We Played Star Wars: Outlaws and Have Answers to Your Biggest Questions
For as long as there have been Star Wars video games, fans have yearned for one thing—an open-world Star Wars game that lets you experience that galaxy far, far away on your own terms. Despite the many games set in the Star Wars universe, it always felt like we were missing that true open-world adventure. Has that finally changed with the release of Star Wars: Outlaws? Have we at last received the open-world experience we've been dreaming of? Well, as with all things in the Star Wars universe, the answer is complicated.
We were fortunate enough to get our hands on an early copy of the game, and we're here to answer your burning questions. We know how much you love Star Wars, but we also know you're understandably cautious about placing your trust in Ubisoft, given their hit-or-miss track record. Some of their games are instant classics, while others...not so much. So, let's dive in and address the questions you've been dying to ask about Star Wars: Outlaws—and whether it's the game we've all been waiting for.
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1
"Does it feel like classic Star Wars?"
Yes, absolutely! In fact, "feeling like Star Wars" is Outlaws' greatest strength. Massive Entertainment has brilliantly captured not just the look but the very essence of Star Wars. We are, of course, referring to that "classic" grimy, dirty and lived-in look and feel that the original trilogy had, and less of the clean, sterile feel of the prequels or some of the TV shows. Every planet and location we visited felt like it could've been a set straight out of the original films, and the sound design is just as spot-on. It's clear that a lot of love and care went into crafting this world.
In terms of graphic fidelity, we played on the PS5, and it looks great—not the most eye-popping game out there, and definitely not a true "next-gen" title, but still impressive overall. The open world is stunning, but some of the character models, particularly Kay Vess herself, fall a bit flat. While her design isn't bad, she does look a bit bland and generic, with facial expressions that leave much to be desired.
Overall, if you're looking to immerse yourself in the world of Star Wars, explore its planets and creatures, and feel like you've stepped into George Lucas's original vision, this game delivers on that promise.
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2
“Is it too Ubisofty”?
We're not trying to dunk on Ubisoft here, but they do have a certain formula for their open-world games, and it's starting to feel a bit tired. So does this game have a bunch of communication towers you have to liberate in order to unlock more and more icons on your map so you can do the same missions over and over? Surprisingly, no. While Outlaws is an open-world game, it's primarily a story-driven experience, meaning you're not just dropped onto a planet to wander aimlessly. Most of the time, you'll be following Kay's story, which leads to some pretty diverse missions.
One mission might have you sneaking through an Imperial base to steal a component without getting caught; another might see you parkouring through the husk of an old cruiser. You'll pilot your ship through debris in search of treasure, or win a sabacc tournament to get information from a crime lord.
Of course, you can choose to do these things on your own—find an imperial post and try to sneak in, or challenge a random sabacc player, with plenty scattered around. But during the main story, the missions remain varied, and you're not bogged down by tedious tasks like "win 5 speeder races" or "collect 25 hidden crates." The game gives you freedom, but it never turns into a chore list like many other Ubisoft titles.
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3
"Is it a buggy mess"?
No, it's not. In fact, it ran surprisingly well on the PS5 (What kind of world are we living in where a game running smoothly is considered 'surprising'?). Open-world games, particularly those with both dense cities and vast, open landscapes, often struggle with performance issues. However, Star Wars: Outlaws manages to avoid this pitfall. Riding through Toshara's expansive environments feels smooth and responsive, with no framerate dips even when you dismount your speeder and enter a bustling marketplace filled with vendors and shoppers. The environment is incredibly detailed, and it's clear that a lot of care went into making these spaces feel alive while not sacrificing performance .
Space battles, though small in scale, also run smoothly, with no noticeable hiccups. It's apparent that the developers made a conscious choice to prioritize function over spectacle, ensuring a more stable gameplay experience. While you won't find large-scale space battles here, the trade-off is a game that consistently performs well, even in the most demanding situations.
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4
"How is the combat? Is it fun?"
Out of everything this game has to offer, the combat is, unfortunately, the weakest aspect. Kay has her trusty blaster, but that's pretty much it. While you can pick up weapons from fallen enemies, they have very limited ammo, and the game seems to discourage you from holding onto them for long; Kay will drop these weapons if you climb a ladder or get on your speeder.
Speaking of the speeder, one of the most baffling decisions by the developers was to not allow Kay to aim and shoot while riding. Many times, you'll pass through enemy territory, get chased, and fired upon, and all you can do is keep riding until your "Dead-eye" meter fills up. Once it's full, you can stop time, 'tag' your enemies, and Kay will take them down one by one. It feels like speeder combat should have been more dynamic, but perhaps they ran out of time.
The blaster can be upgraded with several firing options, but the shooting itself feels sluggish and unresponsive. The enemies aren't particularly challenging, and the hand-to-hand combat is equally underwhelming. This would have been a much bigger issue if we were playing a Jedi, but since Kay is a scoundrel, combat is really just plan B, with more focus on sneaking, climbing, and hacking.
If you're looking for a game with a great combat system, unfortunately, this isn't it.
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5
"How is the story and characters?"
The story of Star Wars: Outlaws is good, though fairly basic. Don't expect the rich, intricate dialogue or deep character progression found in Red Dead Redemption, but the narrative effectively did its job and kept me engaged enough to keep going. Kay Vess is a low-level scoundrel who finds herself in over her head and must assemble a ragtag team of thieves to pull off "one last job" that promises to set everything right. With a few unexpected twists and turns and some intriguing backstory about Kay's past, the game presents a dependable formula that holds everything together throughout. While it's not groundbreaking, much like Kay herself, the story gets the job done and keeps you hooked.
Kay Vess is an intriguing character from a writing perspective. In a sea of unlikable, snarky, defensive, and always-right "girl boss" characters, Kay stands out as a breath of fresh air. Much like Han Solo before her, she's constantly in over her head and just one step away from being shot or arrested. However, through a combination of quick thinking and fast-talking, she manages to navigate these tight spots—almost always coming out on top. While she may not be the most complex character in video games, Kay is definitely a fun and relatable protagonist to play as, bringing charm and resourcefulness to the gameplay experience.
Overall, the story and characters in Star Wars: Outlaws provide a solid foundation for the game. They might not push the boundaries of storytelling, but they effectively support the gameplay and create an engaging narrative that keeps you invested in Kay's journey.
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6
"Is Nix the bestest boy in the entire galaxy?"
Yes, he is! Yes, he is! Who's a good boy?
Okay, while we're not sure if Nix is a good boy or girl, we'd give anything to have them in our lives. Nix is more than just a cute pet or a potential merchandise sensation. In this game, Nix is essentially Kay's version of the Force. Since Kay isn't a Jedi, she uses Nix to "pull" things toward her (by sending Nix to steal them), distract enemies, pull levers, or open vents from afar. Nix can even be used like a "bat-sense," highlighting enemies through walls, pipes, cables, or other relevant objects nearby.
Nix can also gain abilities, like kicking away grenades that land near Kay or distracting multiple enemies at once. This is done, amusingly, by sharing a meal with Nix in a long but entertaining interactive cutscene that pays homage to Monster Hunter World's cooking scenes. Overall, Nix is a delightful addition to the game, and he/she is absolutely adorable.
Bonus question: "Can you pet Nix?"
Yes! And you can also pet many other animals, including Banthas and several other fuzzy creatures. -
7
"Should I buy it"?
That depends entirely on what type of game you're looking for. If you're expecting a combat-driven, high-octane, fast-paced third-person shooter, this isn't the game for you. And if you're hoping for a "Starfield"-like immersive space sim where you create your own adventures in an endless galaxy, you won't find that here either.
Star Wars: Outlaws is a fun, laid-back adventure through a meticulously crafted open world that aims to make you feel like a true outlaw in a galaxy far, far away. It's particularly suited for Star Wars fans who want to experience a new story, especially if you're a bit tired of the Jedi vs. Sith drama and want to explore life on the fringes of the galaxy. While it's not packed with endless callbacks and references to past movies, there are plenty of familiar places to visit and characters to meet if you're looking for them.
If you're in the market for a narrative-driven open-world game set in the rich universe of Star Wars, this could be the game for you. We had a blast playing it, and it kept drawing us back for more. Hopefully, you'll have the same experience.
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