Star Wars Outlaws First Impressions – A New Breed of Star Wars

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I must say that Star Wars Outlaws has truly piqued my interest. The blend of space exploration, dogfighting, and ground combat seems like a perfect storm of excitement for me.

Approximately a month past, Ubisoft extended an invitation for us to attend a Star Wars Outlaws digital sneak peek. During this event, we were granted four hours to experience guided gameplay sessions, offering us a taste of the game’s vertical slice. Below, you will find our initial impressions of Star Wars Outlaws based on this preview session.

Initially, let’s cover some preliminaries. Unfortunately, we didn’t start playing Star Wars Outlaws from scratch; instead, we were given particular save states to progress through. This allowed us to experience scattered parts of the game, offering glimpses into several of its worlds. However, this arrangement prevented us from fully understanding the main storyline as we didn’t have a continuous playthrough.

With that being said, let’s talk about what we enjoyed about the game.

A Fresh New Setting and Story

In this new game developed by Ubisoft’s Massive Entertainment, we journey into a Star Wars universe that echoes the past, similar to the timeframe between The Empire Strikes Back and The Return of the Jedi (Star Wars Outlaws). However, instead of focusing on the ongoing conflict between the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire, we delve into the seedy underworld of the Outer Rim.

In Star Wars Outlaws, the conflicts are unlike the typical tales we’re accustomed to from the main series. Instead of lightsabers being swung by Jedi or large vehicles controlled by clones, stormtroopers, rebels, and droids, this story follows an unremarkable character ascending to prominence in a setting that still resonates with Star Wars enthusiasts.

In the Star Wars Outlaws storyline, we encounter a fresh character named Kay Vess, a rough-around-the-edges individual yearning for that one major opportunity to elevate herself out of her questionable existence. She is constantly joined by her loyal companion, Nix – a merqaal species creature – who not only tags along on all her adventures but also assists in combat situations, stealth missions, and maneuvering through obstacles.

It’s clear that Kay would eventually be joined by fellow travelers, such as Waka, who functions as the ship’s engineer, and an automated assistant named ND-5, seemingly serving as their pilot. The narrative reveals the moment when Kay encountered Waka, but unfortunately in the part of the game we experienced, the initial encounter between Kay and ND-5 wasn’t depicted, since ND-5 was already a member of the crew during that stage of the story.

In addition to her adventures, Kay encounters various criminal organizations. Some of these are old acquaintances, while others are new contacts. For instance, there’s the Hutts, who are connected to Jabba the Hutt, a notorious figure in the underworld. The choices Kay makes about which syndicates she allies with during her missions can influence the gameplay and narrative, and one enjoyable aspect of Star Wars Outlaws is attempting to gain their favor and manipulating them against each other.

Occasionally, you might spot a stormtrooper or two, yet they don’t play significant roles in the game all the time. Star Wars Outlaws offers a refreshing perspective on the familiar galaxy we adore, while still staying true to its origins.

It’s exciting to observe developers venture into daring paths such as this, moving away from traditional characters for a broader audience appeal. This approach presents us with fresh characters and realms, allowing us to experience novel creativity that might have been stifled by sticking to well-known settings.

Fidgety PC Controls

During our trial run, we had the choice between using a gamepad or mouse-and-keyboard setup. Instead, I chose to go with the latter to assess the game’s sensitivity when it comes to these controls.

It’s possible that the game seemed jittery and unresponsive due to factors such as an inconvenient control scheme for this type of adventure game or playing it via a stream instead of having a local version saved on our personal computers.

There have been moments when I found myself in trouble due to my companion Kay not acting as I expected during stealth missions in enemy territories. Locking onto enemies with the mouse made targeting a breeze, which helped with combat, but the melee felt rigid and awkward.

In simpler terms, the game’s control of vehicles using a mouse and keyboard was particularly difficult. Initially, we got to use a speeder bike in the game, but it felt as if it lacked responsiveness and moved sluggishly when turning.

Piloting Kay’s spaceship, the Trailblazer, was an enjoyable change of pace! In most video games, we’re accustomed to handling smaller fighter or bomber ships for intense aerial combat. However, the Trailblazer, despite being larger than typical game spacecraft, offered smooth maneuverability in space. The bulkier design of this ship made for satisfying dogfights.

In the future, when we finally get to experience the official release of the game, let’s cross our fingers and hope that the unresponsiveness issues are resolved. Additionally, we might experiment with using a gamepad in the future, which could potentially address these problems. However, there is no doubt about it: playing Star Wars Outlaws without a gamepad is not advisable.

Some Mandatory Stealth Sections

At the onset of Star Wars Outlaws’ marketing phase, Ubisoft Massive made it clear that the game would blend equal measures of action and stealth. Fortunately, throughout most parts of the game, you can opt for either approach. However, we encountered a couple of instances where the game demanded players to evade enemies entirely. Not adhering to this results in a game over scenario, forcing players to restart from the beginning of that segment.

As a gamer, I’ve found that the stealth sections in this game can be quite challenging. While it’s true that the essence of stealth is avoiding detection and completing missions without setting off any alarms, many modern stealth games offer players the freedom to choose their own routes to success. Unfortunately, Star Wars Outlaws doesn’t seem to be as versatile when it comes to win states, but the level design does provide multiple physical paths to explore.

In an initial part of the game, characters Kay and Nix find themselves on a direct route towards their objective, which is to sneak into a criminal hideout undetected by the guards. The story begins with Kay and Nix slipping in through a ventilation system, and the player’s course of action is limited to proceeding along a single, unavoidable path without being discovered.

One aspect that makes these stealth segments easier is their straight-forward nature and the fact that they don’t demand high levels of skill to finish. All you really need is patience to bypass adversaries. Players also have the option to perform a stealthy takedown on enemies, or order Nix to attack them or divert their attention.

It’s surprising that despite having a strong background for excelling at stealth mechanics, Ubisoft didn’t fully develop this aspect in Star Wars Outlaws. The stealth takedown animations are one indication of this shortcoming. Given their extensive experience creating impressive stealth takedowns in Assassin’s Creed, you might expect Massive to have a wealth of inspiration. However, the stealth mechanics in Star Wars Outlaws seem to lack impact and aren’t as satisfying. In fact, they even have Splinter Cell as a reference, but it seems they didn’t make use of it in this game.

Although Massive drew some influence from Assassin’s Creed, it’s not entirely positive. In a distant galaxy, there are tall grassy zones where Kay and Nix can conceal themselves – a detail that feels familiar but somewhat lacking in originality. It’s not impossible, but the execution seems underwhelming compared to what Massive is capable of. I believe they could have achieved more.

One element that shines in Star Wars Outlaws, though, is its lockpicking system. It’s a rhythm-based mini-game that requires players to press a button in time to a repeating beat. It requires players to focus on it.

In contrast to many other stealth games, lockpicking in this game occurs in real-time. This means that if Kay is observed attempting to pick a lock, enemies might retaliate with gunfire. Players are given the option to either abandon the lockpicking task temporarily or endure the damage until they successfully unlock the door. To enhance the experience, players can occasionally peek to their left and right while picking locks, which increases the sense of immersion in the activity.

In addition, there’s a mini-game related to hacking that players encounter when trying to open doors or safes. This mini-game is similar to Mastermind but becomes more complex as the game progresses with additional mechanics being introduced to increase the puzzle’s difficulty. Furthermore, Kay can obtain various tools throughout the game to simplify the hacking segments.

In Star Wars Outlaws, certain mandatory stealth segments might abruptly halt a player’s progress and flow, particularly for those who prefer an all-out blaster approach. Keep this aspect in mind while playing to have a more enjoyable experience, especially if you’re not accustomed to stealth gameplay. A little patience can help navigate these sections more effectively.

Firefight for your Life

In Star Wars Outlaws, it’s not implied that there’s a lack of action; instead, the game offers numerous chances for players to resolve tricky circumstances by firing away.

In Star Wars Outlaws, the combat primarily involves a cover-shooting mechanic where players take turns hiding behind barriers and firing at opponents. Equipped with a reliable blaster pistol, gameplay is about finding strategic positions and aiming accurately. While grenades are available for explosive action, and rifles can be briefly seized from defeated foes, these weapons cannot be permanently held in inventory. This simplicity might not be a drawback.

Up close, Nix can launch an attack that weakens the opponent, making them vulnerable for a hand-to-hand throwdown. However, as previously stated, these close combat moves might not pack the usual punch. It seems Ubisoft Massive reduced Kay’s melee power to discourage excessive use of it, but this adjustment means melee takedowns don’t provide the same level of satisfaction you’d typically experience in other games.

As I dive into Star Wars Outlaws, I’m stoked about learning fresh skills thanks to its innovative progression system. Throughout this epic journey, I’ll come across characters who take me under their wing and help me level up. During our sneak peek, we got a taste of some of these mentors, but from the get-go, I’ll already have one on my side.

These mentors provide Kay with several hands-on tasks such as executing close combat takedowns or silently eliminating foes. Completing these tasks a specific number of times is necessary, and achieving this unlocks a new skill for Kay to employ during gameplay.

Stepping back to gaze at the cosmos, we engage in aerial combat too! I mentioned earlier that this aspect was quite enjoyable – even though our initial demonstration only included one space battle sequence. Space combat may not have the same quick and agile feel as flying an X-Wing, but The Trailblazer’s weaponry more than compensates. The thrill of eliminating adversaries with its gunfire is incredibly rewarding.

Star Wars Outlaws Has an Interesting Underdog Story

In essence, what makes Star Wars Outlaws captivating is its compelling narrative. As previously stated, this game offers an opportunity to delve into a hitherto unexplored aspect of the Star Wars galaxy – the seedy underbelly of the Outer Rim. While this area has been hinted at in popular Star Wars media, it has never served as the primary focus of any story we’ve encountered thus far.

Currently, Star Wars Outlaws offers us an opportunity to experience the lifestyle of these roguish characters. It’s an authentic rags-to-riches tale where Kay Vess initially finds herself at the bottom of the social ladder, eventually crossing paths with the wrong elements, creating foes among a growing criminal network, and ultimately embarking on a chase that marks her as a fugitive across the entire galaxy.

In the game, the character must climb the criminal hierarchy by accepting tasks from various underworld groups. They gradually build their reputation, amassing enough authority and sway to challenge Zerek Besh, the rising crime syndicate aiming to dominate the others. Beating an underdog against all odds and dismantling a powerful syndicate is not just rewarding, but immensely so, ensuring that many players will continue playing until they reach the climax of this captivating narrative.

In essence, having Star Wars Outlaws without familiar characters like Jedi heroes might restrict the game’s player base, as many fans desire to embody iconic roles from the Star Wars universe. In other words, the absence of such characters may deter some players from engaging with Star Wars Outlaws.

Still, for those who are deeply invested in the Star Wars Universe, this is a great game to sink their teeth into. It expands on the Universe while remaining faithful to the source material, and a lot of love and care came into the creation of this game’s worlds and planets.

Inhabited and bustling, the Star Wars Outlaw worlds range from crowded city cores to open farmlands. They have a sense of ongoing activity, as if the world continues functioning even when not in play, with NPCs carrying on with their daily routines as usual.

While games like Grand Theft Auto or Red Dead Redemption offer intricate details, nothing quite compares to the lively alien settlements we’re presenting here – a level of vibrancy never before witnessed.

Excitedly speaking here, I can’t hide my excitement! Star Wars Outlaws is finally making its debut, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. Mark your calendars for August 30, 2024, because that’s when it will be available on the Ubisoft Store for PC gaming enthusiasts like me. But wait, there’s more! If you’re a PS5 or Xbox Series X owner, you too can join the galactic adventure on the same day. May the Force be with us all!

2024-08-23 08:09