Let’s get this out of the way: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is the best Star Wars video game that I have ever played. A full blown RPG set in the Star Wars universe thousands of years before the three prequels’ saga took place.
One of the selling points of the game, as a Darth Maul fan in those days (2003), was the ability to make impactful choices. These choices would align my character to either the light side of the force, or conversely, permit me to go full Anakin to the dark side of it.
The Xbox showcased horsepower beyond the PlayStation 2’s, and even the GameCube’s capabilities . As a result, the Xbox became the perfect system for PC ports like Morrowind, and Doom 3. Knights of the Old Republic is one of the best examples of an excellent PC game on the system. Ironically, the game launched on the Xbox a few months before it did on computers.
Developed by BioWare, which at the time was known for Baldur’s Gate, and Neverwinter Nights, KOTOR had a significant amount of hype behind it. Fortunately, most will agree that it lived up to such hype.
As news of a new Knights of the Old Republic game loom over the horizon. It is a perfect time to reminisce about my time with the game 18 years ago.
In 2003, many Star Wars fans at the time were hating on the prequels. However, I was never in that camp, as I generally liked George Lucas’ direction of the films. That said, Knights of the Old Republic showed that a Star Wars story set in a distant timeline from the ‘Skywalker’ Saga could be just as enthralling as the Star Wars film Saga itself.
Knights of the Old Republic Was a Game of Choices
The game’s story was filled with twists and turns. In addition, the Jedi, and Sith lore present in KOTOR remains invaluable for fans of the universe. Becoming a full blown Dark Sith Lord by the end of the game was awesome. Being able to turn to the Dark Side is one of the coolest things that a Star Wars game has ever allowed me to do.
My actions in the game had tangible consequences. As such, making choices was something that felt fresh for me at that time. Coming from the Japanese Role-Playing style of linear story telling, Knights of the Old Republic felt ‘open’.
While the combat was round based, it felt quicker to me than traditional turn based RPGs which is something that I welcomed. Visually, at the time, KOTOR was extremely appealing. Consequently, there was a real ‘Star Wars’ feeling of adventure. Visiting different, but familiar planets was always fun. Worlds like Dantooine, Tatooine, and Kashyyyk are beautifully represent in the game.
Knights of the Old Republic definitely left me wanting for more Star Wars games made of the same ilk, and based on the same time period within its universe. With a 93 Metacritic rating, and strong sales (3.2 million units). KOTOR is one of the best RPGs ever made.
Fortunately, the game can be found used these days for pretty cheap (Disc only) on Amazon, and Ebay. In the end, Knights of the Old Republic is truly a must play for Star Wars and RPG fans alike.
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