Star Wars: Outlaws
A very interesting Star Wars game, that is less….Star Wars.
Star Wars: Outlaws, from Ubisoft's Massive Entertainment, is a bold attempt in shifting the wide Star Wars universe into an open-world setting. The game shows a great deal of ambition and quality in its design but raises questions about implementation and design choices.
Setting is perhaps one of the most striking features of this game. It is delivered in such incredibly vivid detail, depicting well-known Star Wars locales and brand new places with such richness in the details. Outlaws plunges players into a universe full of life, danger, and opportunity. Masterfully crafted scenery—from the dense jungles of Akiva to the vastness of Toshara— provides varied and bright backdrops for players to explore.
The main character, Kay Vess, introduces a bold new perspective to the old formula of Star Wars characters. Her story as a rogue brings in a more down-to-earth, easier-to-relate-to aspect than the usual Jedi-centric narratives. The relationship she has with Nix, her partner, gives not only emotional depth to the story but also practical gameplay dynamics that call for creative ways of problem-solving during missions.
In addition to this, the game shines in terms of player choice-driven storytelling. The decisions players make influence relationships, reputations, and the outcomes of missions, making it all feel more personalized. A mix of space battles, high-speed speeder chases, and elements of stealth provides different gameplay angles into which the user can experiment.
The notable hurdles Outlaws encounters (Yet, another of its few weaknesses) come from trying to marry the open-world structure with traditionally linear storytelling found in Star Wars narratives. Indeed, many open-world titles struggle to hold together a coherent story, and even then, with it perhaps being at the cost of having to put up with repetitive side quests or "open-world burnout," which we all know such long titles go through at different points in spending so many hours playing them.
Furthermore, its placement in between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi imposes a certain limitation upon the scope of what can happen in the game. Though the setting of this time period is ripe with all sorts of narrative potential, a lack of a storyline related to Jedi or Sith may leave the fanbase somewhat wanting— putting an end to a new great lightsaber battle-based storyline for good.
Finally, another important criterion regards the track record Ubisoft has when it comes to open-world games. Critics of series such as Assassin's Creed and Far Cry note the repetition in mission structures and an over-reliance on map indicators and collectibles. If a game like Outlaws were to fall into these same trappings, then surely what was to be a bold vision would be somewhat watered down in terms of the impact that it had intended to deliver.
Star Wars: Outlaws marks a bold step forward in the Star Wars gaming universe. Its success will hinge on a delicate equilibrium between deep and involving storytelling and the freedom of the open world, without falling into the typical traps such games can bring. If it lives up to its potential, it could change the face of Star Wars gaming for years to come. Until then, cautious optimism seems most appropriate.