WhenStar Warswas first released in 1977, it introduced a galaxys worth of lore for audiences to sink into.
In Star Warsvideo games, however, the focus has often been narrower.
Certain pieces lightsabers and the Force, starships and ground battle translate easily to the mechanics of play.
Ubisoft; Massive Entertainment
Isnt that what Luke Skywalker was about, after all?
Star Wars Outlawsis about that too, among many other things.
You race off into the desert, through a canyon to a landing pad, hopping into your ship.
Micro to macro, all done seamlessly in real-time, no load screens or menus.
This is what the moment-to-moment gameplay looks like inOutlaws.
Shockingly, it all works.
It certainly has thelookofStar Wars.
Conversely, it also has the general vibe of the franchise down pat.
Every planet and city are broken into regions controlled by different syndicates.
If youre marked, its going to be an arduous stealth mission.
The Empire, too, poses a looming threat.
Unlike the more amicable crime families, theres no way to get on their good side.
Its all fun and games until a Deathtrooper squad bursts down from the sky.
The pendulum effect of Kays alliances makes every mission feel consequential.
Early on, I was tasked with planting evidence on the Pykes, with whom I was friendly.
Theres no easy way togamethe meta without the penalty of time.
Unfortunately, it bumps up against some poor level and confusing AI design that can lead to major missteps.
But when all else fails, you might always shoot your way out.
Many of the main story quests have guardrails in place that demand stealth otherwise the mission fails.
Besides basic punches and shooting, there are unlockable abilities that play heavily into the screwball scoundrel antics.
Nix, too, plays a huge role in gameplay.
Its rare to see a sidekick mechanic with as much functionality as Nix.
Beyond the basic boots-on-the-ground stuff, theres action to be found on speeders and in ships too.
The last bit of roleplaying that rounds out the scoundrel experience is a card game called Kessel Sabacc.
Every time something bold creeps up, itsfed to the wolves.
By celebrating the outlaw life,Star Warsis a vibe again.
