Star Wars Outlaws Review – The Ultimate Space Adventure

In their latest release, Ubisoft Massive delivers an open-world adventure that feels both familiar and fresh, setting a new bar for what a Star Wars game can be.

Game Name: Star Wars Outlaws
Platform(s): PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC – Ubisoft Connect (reviewed)
Publisher(s): Ubisoft
Developer(s): Ubisoft Massive
Release Date: August 30, 2024, Early Access August 27, 2024

What is Star Wars Outlaws

Star Wars Outlaws is an open-world action-adventure game that incorporates light RPG and Metroidvania elements. The story unfolds between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

In Star Wars Outlaws, you play as Kay Vess, a scoundrel—or outlaw, as you might say—who we first encounter in Canto Bight on the planet Cantonica. With the help of her loyal companion Nix, Kay takes on a high-risk job in hopes of changing her fortunes. Predictably, things go awry, and Kay and Nix barely escape, stealing a ship named “The Trailblazer” in the process. This sets them on the run from Sliro and his formidable new syndicate. What follows is an exhilarating adventure across the galaxy, featuring a captivating cast of characters.

Gameplay Overview

By now, you’ve probably guessed—Star Wars Outlaws isn’t about Force users. Unlike other recent Star Wars games, you’re not a Jedi, and there’s no lightsaber in sight. This shift has a significant impact on gameplay, arguably giving Outlaws more variety in how you approach challenges.

First, let’s talk about the ship—the Trailblazer. It’s a joy to control, though it’s worth noting that taking off and landing are automated animations triggered by pressing a button. You don’t have control over these sequences, which reminded me of Starfield. However, the transition between gameplay and these scripted moments is much smoother here. The real highlight is space combat. You’re equipped with laser cannons and lock-on missiles, controlling speed and direction with the left stick, while the right stick handles tilt. Firing the laser cannons is mapped to the right trigger, while pressing the A button (on Xbox) launches missiles. There’s also a dodge function using the left and right bumpers, though I found the ship so agile that I rarely needed to use it.

On the ground, the core gameplay feels reminiscent of Uncharted, blending stealth, blaster combat, and puzzle-like traversal. In some missions, maintaining stealth is crucial—failure to do so can result in mission failure, forcing you to restart from your last checkpoint or save. The level design is impressive, with multiple paths and plenty of objects to hide behind. The open-world nature offers a level of freedom in how you approach each situation, reminiscent of Metal Gear Solid V.

Blaster combat is fun and satisfying. You can blind fire while crouched behind cover, though there’s no dedicated cover system like in The Division 2. When your blaster overheats, a Gears of War-style reload mechanic allows for faster reloads with a well-timed press of the right bumper. As you progress, your blaster becomes more versatile with different modules, each suited for specific scenarios—one might be particularly effective against droids, while another allows you to blast through walls to access previously unreachable areas. The blaster also proves useful in stealth, equipped with a sleep dart that recharges over time and charges faster when you perform stealth takedowns.

Traversal is a major part of gameplay and yes you will see lots of yellow to climb on from ladders to giant fans, swinging on branches or climbing up walls with a grappling hook. There are some fun light puzzles mixed in to keep traversal fresh but after multiple hours of play, you will largely be tackling the same types of challenges.

So far, you are probably thinking Outlaws doesn’t sound that unique and the truth is on a core gameplay level it isn’t doing anything revolutionary. That said, how it combines these tried and tested elements together feels new and fresh.

The prime example that uses the combination of game formulas is Nix your animal companion, who is probably the most useful ‘weapon’ in the game. Not only does Nix have the ability to highlight enemies and treasures with a Batman-style detective vision. Nix can also be directed to perform various actions, such as distracting enemies, retrieving items, or triggering environmental traps. Hell, he can even help you cheat at Sabacc the blackjack-style card game. The only thing it seems he can’t do is hack doors and computers for you.

Speaking of customization, Star Wars Outlaws features two hacking-style mini-games. The first resembles R2D2’s lockpicking, where you match a rhythm of blinking lights by pressing the right trigger. The second mini-game involves hacking computers, which is akin to Wordle—you need to find the right symbols within a limited number of attempts to complete the hack.

Players can gather resources to craft and upgrade weapons, gear, and ship components. Customizing the Trailblazer with new weapons, armor, and cosmetic features ensures a unique experience for every player. On foot, Kay’s gear can also be upgraded, enhancing her abilities in combat, stealth, and exploration. Additionally, Kay and Nix can acquire new abilities and skills from experts scattered throughout the world. Some of these require specific materials or items, while others are unlocked by performing certain gameplay actions, similar to mini-challenges. This dynamic approach feels refreshing compared to the usual Ubisoft formula of leveling up and earning skill points.

Another key component of Star Wars Outlaws is the syndicate system and Kay’s relationships with these factions. If you build a positive rapport with a syndicate, you might gain access to previously restricted areas or receive special gear. Conversely, if a faction dislikes you, they may hunt you down or make it more difficult to reach your objectives.

Your standing with these groups is influenced by the choices you make both in gameplay and dialogue. Allegiances are dynamic and can shift—one moment you might be aiding the Pykes, only to switch allegiances and support the Hutt Cartel in the next. Each choice carries potential consequences, even affecting the game’s ending. This branching narrative structure offers significant replayability, as players can experience various outcomes based on their decisions.

Presentation

From the opening moments, Star Wars Outlaws blew me away with its outstanding presentation across the board. Everything—from the faces of NPCs and the perfectly Star Wars-infused UI to the smallest sound effects—felt right at home in this beautifully crafted galaxy.

Speaking of visuals, each planet is unique and stunning in its own way. From the snowy landscapes of Kajimi to the forests of Akiva, every location is a feast for the eyes. More importantly, Ubisoft Massive has masterfully captured the worn, lived-in look and feel of the Star Wars universe.

As a fan of film and video game scores, I have to give special praise to the soundtrack. It’s a perfect blend of familiar themes and new compositions. I often found myself lingering on the main menu, just listening to the music before diving back into the game.

The characters and actors also play a huge part in capturing this authentic Star Wars feel. Humberly Gonzalez’s portrayal of Kay Vess is a standout. She delivers her lines with such depth that each word adds layers to Kay’s character. The brilliant writing gives Kay a wit and charm reminiscent of Han Solo, combined with the sense of duty and compassion we associate with Luke Skywalker. Gonzalez’s performance is full of nuance, conveying a range of emotions in just a single line, let alone the many she recorded for the game.

What stood out to me most were the grounded, human moments, like Kay’s interactions with her loyal companion Nix during something as simple as a meal. These smaller, intimate moments make Kay a highly relatable character, despite the fantastical world she inhabits.

The supporting cast is equally memorable. Every character you meet has their own agenda, and navigating these relationships is part of the fun. The voice acting is stellar across the board, with Jay Rincon’s portrayal of the droid ND-5 being another highlight.

Accessibility

I was pleased to find a wealth of accessibility options when I first loaded up Star Wars Outlaws. Right from the start, players are offered several presets tailored to different needs. For those with visual impairments, the game includes multiple colorblind modes and adjustable text sizes, ensuring that every detail remains clear and easy to navigate. Auditory accessibility is equally well-considered, with extensive subtitle options, visual cues for important sounds, and customizable audio settings to suit various hearing preferences. Many of these features are enabled by default if you select one of the accessibility presets during the initial setup, but you can fully customize them to better match your individual needs.

With Star Wars Outlaws, Ubisoft once again demonstrates its leadership in making games accessible to the widest possible audience.

Technical Performance

My PC is equipped with an Intel I9-14900KF, Nvidia GTX 4080 Super, and 32 GB of DDR5 RAM. I played the game on the Ultra preset, which applied a mix of high and ultra settings across various graphical effects, with DLSS set to Quality Mode and Frame Generation turned off. During general gameplay, I consistently achieved 90 to 100 frames per second, though there were occasional dips into the 80s in busier areas.

It’s worth noting that I played in the game’s default 21:9 aspect ratio, which includes black bars at the top and bottom of the screen. While it’s possible to adjust the aspect ratio to fit the full screen, I found that doing so significantly impacted performance, dropping frame rates to the high 50s or low 60s on the same settings. Honestly, I preferred sticking with the default 21:9 aspect ratio—not just because of the better performance, but because it also complements the game’s highly cinematic presentation.

Despite the solid performance, I did encounter a fair number of minor bugs during my review period. For instance, there were moments where I couldn’t pass through doors that should have been accessible, or where my character would float slightly above steps due to brief instances of being unable to move. None of these issues were game-breaking, but they did occur frequently enough to break immersion at times, which is unfortunate. If I’m being honest, these technical issues are the main reason why I can’t give Star Wars Outlaws top marks.

On a positive note, the developers are aware of several known issues and are actively working on fixes. Hopefully, if the day one patch doesn’t resolve everything, any lingering problems will be addressed shortly after launch.

In Conclusion

Star Wars Outlaws is a testament to Ubisoft Massive’s skill in blending familiar gameplay elements with fresh, innovative ideas. From engaging blaster combat and seamless space battles to a dynamic narrative shaped by player choices, the game offers a rich and immersive experience that captures the essence of what makes Star Wars so captivating. While it may not revolutionize the genre, its combination of well-established mechanics with standout features like Nix and the Syndicate system makes it a unique action-adventure open-world game. In my opinion, it’s a must-play for 2024, especially for Star Wars fans.

Review Disclosure Statement: A copy of Star Wars Outlaws was provided to us by Ubisoft for review purposes. For more information on how we review video games and other media/technology, please review our Review Guideline/Scoring Policy for more info.

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