Summary
ForStar Warsfans, video games have been an outlet for new creators to showcase their talents and explore unique facets of the galaxy far, far, away. But even as Star Wars has ebbed and flowed in terms of its ubiquity, it still feels like so much of the universe has gone untapped. Developers like Massive Entertainment, who are set to releaseStar Wars Outlawslater this year, are putting their love of Lucasfilm’s IP on display in new and exciting ways, offering players experiences that may feel familiar from a gameplay perspective, but when blended withStar Wars, feel fresh and exciting.
After having played three sections ofStar Wars Outlaws, I’m happy to report that Massive Entertainment has found what looks to be a winning formula. The scope of this game is (appropriately) massive, both in terms of where you can go and also in terms of what you can do. In those three sections, the demo shows off three different forms of gameplay withinStar Wars Outlaws– stealth, traversal, and space battles – that exist under the game’s third-person shooter umbrella.
As Kay Vess (along with heradorable companion Nix), players will find themselves offered a lot of freedom – this is an open world game, after all – but what I played was somewhat linear and limited in its scope. Much like a lot of the earlierStar Warsgames of past generations brushed up against the massive size of this universe, theOutlawsdemo skirts just on the edge of letting you roam free and explore. But the great thing is that the limitations here were only part of a demo experience; players will have a ton of freedom whenStar Wars Outlawsreleases in August.
How Does Gunplay Work in Outlaws?
The first part of the Star Wars Outlaws gameplay demo featured Kay Vess on an Empire base in space. She and Nix are trying to get to her ship and escape but Stormtroopers stand in their way.Combat inStar Wars Outlawsmainly revolves around Kay’s blaster, or blasters that she can pick up from enemies. Despite Massive Entertainment’s pedigree withThe Division,Outlawsis not a traditional cover-based shooter where Kay sticks to walls or waist-high obstacles. She can crouch and pop up to shoot, but there is a bit more freedom to the movement as she rolls and runs between cover.
Kay’s blaster is the key to success in a general sense, with players able to pick off enemies with a few shots. Her blaster can also switch firing modes to an energy-based shot that is good for disabling Stormtrooper shields or for using against robot enemies. She also has a power shot that can take out an enemy instantly, but it has a cooldown. Then, when you throw Nix into the equation, the strategy expands.
Nix can distract enemies, attack them, or even activate their grenades, giving the creature more agency in battle instead of just hanging on Kay’s back. Players should be fine just treating Star Wars Outlaws as a third person shooter, but adding Nix to the mix is way there the game sets itself apart. There’s presumably more to Kay’s arsenal when it comes to her blaster options, but what we saw was fairly straightforward and easy to grasp. You can also upgrade the blaster to do things like increase shots before needing to do a reload-style cooldown.
Space Combat and Exploration in Star Wars Outlaws
After blasting her way toward the ship’s hangar, Kay and Nix jump into The Trailblazer and set off into space. Since she drew a lot of attention from the Empire, Kay will want to clear her notoriety/wanted level via a terminal in space, but first some Tie Fighters stood in the way.Outlaws’ space combatis nimble and fast-paced, with The Trailblazer able to make tight turns and boost when needed. Taking out enemies is a matter of leading the ship’s blaster fire so that it hits the target at a distance, and there is a helpful targeting reticule for that. The Trailblazer also has some stronger offensive options like a guided missile.
Space combat is typically relegated to Star Wars games that focus exclusively on it as an option, butOutlawsuses it as just a small piece of a larger suite of gameplay opportunities. I only experienced a brief segment involving space combat, but it felt intuitive and engaging. What was most impressive, though, was the ability to target a location on the nearby planet and seamlessly land there and start exploring open-world style.
Uncharted Meets Star Wars in Outlaws
The second mission highlighted thetraversal ofStar Wars Outlaws, which, again, should be familiar but with someStar Warstwists. Kay is looking for intel from a derelict starship where pathways have rusted, blocked, or fallen away. She can use her grappling hook to close some gaps, whereas others require some light platforming and climbing.
Comparisons betweenStar Wars Outlaws’traversal and something likeUnchartedare most appropriate, with the color yellow used to point players in the right direction.Outlawsalso punctuates certain sections with some spectacular moments, like when the starship starts exploding and Kay has to make a mad dash for the closest exit.
There was also some light puzzle solving where Kay needed to use the same shield-disabling shot on her blaster to power up some generators. Or her splicing tool to open a locked door via a timing-based mini-game. Hacking inOutlawsis also pretty clever, featuring a kind ofStar WarsWordle, where you input a series of symbols (chosen from a selection of roughly 8) and find out which ones are incorrect, correct and in the right spot, or correct but in the wrong spot.
Nix is a Great Tool for Stealth Gameplay
For the final gameplay section, Kay infiltrates a building to retrieve a guarded relic. Players could go into the area with blasters blazing, which would allow for using a lot of the same tools as the first section. Instead, though, I opted for the stealth approach.
With Nix, you can distract enemies and get them to position in a certain direction so that Kay can sneak up and take them out. For stealth, Nix seems like the best tool, capable of creating traps on alarms or set off explosives – basically anything to keep the attention away from Kay. It feels like Massive has given players a few different tools to work with and allowed them to take whatever approach works best for their playstyle. All seem viable, but obviously the more direct attack is more challenging.
After each gameplay section, the quest would progress and Kay would gain access to the open world, but unfortunately, I wasn’t able to explore that. It’s to be expected with an open world game offering its first hands-on experience. Presumably, future reveals forStar Wars Outlawswill allow us tojump on Kay’s speederand take off in any direction. For now, Massive seems to want players to understand what the more linear missions will offer, before letting them loose in the sandbox.
Although you can see some similarities between various parts ofStar Wars Outlawsand other games, the scope of the project is what makes it most impressive. This feels like whatStar Warsgames have been building to: this idea of completing a curated mission, hopping into space to create some havoc, and then landing on another planet to zip around an open-world area. And alongside itsplace during the Original Trilogy, the game feels like it has the look and the tone of the 70s and 80sStar Warsfilms. This scoundrel story where Kay falls into a heist is something fresh and new for the brand, marked by some familiar gameplay elements.
There is no doubt a lot of untapped potential inStar Wars, but for the last few decades the stories and experiences were typically singular and they explored a lot of recognizable territory. It’s the intimate amongst a vast universe filled with rich world building and character.Star Wars Outlawsis seeking to set itself apart by balancing a smaller story with a big scope, and that’s reason enough to be excited.
Star Wars Outlaws
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience the first-ever open world Star Wars game and explore distinct planets across the galaxy, both iconic and new. Risk it all as Kay Vess, an emerging scoundrel seeking freedom and the means to start a new life. Fight, steal, & outwit your way through the galaxy’s crime syndicates as you join the galaxy’s most wanted. If you’re willing to take the risk, the galaxy is full of opportunity.DISCOVER A GALAXY OF OPPORTUNITYExplore distinct planets with bustling cities and cantinas before racing across sprawling outdoor landscapes on your speeder. Each planet brings new adventures, unique challenges, and enticing rewards if you’re willing to take the risk.EXPERIENCE AN ORIGINAL SCOUNDREL STORYLive the high-stakes lifestyle of an outlaw. With Nix by your side, turn any situation to your advantage: fight with your blaster, overcome enemies with stealth and gadgets, or find the right moments to distract enemies and gain the upper hand.EMBARK ON HIGH-STAKES MISSIONSTake on high-risk, high-reward missions from the galaxy’s crime syndicates. Steal valuable goods, infiltrate secret locations, and outwit enemies as one of the galaxy’s most wanted. Every choice you make influences your ever-changing reputation.JUMP INTO THE PILOT SEATPilot your ship, The Trailblazer, as you engage in thrilling dogfights with The Empire and other foes, finding the right opportunities to chase, evade, and attack to get the upper hand.
