Star Wars Outlaws Review — Not too Forceful

As a seasoned gamer with decades of gaming under my belt, I must confess that Star Wars Outlaws is a game that I can cozy up to like an old pair of slippers. It’s familiar, it’s comfortable, and it’s unassuming – much like the local diner that I frequent when I need a break from the high-octane, adrenaline-pumping games that have become my daily bread.

In a distant galaxy, a fresh story titled Star Wars Rebels endeavors to discard the open-world elements that are characteristic of its Ubisoft roots, while simultaneously adhering to some of the most conventional AAA gameplay structures. It’s engaging and I had a great experience playing it, but there’s much to consider about this new sci-fi journey.

Every Journey Starts with a Single Step

One way to rephrase the given text while maintaining its essence could be:

Kay Vess, our protagonist, is a humble thief hailing from a remote desert planet named Canto. Despite the potential for the grandest heist of her life turning sour, she’s not propelled into a galaxy-wide pursuit of vengeance or alignment with a rebellion. Instead, her goal remains steady – to live comfortably, away from prying eyes. This determination persists, even as the Rebel Alliance eventually makes its presence felt.

In a notable turn of events, the rebels in Star Wars Outlaws are portrayed as the weakest faction, often appearing as clumsy amateurs who repeatedly fail at significant tasks. Their ineptitude is what forces Kay to flee her homeworld and triggers a death mark from one of the dominant crime syndicates, setting her on an adventurous path.

The task at hand is easy, direct, and short; assemble a group of like-minded companions who are yet to find their place in society, and together, unlock the safe that the character Kay couldn’t open at the game’s start – a safe filled with wealth enough for each member to enjoy luxuries for several lifetimes.

In Star Wars Outlaws, many of these allies possess unique traits, unlike most characters in the series. They are generally noble individuals who engage in questionable actions due to their abilities; if they didn’t, they would either be imprisoned or forced to work for the empire. One of Kay’s former partners was confronted with this difficult choice and chose not to opt for a third alternative. However, when she later recruits him for the task, he eventually selects that option at a later time.

In her travels, the people Kay encounters share a balanced character. The more perceptive among them initially realize that Kay is inexperienced and green, yet as she demonstrates her abilities while working with them, their opinions of her gradually soften.

In the story of Outlaws, it’s worth noting that the villains initially seem no different. The chief antagonist, a criminal mastermind known as Sliro, amassed his underworld empire with money stolen from his family, countless murders, and an abundance of grudges. Though he may not appear often on screen, his influence is evident through the organization he created, Zerek Besh, which has a hand in virtually every venture Kay attempts to claim.

Regrettably, many storylines remain unfinished in this game. On the planet Kajimi, your character Kay becomes involved in a coup attempt without realizing it, which results in either the death of a queen or her heir. The decision you make as a player does not influence the broader narrative. Instead, the syndicate Crimson Dawn, which aimed to profit from this power struggle, appears to gain little regardless of the outcome. Essentially, this quest serves as an extended boost for one faction’s reputation while dealing a blow to another, with no further consequences.

To put it simply, the characters’ actions in Star Wars Outlaws are somewhat inconsistent. The plot of this story lacks depth compared to Star Wars. While it does include some intriguing surprises and turns, overall it is quite predictable, playing it safe, and aiming for broad audience appeal. The importance of the circumstances (despite Kay having a huge bounty on her head) never felt truly significant, there were scarcely any memorable scenes or intense moments, and only one risk was taken over the course of a 15-hour game. This single risk, though foreseeable from the outset, was one among many chances for it in this game.

I’d love to share my thoughts on the Outlaws tale as it kept me engaged with its character interactions, yet I find myself expressing merely an indifferent shrug due to its predictable and repetitive nature.

Safe Story, Safer Gameplay

I don’t have much to add about the combat and gameplay of Star Wars Outlaws, and my thoughts on it are relatively negative. In my opinion, Star Wars Outlaws lacks originality in many aspects such as gameplay mechanics, map design, and progression systems. Instead, it seems to be a blend of common tropes found in AAA games. Here’s a breakdown:

• Yellow paint for platforming sections.
• Mandatory simple climbing sections.
• Mandatory, unrefined, cover-to-cover stealth.
• A grand total of three mission types.
• A simple weapon crafting system.
• Very little enemy variety.
• Non-main quests are more chore than content.
• The maps are mostly empty spaces between loot locations.
• Lots of padding activities in all missions.
• Rewards are almost universally either money or crafting upgrades.
• The faction reputation system has little effect on the story.
• You can ignore every optional mechanic and mission ahs still get through the game just fine.

I could go on. And I’m not on the “yellow pain = bad design” train, because despite it futzing with an established art style, it can be useful to ensure players always have an idea what they’re being asked to do. I think Elden Ring using the environment and other in-world landmarks as a guide is better, but yellow paint doesn’t bother me.

I’m not particularly moved by any of those points on the list. Star Wars Outlaws doesn’t lose anything by checking all those boxes, but it also doesn’t gain anything and provides minimal additional value by relying on them. The game lacks the thrill of defeating a Souls boss or introducing new playstyles, so playing Outlaws always feels the same regardless of who’s controlling it. Even obtaining the best ship upgrades merely makes progressing through the game smoother and doesn’t significantly enhance the dogfighting experience.

If you step into “Star Wars Outlaws” anticipating an exceptional, genre-shaping adventure, you might find yourself severely let down. However, it’s quite fun in its own right, perfect for those moments when you want to take a break from heavy thinking and simply indulge in a light, entertaining gaming treat.

The Rest Is Never Best

I have mixed feelings about Star Wars Outlaws, as I enjoy the gameplay and some aspects of its story. However, I can’t heap too many praises on other elements of the experience. The music is acceptable, the world design is decent, the stealth missions work, the set pieces are fun enough, but they don’t quite reach the level of excellence found in top-tier games that might make you question your life choices.

The user interface appears to follow a typical AAA design, which means it’s overloaded with elements, takes up too much room, and can be rather awkward to navigate. However, once you get the hang of it, it shouldn’t pose a problem. It’s disheartening that many big-name studio titles, such as modern Call of Duty, seem to overlook interface and user experience design entirely.

Final Thoughts

During my experience playing Star Wars Outlaws, one recurring notion stood out: this game is among the best AAA games ever made. Just like an old, reliable blanket you’ve had for over a decade, it feels familiar, cozy, and unpretentious. It may not have flashy aesthetics or thrilling elements, but that’s not why you play it. Instead, you choose it because of its comforting presence and the relaxing gaming sessions it offers.

I’m undecided about returning to the game now that I’ve completed its story, but I have no regrets about the time I invested. After all the intense gameplay of Black Ops 6 and the pressure of Escape from Tarkov I’ve endured, something as routine as Star Wars Outlaws felt like sinking into a comfortable recliner and taking a nap. It was enjoyable, relaxing, and an experience I’ll seek out again when I need it.

• Good character writing across the board, with some exceptions.
• Familiar gameplay and progression.
• Tons of famous Star Wars faces to encounter.

• No new ideas to speak of.
• Lots of missed narrative opportunities.
• Boring, empty open worlds.

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2024-09-24 12:37