Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Finally, They did it Right
Star Wars. In film the brand brings millions of fans and to the theatres and retail stores to watch George Lucas' vision of a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. The stories are, for the most part, adored by fans and enjoyed by many others. In video games, however, the Star Wars name has been lacking quality—especially in recent years. But Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is here to change that. Lucasarts and Bioware have developed a great RPG that not only does the Star Wars brand justice, but can stand up to many of the Japanese role playing games that have a tight grip on the market.
Beginning with the most obvious, the graphics of Knights of the Old Republic are about standard for 3D games on the Xbox system (and current PC games). The cinematic scenes are very well done, and the voice acting for the game is performed excellently.
One of the best things is that it doesn't repeat the same story we've been hearing for years … No Skywalker, no Vader—this is all new.
The fighting style of the game takes a bit of getting used to, but it provides an interesting meld of action-RPG and turn-based style. With customizable methods of combat, players can choose the style of fighting that best suits their abilities and preferences.
One of the best things about Knights of the Old Republic is that it doesn't repeat the same story we've been hearing for years. The game takes place 4000—yes four thousand—years before the events in the Star Wars movies. No Luke Skywalker. No Darth Vader. This is all new. The game takes place in an era where the Republic is being overtaken by the Sith, a malicious army led mostly by dark Jedi.
Another quality of the game—which enhances its replay value—is the factor of choice. Right from the beginning you can see the diversity of the game when you can choose your main character. You can play as a male or female who is one of: a scoundrel, a scout or a soldier. When interacting with characters, you often have the choice of what to say, where to go, and what to do. These decisions effect the gameplay on varying levels. Certain decisions will bring you closer to the light or dark side of the force—a concept that was introduced in Jedi Knight but wasn't a factor to the same degree. The outcome of some story elements is dependant on these deisions, and as the game progresses, the atmosphere can even change dramatically. Being closer to the dark side, for example, gives some more… evil options in conversation than if you had stuck to the path laid out by the Jedi.
The bottom line: Knights of the Old Republic delivers hours and hours of high quality gameplay that should entertain both fans of the Star Wars titles and role-playing gamers alike. This is how Star Wars games are supposed to be.
Colin Temple, GalbadiaX.com