Summary
- Star Wars Outlaws looks to be an immersive experience with seamless travel from ground to space.
- The game should consider adding a first-person cockpit view to Trailblazer for deeper immersion, bringing players closer to space exploration and dogfights.
- Previous Star Wars games have featured cockpit views, making it a familiar and optional feature that could enhance the immersive experience.
The word "immersion" has been at the forefront of Star Wars Outlaws' marketing, as it aims to give players a chance to live out their scoundrel fantasies in the beloved world of Star Wars. One of the most immersive features of Star Wars Outlaws is its lack of true loading screens. This comes at the perfect time, as Bethesda's recent space fantasy Starfield failed to live up to expectations from an immersion standpoint with loading screens between each zone. In Star Wars Outlaws, however, players can travel seamlessly from ground to space without a true loading screen. Although players are enveloped in clouds while either the space above or the ground below is loaded, this feature keeps them immersed in Star Wars Outlaws' open world.
While Star Wars Outlaws strives for as much immersion as possible, there is one optional feature it might consider adding to Kay's ship, the Trailblazer, especially if the game plans for players to spend a significant amount of time aboard the ship. Based on what has been revealed so far, this particular feature seems to be absent from the Trailblazer, though there is a chance it has simply not been shown. If the feature hasn't been implemented into the game, however, Star Wars Outlaws should consider adding it sooner rather than later to increase players' immersion while aboard the Trailblazer.
Star Wars Outlaws Open World Gameplay Preview: What Type of Scoundrel Are You
Ubisoft lets The Best War Games go hands on with the open world of Star Wars Outlaws, seeing what type of chaos we can create in space.
Star Wars Outlaws' Trailblazer Needs a First-person Cockpit View
A First-person Cockpit View for the Trailblazer Would Increase Star Wars Outlaws' Immersion
If Star Wars Outlaws truly is going for as much immersion as possible, it would make sense to ensure Kay's Trailblazer has a first-person cockpit view option. While Star Wars Outlaws' dogfights would likely be better fought in third-person, simple space exploration might benefit from a cockpit view. While players are flying through space, a cockpit view might allow players to hear more intimate conversations between Kay and Nix, although it's likely some conversations will be heard nonetheless. The hum of the Trailblazer blending in with the gentle sounds of various electronics throughout the Trailblazer's interior would also be a great way to immerse players in the atmosphere of space exploration.
While in cockpit view during a dogfight in Star Wars Outlaws, taking a hit from an enemy TIE Fighter might feel a bit more personal and threatening. This would especially ring true if alarms began sounding within the ship at any point due to it sustaining too much damage, as shown inside the Millennium Falcon throughout the film series. It would also be interesting to be able to see and hear Nix's reactions to danger firsthand from inside the cockpit, and if players were still able to command Nix from inside the cockpit, there is little doubt the immersion it would add to the whole experience.
Other Star Wars Games Have Featured a First-person Cockpit View for Their Ships
If Star Wars Outlaws did have an optional first-person cockpit view for the Trailblazer, it wouldn't be the first Star Wars game to include the feature. In fact, one of the most recent Star Wars games, Star Wars Squadrons, is played solely in first-person mode from inside the cockpit of whatever starship players choose to fly. A much older Star Wars game, Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire, also included a cockpit view for players to utilize during its flight sequences, like during its portrayal of the Battle of Hoth. As the feature has been around for quite some time now in Star Wars games, including it in Star Wars Outlaws wouldn't be too much of a stretch.
Cockpit view in a game like Star Wars Outlaws isn't for everyone, but that is precisely why it would be an optional feature. If it hasn't already been added to the game, Star Wars Outlaws should consider adding the option to enable a first-person cockpit view in a post-launch update.
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
