I just wanted to make a quick post about Star Wars Outlaws because there is so much bullshit about it out there. After playing basically all day yesterday I can say that this is a great Star Wars game. Beyond that this is just plain great Star Wars.
I would not blame you if you are simply avoiding Star Wars content these days after being burned by Disney. Hell I nearly skipped it for that very reason, but I’m glad I decided to give it a chance. Outlaws is a beautiful game that was very clearly made with a ton of passion for the setting. The entire vibe of the game is very 80s and reminiscent of the original trilogy. It manages to deliver new ideas and characters that all seem perfectly at home in the world of Star Wars.
The hero of the game Kay Vess is one of my favorite new Star Wars characters in years. She is in way over her head but projects this perfect “fake it till you make it” attitude that is just very Star Wars. Kay is cool, funny, flawed and expertly brought to life by her voice actress. By the end of the game's intro I was 100% fully rooting for her and excited to continue her adventure.
Mechanically the game is what you have come to expect from an open world Ubisoft game but for me at least the setting and story make it a place I want to explore and learn about rather than just a laundry list of tasks to check off. I’m playing on PS5 where the game looks amazing but maybe not as good as it does on PC. I like the stealth mechanics, but I also like failing at the stealth mechanics and having to kill a room full of pirates. Both styles of play are satisfying here. It also has a Sabacc mini-game that I’ve spent too much time and lost too many credits on.
Star Wars Outlaws has a ton of heart and is clearly made to celebrate the Star Wars we remember. If you are a fan of the setting, this game is something you should definitely try. As I was playing yesterday I kept calling Kara over to show her awesome new places I discovered saying "you have to see this!". It even has me using the photo mode to snap pics which is something I almost never do in games.
Don’t trust the idiots online using it as some sort of weapon in their culture war. I don’t give a fuck about any of their buzzwords. The only thing that matters to me is if a game is good and trust me, Star Wars Outlaws is.
-Gabe Out
