Out now for Nintendo Switch 2
Star Wars has always been a rich vein in the video game world.
As far back as the 1980s the Atari arcade game put players in the thick of the Death Star attack – and since then they’ve been cast as everything from Jedi masters to bounty hunters.
It has, however, been a mixed bag en route. There doesn’t seem to be much in the way of mediocre in this universe either – the titles either fit into the ‘absolutely great’ or ‘downright dreadful’ categories with little of note in between.
So it was with some trepidation that Soldier embarked on Outlaws, released as an early Switch 2 title after making its debut on PC, Xbox and PlayStation last year.
And we’re pleased to report that it squarely hits the excellent category – for while an ambitious port, this Assassin’s Creed-esque actioner shows off the capabilities of Nintendo’s new hardware in style while publisher Ubisoft has delivered a complex game, tactile enough to be played on the move.
Players assume the role of Kay Vess – an aspiring young grifter eeking out a living by using her skills to pull off scams deep in the seedy underbelly of the universe’s lawless Outer Rim. But as the story unfolds, a job ends up with her biting off more than she can chew and she is caught in an unenviable position between the turf wars of organised crime groups and conventional conflict involving the Galactic Empire and Rebel Alliance.
Vess – who is essentially a female incarnation of Harrison Ford’s Han Solo character from the films – has to blast, climb and charge her way around various Star Wars environments, all while picking up work at bars where the clientele invariably don’t like her and which, at times, can get a little rough.
As well as a good blaster by her side, she has a dog-like pet called Nix who, while not possessing the arm-ripping boast of Solo’s seven-foot Wookie crewmate Chewbacca, will happily attack foes on demand while squeezing through tight spaces to get into inaccessible areas.
There was some debate among the fan community over whether Outlaws could make the cut on Switch 2. But it makes an impressive leap to the reworked Nintendo hardware, where the handheld experience is especially impressive.
Controls are well thought through, the gameplay is slick and the bigger screen of the new console makes a game of this type a credible portable outing.
The environments are beautifully rendered too, and a full cast of familiar characters will please fans (this reviewer should declare an interest – being a confirmed Star Wars devotee, particularly the six films of the George Lucas era).
As an aside, Capita could perhaps learn from the Galactic Empire’s successful armed forces recruitment campaign, which has brought in an entire legion of stormtroopers to deter any Imperial entanglements.
If there is any criticism to be made, the £50 price tag is a tad on the steep side. But those willing to part with their hard-earned are unlikely to be disappointed.
The look and feel of the movies will satisfy the established fan base and those partial to the Assassin’s Creed or Metal Gear Solid action genre will find plenty to occupy the hours.
Review: Cliff Caswell, Soldier
