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(Image credit: Ubisoft)
I have a lot of love for the blaster inStar Wars Outlaws. It’s simple to wield, a no thrills point of interaction with a universe which has often considered it to be an inelegant weapon for a more uncivilized age. Developer Massive Entertainment builds an incredible sense of time and place throughout its first Star Wars adventure, but perhaps something I didn’t give the studio enough credit for in myStar Wars Outlaws reviewwas just how well the studio captured how chaotic combat in the original trilogy could be.
I think back to Han Solo frantically firing from the hip aboard the original Death Star after detection, small-arms fire against an army of Stormtroopers who couldn’t bullseye a womp rat at a two meter distance. It’s a riot to watch, but not necessarily the easiest experience to translate into a competent third-person shooter model – particularly as the genre grapples with increasing complexity in the modern era. Still, Star Wars Outlaws finds the fun in functional combat as Key Vess holds her own against mobs of Syndicate gunslingers and Imperial squadrons.
Something I really like about Star Wars Outlaws is how it essentially merges the snappiness of the Uncharted-style of haphazard combat with a lot of micro-interactions – a change in blaster module here, a cleanly-timed reload there – to keep this element of play feeling forever active, as if any moment of passivity while under duress, ducking behind cover to lazily trade plasma bolts with an encroaching aggressor, would send you hurtling back to a checkpoint. The influence of Gears of War felt clear, particularly in Outlaws' tight reload windows, and its lead systems designer is quick to agree.
Anatomy of a blaster
(Image credit: Ubisoft)
The recycling of the perfect reload mechanic isn’t just to pay homage to one of the greats though, it helps solve one of the principal challenges Massive faced with the blaster: just as Obi-Wan once inferred, it’s kinda sortabasic. “The interesting thing here is that, while itisiconic, the blaster is a fairly basic type of weapon when you think about it – compared to other weapons that you can see in other games,” says Delisle. “So we really wanted to bring as much interactivity and depth and flexibility as possible to the blaster. There are different modules you can swap between, and some are better against certain types of enemies. You can upgrade the blaster and customize it visually, so there ends up being quite a lot of depth with that blaster; even if it is a very simple weapon, it can also be fairly unique.”
Star Wars Outlaws operates with three core modules: Plasma, Ion, and Power; all three of these can be upgraded and improved as you scout for resources and barter for parts across the worlds. As you fire the blaster it overheats, at which point a gauge appears allowing you an opportunity to cool the module instantly and get back into the action. Further upgrades will even let you supercool the weapon, introducing a smaller sweet spot which, if hit, lets you continue firing the blaster without running the risk of heating it up for a short period. A nice twist on a Gears classic.
Related(Image credit: Ubisoft)Star Wars Outlaws doesn’t let you freely fire your blaster while riding your speeder bike, and now we know why
Related
(Image credit: Ubisoft)Star Wars Outlaws doesn’t let you freely fire your blaster while riding your speeder bike, and now we know why
(Image credit: Ubisoft)
Star Wars Outlaws doesn’t let you freely fire your blaster while riding your speeder bike, and now we know why
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It’s a fair point, but it’s also fair to say that it’s a lot of fun to pick up the equally iconic E-11 Blaster Rifle from a Stormtrooper’s corpse, or new additions to the wider Star Wars world like the powerful ZB-3 Modulator Rifle, and exceptionally frustrating when Vess isn’t able to navigate a ladder, locked door, or ventilation system without dropping the damn thing. Then again, I think back to Han Solo in Star Wars: The Force Awakens during a particularly fierce battle on Takodana. After getting pinned, he requisitions a bowcaster to take down a couple of Stormtroopers at distance. “I like this thing,” he croons, before eventually handing the laser crossbow back to Chewbacca. I suppose the lesson here is thatyou just can’t separate a scoundrel from their favorite blaster.
For more insight into the latest game from Massive Entertainment, head over to theOn the Radar: Star WarsOutlawscoverage hub now.
For more insight into the latest game from Massive Entertainment, head over to theOn the Radar: Star WarsOutlawscoverage hub now.
For more insight into the latest game from Massive Entertainment, head over to theOn the Radar: Star WarsOutlawscoverage hub now.
For more insight into the latest game from Massive Entertainment, head over to theOn the Radar: Star WarsOutlawscoverage hub now.
For more insight into the latest game from Massive Entertainment, head over to theOn the Radar: Star WarsOutlawscoverage hub now.
For more insight into the latest game from Massive Entertainment, head over to theOn the Radar: Star WarsOutlawscoverage hub now.
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
1
Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”