Rebel Galaxy Outlaw
- August 13, 2019
- Double Damage Games
- 16h median play time
<em>Rebel Galaxy Outlaw</em> changes genres from its predecessor and manages to make a fun, compelling experience with a lot of customization options and an accessible way for nearly anyone to play.
Rebel Galaxy Outlaw is a space combat action game that lets you explore a vast open world, engage in dogfights, and complete missions to upgrade your ship and gear. The game features a customizable ship, a variety of weapons, and a dynamic economy. You can also engage in illegal activities such as smuggling and piracy. The game's story follows a former outlaw who is drawn back into the world of crime and must navigate dangerous alliances and rivalries.
Reviews
- Nostalgic homage to classic space sims like Wing Commander: Privateer and Freelancer.
- Engaging dogfighting mechanics with a fun arcade feel and a great soundtrack.
- Variety of missions and activities, including mining, trading, and mini-games like pool and dice.
- Clunky controls and UI, especially for mouse and keyboard users, making gameplay frustrating.
- Difficulty spikes can be unfair, with overwhelming enemy encounters that feel unbalanced.
- Limited ship variety and progression, leading to a sense of repetitiveness and lack of depth.
- story1,004 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 82 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story in "Rebel Galaxy Outlaw" is generally viewed as lackluster and often forgettable, serving primarily as a framework for gameplay rather than a compelling narrative. While some players appreciate the character-driven elements and the nostalgic callbacks to the original game, many criticize the plot for being disjointed, repetitive, and lacking depth, with missions that feel like a series of fetch quests rather than a cohesive storyline. Overall, the game offers a mix of engaging gameplay and a mediocre story that fails to fully captivate players.
“The story is interesting, the characters are a lot of fun, and the soundtrack is amazing.”
“This is a rare space sim where you can have meaningful sessions in less than an hour, and the main plot can be finished in 20 hours or so.”
“A sweet love-letter to privateer, this game has awesome atmosphere, approachable yet challenging gameplay, and a fun story.”
“The whole game feels content incomplete, like they only implemented around 2/3 of the missions and story they'd intended to include.”
“The story is bad and I am going to be very kind and call the characters unendearing.”
“When I finished the story (and in turn the game) I was quite frankly shocked, that it just kind of ended the way it did, I did not even realize the plot was wrapping up until the title quickly popped up on the screen, I genuinely sat for a moment wondering what just happened.”
- music342 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its diverse soundtrack that blends rock, blues, and country, creating an immersive atmosphere reminiscent of space westerns like "Cowboy Bebop." The inclusion of multiple radio stations and the ability to import custom music further enhance the experience, although some players noted that certain tracks may not fit the game's theme perfectly. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, significantly contributing to the game's enjoyment and ambiance.
“The soundtrack is the top gem of the game, a combination of rock and dark country that goes together with a western aesthetic, making you feel part of an episode of Cowboy Bebop while bounty hunting or kind of a Han Solo doing some shady smuggling.”
“Great game with addicting gameplay loops, enjoyable art style, interesting story with some decent humor (so far), and an outstanding soundtrack that immerses you in the world.”
“The music is amazing and the presentation is excellent, which may actually be enough to keep you immersed throughout the game.”
“I do the same thing in every game, I play for about 10 minutes with the music on then I turn it off or mute it completely because the music is garbage.”
“I wasn't feeling the cowboy twang soundtrack, the fake corporate sponsor messages, and the fact it had an auto-chase function for space fights.”
“There is, apparently, 20 hours of soundtracks; however, I am not a big fan of the music genre.”
- gameplay249 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant departure from the original Rebel Galaxy, shifting from capital ship combat to more arcade-style dogfighting. While some appreciate the engaging flight mechanics and the fun of space battles, others criticize the gameplay for being simplistic, repetitive, and plagued by poor controls and balancing issues. Overall, the game offers a casual experience with enjoyable elements, but it may not satisfy those seeking depth or complexity in gameplay.
“The gameplay loop is rewarding and satisfying.”
“Engaging and fun little space shooter - a perfect blend of 'Wing Commander Privateer'-ish open world + storyline gameplay and Firefly-like blue collar/redneck atmosphere, with an impressive soundtrack.”
“The gameplay is smooth and satisfying, especially using HOTAS.”
“Unfortunately, the core gameplay loop is nearly unplayable.”
“The gameplay is boring and repetitive; it's mostly a constant grind the entire playthrough.”
“All the good music, writing, and atmosphere in the world doesn't help when your core gameplay is this unintuitive, clunky, and indecipherable.”
- graphics196 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising its vibrant art style and impressive explosions, while others criticize the overuse of effects like bloom that can obscure visibility. Many players appreciate the nostalgic aesthetic reminiscent of classic space games, though some find the visuals dated and lacking in sharpness compared to modern standards. Overall, the graphics are seen as decent but not groundbreaking, with a blend of charm and flaws that reflect the game's indie origins.
“The graphics are great and have some of the best explosions you have ever seen.”
“One of the most beautiful looking games I've played in years, I can't praise its stylized aesthetic enough.”
“The graphics are great and they have this 80s neon aesthetic, especially when it comes to the cockpit view.”
“Graphics and style is plain awful.”
“The graphics are dated and low quality, the control system is cheap like the 80s games.”
“Even the graphics are terrible, as in really basic with large blue squares supposed to be stars (on a 2k monitor), first large ship I saw I got stuck inside the model etc. moving around is basically holding autopilot button so it can show the same cutscene whilst loading the next small box (level) to fly around.... omg I hate this so much.”
- grinding78 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players noting that it is excessively tedious and repetitive, often requiring them to complete low-reward missions to earn money for upgrades. Many reviewers expressed frustration with the limited ship options and the lack of meaningful progression, leading to a sense of aimlessness and boredom. While some acknowledged that there are enjoyable elements, the overall sentiment is that the grinding detracts significantly from the gaming experience.
“Once the novelty has worn off, the game gets really grindy really quickly where you have to play a lot of repetitive missions to earn enough money to upgrade your ship enough to progress the story.”
“So basically until you get the high-end ships and the high-end component upgrades, you are going to be stuck in the starting system grinding the same boring low-risk quests over and over, or just mining asteroids until you can afford a ship and components decent enough to give you a reasonable chance to survive most enemy encounters.”
“To be honest, the entire game is way too long for the amount of content; I pretty much had the biggest ship completely maxed out within 10 hours and the other 30 hours I was grinding the story missions.”
- atmosphere64 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its engaging blend of space western themes, reminiscent of titles like "Firefly" and "Cowboy Bebop," complemented by an impressive soundtrack and immersive world-building. While some players note that the game feels unfinished and lacks a populated galaxy, the overall ambiance, including visuals and sound design, creates a captivating experience that resonates with fans of the genre. Despite criticisms of core gameplay mechanics, the atmosphere remains a standout feature that enhances the enjoyment of the game.
“A sweet love-letter to Privateer, this game has awesome atmosphere, approachable yet challenging gameplay, and a fun story.”
“Great game, if you enjoyed Freelancer or Privateer then you'll enjoy this; great ship combat, amazing music, and the cowboy space trucker atmosphere was captured perfectly.”
“It just oozes atmosphere and has obviously been made by a team that loves the material.”
“So much of this game is unfinished, even 'casinos' are just another space station; it hardly seems like 40 people exist in the whole galaxy based on atmosphere, but the missions save this game.”
“The setting and atmosphere (space cowboy) is kinda neat and all, but it's not enough to make this worth playing now that the ability to get capital ships is gone.”
“If you ask me what was the positive thing in the game, I would say the atmosphere and the music... which is the main reason I unfortunately bought this game.”
- humor20 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting the main character's sarcastic wit and the hilarious station dialogue that adds to the overall experience. Many find the blend of funny characters and entertaining clichés enhances the gameplay, making it both enjoyable and memorable. Overall, the humor is considered a standout feature that complements the game's engaging art style and immersive soundtrack.
“The station talk is hilarious if you listen to it sometimes.”
“Strap yourself in and prepare yourself for a hilarious ride through the dodge sector.”
“The humor is on point, the clichés are there and delivered in such a way that it entertains you, the soundtrack is pure ear pleasure, just like the first one.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt visual art, great soundtrack, and attention to detail, which contribute to a generally wholesome experience. However, the story is perceived as boring until the end, suggesting that while the emotional presentation is strong, the narrative may not fully engage players throughout.
“The attention to detail is noticeable in all the small things like the landing pad officer with their light batons, or how a ship shudders upon touching down.”
“On top of that, heartfelt visual art and design, great soundtrack, and sharp effects.”
“Boring story, until the end anyway”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game experiences occasional freezes that can be resolved by restarting, which returns players to their last save point. Overall, it is described as a buggy and grindy experience, leading to disappointment compared to its predecessor.
“A buggy, grindy mess that is a huge disappointment from the first installment.”
“Its not that the novel method doesn't work, it's that it kinda freezes combat pacing.”
“Occasionally the game freezes up, but restarting the game corrects this and returns you to your last save point.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
While some players appreciate the freedom of choice in the main plot, it does not significantly enhance replayability. In contrast, games like Rebel Galaxy are noted for their high replay value, with players enjoying multiple playthroughs due to engaging gameplay and progression systems.
“I have replayed Rebel Galaxy at least 6 times or more until ships had all mk-6 weapons. It is just a fun replayable game.”
“Despite the freedom of choice in the main plot, it doesn't really add much to the replayability.”
“Now replayability.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game lacks customization and optimization options for items, and players have noted a need for improved GPU optimization to enhance performance. There is hope for future updates to address these issues.
“The game can certainly use some GPU optimization.”
“More so down the road if I see additional GPU optimizations.”
“There is no customization or optimization of items.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features no microtransactions, which has been positively noted by users, indicating a straightforward purchasing model without additional in-game purchases.
“No microtransactions”
“No microtransactions”
Critic Reviews
Rebel Galaxy Outlaw Review - Those Evil Ways
<em>Rebel Galaxy Outlaw</em> changes genres from its predecessor and manages to make a fun, compelling experience with a lot of customization options and an accessible way for nearly anyone to play.
80%Rebel Galaxy Outlaw review
A lively space-western that sacrifices scale in favour of style.
78%Rebel Galaxy Outlaw Review
71%