Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away from the epic conflicts between the Empire and the Rebels, the Jedi and the Sith, Star Wars Outlaws puts us in the shoes of a very ordinary criminal – Kay Vess.
This is the first open world Star Wars title from Ubisoft's workshop, but also a rare attempt to tell the story of a "little man" in this world, one who just wants to survive and succeed in the world of big players, without a lightsaber and political ambitions. Kay is not looking for balance in the universe. Kay wants to pay her debts, survive the day and steal the ship. Not necessarily in that order.
The landscape design looks great
Kay Vess: a criminal with character
I'll say it right away, I like the concept of the main character. Kay is not a superhero, he is not a Jedi, he is not a chosen son of the galaxy, and if he has midichlorians, no one mentions them. She is a beginner. Cheeky, sarcastic, practical and not at all glamorous, she improvises as she gets, and only sometimes successfully.
From the beginning, she was defined as a lower link in the chain of survival, marginalized and hated among the elite, and only lukewarmly accepted among other criminals. She gets involved in a job she's not qualified for, which goes wrong (of course), causes mass destruction, steals the favorite spaceship of a major cartel boss, and ends up with a blackmail on her head.
Another stealth approach gone wrong, time to pew-pew!
With her is Nyx, her pet, sidekick and the best thing in this game. It resembles a combination of a dog, a cat, and a Roomba with character. When she can't solve something herself, Kay sends Nyx, who will gladly steal, sneak through tight spaces and push a button behind a closed door, activate explosive devices, attack opponents or distract them. In short, Nyx is a key part of the game. We love Nyx.
Gameplay: old tricks in a new context
On paper, Outlaws doesn't invent hot water. Stealth mechanics with recognizable long grasses for hiding, classic Ubisoft whistle that ALWAYS manages to attract enemies, takedown approach, shooting from cover... You've seen it all before. Granted, the game puts them in a context that makes sense. Kay is not an elite fighter or a trained stunt assassin. Alarm means panic, and against imperial troops that are constantly coming, it is often better to hide and run away.
If I were an Assassin, I'd throw myself down on him gracefully right now.
The reputation system between the various cartels brings liveliness to the game. Your decisions, choices and the way you solve quests affect your relationship with different factions. Being at the mercy of a cartel means easier passage through their territories and access to their missions, and their merchants will give you discounts and special offers, while hostile cartels shoot without question. You can feel the dynamics of the world, as if things are happening behind the scenes, and not only while you are there. Decisions still carry a certain weight.
Ubisoft has significantly polished the game since its release a year ago: the insta-fail moments when you get caught in stealth in the middle of a mission have been removed, the scooter and boat ride is much smoother, and now we can finally keep the weapons we pick up from fallen enemies until we use them up. All this gives you the freedom to approach missions in your own way. They're still designed for stealth, but if you want to go in like guns-blazing Rambo and blow up half the base, you can.
Planets, missions and content
In Outlaws, the galaxy is at our fingertips. During the game we will visit several completely different planets, each with its own character, ecosystem and factions that control it. From the desert backwaters of Tatooine, to the dusty canteens of Akiva, to the green vistas of Toshara and the tight city streets of Mirogane, each location looks authentic, with recognizable Star Wars charm and local issues.
Wherever they land, there will be work for the criminal. Missions vary, from theft and infiltration to hacking, rescue and elimination of enemy bases. Questionnaires are also on the map, of course. Ubisoft wouldn't be Ubisoft without it. They hide puzzles, local secrets, mini quests, secret treasures and reputation consequences. Although the missions are varied at the beginning, over time you can feel a certain amount of repetitiveness, typical tasks begin to be repeated in different variations.
The lockpicking and hacking minigames are short and come as a welcome respite
The planets aren't huge like those in No man's Sky or Starfield, but they are cleverly designed, compact and varied. It's fun to ride a scooter and discover new things, and when you get tired of driving around planets and shooting local bandits, you get into the Trailblazer, Kaya's stolen ship.
Flying between planets is not just a cosmetic loading screen. No, here you really take command, dodge asteroids, run into pirate ambushes and have tense dogfights in the style of classic space shooters. Flying is simple, arcade and fun.
The Trailblazer spins quickly, boosts through vacuum, uses a lock-on system and distributes energy between shields and weapons if things get tense. Enemy ships are smart enough not to be just moving targets, and some encounters can surprise.
A different skill system
Kaya's arsenal and vehicle fleet are not static, during the game it is possible to upgrade the ship, scooter and blaster, which brings a sense of progress and adaptation to the play style. Opcije nisu beskonačne kao u RPGu ali ih ima dovoljno za neki basic loadout.
Instead of a classic skill tree, Star Wars Outlaws uses an interesting character card system. During the game, Kay meets numerous bandits, hackers, mechanics, smugglers...characters who leave their mark on her. Each of them symbolically represents one "card", and each card unlocks a new set of skills and bonuses.
You will spend a lot of time sneaking through the maze of pipes and shafts
For example, a card related to a hacker can provide an improvement for quieter burglaries or faster terminal hacking, and a smuggler card can improve stealth. Some improve direct combat, while others give passive bonuses. Unlocking happens gradually, most often through specific tasks or a reputation system with factions. It's not as deep as a complete RPG, but it gives a nice feeling that Kay is learning and changing through the story.
Graphics and performance: Switch 2 benchmark
And now, the most important item of this review. How does Outlaws fare on Switch 2? Honestly, surprisingly good. When I look at my desktop PC, and then look at this thin console that's basically a tablet, it's amazing what it's capable of.
The game runs at a stable 30 fps, with minimal drops in crowded areas in major cities. Ray tracing effects are present and give additional charm to the reflection and lighting effects, especially in smoky hangars and city streets. Draw distance is somewhat reduced, especially in handheld mode, along with lower resolutions in textures, but it still looks believable. In fact, it looks better than many previous AAA ports on the Switch.
It's the first time I've played with photo mode this much
There is also touchscreen support for inventory, motion controls and the possibility of cross saving through the Ubisoft account. Kay may not be a Jedi, but this version of the game is a Jedi-level port. If this is what we can expect from the new Switch, then we are on a very good path. If you look at this version of the game on its own, without directly comparing it to PC or other consoles, it's hard to find major complaints. Visually, the game stands on its feet without any problems and spins well enough to make you forget you're playing on a handheld.
You can also adjust numerous gameplay options, from combat difficulty, hacking, space battles and health. There are several control layouts, and it is also possible to change them manually. The handheld preset automatically includes UI options to make the game as readable and fluid as possible.
Perfect Star Wars atmosphere
Massive Entertainment knows how to design worlds. The game is bursting with authenticity. Whether you're in a smoky hangar, a cantina full of criminals, or trekking through the remote desert of Tattoine… this is Star Wars. Convincing, rich and atmospheric. Cities are alive, NPCs tell stories, gossip, sell, sing... They don't act as scenery but as a real place in the galaxy.
For example, as you pass through Toshar, the militaristic influence of the Empire is clear: Stormtroopers control the entrance to the city, propaganda on the radio proclaims another successful victory against the rebels, and officers in high positions are corrupt and in the pockets of the cartels. The world does not act as a backdrop, but as a real place in the galaxy.
Star Wars Outlaws on Switch 2 comes as a complete version of the game that includes all the boring DLCs, bonus content and extras from the premium version. No microtransactions. Kay Vess možda ima dugovei, ali vi ste s ovim izdanjem mirni.
Haters gonna hate
It's true, Star Wars Outlwas didn't have a perfect start. In the first weeks, the game used to have bugs and glitches, clumsy missions that would automatically fail if someone discovered you, problematic scooter controls or small illogicalities in the gameplay. But Ubisoft reacted quickly and today, after numerous patches and improvements, we have a smooth, stable and technically sound game.
One Sabaean game between heists. Of course, we'll send Nyx to check other people's cards
Despite this, a large part of the gaming community is stuck on a bad first impression and a generic hate towards Ubisoft and everything they put out. Some criticized Kay's look, saying it wasn't cool enough. Sincerely? I'm sick of perfect female characters who look like they fell off the catwalk straight into war.
Yes, the game has question marks on the map and some elements are known from other Ubisoft games, but this is not another copy paste title, but a story from a different perspective, in a richly designed world that looks alive. It comes to Switch 2 as a much better version than when it came out, and it deserves another chance.
Switch 2 has its own proper Star Wars game
Star Wars Outlaws is not a game that will redefine the genre, but it doesn't even try to. It tells the story of an ordinary street girl, not a space messiah, a tale of bad decisions, debt and last-minute escapes, with enough content, choices and space to explore to keep you entertained for hours. It looks and runs better on Switch 2 than anyone expected, and if you're a fan of this galaxy far, far away, Outlaws deserves your attention.
Ubisoft, can now Assassins Creed Shadows for Switch 2? I see you can!
A copy of the Switch 2 version of the game was provided by publisher Ubisoft for review purposes
