Written by: Kevin Berge
Darth Malak over here looking so much more edgy than Darth Vader. (Image Courtesy of: store.steampowered.com)
Quick Take: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic tells one of the great Star Wars stories from start to finish. As perhaps the most memorable work of Bioware's illustrious RPG catalogue, this game stands up from its original 2003 run to the modern day.
Star Wars Reviews: Episode I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | VIII | IX | Themes of the Trilogies | Rogue One | Solo | Clone Wars (2003) | The Clone Wars (2008)/Final Season | Rebels (S1/S2/S3/S4) | The Mandalorian S1
Introduction
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...
Star Wars always begins with these words, but audiences rarely get the chance to feel the expanse of that galaxy. Usually, the galaxy is contained to a few worlds and only a few select stories. Nine of the movies were only focused on the issues of one family, the Skywalker line.
This is why Bioware's Knights of the Old Republic was so refreshing. It not only opened up the world but expanded it, going back to a time before anything fans had explored before. That kind of depth of exploration is hard to quantify now that Star Wars is even more vast, but at the time, it was sorely needed.
Even now though, Knights of the Old Republic is a Star Wars experience unto itself. Nothing can quite match just how purely enjoyable it is to dive into the world of this Old Republic. While KOTOR is not technically canon Star Wars, it expands the lore in a way that ultimately helps in understanding the galaxy all the more.
This role-playing game by Bioware is one of the first to truly showcase Bioware's modern influential RPG style. The game is built on winding paths and multiple branches. It allows the character to choose the Light Side or the Dark Side of the Force.
While Bioware has gotten better about allowing branching paths, Star Wars has always been about that straightforward branch between the light and dark. It is so well suited to it that the Bioware style seems tailor-made to the franchise.
Ultimately, KOTOR is built on a Dungeons & Dragons style, making sense as Bioware had previous made Baldur's Gate, which was entirely built in a D&D system. This was a natural progression from its RPG classes to its combat.
This can make this game feel aged as it is not as specifically defined in video game systems as later Bioware games. Despite this though, KOTOR stands above most any Star Wars media because of its story at its heart.
Star Wars always begins with these words, but audiences rarely get the chance to feel the expanse of that galaxy. Usually, the galaxy is contained to a few worlds and only a few select stories. Nine of the movies were only focused on the issues of one family, the Skywalker line.
This is why Bioware's Knights of the Old Republic was so refreshing. It not only opened up the world but expanded it, going back to a time before anything fans had explored before. That kind of depth of exploration is hard to quantify now that Star Wars is even more vast, but at the time, it was sorely needed.
Even now though, Knights of the Old Republic is a Star Wars experience unto itself. Nothing can quite match just how purely enjoyable it is to dive into the world of this Old Republic. While KOTOR is not technically canon Star Wars, it expands the lore in a way that ultimately helps in understanding the galaxy all the more.
This role-playing game by Bioware is one of the first to truly showcase Bioware's modern influential RPG style. The game is built on winding paths and multiple branches. It allows the character to choose the Light Side or the Dark Side of the Force.
While Bioware has gotten better about allowing branching paths, Star Wars has always been about that straightforward branch between the light and dark. It is so well suited to it that the Bioware style seems tailor-made to the franchise.
Ultimately, KOTOR is built on a Dungeons & Dragons style, making sense as Bioware had previous made Baldur's Gate, which was entirely built in a D&D system. This was a natural progression from its RPG classes to its combat.
This can make this game feel aged as it is not as specifically defined in video game systems as later Bioware games. Despite this though, KOTOR stands above most any Star Wars media because of its story at its heart.
Nothing beats those old school door loading screens. Love spending minutes just trying to get from place to place. (Image Courtesy of: pinterest.com)
Story (Includes Spoilers)
***This section of this review until the next picture will contain complete spoilers for Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, including its multiple ending. Skip to the next picture if you have never played the game and want to avoid these key spoilers.***
Knights of the Old Republic begins with your created character waking up with amnesia on a Republic ship Endar Spire about to be boarded by the Sith. You escape and meet Republic human pilot Carth Onasi, who helps you orient yourself on Taris where you need to find help and escape.
Along the way, you meet the human Jedi Knight Bastila Shan, the Twi'lek scavenger Mission Vao, her Wookie friend and marksman Zaalbar, utility droid T3-M4, Mandalorian mercenary Canderous Ordo, cathar Jedi Knight Juhani, hunter-killer assassin droid HK-47, human Jedi Guardian Jolee Bindo.
Initially, the selling point of this game is the group of companions. They are fascinating and uniquely written. Each have their own perspective on situations, and their struggles throughout in defining their own stories is truly the heart of the game.
The best character in the group is HK. The homicidal droid is a delight and always has a new wonderful line to add to any situation. For emotional hooks, Jolee, Mission, and Bastila are the absolute stars. Only Carth really is a let down as a fairly generic character most of the story.
Their stories as well as search for the Star Forge send you across the galaxy, going to Dantooine, Manaan, Tatooine, Kashyyyk, and Kooriban. The best early missions are on Korriban where you get a chance to see a perspective on a full Sith temple and training center, including learning their dark teachings.
Over time though, the overarching story is even better than the individual stories, particularly with its dramatic reveal. Few stories have ever hit me as hard with a twist as when KOTOR revealed what this actual story was all about.
You are playing Darth Revan, the ruthless Sith lord betrayed by his ally Darth Malak, and you get a chance to rewrite Revan's story. This twist rewrites the story significantly and clearly found from the 1997 Final Fantasy VII, but it honestly works better. This use of the faceless RPG character is wonderful.
The final stretch after that is finding out who Revan will be. In his second chance at glory, did he decide to regain the light, or does he become the ruthless Sith Lord? The Dark Side ending is depressing and painful, but that feels appropriate. The Light Side is uplifting and very Star Wars in the way the world is clearly better.
Knights of the Old Republic begins with your created character waking up with amnesia on a Republic ship Endar Spire about to be boarded by the Sith. You escape and meet Republic human pilot Carth Onasi, who helps you orient yourself on Taris where you need to find help and escape.
Along the way, you meet the human Jedi Knight Bastila Shan, the Twi'lek scavenger Mission Vao, her Wookie friend and marksman Zaalbar, utility droid T3-M4, Mandalorian mercenary Canderous Ordo, cathar Jedi Knight Juhani, hunter-killer assassin droid HK-47, human Jedi Guardian Jolee Bindo.
Initially, the selling point of this game is the group of companions. They are fascinating and uniquely written. Each have their own perspective on situations, and their struggles throughout in defining their own stories is truly the heart of the game.
The best character in the group is HK. The homicidal droid is a delight and always has a new wonderful line to add to any situation. For emotional hooks, Jolee, Mission, and Bastila are the absolute stars. Only Carth really is a let down as a fairly generic character most of the story.
Their stories as well as search for the Star Forge send you across the galaxy, going to Dantooine, Manaan, Tatooine, Kashyyyk, and Kooriban. The best early missions are on Korriban where you get a chance to see a perspective on a full Sith temple and training center, including learning their dark teachings.
Over time though, the overarching story is even better than the individual stories, particularly with its dramatic reveal. Few stories have ever hit me as hard with a twist as when KOTOR revealed what this actual story was all about.
You are playing Darth Revan, the ruthless Sith lord betrayed by his ally Darth Malak, and you get a chance to rewrite Revan's story. This twist rewrites the story significantly and clearly found from the 1997 Final Fantasy VII, but it honestly works better. This use of the faceless RPG character is wonderful.
The final stretch after that is finding out who Revan will be. In his second chance at glory, did he decide to regain the light, or does he become the ruthless Sith Lord? The Dark Side ending is depressing and painful, but that feels appropriate. The Light Side is uplifting and very Star Wars in the way the world is clearly better.
Nothing I could say will be better than what HK-47 will say. If you're feeling down, just remember that HK would gladly kill for you... unless he's been directed to kill you, which could happen at any time. (Image Courtesy of: youtube.com)
Gameplay and Technical
The gameplay in KOTOR is round-based despite how it looks at first glance. You can set your actions in a queue, but you cannot actively do anything but move. Movement is constant and free, but any attacks, use of Force, or active skills have to be done in round order.
This feels clunky in a modern RPG world, but it is not too difficult to manage. It is more active that the old school true turn-based RPGs, and it is not too difficult to manage and work with.
Similarly, the early rigid RPG text boxes is lesser to the later wheel, but there's a niche in KOTOR that cannot be beaten. Its mix of elements and developing style make it wholly unique and captivating.
Unfortunately, the one element that cannot be updated is the limited engine. The game glitches and hitches in ways that can lead to the system breaking in moments. It is vital to save regularly, which this game luckily allows you to do.
This feels clunky in a modern RPG world, but it is not too difficult to manage. It is more active that the old school true turn-based RPGs, and it is not too difficult to manage and work with.
Similarly, the early rigid RPG text boxes is lesser to the later wheel, but there's a niche in KOTOR that cannot be beaten. Its mix of elements and developing style make it wholly unique and captivating.
Unfortunately, the one element that cannot be updated is the limited engine. The game glitches and hitches in ways that can lead to the system breaking in moments. It is vital to save regularly, which this game luckily allows you to do.
Conclusion
KOTOR tells one of the best Star Wars stories of any media. Its twists and turns define a space where the franchise can always go that dark but ultimately allows the player to decide if where the story is leading.
The game is less built on its systems as its story and characters. Even if the systems were refined, few Bioware games got close to this level of stakes and tension. This is a story that must truly be experienced, and it does work many times over thanks to its variety of options.
I would even make the bold claim that this is a better Star Wars story, no matter what path you take, than any movie released before or after.
The game is less built on its systems as its story and characters. Even if the systems were refined, few Bioware games got close to this level of stakes and tension. This is a story that must truly be experienced, and it does work many times over thanks to its variety of options.
I would even make the bold claim that this is a better Star Wars story, no matter what path you take, than any movie released before or after.
Final verdict:
Three Defining Success
Three Defining Success
- A story that rivals absolutely anything the Star Wars franchise has produced.
- Gameplay that forces creative decisions without feeling overwhelming.
- A crew of characters that make every interaction memorable, spending hours just on a ship talking to the bevy of personalities.
- The game's older engine leads to noticeable bugs both visual and more frustratingly with gameplay that can hamper the experience.
- Bioware has repeatedly relied upon the impact of KOTOR in its following games, often struggling to take risks with games.
