Written by: Kevin Berge
Why do the old school Sith have such great edgy attire? Palpatine needed an intense white and red mask. (Image Courtesy of: youtube.com)
Quick Take: Star Wars Knight of the Republic II: The Sith Lords is a dark dive into the deepest evil of Star Wars. It is buggy and awkwardly scripted in moments but engaging in a way that is unique to any other Star Wars entertainment.
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 | Knights of the Old Republic
***This review will contain spoilers for all of Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords. If you have not played the game and plan to, do not read past this point to avoid being spoiled on key moments.***
KOTOR is arguably the best Star Wars game ever made. In particular, what made it special was its story, a twisting tale exploring The Force and a world where Jedi and Sith were more plentiful. Following up on that unique legacy was always going to be tricky.
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords is not a Bioware game, instead taking over by Obsidian Entertainment. Obsidian has a particular legacy, creating sequels for established franchises with a legacy that also includes Fallout: New Vegas and Neverwinter Nights 2.
However, that spot forces the studio to finish a game with unrealistic expectations. The sequel is often rushed due to demand, and this leads to bugs and ideas that might be too bold for a familiar audience. Despite this, Obsidian has often created games that rival the original, especially with time to patched up.
KOTOR2 is an ideal example as a game that start out buggy and unfinished. Despite this, there is an ingenuity to the game that Star Wars has never quite matched. This game is exploring themes the franchise as a whole has shied away from at every stage.
With time, the buggy nature the game eased allowing those on PC especially to experience the best version of this experience. What came from it was an exploration of how truly dark a time can become where Sith exist as a rival organization to the Jedi.
This game, titled after the Sith Lords one faces along the way, is a brutal and dark experience. You play The Exile, a character who worked under Darth Revan, and was severed from The Force by their experiences. Over the game, you come to reconnect with The Force and must decide who you want to be with returned power.
You are targeted from the outset as a Jedi, hunted by the Sith that want to wipe out the order. Kreia, a mysterious blind Force user who has rejected both the light and the dark side of The Force from something in-between, saves you and sets you on a path to either find help from Jedi Masters or kill them.
What you choose and how you treat the companions you have along the way defines your legacy. This is a dark and dangerous world, and you can be the darkness that snuffs it all out or the light in that gloomy blackness.
***This review will contain spoilers for all of Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords. If you have not played the game and plan to, do not read past this point to avoid being spoiled on key moments.***
KOTOR is arguably the best Star Wars game ever made. In particular, what made it special was its story, a twisting tale exploring The Force and a world where Jedi and Sith were more plentiful. Following up on that unique legacy was always going to be tricky.
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords is not a Bioware game, instead taking over by Obsidian Entertainment. Obsidian has a particular legacy, creating sequels for established franchises with a legacy that also includes Fallout: New Vegas and Neverwinter Nights 2.
However, that spot forces the studio to finish a game with unrealistic expectations. The sequel is often rushed due to demand, and this leads to bugs and ideas that might be too bold for a familiar audience. Despite this, Obsidian has often created games that rival the original, especially with time to patched up.
KOTOR2 is an ideal example as a game that start out buggy and unfinished. Despite this, there is an ingenuity to the game that Star Wars has never quite matched. This game is exploring themes the franchise as a whole has shied away from at every stage.
With time, the buggy nature the game eased allowing those on PC especially to experience the best version of this experience. What came from it was an exploration of how truly dark a time can become where Sith exist as a rival organization to the Jedi.
This game, titled after the Sith Lords one faces along the way, is a brutal and dark experience. You play The Exile, a character who worked under Darth Revan, and was severed from The Force by their experiences. Over the game, you come to reconnect with The Force and must decide who you want to be with returned power.
You are targeted from the outset as a Jedi, hunted by the Sith that want to wipe out the order. Kreia, a mysterious blind Force user who has rejected both the light and the dark side of The Force from something in-between, saves you and sets you on a path to either find help from Jedi Masters or kill them.
What you choose and how you treat the companions you have along the way defines your legacy. This is a dark and dangerous world, and you can be the darkness that snuffs it all out or the light in that gloomy blackness.
Kreia does not seem to understand that The Force is explicitly black and white. The Rise of Skywalker told me this. (Image Courtesy of: screenrant.com)
Beyond Kreia, you are also joined by the returning T3-M4, Canderous Ordo, and HK47 as well as new characters former Sith assassin Atton Rand, technician Bao-Dur, criminal droid G0-T0, and Sith apprentice Visas Marr. On top of those, you can either add bounty hunters Mira or Hanharr as well as either Mical The Disciple or Brianna The Handmaiden.
These companions add their own flair to the story, and some are certainly more interesting than the others. The lack of Jedi is noticeable but so is the including of a Sith. The dark group is especially highlighted by several droid companions with murderous intent, G0-T0 and HK47 being a delightful pair.
The original has stood out for me due to its story since I first played it. The second is less consistent. Its story can be forgettable in moments and memorably dark to the point of being overwhelming in others. In particular, regardless of what path you take, you are ultimately led to the darkest place possible.
Your fight is with three Sith Lords: the slowly decomposing undead Darth Sion, the terrifyingly corporeal Dath Nihilus, and the mysterious Darth Traya. Traya is revealed to be Kreia, who sets The Exile on a path to face their decisions back on Malachor V regaining their abilities but deciding whether they will be good or bad at the end.
Kreia's betrayal is well set up and executed as she never truly is against you. She just has a vision greater than you and pushes you to embrace your destiny. Still, Malachor V is a dark foreboding final chapter that it makes the whole game almost depressing no matter what you do.
Unlike the first game, it feels better to just embrace the darkness as the role of a Jedi in these dark times grows so hollow. The game has so many interesting ideas, but it can feel far too overbearing for its own good.
KOTOR2 almost tries to show how far the darkness in Star Wars can go, and it certainly has depth. The game is still immensely enjoyable with gameplay that has been most expanded and streamlined in ways that show how clunky some aspects of the original truly were.
As a whole, it is not the classic that the first one was, but it is certainly worth experiencing. It pushes the boundaries of a franchise so clearly afraid of expanding in unique directions. It is a game that showed that Star Wars needs ambition and a unique perspective on how we understand The Force.
These companions add their own flair to the story, and some are certainly more interesting than the others. The lack of Jedi is noticeable but so is the including of a Sith. The dark group is especially highlighted by several droid companions with murderous intent, G0-T0 and HK47 being a delightful pair.
The original has stood out for me due to its story since I first played it. The second is less consistent. Its story can be forgettable in moments and memorably dark to the point of being overwhelming in others. In particular, regardless of what path you take, you are ultimately led to the darkest place possible.
Your fight is with three Sith Lords: the slowly decomposing undead Darth Sion, the terrifyingly corporeal Dath Nihilus, and the mysterious Darth Traya. Traya is revealed to be Kreia, who sets The Exile on a path to face their decisions back on Malachor V regaining their abilities but deciding whether they will be good or bad at the end.
Kreia's betrayal is well set up and executed as she never truly is against you. She just has a vision greater than you and pushes you to embrace your destiny. Still, Malachor V is a dark foreboding final chapter that it makes the whole game almost depressing no matter what you do.
Unlike the first game, it feels better to just embrace the darkness as the role of a Jedi in these dark times grows so hollow. The game has so many interesting ideas, but it can feel far too overbearing for its own good.
KOTOR2 almost tries to show how far the darkness in Star Wars can go, and it certainly has depth. The game is still immensely enjoyable with gameplay that has been most expanded and streamlined in ways that show how clunky some aspects of the original truly were.
As a whole, it is not the classic that the first one was, but it is certainly worth experiencing. It pushes the boundaries of a franchise so clearly afraid of expanding in unique directions. It is a game that showed that Star Wars needs ambition and a unique perspective on how we understand The Force.
