubisoft

Overview

Star Wars Outlaws is an open-world action-adventure game set in the criminal underbelly of the Star Wars galaxy, developed by Massive Entertainment and published by Ubisoft. Taking place between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. With dynamic space combat, planetary exploration, and a branching narrative, Star Wars Outlaws aims to deliver an immersive experience where players can carve their own path in a lawless galaxy.

Story

In Star Wars Outlaws, players follow Kay Vess, a daring scoundrel trying to carve out a life for herself in the galaxy’s criminal underworld. Taking place during the reign of the Empire, the story unfolds as Kay takes on risky jobs, navigates dangerous syndicates, and searches for a way to secure her freedom. With her quick thinking, blaster skills, and the help of her companion Nix, she must outmaneuver powerful enemies while seizing every opportunity to rise in a galaxy full of danger and deception.

Gameplay

  • Mechanics: Star Wars Outlaws offers an open-world experience where players can seamlessly travel between planets, engage in space combat, and take on various criminal jobs. The game features a mix of stealth, third-person shooting, and dialogue choices that influence Kay Vess’s reputation with different factions. Exploration is key, with players able to traverse bustling cities, treacherous outposts, and the vast reaches of space while making choices that shape their journey.

  • Controls: The controls are designed to feel intuitive, with smooth third-person movement that allows Kay to navigate environments with agility. Combat is responsive, combining blaster firefights, cover-based shooting, and melee attacks, while spaceflight offers tight maneuverability for dogfights. Interactions with NPCs, hacking terminals, and using Nix for distractions are mapped efficiently to keep gameplay fluid and engaging.

  • Difficulty: The game offers multiple difficulty options, catering to both casual players and those seeking a more challenging experience. Enemy AI varies based on the setting, with tougher difficulties requiring smarter combat tactics, stealth approaches, and precise resource management. Space combat also presents a learning curve, demanding quick reflexes and strategic thinking, especially in high-risk encounters with the Empire or rival syndicates.

  • Replayability: With a branching narrative, different faction reputations, and various choices that affect the story, Star Wars Outlaws encourages multiple playthroughs. The open-world structure allows players to tackle missions in different ways, whether through combat, stealth, or diplomacy. Additionally, hidden secrets, collectibles, and dynamic world events make revisiting locations rewarding, ensuring there’s always something new to discover.

Graphics

  • Visual Style: Star Wars Outlaws embraces a highly detailed, cinematic realism that brings the Star Wars universe to life with stunning authenticity. Character models, environments, and lighting effects are meticulously crafted to mirror the lived-in, gritty aesthetic of the original trilogy. The game's seamless blend of atmospheric lighting, weather effects, and dynamic shadows creates an immersive world that feels like stepping into a Star Wars film.

  • Technical Performance: The game runs smoothly on current-gen hardware, targeting high resolutions with stable frame rates for a polished experience. While performance is generally strong, occasional minor texture pop-ins and NPC pathing issues can appear in busy city hubs. Load times are minimal due to seamless planetary transitions, and space travel remains fluid without significant stuttering or frame drops.

  • Art Design: The art direction perfectly captures the balance between the rugged, industrial look of the Outer Rim and the polished, imposing presence of the Empire. Environments are filled with rich details, from neon-lit cantinas buzzing with scoundrels to sprawling deserts with remnants of past battles. Every location, character outfit, and vehicle design feels authentic, reinforcing the sense of adventure and danger in the galaxy’s criminal underworld.

Sound

  • Soundtrack: The soundtrack of Star Wars Outlaws masterfully blends original compositions with the iconic orchestral themes of the Star Wars universe. Sweeping symphonic pieces heighten the tension during space battles and high-stakes heists, while subtle ambient tracks set the mood in bustling cantinas and desolate landscapes. The music dynamically shifts based on player actions, ensuring each moment feels cinematic and true to the franchise’s legacy.

  • Sound Effects: From the hum of speeder bikes to the crackle of blaster fire, every sound effect is meticulously crafted to enhance immersion. Environmental audio, such as the chatter of alien merchants or the distant roar of a TIE Fighter overhead, adds depth to each location. The use of directional sound ensures that every explosion, footstep, or mechanical whir feels authentic and responsive to the player's actions.

  • Voice Acting: The game features a strong cast of voice actors who bring life and personality to its characters, particularly protagonist Kay Vess. Performances feel natural, with well-delivered dialogue that captures the charm, wit, and tension of the game's narrative. Alien species speak in their respective languages, adding authenticity, while interactions with major characters feel engaging and emotionally driven.

Multiplayer (None)

  • Modes: The game does not feature a multiplayer mode. The game is designed as a single-player experience, focusing on the narrative-driven campaign.

Pros and Cons

  • Pros:

    • Expansive Open World: The game offers a richly detailed and immersive Star Wars universe, allowing players to explore diverse planets and engage in various criminal activities.

    • Engaging Story and Choices: Meaningful player decisions impact the narrative and relationships with factions, adding depth to the experience.

    • Seamless Space and Ground Gameplay: Transitioning between space combat, planetary exploration, and on-foot missions feels fluid and dynamic.

  • Cons:

    • Lack of Multiplayer: The absence of co-op or competitive multiplayer may disappoint players hoping for shared adventures in the Star Wars galaxy.

    • Occasional Technical Issues: Some minor bugs, such as texture pop-ins and NPC pathing glitches, crashes to desktop, can momentarily break immersion.

    • Limited Customization: While the game offers some personalization for Kay and her ship, deeper customization options for weapons, outfits, and gear would have enhanced replayability.

Final Verdict

Star Wars Outlaws pulled me into its immersive world, capturing the essence of the Star Wars universe with its rich storytelling and dynamic gameplay. Exploring planets, engaging in space combat, and making choices that shaped my journey made for an exciting experience. While I wished for deeper customization and occasionally ran into minor technical hiccups, the game's strong narrative and detailed environments kept me hooked. Overall, it’s a thrilling adventure that any Star Wars fan or action-adventure enthusiast should experience.

My final verdict for Star Wars Outlaws is 5 leaves out of 5.

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