"Star Wars Rebels" delves into the realm of law-enforcement and thrilling exploits.
In the aftermath of the Death Star's destruction, the Empire is left scrambling for power. This power vacuum creates an opportunistic environment for criminal organizations in the Star Wars universe, as they see this as the best time to expand their illegal operations and make a fortune. This is the setting for "Star Wars Outlaws," an open-world game from Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment that eschews Jedi Knights and the Force. The question remains: Can this work?
The dark days of the fallen Empire provide fertile ground for criminal enterprises, with various crime syndicates looking to capitalize on the chaos by making a substantial profit. However, these criminal organizations do not exactly get along, resulting in endless power struggles and conflicts over territory and resources. Kay Vess, our protagonist, finds herself unwittingly drawn into one such power struggle when she mistakenly steals a favored spaceship from Boss Sliro of the Zerek Besh syndicate.
To extricate herself from this dangerous situation, Kay must pull off the heist of a lifetime to take down Sliro and his cartel. Along the way, she'll encounter multiple criminal organizations, each trying to make a name for itself in this chaotic galaxy. Each mission affects Kay's reputation with these organizations, with sabotaging one cartel's facility strengthening her relationship with another and, in some cases, even turning adversaries into allies.
In the game, the presence of criminal factions adds an engaging layer of complexity. The four main cartels (Pyke, Hutt, Crimson Dawn, and Ashiga Clan) create a lively and dynamic universe where Kay's actions carry consequences that both help and hinder her progress. Her reputation with these organizations affects how the game world reacts to her, whether it be cooperation, hostile encounters, or even bounties placed on her head.
As an outlaw in "Star Wars Outlaws," Vess does not have Jedi powers, but she is not entirely defenseless. Instead, she has the aid of an adorable alien creature named Nix, a mix of gremlin and housecat. Nix assists Kay by stealing objects, operating levers, and even distracting enemies, adding charm and Star Wars flair to the gameplay.
A Cantina of Charm
Outlaws does not lack personality, with orchestral music setting the tone for thrilling action sequences and the regular "pew-pew" of blaster fire echoing through the galaxies. Massive Entertainment strikes a balance between familiar settings and new planetary biomes, starting with the unknown planet Toshara and later introducing iconic locations such as Mos Eisley on Tatooine and its legendary cantina.
As an open-world title, Star Wars has never ventured into this territory before. However, the sensation of truly exploring the cosmos takes time to fully develop, as the game requires players to familiarize themselves with the mechanics first. At least, the game includes a quick-travel feature that lets players hop between planets easily.
In terms of gameplay mechanics, "Star Wars Outlaws" influences itself from Ubisoft's previous titles like "Watch Dogs" and "Assassin's Creed." Players can sneak through enemy facilities or engage in third-person shootouts, with the occasional hacker mini-game or riddle-solving puzzle to break up the action. While the mechanics may not be revolutionary, they blend seamlessly in "Star Wars Outlaws," making for an engaging experience.
No Skill Tree, Just Experts
When it comes to Kay Vess' abilities, the game eschews traditional skill trees in favor of expert characters that Kay encounters throughout the story. These experts can enhance Vess' abilities, such as making her move more nimbly with the help of a hacker or teaching her how to use jumps with a mechanic. To unlock these abilities, players need to collect materials and complete missions. This streamlined approach is refreshing and does not require players to go down a rigid skill tree if they wish to just discover the world freely.
Despite the predictable mechanics, the winning combination of the game's engaging story and exploration of space keeps the gameplay interesting. The game features asteroid fields dotted with space stations and pirate hideouts, offering diverse challenges and space battles with TIE fighters for an old-school Star Wars feel.
"Star Wars Outlaws" demonstrates that you do not need Skywalkers or Jedi Knights to create an engaging and entertaining title that fits seamlessly into the Star Wars universe. The game proves to be a refreshing and fan-service-heavy experience that lets players explore the Star Wars galaxy as an outlaw. And Ubisoft fills this fan desire criminally well, delivering hours of fun for players on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
The Zerek Besh syndicate, being a prominent member of the criminal organizations in this chaotic galaxy, is directly managed by Boss Sliro. Due to the rivalries and power struggles between different syndicates, The Commission sometimes steps in to mediate disputes and maintain some level of order, despite not having direct authority over these groups.
