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 The best Star Wars game ever made. >>> by Trigon (06.08.2005)
Knights of the Old Republic, or KOTOR, was developed by Bioware, so gameplay will be familiar if you have played games like Baldur's Gate or Neverwinter Nights. You begin by creating a character, choosing gender, class, portrait, attributes, skills, feats, and a name. You also have the (boring) option to let the game create a quick, pre-generated character. I highly suggest starting as a Soldier or a Scout if you are a complete newbie, as they are far more survivable in the early levels than the Scoundrel. Once your character is complete, the Prologue will scroll up your screen accompanied by that familiar John Williams music, followed by a beautiful opening cinematic, and you will know you are in for a Star War experience!
The game's controls are easy to learn and intuitive. The first area of the game is essentially a short tutorial, quickly and efficiently showing you the ropes of the game while simultaneously advancing the plot. By the time you escape from the Endar Spire, you should be prepared for the future challenges that KOTOR will throw your way.
The battle system is somewhat different than standard turn-based RPG and previous Bioware titles. When you encounter an enemy, the game will "Pause" and allow you to enter commands for your characters. You can choose up to four commands ahead of time for each character. When you un-pause the game, your character will perform your commands in "real time". You can pause the battle at any time to change your commands. If you do not enter a command, your main character will default to basic attacks, while your party members will act according to pre-programmed, simple command scripts. For example, you can set one of your Jedi to "Support", which will cause that character to use beneficial Force Powers on the party. The end result of this battle system is a highly enjoyable mix of the control found in turn-based RPGs with the fast-paced action of real time battle.
Knights of the Old Republic has a storyline that is true to its Star Wars origins. The whole game has an epic, fairy-tale appeal, where you must struggle against all odds to save the galaxy. The choices you make in the game will lead your character down the path of the Light Side, or cause you to succumb to the allure of the Dark Side. Your affinity with each side of the Force will affect how the story concludes, and also determine how difficult it is to use certain Force Powers. My only gripe is that Bioware is not particularly adept at writing "evil". This means that when you are trying to follow the Dark Path, the choices you can make are more suited to a jerk or bully, rather than an insidious or devious Sith Lord.
This game features a memorable cast of characters. There are nine playable characters in addition to your main character, ranging from honorable, double-blaster wielding Carth Onasi to cantankerous old Jedi, Jolee Bindo, to the amusingly homicidal droid, HK-47. Although he could never live up to Vader, Darth Malak is certainly a menacing foe throughout the game.
The visuals and sounds are excellent, even considering that KOTOR is two years old as of this writing. The visuals are particularly pleasing simply because everything just looks. right. The planets, the technology, the aliens, and all such details are immediately recognizable. Similarly, all of the sounds, from the whirling of a lightsaber to the sounds of blaster fire to the roar of a spaceship taking off are all pleasingly authentic. There is a nice mix of classic and original music, which blends nicely with the scenes and effectively sets the mood for the game. Of particular note is the outstanding voice acting, especially considering that each and every conversation is fully voiced. The combination of solid voice performances and quality soundtrack and visuals really draw the player into the experience.
Knights of the Old Republic has some replay value than most RPGs (not that that is saying much). After playing through the first time, the obvious choice is to play through again choosing the opposite Force path. There are also some romantic subplots available, depending on whether your main character is male or female. (Sorry ladies, you get stuck with Carth. us guys get to pursue the lovely Bastilla!)
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is simply the best roleplaying game to be released in the last two years. It is a must have for all Star Wars fans, RPGs, PC owners or X-Box owners.
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