In a universe filled with Jedi and Sith, Star Wars Outlaws boldly questions: what about the ordinary folks? This ambitious open-world game puts players in the shoes of Kay Vess, a clever rogue making her way through the criminal underworld. Armed with a trusty blaster and a lovable alien companion, players will embark on daring heists, navigate risky alliances, and maybe even discover a sense of belonging among the cosmos. But can Outlaws capture the same rebellious charm that endeared characters like Han Solo and Lando Calrissian to fans?

Like a valuable shipment smuggled by a rogue, Outlaws presents exciting opportunities alongside potential challenges. I explore the game's vast planets, intense gunfights, and diverse characters to determine if it has what it takes to stand out among the best Star Wars games. So buckle up and prepare to set off – let's find out if Star Wars Outlaws possesses enough rugged charm to win over even the most skeptical space pirate.

In a distant galaxy, nestled between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, a new protagonist emerges from the underbelly of crime. Outlaws introduces Kay Vess, a spirited rogue with ambitions surpassing her means. Alone and orphaned, Kay has survived through cunning and quick reflexes. Her loyal companion, Nix, a delightful alien creature blending traits of a ferret and axolotl, brings depth to Kay's transformation from self-centered survivor to reluctant hero.

The narrative starts off with a classic premise – a heist gone awry. Kay finds herself marked for death by Sliro, the enigmatic leader of the Zerek Besh syndicate. To clear her name and secure a life-changing reward, she must gather a crew and execute a grand scheme. While reminiscent of stories like Ocean's Eleven or Guardians of the Galaxy,...The Star Wars twist adds a refreshing element to the story. As Kay travels between planets, she assembles a diverse group of outcasts and troublemakers. Memorable characters include ND-5, a witty reprogrammed battle droid, and Jaylen Barron, a charismatic fixer who involves Kay in a major heist. The appearance of familiar figures such as Jabba the Hutt and Qi'ra from Crimson Dawn ties Outlaws neatly into the larger Star Wars universe.

The narrative moves swiftly, featuring betrayals, daring escapes, and high-stakes risks. While it may not match the grandeur of the films, Outlaws weaves an entertaining tale that captures the essence of the criminal side of Star Wars. The heart of the story, however, lies in Kay's development. Witnessing her journey of learning to trust and form connections with others, creating a surrogate family along the way, provides the story with genuine emotional depth.

Despite some shortcomings like vague character motivations and unresolved plotlines, Outlaws offers a compelling narrative that will keep players engaged until the end. Blasters, speeders, and sabacc: Living out a Star Wars fantasyUbisoft provides players with a variety of tools to immerse themselves in their own Star Wars adventure. The gameplay focuses on gunfights, stealth, and puzzles as Kay infiltrates enemy strongholds and carries out missions for different factions.

Combat is gratifying, featuring a responsive cover system and impactful gun mechanics. Kay's customizable blaster allows for quick switching between different firing modes, enabling adaptation to various situations. By activating Kay's "Focus" ability, time slows down, leading to cinematic shootouts reminiscent of the Mos Eisley Cantina. Although enemies offer a decent challenge on higher difficulty levels, their AI can be exploited at times.For players who prefer a more stealthy approach, Outlaws provides robust gameplay options for sneaking around. Kay, the main character, can utilize tactics such as hiding in tall grass, creating distractions, and executing silent takedowns to evade enemies. Additionally, Nix, a companion character, plays a significant role by scouting ahead, marking enemies, and disabling security systems. Integrating Nix into your strategy adds an enjoyable tactical element to the stealth experience. While the AI for stealth isn't incredibly advanced, it still offers a satisfying challenge for those looking to complete objectives undetected.

Progressing through the game allows Kay to acquire new gear and abilities to enhance her capabilities. Instead of a typical skill tree, players unlock talents by completing challenges for "Expert" characters across different locations in the galaxy. This unique system ties character development to exploration and accomplishing specific gameplay objectives. Initially, progression may feel a bit slow, but by the end game, you will have a diverse array of tools at your disposal.

Outlaws features a blend of ground-based and space exploration. On land, players navigate between objectives using Kay's speeder bike, which can be upgraded for improved performance. Space travel presents a mixed experience, with Kay's ship, the Trailblazer, feeling somewhat cumbersome during battles. However, soaring through asteroid fields and maneuvering between capital ships still offers exciting moments. Space exploration is somewhat limited, primarily centered around small orbital zones near each planet.

The game spans various planets within an open-world setting, each with unique landscapes and settlements to discover. From the sandy terrains of Tatooine to the vibrant streets of Kijimi, the environments capture the essence of the Star Wars universe while providing visual diversity. Every planet is filled with side missions and hidden items to uncover, including bounties, Sabacc games in cantinas, alien races to bet on, and more. While at times it can feel like checking off tasks on a list, the range of activities helps bring the Star Wars galaxy to life.

The faction reputation system introduces consequences based on your actions within the open world, adding depth and impact to your decisions.Completing jobs for a single syndicate may upset other factions, resulting in exclusion from certain areas or being targeted by hit squads. While not overly complex, this system increases replay value and prompts players to consider their decisions. The gameplay is generally solid, but there are some drawbacks. Mandatory stealth segments in story missions can be frustrating for those not specialized in that playstyle. Although there are numerous open-world activities, they may become repetitive over time. Despite visually stunning space combat, it falls short of dedicated Star Wars flight simulators.

On the visual front, Outlaws is a visual feast for Star Wars enthusiasts. The environments are rich in the weathered detail that characterizes the franchise's unique aesthetic. Character models are expressive in cutscenes, although their facial animations may appear stiff during gameplay conversations. Special effects such as blaster fire and explosions burst with vibrant colors and dynamic energy. Notably, the lighting is excellent, setting the mood with moody cantinas and neon-lit streets that evoke a strong atmosphere.

In terms of performance on PC, outcomes can vary widely based on your system specifications. With a top-tier setup (RTX 3080, i7-10700K, 32GB RAM), we maintained a mostly consistent 60 FPS at 1440p on maximum settings. However, bustling areas like crowded streets or intense combat sequences could lead to noticeable frame rate drops. Lower-end systems might struggle to sustain smooth frame rates without significant visual compromises. Load times are generally swift, with seamless transitions when entering buildings. Yet, there are extended initial load times when launching the game or quick-traveling between planets. Some technical glitches arise, such as texture pop-in upon entering a new area. While a few hard crashes occurred, regular saves mitigated potential loss of progress.

The game's sound design authentically captures the Star Wars ambiance, from the iconic pew-pew of blasters to the familiar hum of speeders.In Star Wars Outlaws, John Williams' iconic themes are creatively remixed, giving a fresh twist to the familiar Star Wars sound. The voice acting impresses across the board, with the main cast delivering compelling performances. Alien languages and droid sounds add authenticity to the overall atmosphere of the game.

While Outlaws doesn't revolutionize the open-world formula, it successfully adapts it to the Star Wars universe. The main storyline offers an engaging heist adventure filled with charismatic characters, blending action, stealth, and exploration to capture the essence of being a charming rogue in a galaxy full of opportunities and risks.

One area where Outlaws falls short is its open-world structure. Some side activities feel disconnected from the main plot, and the faction system lacks the impact it could have. The game seems torn between delivering a tightly woven cinematic experience and providing true sandbox freedom. Additionally, technical issues and underdeveloped systems hinder Outlaws from reaching its full potential.

Despite its flaws, Outlaws, much like the Millennium Falcon, has its strengths where it matters. The game exudes charm and offers a unique perspective on the Star Wars universe that is worth exploring despite its rough spots. For fans looking to carve their own path as scoundrels in the galaxy, Outlaws presents a refreshing take that few other Star Wars games have achieved. While not perfect, it sets a solid foundation for future adventures in the grittier side of the Star Wars universe.

Our rating: 3.5/5