The Star Wars universe offers an almost limitless possibility for inventing new planets, societies, figures, and ideas, making it challenging not to add one’s unique touch when working within this intellectual property. However, while engaging with Ubisoft’s Star Wars Outlaws, featuring the original protagonist Kay Vess, I found myself constantly comparing it to established Star Wars characters, wishing I was exploring their stories instead.
In a universe overflowing with unexpected appearances and perplexing reappearances of historical characters (particularly following Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm), it is essential to introduce original characters to maintain the vitality of such an extended series. Yet, Star Wars offers plenty of familiar character types to draw upon: wise mentors, ambitious apprentices, snobbish military officials, witty robots, power-hungry politicians, or, as in the case of Kay Vess, unscrupulous rogues.
Although some innovative characters may not match up to those that have been warmly accepted, Kay Vess didn’t strike a chord with me during my gameplay. I can imagine there are fans of her, but I think Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment could have introduced a character from their collection instead. There’s one character who shares many noticeable similarities with Kay that would have made for a more engaging protagonist, and that’s Doctor Aphra.
Star Wars Outlaws Should’ve Starred Doctor Aphra
Any fan of Star Wars who hasn’t met Chelli Lona Aphra yet should rectify that promptly. This character is an unscrupulous archaeologist, essentially a more morally-challenged version of Indiana Jones. In her own comic book series, she’s often accompanied by two lethal droids and the wookie Black Krrsantan. The Doctor Aphra comics I’ve read are brimming with dark humor that I don’t typically associate with Star Wars, and I can’t wait to see more of her adventures unfold.
It’s not enjoyable for me to compare two fictional female characters in an unfair manner, but Kay Vess seems to share some similarities with Doctor Aphra, albeit with a lighter touch. From my interpretation of Outlaws, Kay appears to lack the vibrant and intricate character traits that Aphra possesses. As I delved into the game, I found myself yearning to take on the role of Doctor Aphra instead.
Aphra is part of the same criminal world as Kay, and since the game involves deciding which gangs and factions to join, Aphra’s character would have perfectly complemented the reputation system in the game. Additionally, the humor from the comics could have added a lot more personality to the game called Outlaws.
In my opinion, considering the shared characteristics, it would have been a strategic choice for Ubisoft to opt for Doctor Aphra instead of Kay Vess, given that she already has a dedicated fanbase. Some of these commonalities include:
1. Both characters are known for their wit and intelligence.
2. They both possess a rebellious spirit and are not afraid to bend or break the rules when necessary.
3. Both have been involved in high-stakes, action-packed adventures.
4. Their stories often intertwine with popular Star Wars characters and events.
5. Both characters offer unique perspectives on the Star Wars universe that could appeal to a wide audience.
- Neglected or abandoned during childhood, later having to collaborate with their estranged parent
- Violent and downright homicidal droid companion(s)
- Indifferent to both the Empire and the Rebel Alliance, having worked for and against both
- Some amount of aptitude for slicing (or hacking)
- A penchant for recklessly getting into dangerous situations and escaping through clever means
- Primary adventures taking place during the original trilogy era
The list continues, revealing some small and insignificant similarities between Doctor Aphra and Kay Vess, but overall, I firmly believe that Doctor Aphra is a more powerful character. Additionally, there are several comic connections for Doctor Aphra that could have added depth to the storyline in “Outlaws.
In essence, she spent some time working for Darth Vader, but was later betrayed by him. Consequently, if Vader had a more substantial role in the “Outlaws” storyline, it could have been more impactful than his brief appearances in the final version of the game.
In the Outlaws DLC expansion, Ubisoft had a chance to include Doctor Aphra as a secondary character, but they opted for Lando Calrissian and Hondo Ohnaka instead (and it was still nice to see Hondo in action from the animated series). With these choices, I can’t help but ponder other ways Star Wars media could utilize Doctor Aphra.
Should Doctor Aphra Appear Elsewhere?
If it turns out that the rumored sequel to “Star Wars Outlaws” is indeed moving forward, I’d propose that Doctor Aphra could play a notable part in Kay Vess’s upcoming video game storyline. Given that it seems unlikely a sequel will materialize, there might be an opening for the creators of Doctor Aphra’s current series, “Chaos Agent,” to bring in Kay Vess as a guest character and have them join forces as rogue operatives.
I’m uncertain if I want a live-action adaptation of Doctor Aphra, considering Disney’s varied quality in their Star Wars streaming series. While Andor is exceptional, many other shows on Disney+ have fallen short of the polish I believe Doctor Aphra and her crew deserve.
Adaptations of Star Wars characters like Ahsoka and Cad Bane in live-action have faced challenges when it comes to preserving their original character designs and personalities. Moreover, I can’t even imagine the challenging task of casting Doctor Aphra, but I do appreciate the fan casting choice of Chloe Bennet from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. for this role.
While I’d love to see my favorite Star Wars character, Doctor Aphra, get a wider audience through a game or series on a platform like Disney+, it might be that comic books continue to offer the best avenue for her storytelling. Perhaps it’s best for her to focus on building and expanding her unique niche in the Star Wars universe, allowing her dedicated fans to appreciate her journey without any potential disruptions or changes that may come with a broader platform.
https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/star-wars-outlaws-failed-brand-ubisoft-boss/embed/#
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2025-08-09 14:12