It's not easy being a Star Wars fan. There's so much to worry about when you hear about the new project, especially if it's a game. While I was a bit skeptical, I found Star Wars Outlaws a very entertaining title that deserves to be part of the famous franchise.
Story
In Star Wars, characters are the most important segment of the story. While Kay Vess is no Han Solo or Bo-Katan, she's an interesting character in line with the story in Star Wars Outlaws. I would compare her with Andor rather than Solo because she's also trying to survive, initially ignoring higher-purpose Rebel talk. Kay does her part well, Nix steals every scene as a cute combination of Disney's Stitch and Pokemon.
He's always there, ready to help Kay in her adventures. It's also easy to control him, making him an essential part of the story. As opposite to Nix's cuteness is the ND-5 droid, which reminded me of a legendary HK-47 from KOTOR. You'll love him!
While they're all great, the main character is a Star Wars open world. Every city feels alive, with citizens of the Outer Rim doing their things. Since the first scene, I felt like I was part of the Mandalorian show (with all planet hopping). Every character you meet feels alive and part of the (under)world. Even playing Sabacc felt alive as each opponent had a different character (especially that famous one). Suffice it to say, I enjoyed taking their credits!
- Score: 5/5
Quests
Most quests in Star Wars Outlaws are designed well, with a goal that drives the story forward. Don't be discouraged by a slow start; missions get more interesting as you unlock more worlds and skills. That said, less crawling and evading enemies and more action would be welcome in the first 10 hours of the game. I'm aware Kay is a thief, but I do not like stealth missions, especially those "don't get caught."
My biggest issue with stealth missions is that you must start all over again when caught. Not only did I have to repeat the process of avoiding patrols, but I also had to do all activities on the map all over again, from opening the chest to picking up loot. It's simply not fun. Luckily, I'm not alone on this, so scratch this complaint if developers fix this issue properly.
Interestingly, I chose violence with the help of Nix's abilities a couple of times, and the game didn't punish me. I felt the game was holding my hand and guiding me through levels when it wasn't really necessary. In fact, missions were at their best when I was given more freedom (without dreaded stealth).
One of the best examples was an exclusive Season Pass mission, Jabba's Gambit. It reminded me of one of the Mandalorian episodes, as you had a bit of everything: space fights, combat, story, and movie-like cinematics. Oh, and one piece of advice - never lie to Jabba the Hutt!
- Score: 4/5
Gameplay and Controls
I was a bit overwhelmed when I tried to customize PC controls, as I'm left-handed. For some reason, the 'P' button, which I use for forward (welcome to the left-handed world), constantly opened skills options. After that, the 'O' key refused to cooperate. But apart from my customization escapades, I had no in-game issues. On the contrary, I had a great time playing the game, as the controls felt natural and easy to use.
I did have some issues with the speeder bike controls, which made the ride less fun than expected. I found the controls too sensitive, which forced me back to the dreaded customization options (create default controls for left-handed, please!). Even when I fixed that to some degree, the speeder experience felt underwhelming. You can't shoot at enemies while on a speeder, so you must wait for your adrenaline meter to be filled to choose targets and do slow-motion multi-kill.
Combat is an important part of the gameplay, but it's not something you'll talk to your grandkids about. It can be a bit stiff, forcing you to combine crawling with gunfights. Having said that, I didn't have an issue with Kay having trouble downing enemies, as it felt more realistic. This is not a third-person shooter but an adventure game with shooting. Be honest, you don't expect some thief to enter the Empire base and kill everything that moves.
As for space gameplay, it's clear the developers didn't want to experiment with it. They created everything I expected from Star Wars (mostly hyperjumps and dog fights), but nothing I hadn't experienced in other games (including an old TIE Fighter game I played as a kid). Some clever mechanic or more interesting exploration would probably do the trick.
While I expected much more from a Star Wars game regarding battles and space travel, I understand their thinking, as let's be honest: Kay is a thief, not Admiral Ackbar. Overall, space was a nice experience but felt a bit empty compared to open-world planet maps.
- Score: 3.5/5
Graphics & Sound
Visuals are one of the most important reasons why Star Wars Outlaws is such a cinematic experience. The graphics transported me straight to the old trilogy, with its grainy looks and the option to play in a 21:9 aspect ratio. Every planet looks gorgeous, with its different biomes. Everywhere I went, I saw different alien species casually walking down the street, doing their own thing, each having a distinct, fantastic look.
Sound is vital in the SW universe, making everything alive and upbeat. The music score is great, although its main purpose is to help with the atmosphere. If you were hoping to hear a fantastic theme like "Imperial March," you're out of luck. Secondary sounds are impressive, especially when you walk into the city. Everything I heard helped me to get engrossed in the vivid atmosphere of the outer worlds. Terrific sound design made the game alive, with people talking, music from the cantina, droids walking around, and more.
- Score: 5/5
Verdict - The best Star Wars solo adventure without Solo
Star Wars Outlaws is a great game that successfully captures the spirit of the Star Wars universe. It's a must-play for fans of the franchise and for anyone looking for an open-world adventure that doesn't overstay its welcome. With its engaging characters that steal the show (Nix is so cute!), entertaining quests, and stunning visuals, Star Wars Outlaws is a galactic single-player adventure you should experience.
For more information on Star Wars Outlaws, check out Is there romance in Star Wars Outlaws on Pro Game Guides.
Published: Sep 13, 2024 06:06 am