Star Wars Outlaws Review: Pros, Cons, Is It Worth Playing?

The Smuggler’s Gambit in a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Here we are talking about Star Wars Outlaws Review In the vast universe of Star Wars games, we’ve wielded lightsabers, unleashed Force powers, and experienced the endless battle between Jedi and Sith. But Star Wars Outlaws swaggers in with a different approach. This open-world action game opts for blasters over lightsabers and smuggler’s tricks over Jedi mind tricks. Set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, the game delivers a Han Solo-inspired adventure with both shining moments and occasional disappointments.

A Story Beyond the Jedi: The Smuggler’s Journey

Unlike previous Star Wars games, Star Wars Outlaws doesn’t focus on Jedi or Sith. Instead, it introduces us to Kay Vess, a cunning thief and smuggler who navigates the criminal underworld of the galaxy. Raised in the gambling capital of Cantonica, Kay is accompanied by her adorable partner in crime, Nyx, a small but handy companion. Together, they embark on a 20-hour adventure across four main planets, with their ultimate goal being to unite a band of criminals and pull off a major heist. However, Kay’s journey isn’t as grand as destroying a Death Star, but rather, it’s a series of shady deals and reckless rescue missions.

Kay’s main antagonist is SLO, a casino owner and crime boss who is more callous than outright evil. The story takes Kay through a variety of environments, from recognizable locations like Tatooine to entirely new planets. The game’s narrative may not be as grand as some other Star Wars stories, but it remains consistently entertaining.

Worlds to Explore: Open, but Not Too Open

While Star Wars Outlaws offers expansive environments, it’s not a fully open-world game like No Man’s Sky. Players can’t freely land anywhere on a planet, but the game does provide large sandboxes that contrast nicely with each other. From the arid sands of Tatooine to the lush rainforests of Akiva, the game’s environments are diverse and detailed. Kay’s speeder bike, which can be upgraded to skim across water, is the primary mode of transportation, adding a bit of variety to the exploration.

However, the game’s limited vehicle options are a bit disappointing. Despite the presence of bustling settlements with various vehicles like landspeeders and AT-STs, players are restricted to Kay’s speeder bike. This lack of interactive transportation feels like a missed opportunity, especially in a modern open-world adventure.

Stealth and Combat: A Mixed Bag

Outlaws places a heavy emphasis on both stealth and combat, but both aspects are hit-or-miss. Stealth mechanics range from simple yet effective lockpicking minigames to uneven infiltration sequences. Nyx plays a crucial role in sneaking around, as he can activate switches and distract enemies, adding a layer of strategy to missions. However, the stealth system can be inconsistent, leading to moments of frustration when alarms are triggered unexpectedly.

When stealth fails, players can rely on cover-based shooting, which features authentic Star Wars sound effects and visuals. While the combat is functional, it doesn’t bring anything new to the table. Explosive barrels are strategically placed throughout combat arenas, and Kay’s adrenaline rush ability, which slows down time for rapid targeting, adds some excitement. However, the overall combat experience feels repetitive, especially when compared to other Ubisoft titles like Far Cry.

The game also introduces space combat, allowing players to engage in dogfights with TIE fighters. While these encounters are fun and provide a break from ground combat, they don’t offer much challenge or depth. Modifying Kay’s ship is an option, but the lack of difficulty in space combat makes these upgrades feel unnecessary.

Syndicate System: A Game of Allegiances

One of the standout features of Star Wars Outlaws is its Syndicate system, which adds weight to player decisions. The galaxy is ruled by various crime families, and players must navigate the delicate balance of pleasing one faction while angering another. This system is reminiscent of the reputation mechanic from The Outer Worlds and forces players to constantly reevaluate their allegiances.

While the decisions made throughout the game don’t drastically change the overall outcome of the story, they do create a sense of being a true scoundrel in the Star Wars universe. Aligning with the right syndicate can make exploration easier, as certain factions control large sections of the map. This system adds a layer of strategy to the game and enhances the feeling of being part of the criminal underworld.

Quest Design: Surprises Around Every Corner

Star Wars Outlaws excels in its quest design, often taking simple objectives and turning them into multi-stage adventures filled with twists and turns. Whether it’s a mission to retrieve an object in Mos Eisley that suddenly plunges you into the depths of a Sarlacc pit or an encounter with a massive sandworm, the game constantly surprises players with exciting moments. These unexpected diversions are where the game truly shines, stringing together iconic Star Wars references with Uncharted-style action.

The game does a great job of teasing secrets and side quests in an organic way. Almost every conversation overheard in a cantina or discarded datapad read leads to new opportunities to explore or gamble. This creates a sense of discovery that feels authentic rather than being spoon-fed tasks to complete.

Technical Issues: A Galaxy of Bugs

As enjoyable as Star Wars Outlaws can be, it is plagued by technical issues that can pull players out of the experience. The PlayStation 5 version of the game suffers from numerous bugs, including graphical glitches, mission prompts failing to appear, and audio dropouts. These issues can be frustrating and may make players think twice about diving into the game until some of these problems are patched.

Star Wars Outlaws Review Final Verdict: A Smuggler’s Adventure Worth Taking?

Star Wars Outlaws is a mixed bag. On one hand, it offers a compelling story, an engaging Syndicate system, and moments of surprising quest design that make you feel like a true scoundrel in the Star Wars universe. On the other hand, its combat and stealth mechanics can feel repetitive, and the game is hindered by technical issues that detract from the overall experience.

Despite its flaws, Star Wars Outlaws has enough charm and adventure to satisfy fans of the Star Wars universe. It’s not a groundbreaking game, but like the Millennium Falcon, it may be a little rough around the edges, but it can still take you on an exciting journey through a galaxy far, far away.

Star Wars Outlaws: Official Launch Trailer

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