Star Wars: Outlaws (2024): The Review
Overview
Star Wars: Outlaws takes players into the gritty corners of the galaxy far, far away—places where smugglers, scoundrels, and syndicates thrive between the cracks of the Empire’s control. You step into the boots of Kay Vess, a cunning thief trying to make a name for herself during the lull between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. With a lovable companion (Nix), dynamic choices, and a vast open world to explore, Outlaws promises an ambitious Star Wars fantasy—though not all of it sticks the landing.
Score: 7 out of 10
The Positives ✅
One of the coolest things about Star Wars Outlaws is how it gives you a fresh perspective on the galaxy. You’re not a Jedi, and that’s actually a good thing. Playing as Kay Vess, a regular scoundrel just trying to survive, brings a grounded, more personal vibe to the story, it feels like a smaller, more intimate slice of the Star Wars universe, and it works.
The planets you visit are just as impressive. Whether you’re weaving through the neon-lit alleys of Mirogana or exploring the dusty outskirts of Tatooine, each location feels distinct and packed with Star Wars flavor. There’s plenty to do too, with side quests, little discoveries, and that general sense of “yeah, this is Star Wars” everywhere you go.
Nix, your little alien sidekick, isn’t just there to be cute, though he absolutely is. He actually helps out in combat and stealth, adding a surprisingly useful extra layer to the gameplay. Sending Nix to grab items or distract enemies feels like more than just a gimmick; it’s genuinely useful in tense moments.
The dialogue and reputation system is another nice touch. The choices you make affect how groups like the Hutts or Crimson Dawn see you, and that can change how missions play out. It’s not super deep, but it does add some tension to your decisions and gives you a reason to think about how you’re handling things.
On the action side, the blaster combat is solid. Shots feel punchy, and while the stealth mechanics aren’t overly complex, they’re good enough to break up the gunfights and let you approach situations your own way.
And of course, it wouldn’t be Star Wars without vehicles. Jumping on a swoop bike or heading into space combat adds a nice sense of scale to everything. The dogfights aren’t super complex, but when they kick in, they’re cinematic and fun — exactly what you’d want from Star Wars-style space battles.
The Negatives ⚠️
While Star Wars Outlaws has plenty going for it, the story plays things a little too safe. Kay’s journey is entertaining, sure, but for a game all about scoundrels and shady deals, it doesn’t take many risks. The plot sticks to familiar beats, and by the end, it feels like the writers could’ve pushed things further.
The mission design doesn’t help either. A lot of quests fall into that typical open-world rhythm: go here, grab that, clear some enemies, repeat. It’s fine for a while, but the lack of variety catches up fast. Without much mission creativity, that open-world fatigue sets in quicker than it should.
As for the technical side... well, it’s a Ubisoft game. Expect the usual rough edges: some performance issues, random visual glitches, and AI that occasionally just forgets what it’s doing. Nothing game-breaking, but enough to break immersion here and there.
The reputation system sounds cool on paper, but it doesn’t hit as hard as it should. Choices technically affect how syndicates view you, but most of the consequences feel more cosmetic than meaningful. It’s one of those systems that feels like it’s just scratching the surface of what it could’ve been.
Finally, while the combat works fine, it’s not doing anything special. It stays pretty basic, standard cover-shooting without much evolution, and enemy variety is thin. It gets the job done, but it doesn’t feel like a system you’re excited to engage with over and over.
The Experience 🎮
It took me around 25 to 30 hours to finish Star Wars Outlaws, and honestly, it’s a fun ride if you’ve always wanted a scoundrel’s take on the galaxy. Kay and Nix are great leads, the world feels full of that Star Wars grit, and there’s just something cool about zipping between planets without swinging a lightsaber. That said, the repetitive missions and technical hiccups definitely hold it back from being something great. If you’re a fan wanting a break from the whole Jedi/Sith routine, this is absolutely worth checking out, just keep your expectations in check.
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