Review: Star Wars Outlaws

Developer – Massive Entertainment

Publisher – Ubisoft

Platforms –  PS5, Xbox Series S|X, PC (Reviewed)

Review copy given by Publisher 

NOTE:

Before diving into the review, I want to mention that I played this game on a custom-built gaming PC with the specifications listed below. Keep in mind that performance can vary depending on your system, especially since this game demands higher-than-average minimum requirements.

Listed below are the specs of my computer, to help you gauge the performance. CPU: Ryzen 7 5800x,GPU: Nvidia RTX 3080, Ram: Corsair Dominator Platinum 3600Mhz, Hard Drive: Western Digital 500GB M.2

Star Wars Outlaws enters the gaming universe with a legacy to uphold, following in the footsteps of the highly acclaimed Jedi series, which brought us unforgettable adventures with Cal Kestis. Those titles were renowned for their rich narratives and fluid, dynamic combat mechanics, setting the bar sky-high for any future Star Wars game. Now, with Star Wars Outlaws attempting to carve its own unique identity, the weight of expectations is palpable. Can it live up to the precedent set by its Jedi predecessors, or even surpass it? That’s the challenge Outlaws faces as it ventures into uncharted territory for the franchise: open-world gameplay.

One of the standout features of Star Wars Outlaws is its expansive open world, the first of its kind for a Star Wars game. Fans and content creators alike have been eagerly awaiting this innovation, hoping for an experience that offers freedom, exploration, and depth. As you step into the shoes of Kay Vess, a new protagonist, the game presents a fresh take on the galaxy far, far away. Unlike previous titles where you wielded a lightsaber and the power of the Force, Kay’s journey is grounded in more human struggles—relying on stealth, cunning, and alliances rather than raw power. This shift is a refreshing change of pace, encouraging players to think more strategically and less like the all-powerful Jedi we’ve grown accustomed to.

Accompanying Kay on her journey is Nix, her ever-loyal companion, who brings to mind the beloved BD-1 from Jedi: Fallen Order. Nix plays a crucial role in aiding you with distractions, combat support, and solving puzzles, seamlessly blending into the gameplay. If you’ve experienced the partnership between Cal Kestis and BD-1, the bond between Kay and Nix will feel comfortably familiar, enhancing the immersion as you explore different planets, form alliances, and battle enemies in pursuit of freedom and wealth.

The open-world aspect of Outlaws is breathtaking in its execution. Each planet is meticulously designed, with stunning landscapes that pull you into the Star Wars universe. I often found myself wandering off-course, just to take in the beauty of the environment. The in-game photo mode became a frequent companion, as I couldn’t resist capturing the picturesque backdrops. Exploration feels rewarding, with small pockets of the world hiding materials, credits, and data logs that deepen the lore. These details add layers to the narrative, making the world feel lived-in and rich with history. Whether you’re strolling through shops or sneaking through a dense jungle, Outlaws succeeds in immersing you completely in its vibrant, detailed environments.

A strong audio experience is another pillar of any Star Wars title, and Outlaws delivers on that front as well. The soundtrack blends seamlessly with the game’s events, building tension when sneaking through enemy bases or enhancing the calm of quiet moments. The atmospheric sounds—from bustling NPC conversations in crowded areas to the eerie silence of a remote outpost—serve to deepen the sense of place and add to the immersion.

However, Outlaws doesn’t escape criticism, particularly when it comes to its storytelling. While Kay’s journey takes you to various corners of the galaxy, too often it feels like you’re just a glorified delivery person, shuttling back and forth to fulfill tasks for others. This isn’t a deal-breaker, but the repetitiveness of the quests sometimes dulls the excitement. On the bright side, the game’s faction system, which revolves around reputation, injects some unpredictability into the narrative. The decisions you make, such as who to aid or betray, have real consequences, leading to diverging storylines and varying outcomes. This branching structure offers replayability, making each playthrough potentially different depending on the choices you make.

One area where Outlaws stumbles, unfortunately, is in its performance. While the game’s visuals are undeniably stunning, they come at the cost of optimization. I played on medium to high settings with ray tracing enabled, averaging around 60-70 FPS. Though the game looked gorgeous, frame drops were frequent, sometimes dipping into the 40s. While not game-breaking, these performance issues detracted from the fluidity of gameplay. Hopefully, future patches will improve performance across a wider range of systems, as the game’s demanding visuals currently pose a challenge for many players, especially those with more modest setups.

Stealth mechanics are another area where Outlaws struggles to find balance. While stealth-based gameplay isn’t inherently bad, the frequency with which it’s required can make it feel repetitive. There’s a sense that the game leans too heavily into stealth, to the point where deviating from this approach often results in failure. Unlike other action games where getting spotted can lead to a frantic, high-stakes battle, here it frequently means restarting from the last checkpoint. This lack of flexibility can be frustrating for players who prefer a more action-oriented playstyle.

Combat, too, leaves something to be desired. While blaster fights can be enjoyable in the right circumstances, the hand-to-hand combat is disappointingly shallow. The melee system lacks depth and variety, often boiling down to simplistic takedowns. For a game that distances itself from lightsabers and Force powers, you’d expect more innovation in its core combat mechanics, but Outlaws falls short in this area. The potential for more dynamic encounters feels untapped, and hopefully, future updates will address this weakness.

Then there’s the speeder, a staple of the Star Wars universe, which serves as your primary mode of transportation across planets. While it’s exciting in theory, the actual experience of piloting the speeder is hindered by clunky controls and awkward handling. It feels floaty, and navigating tight spaces often leads to unintended collisions. With some refinement, the speeder could be a highlight of exploration, but in its current state, it feels like a missed opportunity.

Despite these flaws, I remain optimistic that Star Wars Outlaws will improve significantly with further updates and community feedback. There’s a lot of potential for growth, especially with possible DLCs and patches. The idea of a fully polished, optimized, and well-maintained open-world Star Wars game is exciting. Even with the repetitive stealth sections, I still found myself playing without too much frustration, and I was able to overlook performance bugs—even the fact that the game only ran properly on my M.2 SSD. The game’s structure is solid, and it has great potential to draw in even more players, including those who might not normally gravitate toward a Star Wars title.

Star Wars Outlaws is visually stunning, but beneath its beauty, there are some rough edges. As it stands now, I’d give the game a solid 7/10. It’s a noteworthy entry with plenty of room for improvement, and I’m hopeful that with time and updates, it will fully live up to its potential.