Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

"A Star Wars RPG That Everyone Should Ignore..."

INTRODUCTION:

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Is the RPG that won many Game Of The Year awards in 2003. It started a phenomenon for the Star Wars nerds everywhere. Many were so hyped up about this game, but my question is, Why? This Is not a good game at all. It is barely below average. This is a very repetitive and boring game that has no reason for even existing. I do not know why Bio Ware even tried to create this game, because in my opinion, they sure failed In doing so. This Is just another Role Playing Game only set In the Star Wars universe, but a bad one with horrible combat and graphics. The sound is actually well done, like in every Star Wars game. Every aspect of the game Is the same as In other Role Playing Games, only this time its more simplified and much more boring. I warn anyone who liked this game that you will not like this review, because its very harsh. Read on to find out how bad this game really is.

GRAPHICS:

In 2003, this game had okay graphics. They were about average, but not the best ever seen. The weapon animations were good, and so were the character models. The environments were also very well done, but were lacking something. I do not know whether the developers gave up on this game, or just thought that the graphics were adequate.

Maybe It's just me, but the overall presentation of this game wasn't too good either. The reflections were okay, and so was the lighting, but the models did not have much depth or visual appeal. It seemed bland and boring, much like the game play. The various special effects like the explosions and force powers were okay, but also not perfect. The best part about this game are the cut scenes, which were very well animated. But, no one could call this game a technical marvel.
6/10

SOUND:

The sound was good at best. The voice overs were good, but not exceptional. They did seem realistic, but sometimes quite cheesy. The sound effects were mediocre, and the Star Wars music was entertaining which made this game much more enjoyable. This is one of the high points of the game. The sound effects of the laser guns as well as the light sabers were good, and made you feel like you were actually in the game. The various environmental sounds like the water splashing upon a beach side, or the movement of vehicles and characters were also well done. Sound is an important factor in making a game good, and this game suits it well. Overall, the sound design was good, and the strongest part of this game.
7/10

GAME PLAY:

This is the part where the game falls flat on its knees and begs everyone for forgiveness. This is because of the money they wasted on this mediocre and somewhat abysmal experience. This is a very average game, without anything new. I am a big Star Wars fan. I am not obsessed, but i do like the plot and the Sci-Fi feel. I have my respect to George Lucas, who made such a good movie franchise. The games he made were good and the best was Star Wars: Battlefront. This game has the Sci-Fi feel and the Star Wars charm, but also lacks much in the game play. The story is not an award winner, being mediocre. This game is basically is a" make your own path" adventure. You can choose your side, whether it being the Dark side or the Light side. It is just like Fable, only scaled down about 50 percent. If you are on the Dark side, people are sometimes more aggressive towards you, and you can gain different force powers depending on which side you choose. There is only one definite ending with a couple of small twists, which hardly changes depending upon which side you choose. Unlike Fable, being on the Light or Dark side doesn't influence anything in any way. You can go through the game on the Dark side and finish the game with the same ending, but with a couple of small differences. This really destroys the replay values.

The story begins when your ship gets attacked by the evil Sith warriors and their army, and you are sent into a war. From there, you have to travel to different planets, do quests, and eventually have to kill the evil leader and bring peace to the Star Wars world. This game is set 4000 years before the movies and adapts the Star Wars mechanics and feel very well. The story does not relate to any of the Star Wars movies, which makes it even worse in my opinion. It is a long game, but is also a waste of time for a gamer like me. The side you choose does not determine the outcome of the game, because there is only one ending with small changes, unlike The Suffering or Fable. Bio Ware tried to accomplish this plot, but failed in doing it, and messed up another game. KOTOR is original, but the concept is bad.

The worst part of this game is the combat system. In my opinion, Star Wars and crappy turn-based combat do not mix. All you do is press a button and your character goes into an attack state, where he/she attacks the enemy. You keep attacking until either of you dies. The Combat System is bad for a number of reasons.

1. There is not any strategic element to it, and is very repetitive.
2. You can easily die by attacking the enemy, as this combat system restricts you from moving while attacking.
3. It detracts from the fun of the game, because It is very boring. There is no actual movement during the combat, and it seems very fake. You cannot duck or perform any type of movement without leaving the fighting state, It does not make the game any better or more involving. After playing this game for a short time, I felt really bored. Every battle was the same, and the sluggish combat worsened it.

There are a couple of good points to this game. First, the character creation is very well done. There are many options for creation, from the face and clothes models, to the names of the character. The skills and attributes are gained and distributed evenly, making leveling up much easier. The Weapons were creatively made, and seemed realistic to the Star Wars universe. They were also fun to shoot, but were countered by the horrible combat system. There were many weapons, from rifles to light sabers. The best part is when you do become a Jedi, but that is about 5 hours into the game. There are also many force powers, like force push, grab, and drain. They look cool when used, and can help you in battles very much. Their animations are good and are very creative. The game also has a feature that i like in many Role Playing Games, which allows you say what you want to other A.I controlled characters. You can be mean or nice to the inhabitants of cities and towns, and they will treat you accordingly to what you tell them. These are the only good points for this game, which still don't even measure up to the bad points.
3/10
CONCLUSION:
Hardcore Star Wars fans may enjoy this game, but anyone with my opinion sure won't. This is a boring, repetitive mediocre game that doesn't deserve the Star Wars name. Knights of the Old Republic II was set up in the same way, but lacked the same qualities as this game. If you want to enjoy a free playing adventure game, play Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind or Fable. They are worth your money, but this mediocre game is definitely not. Because of the amount of writing, the Pros and Cons are summed up below.

Pros
-Set in the Star Wars universe
-Good Sound Design
-Cool Weapons
-Good Character Customization
-Average Graphics

Cons
-Repetitive Game play
-Sluggish Combat
-Bad Story
-Horrible Combat System
-Low Production Values

BUY/RENT:

Neither, I seriously urge anyone not to buy this game or even rent it. It is not worth your money or your time. And if you get the urge to play it, go outside and bang your head on a car's hood, you will get more enjoyment out of that than playing this game. The game is bad, but for anyone who wants something new with Star Wars or an RPG adventure, this game may appeal to them. But be warned, It's not for everyone.

Overall: 5/10

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 04/27/05