How to Go Perya: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
When I first started playing Outlaws, I was immediately struck by the sheer scale of its worlds and the freedom it seemed to offer. The game presents this beautiful illusion of an open universe waiting to be explored, yet cleverly guides you through a narrative that makes you question just how much time you really have to wander. I remember landing on Toshara for the first time, that second planet where Kay's adventure truly begins, and feeling this incredible sense of agency. The developers designed this world specifically as your playground - it's where the game whispers, "Take your time, explore everything." And explore I did, probably spending around 15-20 hours just on Toshara alone, completing every side quest I could find and uncovering hidden corners that had nothing to do with the main story.
What fascinates me about Outlaws' design is how it balances this freedom with narrative urgency. After Toshara, the game shifts gears dramatically. Suddenly, there's this constant pressure - characters keep reminding Kay that she's running out of time to clear her name, the story missions become more intense, and I found myself rushing through planets like Akiva and Canto Bight without really soaking them in. This is where the perya concept comes in - that Filipino term for going off the beaten path, exploring beyond what's expected. During my first playthrough, I completely abandoned this approach after Toshara because the game made me feel like I didn't have time for detours. I probably missed about 40% of the side content on my initial run because the narrative tension was so effective at creating this artificial urgency.
The beauty of Outlaws' structure is that it respects both types of players - those who want to race through the story and those who want to explore every nook and cranny. I learned this the hard way when I finished the main story in about 25 hours and realized I'd barely scratched the surface of what the worlds had to offer. Each planet (except Kijimi, which is essentially just one hub area) is actually a collection of interconnected hub spaces that form these surprisingly large open-world segments. Toshara alone has approximately 8 distinct hub areas that blend seamlessly into one another, creating this illusion of a massive, continuous world. The other planets have similar structures, though I'd estimate Toshara has about 30% more explorable space than any other location.
What I wish I'd known during that first playthrough is that the game doesn't actually punish you for taking your time, despite what the narrative suggests. That ticking clock? Completely arbitrary. You have all the time in the world, and here's the best part - everything remains accessible after the credits roll. I recently went back to clean up remaining side quests and was amazed at how much content I'd missed. There were entire character storylines, unique weapon blueprints, and even some fascinating lore about the Outer Rim syndicates that I'd completely overlooked because I'd been so caught up in the main story's urgency.
My advice for beginners embracing the perya philosophy in Outlaws is to treat Toshara as your training ground for exploration. This is where you should develop the habit of going off the beaten path. When you arrive at what appears to be a story objective, take the long way around. I've discovered hidden caves, abandoned outposts, and even entire side quest chains just by deliberately ignoring the most direct route to my destination. The game world is designed with verticality and multiple pathways in mind - what looks like decorative scenery might actually be climbable, leading to secret areas above the main paths.
The combat challenges present another excellent opportunity for perya-style exploration. Rather than simply engaging enemies head-on, I've found incredible satisfaction in finding alternative approaches. On Toshara alone, I discovered three different ways to handle the mercenary camp near the eastern mountains - a stealth approach through underground tunnels, a high-ground sniper position I reached by climbing nearby rock formations, and even persuading a local faction to attack them for me. These alternatives aren't always obvious, but they're what make the world feel alive and responsive to player creativity.
As you progress beyond Toshara, you'll need to consciously maintain this exploration mindset despite the narrative pressure. What worked for me during my second playthrough was setting personal goals unrelated to the main story. I'd tell myself, "Today I'm going to find all the datapads about the ancient civilization" or "I'm going to hunt down every bounty poster in this sector." This approach helped me resist the urge to rush through the later planets. I estimate that by adopting this method, I discovered approximately 60% more content than during my initial playthrough, including some truly memorable moments that had nothing to do with Kay's primary mission.
The economic system in Outlaws also rewards thorough exploration in ways that aren't immediately apparent. By taking time to explore off-path areas, I accumulated resources and credits at roughly twice the rate I did when focusing solely on story missions. These additional resources made the later game significantly more manageable, allowing me to upgrade my gear more comprehensively and purchase rare items from vendors. There's a particular modified blaster I found in a hidden compartment aboard a derelict starship on Canto Bight that became my primary weapon for the rest of the game - something I would have completely missed if I'd stuck to the critical path.
What I've come to appreciate about Outlaws is how it manages to tell a compelling, urgent story while still preserving the joy of discovery for those willing to look beyond the main narrative. The planets are designed with this dual purpose in mind - they serve the story when needed but transform into expansive playgrounds when you're ready to explore. This design philosophy becomes particularly evident after you complete the main story, when you can return to any location and explore at your leisure without any narrative pressure. I've probably spent another 35 hours in post-game exploration and still keep finding new surprises.
The perya approach fundamentally changed how I experience open-world games. In Outlaws specifically, it transformed what could have been a straightforward narrative adventure into a rich, personal journey through beautifully crafted worlds. The game's structure cleverly accommodates both play styles - the focused story enthusiast and the curious explorer - though I firmly believe you get the most value by embracing exploration, especially during those precious hours on Toshara where the game actively encourages it. My only regret is that I didn't adopt this mindset from the very beginning, as it would have made my first experience with Outlaws even more memorable and complete.
