Star Wars Outlaws PS5 Review

Star Wars Outlaws PS5 Review – A Daring Heist in the first open-world Star Wars game

Star Wars Outlaws marks the franchise’s first venture into open-world gaming—a surprising choice given the genre’s long-standing popularity. What sets it apart is how it deviates from Ubisoft’s familiar open-world formula. Instead of following the typical Jedi-focused storyline of a third person Star Wars game, the game centres on Kay Vess, an outlaw, offering a glimpse into the galaxy’s darker, criminal underworld.

Set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Kay, along with her small alien companion Nix, is on the run after a mission goes wrong, leading to the theft of a ship. Her ultimate goal is to pull off a major heist to secure a better future. Kay stands out as a charismatic and likable protagonist, while Nix, besides being adorable, plays a crucial role in gameplay, making the duo both functional and enjoyable.

Kay’s relationships with various factions across the galaxy impact gameplay, as her standing with the four groups changes based on choices made in the game. While the main narrative remains largely unaffected, these decisions influence mission outcomes and gameplay elements. For example, a poor reputation forces the use of stealth in hostile territories, while a good standing allows you to freely walk through their territory, unlocks special missions, discounts, and access to exclusive items. If relations sour too much, Kay might be hunted by kill teams or face steep prices in shops. This system adds layers of strategy and consequence to faction interactions.

The game combines stealth, action, and platforming in its open-world design. Stealth mechanics are solid, allowing for distractions and quiet takedowns, but like other Ubisoft titles, the AI can be inconsistent. It’s also sometimes hilariously contradictory—Kay can knock out helmeted enemies with her fists, yet she’s unable to move bodies because of her slight build. If spotted, nearby enemies tend to charge at Kay with no answers to her fists, and they often react surprisingly indifferently when a comrade suddenly explodes right next to them. Despite adjustable difficulty settings, enemy intelligence remains unpredictable, though their sharp vision keeps the stealth engaging.

“Nix, Kay’s sidekick, brings not only charm but also essential utility to the game.”

Although stealth is a major focus, gunfights are still enjoyable, even though the AI lacks tactical awareness. Kay’s upgradeable blaster and adrenaline meter—similar to Red Dead Redemption’s Dead Eye—add precision and depth to combat. The game also features a reload mechanic reminiscent of Gears of War’s active reload. While other weapons are available, they have limited ammo, and once depleted, Kay discards them, ensuring the blaster remains central to combat.

Nix, Kay’s sidekick, brings not only charm but also essential utility to the game. Nix can steal items, distract or attack enemies, and even alert Kay to nearby threats and items. In some takedown animations, Nix and Kay work together, adding a delightful layer of teamwork. Nix’s blend of personality and functionality is one of the game’s standout features.

Instead of a traditional skill tree, abilities in Star Wars Outlaws are unlocked through in-game actions and interactions with specific characters. This streamlines progression and sets the game apart from Ubisoft’s usual approach. Collecting outfits for Kay and Nix provides stat boosts, with additional perks unlocked for matching sets. Kay can equip charms for further upgrades, while Nix earns new abilities through a fun mini-game involving shared meals and quick-time events.

Despite being an open-world Ubisoft game, Outlaws adopts a more minimalist approach, avoiding an overwhelming number of distractions. The world feels very much alive and populated, however, with hidden treasures, side missions, races, crafting materials, and more to discover. Towns and cities are vibrant, filled with diverse aliens and droids that perfectly capture the Star Wars aesthetic. The streamlined design makes the game feel less bloated and more accessible, especially for completionists.

Traversal is enjoyable, with Kay’s upgradeable speeder providing fast, efficient movement across large landscapes. Additionally, her grappling hook and climbing abilities add a platforming element to exploration, enhancing mobility and keeping the gameplay engaging throughout the expansive environments.

The game also incorporates space travel, allowing exploration of orbit, space battles, and missions using the stolen Trailblazer ship. Aerial combat, featuring lasers and missiles, offers dynamic, fast-paced dogfights that fit well within the Star Wars universe. These space sections add excitement and variety to the overall experience.

I have already mentioned some issues, but the game is rough around the edges in other ways as well. Glitches are common, with enemies clipping through environments or areas failing to load properly. One amusing bug had Kay gliding as if she were roller-skating. While these issues don’t ruin the experience, they do detract from the game’s polish at times.

Stars Wars Outlaws PS5 Review Summary:

In conclusion, Star Wars Outlaws delivers a fresh take on a Ubisoft open-world, blending stealth, action, and space combat with the memorable duo of Kay and Nix. The dynamic faction system adds depth, while the absence of a traditional skill tree makes progression feel natural. Despite technical glitches and inconsistent AI, Outlaws remains an enjoyable and immersive journey into the Star Wars universe.