by Ian Dean
There are very few film franchises that have ever had the video game success that Star Wars enjoys. True, not every game bearing the franchise’s name has been pure gold (*cough*Masters-of-Teras-Kasi*cough*), but that doesn’t deny the number of great titles set in that galaxy far, far away. Jedi Outcast, the second Jedi Knight game (or the third Dark Forces game, if you want to be confusing), was the game that really changed my stance from ‘guy who likes games’ to ‘gamer’. Republic Commando kept me hooked for hours. Rogue Squadron, Tie Fighter, and even Force Unleashed are all among my gaming highlights, but if you had to ask me to list one above all others, then I’m fairly certain you would agree with my choice.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is a bit of a mouthful as titles go, prompting fans to short-hand it to KotOR. Released in 2003 by Bioware, the game puts you in the role of a customisable character as they get thrown into an epic adventure. You get the usual choices: gender, looks, class, and skill levels. Since the character is undefined, I’m going to name him Sam for the sake of this article.
Set 4000 years before the films, the galaxy is once again at war. As per usual, the Sith have invaded, this time led by Darth Malak, and they’re making ground with an impossibly massive armada. Waking up aboard the Republic cruiser, the Endar Spire, Sam realises that the ship is under attack. He manages to escape the boarding Sith troops with the help of Carth Onasi, a Republic Captain. Landing on the planet Taris below, they decide to find the Jedi General Bastilla, a young woman with a unique ability that could turn the tide of the war who was aboard the Endar Spire when it was attacked. After rescuing her from slavers (much to her chagrin), and making several new friends along the way, they commandeer a ship and flee the Sith occupied planet.
And that’s just the beginning of the story.
Now if you’ve played a Bioware game before, then you probably won’t find it surprising that the story and setting are the strong points of the game. The rich universe, the great characters, and the surprisingly gripping plot-lines are all staples of the company (at least before EA acquired the company), and KOTOR is Bioware at their best. Every companion character is unique, each with their own quirks, and their own back-stories worth unlocking. Okay, so it isn’t difficult to get each character to open up, as all you have to do is talk to them between each mission, but it is still rewarding.
The story itself is quintessential Star Wars. It’s not so much about lightsabers and robes; the game features a galaxy hopping adventure uncovering a mystery that holds the fate of the galaxy in the balance. You meet a variety of classic Star Wars aliens in a variety of fantastic locations. Though everything’s been given a slight makeover, taking into account the different time period, it’s still definitely Star Wars.
The gameplay, on the other hand, is a little less than thrilling, though not exactly dull. Combat consists of selecting actions for your character to perform, with a ‘rolling’ system deciding how effective the attack is. Though it may seem ironic to complain that the gameplay is simply pushing buttons, it does take away from the action, leaving encounters without that spark of excitement other games can offer. However, the aim of the game isn’t exhilaration so much as strategy. Equipping your characters with the right gear, choosing the right combination of abilities and team-mates, and commanding your troops is entertaining enough.
That said, if you wanted intense action, there are a number of other games aimed at your particular preference. This game is about story, exploring worlds and making decisions. As with most Bioware games, the player can choose lines in conversation, with consequences for each choice. Unlike recent titles, however, the protagonist has no voice actor. The game gives you the full lines of dialogue to choose from instead. Though some may find this less entertaining, you have a much clearer idea of what you’re actually saying, even if you character doesn’t actually verbalise it. If you’re like me, you can also imagine any voice you want as you read it.
As for the characters that do talk, Bioware have a pretty decent team of voice actors… well, for the most part. Jennifer Hale, Raphael Sbarge, Kevin Michael Richardson, Courtney Taylor, and Robin Sachs list among the voice talent on hand. However, despite this impressive list of actors, there are several instances where the overall quality drops dramatically. This is pretty disappointing, as the otherwise stellar work makes it seem even worse by comparision.
This is made worse still by the only other issue with the game, the dated animations. Outside of the few cinematics, the characters are exceptionally wooden, the lip synching is basic at best, and the facial expressions are lifeless to say the least. Granted, the game is getting on, and visuals have developed dramatically over the last decade since the game’s release. That doesn’t negate the issue, however, so much as excuse it. It’s not that they were bad when the game came out. In fact, I remember being impressed by the title when I finally got to it almost a year later. It simply hasn’t aged all that well.
Still, KOTOR is a remarkable game. A precursor to the epic Mass Effect series, the game shares many of the epic story-telling qualities. Though the gameplay itself is far from exciting, that’s not quite the same thing as saying it isn’t fun. Let’s be fair about this: you play FIFA if you like football games; you play CoD if you like shooter games; you play KOTOR if you like epic games. There’s a scope and cinematic quality that is rarely found in games before the 360 and PS3, and a depth that was almost unheard of for it’s era. Whether or not you’ll like the game comes down simply to whether or not you enjoy the combat segments. If you do, then I expect you’ll agree with the rating I’m about to give this game:
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