Initial release date: August 27, 2024
Developers: Massive Entertainment, Massive Entertainment AB
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, GeForce Now, Microsoft Windows
Mode:Â Single-player video game
Nominations:Â The Game Award for Most Anticipated Game
License:Â proprietary license
Composers: Kazuma Jinnouchi, Wilbert Roget, II, Jon Everist
It always helps when individuals in charge understand the subject matter since it offers fans confidence that they will receive a product worth playing. Massive Entertainment knows its stuff, and Star Wars Outlaws is chock-full of lore from the galaxy’s far reaches, callbacks to decades past, and minor pockets of the franchise’s history that fans will appreciate. Instead than bashing you over the head with Skywalkers, Death Stars, or Sith with respiratory issues, it offers a completely new story with unfamiliar characters. While it includes some famous names and settings, it stands on its own and is all the better for it.
Kay Vess is a rascal who is ready to commit the largest robbery of her life in order to live in peace and finally have the freedom she desires. Star Wars Outlaws puts you on a voyage to numerous planets and moons, where you must create a squad to steal millions of credits from Sliro, who is tracking you down every step of the way. While the main adventure contains spectacular set pieces and a more-than-satisfactory tale, it is the characters that make it so much more entertaining. The BX Commando Droid ND-5 is one of the most exciting new characters to appear in a galaxy far, far away in a long time, but nothing can prepare you for how much you’ll adore Nix.
It wasn’t until the little guy was stolen and almost sold to the Hutt Cartel that I realized how much I cared about them and would actually die to keep them safe. Many of your actions as Kay revolve around utilizing Nix to distract and attack enemies: pulling switches or pressing buttons, dropping down ladders, triggering explosions, pickpocketing unsuspecting civilians or officers, and so on. Nix is an important aspect of Star Wars Outlaws, and their abilities complement Kay Vess’. Whether breaking into an Imperial base or an abandoned Clone Wars factory, the traversal is enjoyable, as are the stealth elements.
Kay has a lot on his mind as he travels through vents, swings across drops with his grappling hook, climbs up walls and across large structures, sneaks around huge compounds and avoids notice, but there are opportunities to achieve his goals all over the place. With multiple access points and approaches to infiltration, you’re constantly thinking about the best way to sneak into a base of operations. Do you discover an underground passage or a method to descend from a nearby cliffside? Do you distract the Stormtroopers by hacking a terminal to release the blast doors? Regardless of the base you choose, there are numerous methods to get in and out.
Hacking terminals to turn off security cameras, disable turrets, and more creates a minigame in which you must pick symbols in the correct sequence, which is initially confusing but becomes clearer as you progress. Certain doorways and boxes require you to utilize your splicing tool as well. You will have to break into numerous buildings and bases, but this adds to the immersion and satisfaction of achieving your mission. Stealth is almost always an option, and while it might be exhausting at times, especially when you’d rather blow the heck out of the adversary, it’s almost always required.
Nix can scan regions to identify adversaries, and if you send them to attack, you can follow up with a silent takedown. If an opponent becomes aware of your presence, they may sound the alarm and unleash hellfire on you, forcing you to rely on your blaster skills to escape. It does not appear to take much for your health to deteriorate, and while bacta vials can help, they tend to function slowly or feel unresponsive. This can be difficult when you’re in the thick of battle, but most load points are located shortly before the part where you were eliminated.
When you’re not infiltrating, you can roam the various cities, eavesdropping on conversations for information, betting on races or playing arcade games in the cantinas, shopping for parts to upgrade your blaster, ship, or speeder, or simply existing in Massive Entertainment’s vastly ambitious world. Every location offers numerous possibilities to take resources, acquire treasures, and make a life for Kay and Nix while the perilous imminent heist hovers above you. These planets and moons are beautifully detailed, with each one feeling distinct from the last.
Tattooine appears in almost every Star Wars-related game known to man, and there’s a reason for it. With Star Wars Outlaws, it is home to Jabba the Hutt and his clan, with whom you will interact extensively throughout the game. What’s cool is that you get to see Akiva, a world that only appears in the Aftermath novels. Kijimi, another country scarcely explored outside of Rise of Skywalker, feels very different from the other environments, as it is home to a new crime syndicate, the Ashiga Clan. Toshara, the moon on which you spend the most of the first few hours, is also nicely designed and full of activities.
Massive Entertainment also does a good job with navigation. You can summon your speeder at practically any location on the larger maps, allowing you to traverse a large area quickly. The Trailblazer, Kay’s signature (and stolen) ship, is simple to manage in space and off-world, shooting down TIE fighters, collecting wreckages, and scanning for crucial parts, but the finest part of operating the ship is flying through hyperspace. Every mode of transportation in Star Wars Outlaws is flawless, and you’ll never tire of exploring the galaxy’s furthest reaches.
Star Wars Outlaws does not overwhelm you with tasks or occupations all at once. It feels anti-Ubisoft in this way, as the maps aren’t overcrowded with marks, giving the impression that there’s far too much to accomplish. You receive a lot of information from cantinas, either by talking to the bartender or listening to others, or through contacts who will give you information for a fee. You have your main quests to advance the story, but the other quests do not feel arbitrary because they all contribute to your standing among the crime syndicates, assist you in finding Experts who provide new abilities, acquire new parts for your weapons, speeder, and ship, and follow up on intel that may lead to a pirate camp treasure location, among other things.
The most refreshing aspect of Star Wars Outlaws is its approach to new talents and abilities. There are no skill trees or levelling up. You do not receive XP for killing foes or completing assignments. Instead, you must locate Experts throughout the galaxy who each assist with a specific aspect of Kay and Nix’ talents. Once you’ve discovered them, you can unlock additional skills by performing simple tasks such as collecting a specific number of credits from containers, defeating a certain number of foes while Nix distracts them, or traveling a given distance in the air on your speeder. Consider Fortnite and how you earn XP by fulfilling modest goals.
It’s a creative approach to develop your character, loadout, and vehicles, and although you may complete these objectives unnoticed, you may also concentrate on which new skills to unlock. While the main story includes some spectacular missions, the secondary material is just as interesting. Finding new Experts is excellent, but syndicate opportunities are also exciting. Gaining favor with the Pykes, Crimson Dawn, Ashiga Clan, or Hutts will offer you exclusive benefits, higher-quality items from connected merchants, and preferential treatment when visiting their territory. The reverse can lead to terrible interactions and consequences, but you always have a choice.
Star Wars Outlaws does not rely on Jedi or Sith. Players do not even need to be familiar with Star Wars to enjoy it, though it does help to understand all of the tiny nods, references, and Easter Eggs that are woven throughout the plot. One of my best experiences was touring an old High Republic spacecraft. Not only was it an impressively crafted and entertaining set piece, but I was able to locate datapads mentioning the Nihil and the Starlight Beacon. It is brimming with mythology, and I was constantly smiling at how it embraces every era of Star Wars. Also, make sure to overhear a chat at a cantina on Tattooine near a specific seating spot inside. That’s so cool.
I loved every second of Star Wars Outlaws, but while I had a great time playing it, there were a few issues that drained my enthusiasm at moments. Fast travel locations are scarce, therefore traversing the deserts of Tattooine or the jungles of Akiva become tedious, especially when you clip a hidden boulder or tree trunk, sending you flying off your speeder. Enemies are also way too quick to see you, so stealth can end before it even begins. There’s also a lot of back and forth in certain missions, when you travel long distances only to return and travel even more, which becomes repetitive the more you do it.
Review Overview
Gameplay – 85%
Controls – 80%
Aesthetics – 90%
Content – 82%
Accessibility – 78%
Value – 88%
Overall Rating – 85%
EXCELLENT!
Summary: “Star Wars Outlaws” brings the galaxy far, far away to life with an engaging open-world experience. The game offers a rich blend of ground and space combat, set against the backdrop of the Star Wars universe. With stunning visuals, responsive controls, and a variety of missions, it’s a title that will keep players entertained for hours. While there are some minor issues with pacing and control mechanics, the overall package is strong, making it a must-play for fans of the franchise.