Star Wars Outlaws PC Version Excels, But What is Going on with the PS5 version?

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I must say that Star Wars Outlaws has left me both impressed and perplexed. Having played countless open-world games, this title stands out for its stunning visuals and authentic Star Wars feel. The cinematic mode is an absolute delight, making you feel like you’re right in the heart of the original trilogy.

It’s widely acknowledged that Massive Entertainment’s Star Wars Outlaws has stirred up a variety of opinions before its release. Questions about how the open-world format, which is characteristic of its publisher, would play out or the appearance of the gameplay footage shown so far have sparked concerns in different areas. A particularly large explosion seen in an IGN gameplay video generated significant criticism due to its unnatural look.

Critics’ evaluations are out for the open-world sci-fi action-adventure game, and though it boasts a Metascore of 77 from 61 reviews, some less than favorable feedback has also been shared alongside the praises. Our review found the narrative and open-world elements engaging, but we noted issues with movement, enemy AI, stealth mechanics, and certain design choices that left room for improvement. A misstep in 2024’s levels? Definitely one to avoid.

Initially, the game Star Wars Outlaws has always been visually striking, a fact that initially sparked some doubt about its overall performance, a topic we’ll explore further soon. Nevertheless, the Snowdrop Engine once again demonstrates its extraordinary ability to construct expansive worlds brimming with detail and authenticity.

As a dedicated gamer, I can’t help but marvel at the power of the CryEngine, which graced last year’s “Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora,” alongside “The Division 1” and “2.” All three games were warmly received for their stunning visuals. This engine truly shines when it comes to creating breathtaking character models, atmospheric effects, and lighting, particularly during indoor-outdoor transitions.

In a striking and vivid manner, every scene seems to pulse with life and grandeur, enhanced by the 21:9 mode that amplifies the cinematic feel. From the breathtaking vistas of Toshara’s mountains to the bustling nighttime streets filled with intricate details, there’s an undeniable charm that captivates. The wind is rendered authentically, making trees sway and stirring dust in its path, even causing a rustle in Kay’s hair. Each detail contributes to the overall realism and visual appeal.

The design of the art is equally impressive, skillfully incorporating intricate details from the original movies while maintaining a seamless flow. It effectively portrays the grittier aspects of the universe’s settings. The pre-rendered cutscenes are visually striking, boasting high-quality fidelity and fluid animation. However, during gameplay on PC, there are instances where lower-resolution textures can be noticed, particularly on certain environmental rocks.

During our PC game testing, we utilized an AMD Ryzen 9 5950x processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti graphics card, 32 GB of RAM, and a solid-state drive. The screen resolution was set at 3840×2160 with DLSS (Dynamic Super Resolution) enabled, specifically with the upscale option set to Biased Quality. We maintained the quality setting on High, which means almost all graphics options such as Environment Refraction Quality, Microdetails, Particles, and Scatter Density were also set at High. Most Ray Tracing settings were on Medium, but we increased the BVH Quality (for better geometry), Raytraced Diffuse Reflections, their resolution, and Raytraced Specular Reflections to High.

Overall, the game’s performance was generally solid, managing to stay consistent despite having numerous light sources and characters within its settings. However, as you explore the expansive environments of ‘Outlaws’, some variations in performance can be noticed. While traveling on the Speeder in Toshara, for instance, the frame rate varied between 50-60 frames per second, even during periods of minimal activity. Despite these minor fluctuations, the game remains quite playable and doesn’t significantly impact the overall experience. Moreover, the ray tracing effects are visually stunning, particularly when gliding over water bodies and witnessing the environment mirrored in them.

In the console version is where things might get tricky. We tried out the PS5 edition that offers a unique 21:9 cinematic mode along with other customizable features like Motion Blur Intensity (for both camera and individual objects), Film Grain, and Chromatic Aberration. Additionally, you can select between two graphic modes – Quality or Performance – which are quite self-explanatory.

In simpler terms, during intense fight scenes or when riding the Speeder, some instability and minor glitches can be noticed. However, using the Performance Mode makes it much smoother with fewer interruptions and a faster frame rate. Although this mode reduces resolution, if you prioritize a smooth experience over high resolution, it seems like the best option to take.

On the other hand, it’s the PS5 version that appears to have received less attention in terms of overall technical refinement. Frequently, animations would malfunction, exacerbating difficulties during Kay’s movement and exploration. Additionally, there were more problems than expected with lip-syncing and hit detection. Moreover, while the draw distances in the PC version could seem very clear, they appeared somewhat blurred on the PS5. This difference in clarity is particularly noticeable in the initial stages of the game, when Kay is given the task of breaking into a mansion. As she climbs a cliffside, the background, which includes a mansion with fireworks exploding, appears blurry.

Apart from the problems mentioned earlier, occasionally there would be audio glitches and pop-ins while playing on PS5. These disturbances took away from the gaming experience even further. Given Massive Entertainment’s expertise with the engine (they actually developed it), it seems possible that Star Wars Outlaws might require a bit more time to thoroughly iron out its console technical issues, like a dish needing extra baking time in the oven to be fully cooked.

To put it simply, we didn’t find any issues that halted gameplay or caused crashes during our initial playtime. Moreover, the load times on both platforms were remarkably fast, almost imperceptible when switching between scenes and cutscenes.

In essence, “Star Wars Outlaws” is an extraordinary open-world game that remarkably embodies the aesthetic and atmosphere of the Star Wars franchise. The cinematic mode, which is included, significantly enhances its authenticity by setting it during the original trilogy. Despite some criticism, there’s a unique charm in exploring these settings or speeding across landscapes and observing the plains expand before your view, particularly at various times of the day.

However, the best way to experience it all is on PC, hands down, whether it’s due to the multitude of options available or simply because of its more consistent performance (which could use a bit of tightening up). The PS5 version isn’t outright terrible on a visual level. Quality Mode could use shoring up to handle the frame drops during combat; however, the overall experience could be significantly improved if the pop-in and draw distance issues are addressed. It’s almost everything else that desperately needs more polish to truly deliver on that space scoundrel fantasy.

No matter if Star Wars Outlaws sells well or not, it’s certain to get further updates to enhance the gameplay and fix any remaining problems. Just like last year’s Avatar, it’s an outstanding example of current-generation graphics that will captivate fans of the franchise due to its details. Here’s to hoping it reaches even greater heights.

2024-08-27 15:41

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