'Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card' Story Pack Spoiler-Free Review

Star Wars

Nov 23

Three months following the release of Star Wars Outlaws, developer Massive Entertainment and publisher Ubisoft have delivered the first of two currently revealed Story Packs. Entitled Wild Card, CultureSlate has its review of this DLC alongside some information on an update to the game that was released alongside the Story Pack.

Gameplay And Graphics

Wild Card looks as stunning as much of base Outlaws, with a vibrant setting as well as another new story mission location that appears in the finale of the DLC. However, players returning to the game will want to be aware of the tweaks and changes that have taken place since the launch of the base game. Beyond the normal bug fixes and performance adjustments from past game updates, Patch 1.4.0 brings major changes to stealth and enemy AI, leading to a greater challenge during fights.

We did a brief rundown of some of the update’s specifics in a dedicated article, so check that out if you want to see more details on specific changes. It should also be noted that Outlaws is now available on Steam, giving PC players another option should they want to engage with the game.

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Star Wars Outlaws — Image Source: YouTube

Story

The story of Wild Card, meanwhile, is the true focus of the expansion and this review. Contacted by a mysterious broker, Kay Vess is drawn into a plot to grant her access to a high-stakes Kessel Sabacc tournament at the behest of Toshara’s Imperial governor. Tracking down the frequently-in-transit casino ship, the Morenia, Kay gets aboard and starts exploring. The setting, as mentioned earlier, is vibrant, not just in a visual sense but also through things like the snazzy music and conversations players can overhear while walking through the map.

The Morenia is ultimately a puzzle, with some divergent paths and other core experiences that everyone will engage with. We urge everyone to check into Kay’s room onboard the ship since you’ll find the perfect gift for the starship’s experience. Further discussion of the story would ruin its surprise, but we will say that Lando plays an entertaining part in the narrative, while the other Sabacc players have rich banter around the table. The tournament’s host, tournament card dealer, and owner of the Morenia, EY-E9, is also rather intriguing, but we’ll say no more.

Pros And Cons

Wild Card has a lot going for it, but it is important to note a possible drawback to fans and gamers who are considering picking up the DLC: its length. Wild Card clocked in at a little under 4 hours for this reviewer, and that mostly came from a copious amount of time spent combing over the Morenia and enjoying the new ambient dialogue that makes the space feel alive.

For fans who were maybe expecting more out of this DLC, that will undoubtedly be a disappointment, but expectations should be kept in check: this is a story pack, not a proper expansion to multiple elements of the game. While there are now new contracts and other improvements, those were part of ongoing improvement efforts. These changes are commendable, and the team is clearly listening to player feedback, but Wild Card is ultimately a short jaunt of content through the galaxy far, far away of Outlaws.

Verdict

Featuring a fun story, a few great setpiece moments, and strong visual details for its new locations, Wild Card is an enjoyable experience added to the world of Outlaws. While just a bit more content elsewhere in the world and more to do aboard the Morenia would have been enjoyable, this story pack was a good start for Outlaws’ DLC path going forward.

Ranking: 8/10

Developer: Massive Entertainment; Publisher: Ubisoft; Players: Harrison Edgar; Released: November 21st, 2024; ESRB: T; MSRP: [$14.99]

Review played on PS5

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