I won’t lie: I was eagerly waiting for a new Star Wars Outlaws trailer until I saw it. With this statement, I don’t want to say it was bad or lackluster. On the contrary, it checked all the boxes: action-packed sequences, a good introduction to new characters, and what we could expect from the story. However, some things are already worrying me, and those were the nostalgia-fueled easter eggs. By now, I wonder if new Star Wars products can find their footing with original plots and cast members or if they always need to resuscitate characters just to attract a bigger player base.
Watching Familiar Characters in Star Wars Outlaws’ Newest Trailer Isn’t As Exciting Anymore
By now, I feel Star Wars can’t survive without nostalgia, and that’s my biggest gripe with the franchise lately. When Star Wars: The Force Awakens premiered, I hoped it would be something original in the universe I loved. It kind of was, but the two following films relied too much on previous characters. This, for me, is a crutch on any narrative. Add existing and beloved people to something new, and they’ll steal the spotlight. On the other hand, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Survivor nailed this. They never showed Darth Vader or Boba Fett in trailers, and when the reveals happened, they blew me away. With that in mind, that’s the reason why the new Star Wars Outlaws trailer lowered my excitement for this title.
Instead of making me feel excited for Kay’s debut adventure, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes when I saw Jabba and Han Solo. I love these two characters, but they’ve had their time to shine. Yes, I understand this game takes place between Episodes 5 and 6, but why not keep these two rivals hidden and awaiting a big reveal? No, it is just another nostalgia-fueled technique I’m getting sick of lately. For me, it screams: “Our new cast isn’t interesting enough, so here’s frozen Han Solo and Jabba sitting down to make the product attractive.”
Lately, I feel that new Star Wars products should try to find their footing without relying on previous cast members. I don’t mind seeing Tatooine for the tenth time and shooting at another poor Stormtrooper. But those small things serve as setups for plot and character development. I don’t want to see Jabba again. I know who that Hutt is; show me a new, interesting criminal overlord. Ironically, the trailer did, but our green alien crimelord stole the spotlight.
Still, I hope when the game launches, the plot sticks to something fresh and uncharted, or else, it’ll fall into a Rancor pit no one can rescue it from. There’s still time left before the game’s release, so many things could change. But given how pre-orders promote Jabba’s exclusive quest, this title’s narrative doesn’t seem too appealing right now.
