Star Wars Outlaws is an ambitious open-world game set in the Star Wars universe, developed by Ubisoft. The game was released on August 30, 2024, it takes place between the events of “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi” and is the first game in the long-running franchise to feature open-world game play and vehicles, towns, and planets to explore to become an infamous outlaw with a reputation throughout the galaxy. The world is rich and filled with characters and creatures that are unique to the franchise and this world. While the game is a lot of fun and best as a service for fans, it can’t escape some flaws from its stealth system and some graphical limitations that have attempted to choose style over substance.
Story and Setting
You step into the shoes of Kay Vass, a cunning thief navigating the galaxy’s underworld. The game kicks off with a botched heist, forcing Kay and her adorable pet companion, Nix, to embark on a series of high-stakes missions across various planets. The narrative is engaging, filled with shady deals, daring rescues, and a quest to clear Kay’s name. Along the way, you pick up jobs from various rival gangs that affect your reputation and ability to get more missions to repair your ship.
The main story clocks in at around hours of cinematically charged story that feels like a cross between Indiana Jones & Uncharted with a splash of the Force thrown in for good measure. The main villain Sliro is introduced at the start of the game via a cut scene and then is oddly absent for most of the rest of the main story. He places a bounty on your head, sending waves of enemies and gangs hunting you, but he rarely makes an impact until the endgame.
Gameplay
The gameplay is a mix of exploration, stealth, and combat. While the open-world design allows for a lot of freedom, the stealth mechanics can feel a bit simplistic and the combat somewhat repetitive. However, the game shines in its world-building and the sense of adventure it evokes. The planets are beautifully crafted, offering a mix of familiar and new locations that are a joy to explore. As an outlaw you do have a blaster pistol which can be upgraded throughout your journey. It is important to note that as an outlaw there are no lighsabers or use of the force here. You can pick up secondary weapons from fallen stormtroopers, but you don’t hold on to them for too long. You also make use of a whip, Nathan Drake style, to jump across large gaps.
During your playthrough you get access to an ability called Adrenaline Rush that allows you to select multiple enemies and then take them all out at the same time. When you are riding the speedster, this is the only option you have for combat which is a little disappointing.
By far the most frustrating part is the stealth gameplay. You do spend a lot of the game sneaking past enemies and situations to avoid detection and any direct conflict. The issue here is, when you are caught, there is no way to fight your way out or run away and attempt to escape. You simply are taken back to before you were caught and have to try again. There can be several different things you have to do to get past certain areas and it can be extremely frustrating.
Visuals and Sound
Visually, Star Wars Outlaws is stunning. The environments are richly detailed, and the character designs are top-notch. Each city area is incredibly detailed in both design and populated with various characters from across the galaxy. There is an option to shift the 21:9 widescreen ratio that makes it look the part of the original trilogy of movies. This can easily be turned off in the settings along with the film grain. Personally I turned these settings off as they were distracting and didn’t present the game in the best light. The sound design, including the iconic Star Wars music, adds to the immersive experience, the same cannot be said for the lip-syncing, particularly in cut scenes which is consistently out of whack.
Performance
I reviewed this game on the Playstation 5 and didn’t experience too many issues in the game. There were a couple of times it crashed out and took me back to the home screen. There are two modes a Performance mode that allows for 60fps and a downgraded resolution and a Quality option that bumps it up to 4K resolution at 30fps. The mode I used for most of the game was the 40 FPS Quality Mode which is a great blend of the two and with the right monitor or TV, made the game perform and look the best.
Final Thoughts
Star Wars Outlaws is a solid addition to the Star Wars gaming universe. It offers a compelling story, beautiful visuals, and a rich world to explore. Despite its flaws, it’s a game that fans of the franchise will likely enjoy, especially those who appreciate a good blaster at their side. It’s a shame that the visuals are so grainy and jarring, while they do fit into the universe, it doesn’t translate well to the current gaming landscape. The forced stealth mechanics get a little repetitive, particularly in the later hours of the main story. The story does play it a little too safe in terms of story. Ubisoft has confirmed that updates will be sent out including quality-of-life improvements and there is a map ahead for extra content and a season pass to come.
Have you had a chance to play it yet? What are your thoughts?
