Why I Am Looking Forward to Star Wars: Outlaws

As a lifelong Star Wars fan and someone who’s spent countless hours sneaking through shadows in games like Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nostalgia when it comes to Star Wars Outlaws. The idea of exploring the seedy underbelly of the Star Wars galaxy, using stealth gadgets that remind me of my days with Sam Fisher, is nothing short of thrilling.

Despite the ongoing debates about Ubisoft’s corporate practices and the issues in their latest games, the sneak peeks at “Star Wars Outlaws” have truly captured the essence and ambiance of classic Star Wars. As someone who is usually hard to impress with how Disney handles the franchise, I must admit that “Star Wars Outlaws” bears a striking resemblance to the authenticity seen in the original trilogy.

For a dedicated Star Wars enthusiast, the opportunity to delve deeply into Jabba’s Palace and accept tasks from the powerful Hutt himself feels almost too good to pass up. In the game Outlaws, you can form alliances with numerous syndicates, including the notorious Hutt Cartel. You’ll find yourself conversing with familiar faces like Salacious Crumb, Jabba’s right-hand creature, and Bib Fortuna. It has been confirmed that Han Solo’s carbonite-encased body will be present. Although Boba Fett hasn’t been officially announced yet, I’d wager a substantial amount of galactic credits on him making an appearance, if not as a playable character, then perhaps in a cameo role. What excites me most is the prospect of interacting or teaming up with him on a bounty hunt.

Players felt justified in their frustration when Ubisoft declared that the “Jabba’s Gambit” mission would be an exclusive feature for the $109.99 Gold Edition of the game. However, the developer has clarified that this does not impact the broader Hutt Cartel narrative, so fans can still anticipate a wealth of Jabba the Hutt content regardless of the edition purchased. In addition to this, Star Wars Outlaws offers the opportunity to trade with Jawas, similar to their appearances in Episode IV. These interactions involve purchasing malfunctioning Gonk Droids and other scrap from Jawas standing near Sandcrawler transports. A preview quest showcases a mission where players can retrieve a Sarlacc tooth to trade for a useful ship turret, ideal for dogfights in orbit. The game is brimming with such authentic Star Wars content, including numerous flavorful quests. Although some quests may not live up to the quality of those found in games like The Witcher 3 or GTA, there’s no disputing the unmistakable Star Wars feel of the characters, scenarios, and environments presented. I eagerly await seeing what other adventures await Kay Vess and her rodent-like companion Nix.

Absolutely, there’s a lot more to explore in Star Wars Outlaws beyond typical settings. The game masterfully creates immersive worldbuilding and environmental storytelling for fresh locales like the savannah-resembling moon of Toshara. Toshara serves as an expansive open environment yet teems with Star Wars lore. The sprawling savannah is peppered with objectives and things to discover, which you can traverse using your speeder bike. The cities within Toshara stand in stark contrast to the surrounding plains. Mirogana, a valley city nestled against and beneath a massive arched butte-like mountain, presents a striking change of scenery. As Kay and Nix pass through the Stormtrooper-guarded security checkpoint with fake IDs, they enter the bustling downtown area, where smoky air and neon lights dominate the densely populated cityscape, almost obliterating the outdoorsy ambiance completely. However, they didn’t simply replicate cantinas across locations.

In this reimagined setting, the leaders of the urban gangs adorn their territories to mimic Toshara’s savannah-like landscape. The canyon walls are intricately sculpted to function as both walls and pillars, while indigenous flora is strategically placed along the shelves. Each area boasts unique environmental details that distinguish one from another. Overhearing NPC conversations, you learn about local squabbles and happenings, often concerning the Pyke syndicate’s control over specific Mirogana sectors. The atmosphere is enhanced by an authentically composed soundtrack reminiscent of John Williams’ iconic work, though softer and more ambient. When the music isn’t playing, you can still enjoy authentic Star Wars sound effects through your earbuds. The audio design in Outlaws is impressive, from the sounds of native insects to the hum of a speeder bike engine – these are classic Star Wars sound effects that add to the immersion. It’s delightful to unwind on Tatooine, playing Sabacc while listening to Williams-inspired music and hearing a Gonk Droid’s cries in the distance.

In an unexpected contrast to Ubisoft’s traditional approach, the game Star Wars Outlaws integrates mini-games into the player’s experience in a way that feels organic and unforced. Instead of being prompted by quests or pop-ups, you encounter characters playing card games and wagering on holographic races, which you can join spontaneously. The game also offers subtler activities, such as admiring landscapes from railings, interacting with Banthas, and eavesdropping on the conversations among NPCs. Despite being an open-world game, most activities are initiated through menu markers and following waypoints to locations. However, I must clarify that it’s not a Rockstar GTA-like experience as such. There are opportunities to raise your wanted level and face off against Imperial Stormtroopers, but these elements serve as features within the game rather than defining its core mechanics. If you share my fascination for the Star Wars galaxy, exploration in Star Wars Outlaws offers numerous rewards, even if it follows a structure typical of Ubisoft games.

As a fan of stealth games, I can’t wait to give it a spin in Star Wars Outlaws. From what I’ve heard, the stealth mechanics might be slow and challenging, but that only makes me more eager to try it out. Maybe it’s my fondness for Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory talking, or perhaps it’s the allure of something other than constant lightsaber duels, but the idea of staying hidden and moving cautiously really appeals to me. Plus, using environmental objects like explosive barrels adds an extra layer of strategy that I always appreciate, especially when it comes to exploring the intricate details of a Star Wars setting.

In the gaming world, I’ve found myself immersed in the gritty and intricate universe of “Outlaws“, a game that offers labyrinthine levels teeming with hidden corners unlike any other “Star Wars” game out there. This intricate design gives a glimpse into parts of the galaxy’s underbelly we rarely see in other games. The arsenal at my disposal is quite impressive, including a long-range hacking device, grappling hook, and data spike lockpicking tool. I must admit, I’m genuinely impressed by how these stealth gadgets work and control within the game, especially the lockpicking – a feature notoriously problematic in many video games. However, if sneaking around isn’t your cup of tea, you can always rely on your blasters for a more straightforward approach. “Outlaws” caters to both types with its extensive array of upgrades and temporary heavy weapons that Nix snatches from defeated enemies. While I’m most drawn to the stealth gameplay, “Outlaws” ensures there’s a versatile range of playstyles to navigate through its challenging situations.

Speaking about stealth capabilities, Massive Entertainment, known for developing Tom Clancy’s The Division, is composed of ex-team members from the Splinter Cell series. Additionally, the upcoming remake of Splinter Cell is being developed using the same Snowdrop engine as Star Wars Outlaws. Notably, Outlaws isn’t merely incorporating some stealth elements; it boasts the timeless stealth gameplay that Ubisoft has been perfecting for decades.

Fans of Star Wars might not find complete contentment with Star Wars Outlaws, but it delivers remarkably well in aspects that truly matter. The game successfully recreates the authentic feel and universe of Star Wars, along with a variety of open-world activities that players can immerse themselves in for extended periods. Whether one prefers stealth missions or playing like a free-roaming character from GTA, Star Wars Outlaws promises to cater to diverse preferences, as suggested by the sneak peeks of the game.

As a passionate gaming enthusiast, I’d like to emphasize that the opinions shared in this piece are my own. They don’t necessarily reflect the collective viewpoint of our beloved community at GamingBolt.

2024-08-22 15:11

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