Star Wars Outlaws review: A scoundrel's dream, warts and all

In a galaxy teeming with Jedi and Sith, Star Wars Outlaws dares to ask: what about the rest of us? This ambitious open-world adventure thrusts players into the scuffed boots of Kay Vess, a quick-witted scoundrel carving out her own path through the criminal underworld. With a trusty blaster and an adorable alien sidekick, you'll pull off daring heists, navigate treacherous alliances, and maybe even find a family among the stars.But can Outlaws truly capture the roguish spirit that made characters like Han Solo and Lando Calrissian so beloved?
Like any good smuggler's cargo, Outlaws comes loaded with both tantalising possibilities and potential complications. So, I delve into the game's sprawling planets, cinematic gunfights, and colourful cast to determine if it's got the chops to join the upper echelon of Star Wars games. So strap in and disengage those docking clamps - it's time to see if Star Wars Outlaws has enough scruffy-looking charm to win over even the most cynical space pirate.

In a galaxy far, far away, between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, a new hero emerges from the shadows of the criminal underworld. Outlaws introduces us to Kay Vess, a scrappy young scoundrel with dreams bigger than her pockets. Orphaned and alone, Kay's been surviving on her wits and a quick trigger finger. Her only constant companion is Nix, an adorable alien critter that's part ferret, part axolotl, and all heart. Their bond forms the emotional core of Outlaws, giving weight to Kay's journey from selfish survivor to reluctant hero.

The story kicks off with a classic setup – a heist gone wrong. Kay finds herself with a death mark courtesy of Sliro, the mysterious leader of the Zerek Besh syndicate. To clear her name and score the payday of a lifetime, she'll need to assemble a crew and pull off an even bigger job. It's familiar territory for fans of Ocean's Eleven or Guardians of the Galaxy, but the Star Wars twist keeps things fresh.
As Kay hops between planets, she gathers a colourful cast of misfits and ne'er-do-wells. Standouts include ND-5, a reprogrammed battle droid with a dry wit, and Jaylen Barron, a smooth-talking fixer who brings Kay into the big score. We also get cameos from familiar faces like Jabba the Hutt and Crimson Dawn's Qi'ra, tying Outlaws neatly into the broader Star Wars timeline.

The plot moves at a brisk pace, filled with double-crosses, narrow escapes, and high-stakes gambles. While it doesn't reach the epic scale of the movies, Outlaws spins an entertaining yarn that captures the spirit of Star Wars' criminal element. The real heart of the story, however, lies in Kay's growth. Watching her learn to trust and rely on others, forming a makeshift family along the way, gives the narrative genuine emotional punch.
That's not to say the story is flawless. Some character motivations feel underdeveloped, and a few plot threads are left dangling by the end. The main storyline also stays fairly linear despite the open-world structure, which can feel at odds with the freedom promised elsewhere in the game. But even with these rough edges, Outlaws delivers an engaging tale that'll keep you invested through to the end.

Ubisoft has given players a plethora of tools to live out their own Star Wars power fantasy. The core gameplay loop revolves around gunfights, stealth, and puzzle-solving as Kay infiltrates enemy bases and completes jobs for various factions.
Combat is satisfying, with a responsive cover system and weighty gunplay. Kay's customizable blaster can switch between different fire modes on the fly, letting you adapt to different scenarios. Activating Kay's "Focus" ability slows down time for some truly cinematic shootouts – you'll feel like you're in the Mos Eisley Cantina in no time. Enemies put up a decent fight on higher difficulties, though the AI can be exploited at times.
For players who prefer a quieter approach, Outlaws offers fairly robust stealth gameplay. Kay can sneak through tall grass, use distractions, and perform silent takedowns to avoid detection. Nix plays a big role here, able to scout ahead and mark enemies or disable security systems. Commanding your fuzzy companion adds a fun tactical layer to sneaking around. The stealth AI isn't the most sophisticated, but it works well enough to make ghosting through areas feel satisfying.

As you progress, Kay gains access to new gear and abilities to expand her skillset. Rather than a traditional skill tree, you unlock new talents by completing challenges for "Expert" characters across the galaxy. It's an interesting system that ties progression to exploration and specific gameplay goals. The progression feels a bit slow at first, but by the late game you have a robust set of tools at your disposal.
Outlaws features both planetside and space exploration. On the ground, you zip between objectives on Kay's speeder bike, which handles well and can be upgraded for better performance. Space flight is more of a mixed bag. Kay's ship, the Trailblazer, feels a bit clunky in dogfights. But soaring through asteroid fields and between capital ships still delivers some thrills. Space exploration is fairly limited, mostly confined to small orbital zones around each planet.

The game's open world spans multiple planets, each with their own distinct biomes and settlements to explore. From the familiar dunes of Tatooine to the neon-lit streets of Kijimi, the environments feel authentically Star Wars while offering visual variety. Each world is packed with side activities and hidden collectibles to discover. You can take on bounties, play Sabacc in cantinas, bet on alien races, and more. It can feel a bit like checking boxes on a map at times, but the variety of diversions helps bring the Star Wars universe to life.
The faction reputation system adds some consequence to your actions in the open world. Completing jobs for one syndicate may anger others, locking you out of certain areas or causing hit squads to come after you. It's not the deepest system, but it adds replay value and encourages you to think about your choices.

While the gameplay is generally solid, there are some rough spots. Forced stealth sections in story missions can be frustrating if you're not specced for that playstyle. The open world activities, while plentiful, can start to feel repetitive after a while. And the space combat, while visually impressive, never quite reaches the heights of dedicated Star Wars flight sims.

Visually, Outlaws is a treat for Star Wars fans. The environments are packed with the kind of lived-in detail that defines the franchise's aesthetic. Character models are expressive during cutscenes, though facial animations can look a bit stiff during gameplay conversations. Special effects like blaster bolts and explosions pop with colour and energy. Lighting is a particular strong point, with moody cantinas and neon-drenched streets creating atmosphere.

On PC, performance can vary widely depending on your hardware. With a high-end system (RTX 3080, i7-10700K, 32GB RAM), we were able to maintain a mostly steady 60 FPS at 1440p with settings maxed out. However, busy areas like crowded city streets or intense combat scenarios could cause noticeable dips. Lower-end systems may struggle to maintain consistent framerates without significant visual compromises.
Load times are generally quick, with seamless transitions when entering buildings. However, initial load times when booting up the game or fast travelling between planets can be lengthy. Some technical issues do crop up. Texture pop-in is fairly common, especially when first loading into an area. There were a handful of hard crashes, although frequent saves saved the effort.

The sound design nails the Star Wars ambiance, from the distinctive pew-pew of blasters to the familiar hum of speeders and starships. John Williams' iconic themes are remixed and reimagined in ways that feel fresh while still unmistakably Star Wars. Voice acting is strong across the board, with the main cast delivering engaging performances. Alien languages and droid beeps add authenticity to the soundscape.

Star Wars Outlaws doesn't reinvent open-world formula, but it brings that familiar formula to a galaxy far, far away in mostly successful ways. The main storyline delivers an engaging heist caper populated by charismatic characters, while the gameplay blends action, stealth, and exploration to capture the essence of being a charming rogue in galaxy full of opportunities and dangers.
Where Outlaws stumbles is in fully realising its open-world structure. Many of the side activities feel disconnected from the main plot, and the faction system doesn't have as much impact as it could. The game seems caught between delivering a tightly-woven cinematic experience and offering true sandbox freedom. Then, there are technical hiccups and some half-baked systems that hold back Outlaws from being a masterpiece.
Is Outlaws perfect? Not quite. But like Han Solo said, "She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid." The game has charm and moxie to spare, offering a unique perspective on the Star Wars universe that's worth experiencing despite its rough edges.
For fans who have longed to carve out their own scoundrel's path through the galaxy, Outlaws scratches an itch that few other Star Wars games have attempted. It may not be the ultimate Star Wars experience, but it lays a promising foundation for future adventures in this seedier side of that galaxy far, far away.