Star Wars Outlaws is finally available for everyone to play, and as per the usual with a Ubisoft title, it’s become quite controversial.
The latest addition to the Star Wars gaming universe offers a chance to step into the shoes of an outlaw in that galaxy far, far away. While it isn’t groundbreaking in terms of gameplay mechanics or storytelling, it’s certainly providing an enjoyable experience for many fans looking for a non-standard Star Wars experience.
However, while many seem happy with enjoying playing as a non-Jedi in a post Star Wars: A New Hope universe, there’s a growing discontent with how the game supposedly fails to live up to expectations.
How so? Let’s start by addressing the elephant in the room: the game’s reception. In today’s gaming climate, where anything below a 9 is often viewed as mediocre, it’s important to remember that scores like 7 or 8 actually indicate a good if solid game. Star Wars Outlaws may not be revolutionary, but it’s far from a disappointment.
One of the game’s strongest aspects is its world-building and exploration, a staple of the tried-and-tested Ubisoft formula. The developers have clearly put plenty of effort into creating diverse, visually stunning environments that truly capture the essence of the Star Wars universe.
You can’t help but immerse yourself in the game’s various planets and locations. Cruising around Tatooine on a speeder, for instance, is one of the coolest Star Wars experiences ever in a video game, which is saying a lot when you can play as Darth Vader or Starkiller.
The graphics in Star Wars Outlaws are another highlight. The game’s visuals do an excellent job of bringing the Star Wars universe to life, with detailed environments and impressive special effects. This attention to visual detail contributes significantly to the overall immersion and helps players feel like they’re truly part of the Star Wars galaxy.
Progression elements in the game are also worthy of praise. The skill progression system and the ability to upgrade various aspects of your character and equipment provide a satisfying sense of growth and customization. Players enjoy collecting materials and credits, which adds a layer of depth to the gameplay experience.
However, Star Wars Outlaws is far from perfect. Its AI, particularly during search sequences, feels somewhat lacking in intelligence, sometimes breaking immersion and making certain stealth sections feel less challenging than they perhaps should be.
Another area where the game falls short is in its facial animations, especially during cutscenes. The human characters’ faces can look a bit off, which can detract from important story moments.
The combat in Star Wars Outlaws is also so-so. While you do get a variety of blaster options and the ability to cause havoc with different weapons, the gunfights feel too safe and straightforward. The “aggressive stealth” approach, where players can off enemies before they can raise an alarm, is a fun tactical option albeit one that feels too easy.
The physics system in Star Wars Outlaws is also a weakness, particularly in parkour and climbing. You’ll often find yourself getting stuck on environmental objects, unable to navigate certain terrain that looks like anyone can climb. This is an area where many feel Massive Entertainment could have benefited from assistance from other Ubisoft studios with experience in this area because, you know, they kind of made Assassin’s Creed.
Despite these issues, Star Wars Outlaws remains an enjoyable experience overall. It successfully captures the feeling of being an outlaw in the Star Wars universe, which is no small feat. The open-world design allows for much freedom in how players approach missions and explore the game’s various locations.
While problems like memory leaks and quest-related bugs can feel frustrating, Star Wars Outlaws is an incredibly enjoyable game you can lose yourself in for hours on end.
Star Wars Outlaws definitely isn’t winning GOTY at the end of the year—the award is PlayStation’s to lose— but as far as nailing the Star Wars experience goes, very few have done it as well.
