Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

"Fits snugly between Halo and Splinter Cell on the must-own shelf."

“A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away” begins Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic as it has every Star Wars game, book, or movie since the Trilogy. Star Wars games over the years have become somewhat of a mixed bag. For one, they’re nearly all vehicular combat (Rogue Squadron). Most of the recent console Star Wars games that tried to put you on foot failed horribly (Jedi Power Battles, certain parts of Clone Wars). I’m extremely happy to say that not only is Knights of the Old Republic the best Star Wars game in memory, it is also the best RPG I have ever played on a next-gen console.
The development team at Bioware has created a game that will completely satisfy hardcore fans as well as people who haven’t seen any of the movies. It combines a fresh combat style with wonderful music and extraordinary value. If you own an Xbox, this title fits nicely on your shelf between Halo and Splinter Cell.

Graphics: 7.5/10

Knights of the Old Republic, although a very high-quality game, has a few problems that could’ve warranted an extra week or two in development. Let’s get the bad out of the way first. KOTOR (as it will hereafter be referred to) lags quite often. It’s most noticeable during the cutscenes, but it also occurs during combat, which can make for some interesting battles. Also, there are a striking amount of jaggies (things that don’t look as smooth as they should). Now for the good. Facial models in KOTOR are quite well done and it’s unlikely that you’ll every see too many that look very similar. Also, enemy design is quite intriguing (and true to the Star Wars Universe). Finally, and perhaps the feature that makes Star Wars fans most giddy, the lightsabers look one-hundred percent accurate.

There are a few imbalances graphically in KOTOR as well. For one, some environments look truly stunning while others make me want to gouge my eyes out with the controller. I can only stare at the same bleak looking desert area for so long before I start to see mirages of those Twi’Lek dancers………. Also, sword/lightsaber duels, although extremely cool-looking the first few times you see them, can eventually turn into an extreme case of Déjà vu. And again, there is the lag, which is extremely noticeable in spots and does hamper gameplay.

Scoring the graphics in KOTOR really depends on what side of the fence you fall on. There are certain people out there who want their games to be strikingly beautiful (especially on Xbox) and could care less about the size and scope of the environments. The other side of the spectrum is people who realize that to have huge environments you need to lose a bit of graphical quality. If you’re part of the second group, you shouldn’t have a problem with any of the graphics in Knights. If you’re part of the first group, the graphics won’t be to your personal preference, but it shouldn’t drag down the experience too too much. I just hope Bioware makes full use of the Xbox hardware next time.

Gameplay: 9.1/10

In its history, Bioware has made some of the best RPGs ever. From the ever-popular Morrowind to the truly amazing Neverwinter Nights, they pride themselves on making extremely high-quality games. I’m pleased to say that the gameplay in KOTOR holds up to the high standards Bioware has set for themselves.

The combat system is intricate to say the least, and this is both its highpoint and its downfall. Fighting takes a lot of strategy and practice which can deter younger gamers or those new to the RPG genre. Hey, it says T for Teen on the box, so don’t say you weren’t warned. The combat is turn-based but it tricks you into thinking you’re playing a real-time game. For instance, selecting an attack does not immediately cause that attack to occur, it waits until a certain “wait period” is over. When you spot an enemy the game pauses so you have time to organize a plan. During the fight, you have the option to attack, use a special “force” power, chuck a grenade or use an item on yourself to even the odds. The system works great as you can pause as often as you like and give orders to all characters so you’re never overwhelmed. Damage is determined using a dice roll (which you can access by entering the feedback system) and variables like your characters’ defense, strength, wisdom, and dexterity ratings. Frankly, the system is over my head so I won’t attempt to explain it. All you basically need to know if that you select a variety of attacks to hurt your opponent until they collapse and you get experience points which make you increase in levels. The only real fault is that the combat can sometimes descend into a movie-like experience, where you just watch your character attack over and over. This is not always the case though, as most battles require a great deal of thought and strategy. Although combat may be a little intricate, that doesn’t stop it from being great. Everyone smart enough to handle opening a box of crackers should be sucked into this game within minutes.

The story takes place 4000 years before the events of the rise of the galactic empire (the original trilogy, for all you newcomers) and details the journey of a character who begins as a simple recruit but eventually becomes part of something much bigger. On your quest you will do many things that Star Wars fans and newcomers alike will enjoy, such as: training at the jedi academy, building your own lightsaber, manning the gun turret of your ship, being a smuggler or a bounty hunter, and many more. There are also a staggering number of sidequests to do such as becoming a swoop racer, lawyer, or thief. These sidequests add a ton of replay value to the game. By far the most fun element of Knights is the Light/Dark system, which rewards you with light or dark points for doing good or bad deeds. As you move towards one side of the meter, your appearance begins to change drastically, and the force powers you can use differ. For instance, Light Side force powers are more for defensive and healing purposes, while dark side powers are more painfully and violent, including the famous “Force Choke”. This feature alone makes it worth playing through a second time, just to see what you’ve missed.

I should probably point out that KOTOR has its fair share of glitches. Over halfway through my first playthrough I encountered a glitch that caused my game clock to vault to over 14 million hours. These don’t affect gameplay at all, but they are definitely distracting and can be a hassle if you like knowing how much time you’ve spent (handy for reviewers).

Bioware has to be commended for keeping its streak of great-playing games alive. Continuing in the tradition of Morrowind and Baldur’s Gate II, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is an extremely fun experience and accurately replicates the Star Wars universe. I’m beginning to think LucasArts should begin to consult its developers for advice on Episode III, as both Factor 5 (Rogue Squadron) and Bioware seem to bring fans a better experience than the last cinematic efforts.

Sound: 9.6/10

Speaking of accurately portraying Star Wars, the music in this game is simply amazing. The game intelligently samples work of trilogy composer John Williams to spark nostalgia, and it works to great effect. Star Wars fans will be in heaven when they hear The Imperial March for the first time, and rightly so. The only problem with the sound at all in this game, is that the music has a tendency to cut out a lot. This is another area where an extra few weeks in development would’ve helped a good deal.

The voice acting in Knights is arguably the best in a game in history. Every character sounds great (including the alien language characters) and this is partly due to the fact that LucasArts took great strides to get accomplished actors. MadTV’s Phil Lamaar, for instance, is the voice of Gadon Thek, an important character in the early stages of the game. Another rarity for games is high-quality lip-syncing, but KOTOR manages to pull it off seamlessly. I’ve yet to see a major case of words not fitting the lips.

Finally, to complete the holy trinity of the sound category, the effects are shockingly accurate. The first time you hear a lightsaber power up you’ll realize how much effort was put into making this an experience that matches the movies. It sounds as if every effects is simply cut out of the movies and pasted into the game, which is not a bad thing by any means. If you long to hear the squeal of a blaster or the satisfying thwock of a fresh kill, you’ve come to the right place.

KOTOR accomplishes what nearly no game in history has done, it has combined great voice acting, music, and effects in a game to create one of the best sounding games in history, and that is not a title I give out lightly. This game surpasses Medal of Honor: Frontline as the game Surround Sound owners will be playing non-stop, and I honestly can’t blame them.

Value: 9.2/10

The value of KOTOR doesn’t lie in the length of the game, after all, a mere 30 hours will get you to the end of the game along with a hunk of sidequests completed along the way. No, the value of KOTOR lies in replayability. 30 hours may get you to one ending, but what about the other 3 you’ve missed? Playing through once doesn’t give you nearly the full experience of the game. The light dark system alone warrants another playthrough, as do the differing classes (although the difference isn’t severe), and I’m sure you’ll miss plenty of sidequests the first time through. To get all 4 endings would take you around 100 hours (assuming you get quicker every time) and that isn’t too shabby for any game. The only danger is that you’ll be so addicted you’ll plow through those 100 hours within a week or two. Simply put, buying this game means you won’t be leaving the house for a very long time, and that is definitely the mark of a game worth buying.

Tilt: 9.6/10

Forget all the glitches. Forget the lag and average graphics. My memories of my Knights playthrough aren’t plagued with those. The one thing that will stick in your mind after you complete this game is the astounding amount of fun you had with it. For 30 hours, LucasArts tricked you into thinking you were a Jedi soldier battling for the good (or evil) of the galaxy. And you know what? As soon as you finish those 30 hours, you’ll be ready to be tricked again, and again, and again. Easily the best Star Wars game ever, and also one of the best RPGs to grace our shiny new consoles. There is no Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, or Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, but it is clear, that the force is definitely strong in this one.

Graphics: 7.5/10
Gameplay: 9.1/10
Sound: 9.6/10
Value: 9.2/10
Tilt: 9.6/10

Total: 9.00/10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/24/03, Updated 07/24/03