Quick Links
Summary
Ubisoft has entered a galaxy far, far away and made its own story in the Star Wars universe withStar Wars Outlaws.The game follows the outlaw Kay Vess and her pet Nix as they find a way to live in this unfair, Imperial-controlled galaxy and leave their mark on it.
The game is a third-person shooter with elements of stealth while also featuring a fixed narrative, an interesting reputation system, and a plethora of side quests and other content, such as gambling and a card game. All that said, should you hop into this new Star Wars adventure, or is it better to save your time and money for another game?
Review
By now, Ubisoft has become a master of making good games. It makes games that are technically good and functional but never go beyond that. Essentially, it’s that kid in school who gets a passing grade and is happy with it. Star Wars Outlaws is no exception.
As stated by our lead features editorJade King in her review of the game,there are many great aspects here for you to have fun with,from the entertaining core mechanics with both Kay and Nix, the amazing and immersive scenarios, a well-crafted reputation system, and the fun characters that you will encounter.
Despite all of its worthy successes, however, Outlaws also feels narratively scuppered, strangely unpolished, and just a few small steps away from greatness at every turn.
The problem begins with,while everything works, it’s too simplistic for its own good,in a fun yet unpolished journey that always misses the opportunity to be amazing, from a simple narrative that doesn’t peak as it should and also simple gameplay mechanics that stay more or less the same throughout the whole game.
Time Expenditure
For a single-player narrative, the game gives a good amount of time considering what it offers.The game can take you from 20 to 30+ hoursdepending on how much of it you wish to do, and though there are longer singleplayer games out there, this is actually a good amount of time for Outlaws since it’ll be fun without overstaying its welcome from repetitiveness.
The game will likelygo up to 20 hours if you’re simply focused on enjoying the narrativeand doing the occasional side content out of curiosity or upgrading one thing or two, with the30+ hours mark going for those who wish tocomplete everything Outlaws has to offer.
Ultimate Edition
U$129.99
This is where things get complicated.The game costs U$69.99 for its basic version,with ahigher priced version containing a season passwith an extra narrative expansion, andanother version with the same pass plus a few cosmetics.
The problem with these prices is thatbecause the game is simple and underdeveloped, not even the version with a season pass should be above U$69.99.The base version would be more worth it if it were around U$40. This might be a good purchase to make during the holiday season, though.
What Players Are Saying
She’s Got It Where It Counts, Kid - Matt Arnold
Outlaws is a fun blend of the original trilogy at its peak and new hits like The Mandalorian, with lore from across the Star Wars timeline for fans of every era. It takes a little while to get going, as it eases you into every mechanic step-by-step, but once the game lets you off the leash, the open-world exploration and story missions feel great.
It’s not a perfect game by any stretch - it’s got its share of bugs still to be worked out, and the price tag is daunting, to be sure - but Kay’s journey is a satisfying, enjoyable one. Perhaps most importantly, It’s the best trip I’ve taken to a galaxy far, far away in a very long time.
A Solid Star Wars Experience With Some Glaring Flaws - Seth Parmer
While rough around the edges, Star Wars Outlaws offers an epic Star Wars experience with authentic sights and sounds that drag you into its world and don’t let go. If you’re looking to explore some of the most iconic places in the universe with intriguing characters and a strong narrative (and many cameos), Outlaws has you covered.
However, if you’re in it for the action or general gameplay, it leaves much to be desired. It’s still a fun experience, but the combat can feel a bit barebones for the majority of the game. Nonetheless, I strongly recommend it if you’re a hardcore Star Wars fan. If not, it’s a bit harder to recommend until it receives a few patches.
Lacking Substance - Aidan Cannon
Similar to last year’s Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Ubisoft Massive has crafted another solid open-world effort. If you’re a fan of the franchise thrilled by the mere proposition of existing in one of your favorite fictional worlds, dive right in. If not, it’s hard to get excited. It really feels like Massive is sticking to the basics with this one, offering an experience that would be classified as inoffensive more than exciting. Combat is threadbare, the inclusion of stealth mechanics is interesting but never meaningfully fleshed out, and the story only shows promise as it’s ending.
With that being said, Outlaws still manages to squeeze some magic from its Star Wars branding thanks to the beautifully designed environments and solid art direction; it really is a looker. It feels like the building blocks for a terrific sequel are here, if only Massive wasn’t saddled with other responsibilities. As it stands now, Outlaws is a great pickup on sale, but I wish it had given me more hope for the brand’s future.
