Ubisoft has officially unveiled gameplay for the upcomingStar Wars Outlaws,and it did not disappoint. This will bethe firstStar Warsvideo game from Massive Entertainmentand will allegedly be the first truly open-world game in the franchise. Players will assume control of a scoundrel named Kay Vess as she goes on a high stakes adventure through the Outer Rim. This adventure will see her encounter a plethora of classicStar Warsbad guys, and luckily she has some tools ripped straight out ofFalloutto help her.
Players will be fighting a lot of people throughout theirStar Wars Outlawsadventure, but they will not be doing it with a lightsaber at their side. This time around, players will have to rely on their wits and a trusty blaster if they want to survive. The focus on a blaster means a whole new style of combat, and Massive Entertainment seems to have taken some cues from Bethesda’sFalloutfranchise for that. While it was very brief, it looks like Kay Vess may be bringing her own version of V.A.T.S to theStar Warsuniverse, and that sounds like a fantastic addition to the formula.
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Star Wars Outlaws May Have Its Own VATS
The recentStar Wars Outlawsgameplay previewshowed some of the core things players will be doing in the game. It followed Vess as she infiltrated a hostile base, stole something, fought her way out, and eventually took off into the stars. It looked like almost everything thatStar Warsfans would want in an open-world game, and one brief sequence showcased a feature that may be very useful during this journey.
At one point, Vess jumped onto a speeder to flee the base she had robbed. Two enemy speeders attempted to cut her off as she raced to safety, but then time slowed down. She was able to target the enemies in front of her, they each glowed red, and then she unloaded her blaster into them. They both went spiraling out of control, and she was able to escape. This mechanic never crops up again during the preview, but it will likely come in handy duringStar Wars Outlaws' many combat encounters.
Star Wars Outlaws' time-slow ability seems to be its version ofFallout’s V.A.T.S mechanic. That mechanic has been in almost every singleFalloutgame and has been vital to the franchise’s combat. Players are able to slow down time, aim at specific body parts, and watch as their character destroys the enemy. It does not always work in the player’s favor, but when it does, it is pretty great to watch. This mechanic has become a staple of theFalloutfranchise over the years, and it seems to be inspiring this adventure.
While these two time slow abilities are similar,Fallout’s V.A.T.S seems more advanced. It looks likeStar Wars Outlawswill just let players target people in slow motion rather than specific body parts to weaken enemies. It could still prove useful against massive groups of enemies, butFallout’s version has a lot more functionality in combat. There is a chance thatStar Wars Outlaws' version is more advanced than what the brief preview showed, but that remains to be seen.
Star Wars Outlawshas a lot of promise and seems to be a breath of fresh air forStar Warsvideo games. Its time slow ability seems like a great addition to the franchise, and its open world formula will be a fantastic treat forStar Warsfans. Hopefully, Ubisoft can deliver on the promise, and maybe it has taken even more cues fromFalloutto accomplish that, but players will just have to wait and see.
Star Wars Outlawsis coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S in 2024.
