After attending the initial hands-off briefing for “Star Wars Outlaws” at Summer Game Fest 2023, my excitement was palpable. The focus on the solo protagonist, Kay Vess, and her adorable merqaal pet, Nix, had me hooked. The promise of a cohesive, linear story in a game set in the Star Wars universe was refreshing, especially in a market saturated with open-world titles. I couldn’t wait to dive in and experience it for myself.
Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to preview “Star Wars Outlaws” twice, and while my initial enthusiasm remains, it has been dampened by some concerns. The game, while visually stunning with captivating character designs and environments, feels bloated at times. The gameplay sections I’ve experienced highlighted issues with navigation and combat mechanics that left me feeling underwhelmed.
The game features a variety of missions, from cosmic dogfights to stealth encounters with Stormtroopers and criminal factions. One standout moment was racing across the dunes of Toshara on a speeder with Nix by my side, a thrilling experience that left me eager for more. However, the overall experience felt disjointed and confusing at times, with unclear objectives and frustrating traversal mechanics.
The parkour-style gameplay, while promising in theory, fell short in execution. Climbing grids and using the grappling hook often felt clunky and inconsistent, disrupting the flow of gameplay. Navigating the environments proved challenging, with maze-like layouts and confusing objective markers adding to the frustration.
Despite these issues, there were moments of enjoyment, particularly in a stealth mission on the icy planet Kijimi. The engaging stealth mechanics and the ability to interact with Nix in various ways added depth to the gameplay. The reputation system and hacking minigames also showed potential for a more immersive experience.
Overall, “Star Wars Outlaws” seems to suffer from classic AAA bloat, offering a vast but uneven gameplay experience. While there are elements to look forward to, such as hovercraft races and space battles, the game’s shortcomings in navigation and mechanics are cause for concern. As the release date approaches, I remain cautiously optimistic, hoping that the final product will address these issues and deliver a more polished experience.
“Star Wars Outlaws” is set to launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S on August 30. If you’re considering diving into this adventure, just remember to always look up – you never know what you might find.
