Although I missed the golden age of arcades, I have a deep appreciation for their classic simplicity. Games like Pac-Man, Pole Position, and Galaga may not be complex, but their high score chasing gameplay keeps me coming back for more. This nostalgia for arcade classics was reignited when I played Star Wars Outlaws, featuring original in-world minigames that harken back to those elegant designs.
Within the game, players can stumble upon arcade cabinets for two different games near cantinas on various planets. One is called Raven 6, a space shooter reminiscent of Atari’s classic Star Wars arcade game. The other, Racer, offers a time trial experience where players must navigate obstacles to reach the level’s end as quickly as possible.
These games may not be elaborate, but they serve as refreshing distractions for the protagonist Kay Vess in the midst of her galaxy-wide adventure. While Star Wars Outlaws draws heavily on modern gameplay influences like Uncharted and Red Dead Redemption, these arcade throwbacks added a charming touch to the overall experience.
Discussing the development of these arcade games with game director Thibaut Machin, it was clear that both Ubisoft and Lucasfilm saw the value in these nostalgic additions. They saw the alignment between the era of arcade games and the original Star Wars trilogy, making them a perfect fit for Outlaws to provide players with an intuitive and enjoyable experience.
Now featuring Racer
During the creation of Star Wars Outlaws, Machin’s primary focus was on populating the open world with engaging activities. The inclusion of iconic games like Sabacc and the arcade classics Raven 6 and Racer offered players a fun diversion from the main storyline. The decision to incorporate arcade games was a deliberate nod to the era in which the Star Wars movies were born, adding an extra layer of nostalgia to the game.
Speaking of Racer, Machin drew inspiration from popular runner mobile games to create a simple yet engaging experience. The team faced challenges in balancing the controls and difficulty curve to ensure that players felt challenged but not overwhelmed. The positive reception from playtests, with players celebrating high scores, validated their design choices.
Somehow, Atari’s Star Wars has returned
While Racer offers fun gameplay, my personal favorite is Raven 6. The single-level space shooter is a nod to Atari’s Star Wars arcade game from 1983, known for its iconic 3D vector graphics and intense starship combat. Despite the more complex nature of modern Star Wars games like Outlaws, the simplicity and charm of Atari’s Star Wars design make it equally enjoyable.
The visual and gameplay design of Raven 6 was a collaborative effort with Lucasfilm, staying true to Star Wars aesthetics while offering a retro-inspired arcade experience. The intuitive gameplay mechanics emphasize aiming at asteroids to maintain high scores and combo multipliers, providing a straightforward yet engaging challenge.
A third Outlaws arcade game?
While Raven 6 and Racer excel in their simplicity, the desire for more arcade experiences led the team to consider a third game. However, production constraints limited their scope, leaving room for potential expansion in the future. Ubisoft may explore additional arcade genres beyond shooters and racers to further enrich the Star Wars Outlaws experience.
As a player, these arcade games added a nostalgic and enjoyable dimension to Star Wars Outlaws, showcasing the dedication and attention to detail put into every aspect of the game world. While the AAA elements are present, it’s the homage to arcade classics that truly shines and resonates with fans of the original trilogy.
