Game review 30 August 2024, 03:52

author: Krzysztof Lewandowski

Star Wars Outlaws Review - A Successful Rogue Adventure, Although Not Without Its Flaws

Star Wars Outlaws is in many ways a typical Ubisoft game, but one that is done – at least in my opinion – better than the developer's other titles.

The review is based on the PC version. It's also relevant to PS5, XSX version(s).

I didn't have very high expectations, but I was really pleasantly surprised. Star Wars Outlaws has elements that made me stay up all night – I couldn’t say no to another game of sabacc or I when got the one-more-mission syndrome. I notice the flaws, but they are not significant enough to spoil the enjoyment of experiencing Kay Vess's story.

Han Solo likes it

The main character of Star Wars Outlaws is the aforementioned Kay, a smuggler who gets into serious trouble. As a result, she must make the heist of her life, and to do this, she needs to assemble a suitable team of specialists - including a droid and a bomb specialist. So we are greeted by the heist movie convention, abounding in dangerous action, betrayal, espionage, break-ins, and fraud.

I liked the plot, but that's because this light, entertaining concept simply works for me. One could argue that the dialogues could have been written more lively, making the whole a bit more engaging. However, the script for Star Wars Outlaws is not a future classic that will amaze with narration and a twist like The Usual Suspects from 1995. In terms of plot, this game is closer to a Marvel production or the standalone movie about Han Solo. We will smile, get a few surprises, enjoy the rather simple characters, and let ourselves be carried away on a journey through a few Star Wars planets.

If Ubisoft's production was ever to get a movie adaptation, the Disney logo would fit it perfectly. There are some simplifications or naiveties here, but this is a natural part of a simple fun - and that's it. If you want something more unconventional, you should play Star Wars: The Old Republic.

A difficult and realistic game? This wasn't what I have ordered.

The gameplay also has a lot of conventionality, but even here I am happy to play the advocate for Star Wars Outlaws. It is certainly not a game that uses innovative solutions - we know them well from previous Ubisoft games, for example from the Assassin's Creed series. While playing, we often have to sneak around, silently defeat enemies, climb or look for the best way to pass through locations without setting off an alarm. Almost every one of these elements was done decently.

Believe me, I am the biggest complainer when it comes to gameplay. I get bored very quickly if the challenge is too high (soulslikes, I'll never get you!) or if the game becomes monotonous. Meanwhile, Star Wars Outlaws offers not too difficult missions and satisfactory progression. The game is not artificially prolonged, and it can surprise with novelties that introduce variety - for example, a stronger type of enemy, who, unlike others, fights in close combat, which increases adrenaline and dynamics of the fights.

Sure, opponents could notice that their work buddies are suddenly disappearing because of me. This would increase the realism of the gameplay, but it would also guarantee additional problems - we would spend more time in locations and probably more often decide to play without killing anyone. So I definitely prefer this convention and a relatively low challenge, while at the same time diversifying the game and making faster progress in the story.

Freedom with limitations

Star Wars Outlaws does not force us to approach the task in a predetermined way. It's up to us whether we enter through the front door or try to move through the ventilation shaft. We also choose whether we leave bodies behind, or pass completely unnoticed like a ghost. I feel satisfaction from searching and finding a path that suits me more, even if there aren't many to choose from, just two or three.

Of course, much more emphasis was placed on stealth, but there is also some combat here, which you can also engage in just to have more action. The fun coming from shooting and confrontations also comes with certain drawbacks. First of all, Kay's movement is very sluggish and she lacks the ability to roll - which is the best way to avoid damage!

However, the adrenaline, explosions, the sight of fallen enemies and victory compensate for all these shortcomings. My only complaint is about the saving system. During the missions, you have to rely on autosaves. Sometimes, they can take us a bit too far from the place of death.

Beautiful, living world

The choices are supposed to have narrative consequences, but their impact is more focused on gameplay. I'm talking about the decision of which faction to help in the course of a given task. This is then reflected in the reputation system, i.e. who likes us and who doesn't. Poor relations with a given group mean worse prices from its traders or an immediate attack if you enter its territory.

Frankly speaking, Ubisoft could've go further here and make the choices affect the story. Still, even small things like this make the open world feel responsive – reacting to our actions here and there. Ubisoft has also managed to make it quite lively. I never felt taken out of the story or perceived the locations and NPCs as puppets – and I'm sensitive to that, because while walking the streets of Night City in Cyberpunk 2077, I felt like everyone around me was dead inside.

Is it a matter of the beauty of planets, each of which seems large, different in terms of climate, and full of details? I have a feeling that I'm under an illusion, although I also have some solid facts. For example - while riding the speeder we encounter other characters travelling in vehicles and we avoid a collision, we will hear angry voices from afar. Some animals can suddenly attack us, and when we enter a bar, our attention is immediately drawn to the bustling bartender, the jukebox, or the table with people playing sabacc. This world is really alive, or at least it pretends well.

Amusement park with many attractions

Basically, wherever we go, Star Wars Outlaws has some feature, a mini-game or other novelty for us. It's up to us what we will be interested in - without any penalties. The game will not become more difficult if we do not acquire all available upgrades or do not use every skill we have gained.

It would be pointless to list every attraction, but believe me - there are plenty of them. From a little gambling (betting money on races), through playing slot machines, to completing side tasks, nicely woven into the plot - after all, our heroine is a smuggler who will gladly accept a new order and make a name for herself in the criminal underworld. For me, the undisputed king turned out to be the card game of sabacc – balancing luck with the need to choose the right tactics and having many twists (also changing the rules of the game), thanks to which there is no way you can get bored. Sabacc has became as effectively addictive as Gwent in The Witcher 3.

I would consider Nix as a separate attraction. Well, you could even consider him the game's highlight! This charming creature is a constant, loyal companion, that makes traveling much more pleasant, and he also helps us with his special abilities during missions. Personally, what won me over the most was eating local dishes with Nix, which is done as a QTE mini-game. Nix's reactions are super sweet, and we can also admire the exotic cuisine!

A deception that could have been better, but is still entertaining

I could make a litany of the shortcomings of Star Wars Outlaws. The speeder driving physics needs a redo - although during story pursuits, the fun suddenly increases. Maybe it's because there's a bit more going on and it's not just about moving from point A to point B, but about escaping? Either way - it can be tiring. FPS drops unfortunately happen, so the optimization could be better. As for the soundtrack, nothing stuck in my memory, neither positively nor negatively. Some of the additional activities like "find the treasure" are boring for me, however, the game didn't force me to do them. We have an open world, but I would like to see more RPG mechanics in it - like unexpected interactions with NPCs.

I can go on like this - this could have been better, that is a bit shaky. Star Wars Outlaws is a smuggler with flaws that are easy to turn a blind eye to and be charmed by despite them. The cinematic story told keeps you intrigued until the end, the worlds are pleasing to the eye, and the gameplay offers a variety of attractions. Yes, there are problems, but they are not very painful, you can get used to them, sometimes you just need to grit your teeth and curse at the screen. The Force in this game turned out to be stronger than I assumed.