Star Wars Outlaws

Would I consider this the best Star Wars game? No. But even with Ubisoft being in charge of this, it is enjoyable for what it is. Star Wars Outlaws is a nice game that takes place after Revenge of the Sith and has built the timeline up quite nicely. The gameplay can get pretty struggling at times and there are some missions that can get uninteresting. But at least those didn't stop from making the game worthwhile with a solid campaign, great graphics, and fun scavenger hunts that extends the game. Of course as a Star Wars fan myself, I wouldn't consider this the best game, but I think it would be worth playing for those that are into heist games. If this is the kind of game you think it's gonna be worth playing, then you will have a good time with it. Like Kay herself, the game could've pulled off better, but it still did a pretty good job with the heist. Happy Revenge of the 5th.

As someone who has enjoyed many titles in the Star Wars gaming universe-from the legendary *Knights of the Old Republic* to the thrilling *Jedi: Fallen Order*-my interest was piqued when *Star Wars Outlaws* was announced. After skipping the initial release due to a slew of bugs and complaints, I recently dove into the patched PS5 version, and I can confidently say that the game offers a solid experience, despite the distracting noise around its release.

Set between the events of *The Empire Strikes Back* and *Return of the Jedi*, *Outlaws* introduces us to Kay Vess, a young scoundrel navigating the dangerous underbelly of the Star Wars galaxy. The sandbox nature of the game allows exploration across four distinct planets and a vast expanse of space, engaging players in side missions, faction quests, and the main storyline. While this variety should be thrilling, the game leans heavily into stealth mechanics that might not resonate with everyone. The stealth itself feels somewhat basic, lacking the depth found in other Ubisoft titles like *Splinter Cell* or *Watch Dogs*. Crouching behind cover is your main tactic, which can feel a bit underwhelming given the expectations for a character focused on thievery.

Combat is another area where *Outlaws* falters, particularly when compared to Ubisoft's usual standards. While the blasters are upgraded to reflect the series' iconic weaponry, they often fail to deliver that satisfying thrill associated with engaging shooting mechanics. Though several unique weapons add variety, many are easily discarded after missions, leaving players feeling as though they missed opportunities for meaningful upgrades and attachments.

One of the game's standout features is Kay's companion, Nix-a semi-sentient creature that provides both charm and functionality. The developers excelled in creating an engaging sidekick who adds heart to gameplay. Nix not only assists in stealth but also engages in delightful segments where the two share meals, deepening the personal narrative and enhancing player connection.

The mission structure comprises Intel missions that often seem like busywork, while faction missions boast better engagement, offering impactful choices that affect standing with various groups. Main missions feature high points reminiscent of *Uncharted*, but sadly do not reach that level of intricacy or excitement. While I was surprised by the brevity of the main story-clocking in at just 12-14 hours-my total playtime extended over 35 hours, thanks to side quests and the intriguing card game, Sabacc.

Speaking of Sabacc, this minigame serves as a delightful diversion from the main quest. A reverse blackjack, players aim to get as close to zero as possible with their card values. This engaging activity not only allows for a refreshing change of pace but also offers an opportunity to interact meaningfully with NPCs. I found myself so enamored with the game that I devoted considerable time to mastering Sabacc, which became a rewarding aspect of my overall experience in *Outlaws*.

On the topic of crafting immersive experiences, the game's score plays a significant role. The music is a masterful blend of familiar themes and fresh compositions, enhancing the mood across different planets and intense moments. With each discovery or confrontation, the score skillfully pulls you deeper into the adventure, reminding us of the epic narrative backdrop of the Star Wars universe.

While exploring the game, I encountered the lock-picking minigame, which initially intrigued me due to its relevance to Kay's scoundrel nature. Unfortunately, the rhythm-based system felt repetitive and cumbersome, detracting from the overall enjoyment. It lacked the finesse and engagement needed to truly enhance the anti-theft experience, making it feel more like a chore than a fun mechanic.

Despite its many strengths and charm, *Outlaws* has been dismissed by a vocal minority online, driven by an unfortunate "anti-woke" backlash. It's perplexing that a game should receive such disdain simply because it features a female protagonist, which should have no bearing on the quality of gameplay itself. If you set aside this ridiculous hate campaign, you'll uncover a title that, while flawed, offers plenty and deserves to be experienced.

In conclusion, *Star Wars Outlaws* is a solid addition to the franchise, appealing to die-hard fans and newcomers alike. While aspects such as combat and lock-picking could use refinement, the immersive music, engaging companion dynamics, and enjoyable diversions like Sabacc contribute to its unique charm. With a little more polish and a wider reception free from unfounded vitriol, I firmly believe this game has a brighter future ahead.

**Rating: 7.5/10**

There's a lot to like about this game. Nix, Kay's pet is an effective tool to help you sneak past storm troopers to infiltrate Imperial Bases. Shooting down Tie fighters and recovering cargo during the space faring areas was a highlight. Taking place right after Empire Strikes Back made for some great nostalgic moments. Familiar storm troopers, droids, and aliens from the original trilogy is an easy slam dunk. Even the lack of Jedi didn't feel like a short coming as the gameplay felt like a familiar shooter instead of one-off light saber controls. Imagine Assassins Creed with a blaster on Tatooine.

The story was the low point of the game. You play as Kay Vess, a thief trying to work her way up in 6 different factions of crime syndicates simultaneously without any sort of finesse or cunning. Just betraying them to each other without ever really feeling like she was in danger. The only interesting character is an android.

I must point out that most of the characters I interacted with were women, even the storm troopers. It wouldn't have been so noticeable if the characters were written better but even Kay's story is thin and illogical.

I like the game and recommend it for Star Wars fans, just skip the cutscenes.

What happens when you take Ubisofts formulaic garbage and mix it with one of the best franchises of all time? You get Star Wars: Outlaws. Another subpar gaming experience from the geniuses at Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment.

I have put in just a little over 70 hours in this title, and quite frankly, I'm exhausted from talking about this game, so I will try to make this short.

The story is uninspired and is the same tired heist plot you'd find in your average Fast & Furious film. The characters are basic and are just interesting enough to not be completely boring. The gameplay is fun enough but nothing we haven't seen from other far superior titles ie Uncharted and Tomb Raider. The graphics are passable but are incredibly inconsistent. At times, environments and characters look good, then in others, it's downright bad.

Which, by the way, inconsistent is the perfect word to describe this game. In some aspects, this game can immerse you as you enjoy mini-games like Sabacc or work different jobs to increase your reputation with the four different syndicates or fly around the galaxy in your ship as you engage in aerial combat. But then, for all the moments of enjoyment, there's an equal amount of immersion-breaking, painfully dull ones.

Then this game, which was advertised as an action/adventure title, is, in fact, a horrendous stealth game. There are more stealth sections and instant fail states that any "action/adventure" game has any business having. Now this wouldn't be a complete disaster if the stealth was good. Unfortunately, the stealth in this game is half-baked and almost felt like it was tacked in and forced to be a major mechanic.

Finally the bugs and glitches. This game, on multiple occasions, either crashed or caused multiple progression-halting bugs. By the way, do not play this on PC. I had more issues playing this on my PC than I did on my Series X. Granted, my computer isn't the best thing on planet Earth, but it is a good one, and in most games, I can achieve 60 to 100 fps (Frames Per Second) consistently not with Outlaws however. Though at the end of the day, console or PC, this game is not optimized properly in any way.

I wanted to like Star Wars: Outlaws, being the massive Star Wars fan that I am, but this game not only has a serious amount of unmet potential but has too much bad for the good there is. This makes this all the more disappointing because the good that's here is fun and can be expanded upon; unfortunately, it's just not being utilized.

Anyway, if you're a massive Star Wars fan like me, then maybe... maybe you can squeeze every bit of Star Wars fun out of this average game to get your money's worth. If not, then I highly recommend waiting for this game to hit the bargain bin or, like me, getting a month of Ubisoft Plus and then immediately canceling for the best value.

Here's hoping Ubisoft's next title will bring some originality or at least be good. Either way, I'm not holding my breath.

Final Score: 5/10

Played on Xbox Series X and PC with Ubisoft+

Why does Kay's face look like play dough on PS5? An ambitious project to be sure but there are countless bugs, especially graphics wise. Space needs a serious fix as it's super tedious to pick things up with your ship. Toshara is a great bloody blur in the wilderness. Clouds are pixelated when you take off in the ship. It's 2024 people! A lot of side missions are super tedious. Furthermore, if I put something in easy I shouldn't die like I'm playing Tomb Raider on "normal." I suspect this was not finished for PS5 at launch time. Get moving on the fixes. Far to expensive for the mess you made with the graphics.