''H'chu apenkee!''
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Developed: Massive Entertainment
Published: Ubisoft
Genre: Open World Adventure
Release Date: August 29th, 2024
Platforms: PS5/Xbox Series/PC
*Review copy provided to me by Ubisoft
Star Wars Outlaws is an open world adventure that is developed by Massive Entertainment and published by Ubisoft. With Star Wars being a hit or miss spot right now for gaming with EA Battlefront games underwhelming people, but titles like Jedi Survivor giving us what we like, it is now time to see if Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment give us a title that keeps our hype at an all time high. Does it achieve this? or does it leave our hopes for another good Star War Wars game in a galaxy far far away? Only one way to find out, so BOKA DAE-UH CHABBA!
''SOMEWHERE... LUKES AUNT AND UNCLE ARE BBQ''
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GAMEPLAY:
I recently had the chance to play this for a 4 hour session that I was invited to by Ubisoft several weeks before the games release and my interest was peaked. I didn't get to experience a large chunk of the game, but I did get to see how the partner ship with Nix and Kay played out, as well as early dealings of the reputation system and how that affected your relationships with different factions of the underworld and the people of specific cities I was allowed to explore in my brief time. But now over the last few weeks that I've had the full game and have finished it in my roughly 25 hours with the main story, did my interest stay at the same levels as it did for when I played it the first time? well yes and no. My playthrough finished somewhere between a hyped out Ewok party and a pile of sand.. and I dont like sand... its coarse, rough and irritating and it gets everywhere. Alright, maybe its not on the level of Anakin's hatred for sand, but its a mix of both pros and cons at the end of the day. Disclaimer for those looking to dive into this one before hand though, if you're thinking this is going to be some grand adventure with you as a Jedi using the force and lightsaber like recent titles like Jedi Survivor, then just like Boba Fett falling into the Sarlacc, you're going to have a bad time. Why? well because this game is more akin to a Han Solo type of adventure with you playing as Kay, who's a thief that can talk her way out of almost every situation, and if push comes to shove, can also fight her way out of most situations as well. So what you're looking at is something closer to Shadows Of The Empire more than a Jedi centered game, even though this game takes place right before Return Of The Jedi in relation to the original trilogy. So if its not Jedi slicing people up left and right, then what exactly is the gameplay overall even like? Is it as good as Obi Wan's classic ''Hello there'' introductions? or as bad as Anakin as a kid trying to be like my boy The Rizzler and cringing up the place by hitting on Padme as a kid?. Ehh I say its more in line with our silly friend Salacious Crumb and his crazy laugh. Just enough to be entertaining and ending before it gets annoying. This is the core of Star Wars Outlaws.
Star Wars Outlaws flourishes in the aspect of bringing the Star Wars universe alive, and if there's one thing this game does right above all else, it has to be setting the tone through atmosphere and level design of the open world that you are apart off. Traveling around multiple planets, each having their own unique biome of open plains and junkyards with desolate cities ruled only by corruption and mafia, large forest themed planet with tons of colors and cities built in between them, getting your nostalgia on in Tatooine as you visit the Cantina for some lively music and know in your heart that Han DID indeed shoot first. How do I know this? well Han was a jerk thats why, dude owed so much money to Jabba The Hut that you KNOW he was never going to pay him back, so what else do you do? kill the heck out of the messenger, that's what. I mean this literally the same guy that after Leia is like '' I LOVE YOU'' that he was like ''girl, I know, byeeeee'' and woosh, carbonite he goes. You know he got caught on purpose right? he doesn't even pay his smuggling debts, you really think he was gonna want to pay child support too? NOPE. I just know I'd never get caught dead getting into a situation like that... and... uh oh, never mind, I work for Jabba now too. Now I see where Han Solo was coming from. But were way off topic. Since this is more akin to a Han Solo like adventure with our main characters being Kay and her little bud Nix, Massive Entertainment chooses to focus the game more on Stealth based combat over a more over the top action game like seen in recent Jedi centric games... and this leads to some very mixed results, at least in regards to me, who is not really too keen on stealth based combat as I feel this trend got over saturated for awhile and became as redundant as indies using Rogue Like and Rogue Lite to me, because most are based off the same system with minor tweaks and no real evolution of the system, and Star Wars Outlaws here is no different in that regard. About 60% of your gameplay is going to involve in a very slow paced Stealth system that make you use your brain on how to not get caught by cameras, be seen by guards or alerting the alarm.
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''I GOT A BAD FEELING ABOUT THIS''
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Normally this wouldn't be THAT annoying, however when you sneak into bases or an area for 20 minutes, then get caught, only to realize the check points arent very forgiving and you must re-do the entire section all over again from scratch, you tend to get a little pissed. It ruins the enjoyment the game offers you in many other areas that it excels at and the pain of these missions can only be alleviated slightly due to your buddy Nix being able to distract guards so you can sneak by, lure them to your area so you bonk them on the head to knock them out. BONE CHECK, FOOL. Or if you're extra paranoid like me, use Nix to sabotage alarm systems so even if you get caught, they cant raise an alarm to make you fail the mission. You can also be a total jerk too though by making Nix set a trap to the alarm systems so when an enemy goes to call on it, they get a huge electrical shock just like Marv from Home Alone. Ouch, yeah you know he's not gonna be in Star Wars Outlaws 2. A heart of a scoundrel is basically front and center here with you playing as Kay Vess who just wants an easier and quieter life and keeps thinking with the mindset of an addicted gambler of ''just one more time, ill be sure to hit it big and we'll retire'' like she's part of FREEDOM 35 with Ricky and the boys or something... and just like Ricky, Julian and Bubbles at the end of every season, she too ends up in Jail. Oh well, just the way she goes bud. Because of her attitude always wanting the one job to retire on, it tends to get her in a lot of trouble with people all across the galaxy in areas like Akiva, Kijimi, Tatooine, Toshara with Hut factions, Pykes, Crimson Dawn and even the Higa clan - all of whom you may help or screw over at your own discretion. You can be strategic with how you do missions or quests for the characters to raise or lower your reputation level with them, however, be mindful, each faction has specific gear and items to sell that is exclusive to their markets and their territory. For instance, should you be a complete jerk face like me, who managed to get the lowest ranking with the Crimson Dawn in like only the first few hours of my playthrough because I'd break into their restricted sections, punch someone in the face and then run away, then you will lose out all on their items, upgrades and sweet gear they offer in your shop, as well as throughout the galaxy where they hold territory, they will literally chase you and hunt you down should they spot you again. So... just be more careful than me. This makes up one of the more interesting aspects of the game, its reputation system. It is up to you to decide if you want to seen as Luke Skywalker of the universe where everyone loves you or do you want to be the Jar Jar of the Star Wars universe. You dont want to be Jar Jar... right? MEESA THINKA NOT. Well then act accordingly and dont mess up. Unlike me, who NEVER messes up.
Funny shenanigans of angering factions, Imperial troops and the Empire, one of the best aspects and my personal favorite part of this game has to 100% be its open world design that allows you as the player to explore at any pace you see fit to. Do you just want to explore and take your time and help out random people who are getting attacked? do it, want to take on side quests to find treasures, uncover mysteries, help civilians get their farm back from The Huts, screw up like me and stick it to the queen of the Crimson Dawn, who's been playing you for a fool the entire game and refuse to give her an ancient object of the tribe she has wanted and made you steal, which in my head i was like hehe hehe hehe, how's that feel? I gave it to your rogue daughter, now I have the pow..... uh oh, oops. You guys didnt see anything! WIPE IT FROM YOUR MEMORIES. As I was saying, the open world design here from Massive Entertainment deviates from typical formula's of other open world games and even a tad bit away from the usual Ubisoft trends as well by crafting an open world via multiple planets that feel like a more immersive experience without totally relying on your run of the mill map markers or full on linear progression that some open worlds partake in to give you the ILLUSION of an open world, which allows you to be engrossed in richly detailed environments that can honestly leave you in awe like seeing Jabba's Palace in person for the first time for yourself, double moons of Tatooine, Salacious Crumb monsters hanging out and enjoying the rain, speeding as fast as you can on your speeder and proclaiming NOW THIS. IS. POD RACING!. Its all extremely fun and makes you feel apart of the Star Wars universe as a whole for the first time in a VERY long time due to the reputation system interlocking with open world design that allows you to take inner city beefs and expand to the open world that lets you as the player build and break relationships with each faction based off your own actions, which adds further depth to your decision making and consequences of your actions. Couple in at the same time the character customization and progression for your character that allows you to do quests in the open world that can give you new ability upgrades such as allowing your speeder to jump or get a boost, new Slicer to use to break into facilities you couldnt get into before, obtaining an electric bolt for melee combat that is used to neutralize enemy droids or find parts for your main space ship and guns to hit warp speed better or allow you to obtain rapid fire, explosion fire and a variety of other gun related abilities you can switch on and off to at any point in your combat. Hold up? combat? WAAAAAAOWWW. Yes that was supposed to be my failed R2-D2 impression, sue me. But yes, I only now realized I havent really talked about the combat, other than the stealth based missions, so lets change that before we wrap this up.
Combat here in Star Wars Outlaws, when they actually let you use it, doesnt necessarily set the world on fire. Its your typical duck and cover shooting mechanic as seen in most third person games, but where it differs in this game is that you're allowed to switch between different blaster modules that allow for regular blaster fire, explosive bullets that when charged up and shot, explode on impact, and even an electric shock gun that can take down enemy shields, as well as make droids go BOOM. I mean, were Star Wars guys, of course were going to BOOM. Ok no, were not gonna parody The Costco guys in this, so you're safe. Another key focus of the combat, which I alluded to earlier was your companion Nix, who you have the ability to control to press switches for you, unlock doors, send off in the far distance to shut off power to cameras or alarms or even attacking an enemy to keep them distracted by clawing their eyes out of their sockets while you beat the living tar out of their butts. THIS IS THE WAY. When the game focuses on just you, Nix and your blaster, it becomes a complete joy and treat and captures the chaotic nature of what a lot of the original trilogy of Star Wars is about without having to rely only on force powers and cool lightsaber battles. The adventure and engagement is there.
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''HOW EVERY DMV APPOINTMENT LOOKS LIKE''
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Overall:
At the end of the day, Star Wars Outlaws stays true to the spirt and essence that makes Star Wars... well you know, Star Wars, and delivers you as the player an atmospheric and engaging experience. It is however not without its flaws that's for sure. Several hiccups in the game hurt it a bit its over abundance focus on a little TOO much stealth to the point where it feels like for a few missions in a row that its all you do and it can make your experience feel a tad bit repetitive, especially with the unforgiving checkpoints that should you fail multiple times on one, can set you back close to an hour without progressing. Kay herself can also rub you the wrong way at times with her having an attitude for really no reason to people. Some companies will offer her help, well meaning and because theyre worried for her and she basically tells them to go kick rocks, she doesnt need them, she can do it on her own like a strong girl boss. Its charming at first, much in the same way Han Solo and Lando are, but by mid game you just want to beat her up yourself because at that point shes just choosing to be a jerk. Those negatives aside, I feel the large open world and its biomes to explore and discover places like Luke Skywalkers home, Jabbas palace, see characters from the movies like the awesome Boba Fett and a few other characters I wont mention for shock value, alongside fun gun gameplay when its allowed, funny and intense reputation system that allows you to be a hero to criminal organizations or their biggest nightmare, amazing planet loading cutscenes in real time that make it feel like its one big experience to land on a planet after having just got into a massive dog fight back against Star Destroyers an TIE Fighters, etc. When this game hits on all cylinders, you feel the genuine love and appreciate for the franchise and you get hooked. However when it misses its mark, it misses it by a wide margin and you get brought back to reality that yeah, this is still a modern AAA game with Ubisoft problems at the helm here and there. But whether you're buying this full price or waiting for a price drop, in my opinion, I definitely feel its worth at least one playthrough, I think you'll have fun! So with all that having been said, my verdict is clear, GameNChick says BUY NOW
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