One of the hardest things about taking a franchise like Star Wars into the video game space is capturing the feel of its universe. Through countless live-action projects, fans have built a certain expectation of just how the worlds should look and feel. Along with that, many have also created their perfect Star Wars adventure within their heads. All of those expectations may make it seem like an impossible task, but luckily, Star Wars Outlaws seems to have understood what to do.
While Star Wars is no stranger to the video game industry, it has not had a fully-fledged open-world game until Star Wars Outlaws. Not only has the game finally delivered that, but it does so through the smuggler lens rather than the tried-and-true Jedi adventure. That uncharted territory makes the entire thing seem risky, and yet, Massive Entertainment has been able to capture just what makes Star Wars tick. In large part, that's thanks to the beautiful Snowdrop engine popularized by Tom Clancy's The Division.
Star Wars Outlaws Carries Forward a Major Strength of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
Both developed by Ubisoft's Massive Entertainment, Star Wars Outlaws carries forward one of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora's greatest strengths.
Star Wars Outlaws Finally Gives Fans the Galaxy to Explore
Each Planet in Star Wars Outlaws is Beautiful
From the very start of Star Wars Outlaws, the galaxy far, far away is realized in exquisite detail. The streets of Cantonica look like what a gambling planet should, the people that wander its streets converse how fans might expect them to, and the landscape is littered with the tiniest of details. All of this goes a long way in making the planet truly feel like it could exist, and of course, the immersion does not stop there.
Every single planet has seemingly been painstakingly recreated to fit the feel and look of the Star Wars universe. The sands of Tatooine look ripped straight from A New Hope, the moon of Toshara feels like a cowboy's dream, players can lose themselves within the rainforests of Akiva, and Kijimi is exactly how The Rise of Skywalker presented it. While not every planet is the same size, Massive Entertainment has filled each with so much to see and discover that they are all worth the price of admission.
The Snowdrop Engine Has Made the Galaxy Feel Alive
Players who have been following Massive Entertainment since its debut may not be too surprised by the beauty of Star Wars Outlaws' planets, as this is par for the course with the studio. Since the very first Tom Clancy's The Division, the studio has made a name for itself with its beautiful landscapes. Even if the games were not as strong as they could have been, the locales were always a sight to behold, and that is thanks to the Snowdrop Engine.
Since Tom Clancy's The Division, the Snowdrop Engine has been used for all sorts of different Ubisoft games and has seen a plethora of updates. And through it all, the worlds that it has created have become instantly memorable due to their immersive nature. Players will not soon forget the beauty of The Division 2's DC, the movie-like nature of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, or the colorful worlds of Mario + Rabbids. Now they can get lost within the galaxy of Star Wars Outlaws.
Even if fans may not be interested in Kay Vess' story, they shouldn't miss out on the worlds of Star Wars Outlaws. At some points, it really does feel like players are walking on an alien planet ripped straight from a Star Wars film. And since the DLC is set to add even more unique areas, that feeling will not end any time soon.
Star Wars Outlaws
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 75 /100 Critics Rec: 68%
- Released
- August 30, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Violence, Simulated Gambling, Mild Language
- Developer(s)
- Massive Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft, Lucasfilm Games
- Engine
- Snowdrop
- Franchise
- Star Wars
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience the first-ever open world Star Wars game and explore distinct planets across the galaxy, both iconic and new. Risk it all as Kay Vess, an emerging scoundrel seeking freedom and the means to start a new life. Fight, steal, & outwit your way through the galaxy’s crime syndicates as you join the galaxy’s most wanted. If you’re willing to take the risk, the galaxy is full of opportunity.
DISCOVER A GALAXY OF OPPORTUNITY
Explore distinct planets with bustling cities and cantinas before racing across sprawling outdoor landscapes on your speeder. Each planet brings new adventures, unique challenges, and enticing rewards if you’re willing to take the risk.
EXPERIENCE AN ORIGINAL SCOUNDREL STORY
Live the high-stakes lifestyle of an outlaw. With Nix by your side, turn any situation to your advantage: fight with your blaster, overcome enemies with stealth and gadgets, or find the right moments to distract enemies and gain the upper hand.
EMBARK ON HIGH-STAKES MISSIONS
Take on high-risk, high-reward missions from the galaxy’s crime syndicates. Steal valuable goods, infiltrate secret locations, and outwit enemies as one of the galaxy’s most wanted. Every choice you make influences your ever-changing reputation.
JUMP INTO THE PILOT SEAT
Pilot your ship, The Trailblazer, as you engage in thrilling dogfights with The Empire and other foes, finding the right opportunities to chase, evade, and attack to get the upper hand.
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action-Adventure
