Star Wars Outlaws – What is Going On?

As a long-time gamer and Star Wars enthusiast, I have to admit that my excitement for the upcoming release of Star Wars Outlaws from Massive Entertainment was initially high. The prospect of exploring an open world in the Star Wars universe, engaging in space combat, and potentially interacting with iconic characters had me eagerly counting down the days.

In 1996, LucasArts released “Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire” by LucasArts. This game wasn’t the most visually impressive in the series, but it stood out for its unique take on Star Wars lore. Some of my favorite moments included facing off against Boba Fett in a one-on-one battle, racing through enemy swoop bike riders to save Luke Skywalker, and engaging in an epic space battle between a Star Destroyer, Skyhook, and Rebel forces.

Republic Commando,” “Knights of the Old Republic,” “Rogue Squadron,” “X-Wing,” and even the original “Battlefront,” as well as “The Force Unleashed” – had their unique strengths and weaknesses. Despite any issues they may have had, they all captured the essence of the Star Wars universe in their own ways.

Approaching the end of August, we’re just about a month away from the debut of “Star Wars Outlaws.” This title reached gold status on July 3rd. Experience seamless travel between space and land without interruptions (looking at you, “Starfield”!). The Trailblazer spaceship pierces through cloud cover for a thrilling descent into a nearby metropolis. For an exhilarating ride, hop onto a Speeder on Toshara, the new windy moon, and explore for extended periods without any loading screens. Jabba the Hutt’s appearance is more stunning than ever before. The game stays true to classic “Star Wars” elements, including iconic sound effects, TIE-Fighters, and blasters. However, some gamers have expressed underwhelming feedback regarding the open-world title’s gameplay.

A significant portion of this situation might be attributable to Ubisoft serving as the game’s publisher. The unveiling of the project in 2021, with Massive Entertainment handling development and the creator of “The Division” leading the way, generated a lot of anticipation. Lastly, an upcoming “Star Wars” game that doesn’t originate from Electronic Arts is a refreshing change.

Ubisoft’s past record wasn’t shining brightly – the accomplishment of “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla” in 2020 couldn’t totally erase the setbacks of “Ghost Recon Breakpoint” and “Watch Dogs Legion.” When “Outlaws” unveiled its gameplay for the first time, there was apprehension yet a willingness to give it a chance. After all, it was just an early peek, and this was from Massive Entertainment. Maybe there was more depth to it than what appeared on the surface.

Today, I’m reflecting on a game I’ve been following for some time now, and as more footage and details emerge, my concerns about it have only grown. The latest gameplay trailer, released by IGN, features our protagonist Kay Vess bravely venturing into the carcass of a Sarlacc to retrieve a tooth for some Jawas. However, this daring feat hasn’t been met with universal praise. Some gamers have voiced their disappointment over minor frame rate drops, excessive sliding through caverns, questionable enemy AI during sneaking sequences, and subpar explosion effects around the six-minute mark. Every aspect of the game seems to be under scrutiny right now.

An intriguing aspect of this mission is that it resembles a standard fetch quest with additional tasks. While players might enjoy the laser turret acquisition for Kay’s spacecraft and the roguish banter, high-budget game enthusiasts may find it underwhelming overall.

As someone who has been following the development of this game closely, I must admit that my initial excitement has been dampened after reading some recent reviews from reputable gaming publications. Eurogamer’s assessment struck a chord with me, as I too have noticed a near total lack of character, flair, and detail in the gameplay reveal at Forward. The issues with AI detection are concerning, especially since they seemed to still be an issue during their hands-on experience.

As a gamer, I’ve only gotten a sneak peek of this game during the demo session. The exploration was restricted to certain areas and I couldn’t fully experience the freedom to roam around and discover new places. Regarding those unexpected events that the developers bragged about happening frequently, I didn’t encounter any during my brief playtime (it’s important to note, though, that they didn’t materialize even in recent gameplay footage).

Additionally, to truly understand the expanding maps and experience the intricacies of the Syndicate system, you’ll need more than just a glimpse. You won’t fully appreciate how various choices impact your gameplay or discover the full potential of the open-world sandbox without delving deeper through extended gameplay or hands-on interaction.

Despite Massive’s grand plan to create a “Star Wars” adventure filled with vast locations, space battles, renowned characters, and more, some critics find its execution disappointingly dull. Ambitious as it may be and genuine as Massive’s commitment to the universe appears, the sense of unoriginal gameplay elicits a sense of déjà vu that is difficult to dismiss.

In my view, one reason why “Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora” by Massive, their most recent big-budget game, didn’t excite the market is because, while it offered organic exploration and intriguing mechanics, it still carried some similarities to games like “Far Cry.” The unique aspects of “Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora” weren’t enough to overshadow its generic elements.

Star Wars Outside of “Star Wars: The Mandalorian” hasn’t experienced significant growth in recent years, despite having broader appeal. After the disappointing reception of “Rise of Skywalker,” the franchise gained renewed interest with the successful launch of “The Mandalorian” on Disney+. However, Disney, as per their tradition, flooded the market with new content. The debut of “The Book of Boba Fett” failed to capture audiences, but “Obi-Wan Kenobi” received positive feedback.

Although Andor didn’t receive the same level of excitement as the following releases, and projects such as The Acolyte and Ahsoka failed to create a lot of buzz. The fact that there hasn’t been a new film since 2019, when they were being produced at a faster pace, speaks volumes. If Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora doesn’t benefit from The Way of Water’s success, Outlaws faces an uphill battle.

As someone who has been a dedicated fan of the Assassin’s Creed series since its inception, I can hardly contain my excitement for the upcoming release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. With its launch date set for November 15th, it comes after the release of Outlaws, but that doesn’t matter to me. What does matter is the fact that this game marks a return to form for the franchise, taking us back to the roots of stealth and action gameplay in the rich and captivating world of Feudal Japan.

As someone who has spent countless hours and hard-earned money on video games throughout my life, I can’t help but feel frustrated by the recent trend of releasing multiple large open-world titles at the same price point within a short timeframe. While it’s true that having different audiences for each game could work to the advantage of developers like Outlaws, I just don’t see the logic behind asking consumers to make such a significant financial investment so soon after the last one.

As a gamer, I might think to myself: “Perhaps I’m making a big deal out of nothing here. Maybe Yves Guillemot, the CEO, is on to something when he describes this game as one of the most anticipated titles in the industry this year and expresses the positive buzz from the community. True, he did label Skull and Bones as a quadruple-A game before, but let’s keep an open mind and give this new project a chance.”

The new game, Star Wars Outlaws, is set to be released on August 30th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. With the launch date approaching, anticipation can definitely be built up. Perhaps Massive has a surprise in store, similar to the unforgettable introduction of Darth Maul, that could shift public perception. Regardless, Outlaws needs an exciting boost to capture attention and prove it’s more than just another discounted open-world game from Ubisoft released soon after its launch.

In my personal perspective, I believe it is important to clearly state that the opinions presented in this article are those of the author and not mine or the views of GamingBolt as a whole. As someone who values transparency and accuracy in journalism, I have learned through experience that it’s essential to distinguish between individual perspectives and organizational stances. This disclaimer ensures readers are fully informed about where the information is coming from.

2024-07-25 15:43

Read More