I played Star Wars Outlaws for four hours – and it brings human scale to its massive galaxy

UBISOFT’s upcoming Star Wars adventure gives you an entirely different sense of scale for the galaxy far far away.

Unlike the mainline Star Wars films, with its powerful Jedi and heroes who get to change the fortunes of the universe, Outlaws puts you in the shoes of ordinary people.

Playing as Kay Vess, a small-time thief who is just struggling to get by, you are not important in the grand scheme of things and your role in this world is rather small.

But just because your’re at the bottom of the food chain doesn’t mean you don’t get to do cool stuff or experience an interesting story.

On the contrary, Outlaws’ human scale makes the game’s massive open world even more immersive.

As you’re completing missions, you come across small details that are a joy to experience.

Show your support for a shopkeeper as he is threatened by the local cartel and get rewarded with a discount at his shop.

Overhear a conversation that will lead you into a secret bar, where you can bet on races.

Tiny bits like this truly help the world come alive and immerse you in the ordinary daily life in the galaxy.

Kay only carries a small blaster and a few hacking tools, but her modest arsenal doesn’t make combat limited or repetitive, as you also have a trusty companion.

Nix, Kay’s furry partner in crime, can do all sorts of things to help you on your journey, and by holding a button, you can have him interact with specific spots in the environment.

He can turn off alarms, steal guns, create a path for you, trigger explosives, distract enemies and more.

Combat features a skill that lets you mark several enemies to take down at once, which is satisfying, but gunfights feel secondary to stealth gameplay.

Exploration is key, as the world is full of objects to interact with, characters to talk to, conversations to eavesdrop on, and spontaneous moments to experience.

Finding your way when inside buildings can be tedious at times, but you can also explore vast open areas outside, on your speeder bike.

Going off the beaten path is always rewarding, as you’ll find cosmetics, new additions for your starship and even secret characters who will improve your skills.

As you fly in space towards a planet, you may also find secrets, such as a hidden treasure in the middle of an asteroid field.

The open world feels like it’s big in order to hide things, rather than a place encouraging experimentation.

Yet, just riding your speeder across an open expanse as the sun sets is a thrilling experience for any Star Wars fan.

Star Wars Outlaws and its massive open world will keep you busy for hours when the game releases on August 30, 2024.

Outlaws is coming to PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and will be available for cloud streaming via GeForce Now.

If you’re looking for more on new games, check out our First Descendant review.

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