2. Knights of the Old Republic
Returning to the roots of the Star Wars franchise,
Knights of the Old Republic gave players a unique story in an era previously
unknown to the franchise. If a Star Wars adventure RPG is what you’re looking
for, this is the best of them all. Finally giving Star Wars gamers something
original, this game set a very high standard for future games. When you put both of
these games together, an epic tale is told where the fate of the galaxy hangs
in the balance. Similar to the original movie trilogy, these games tell a story
that takes us through both sides of the conflict. Again the conflict is between
an empire and a republic, but this time we’re introduced to new worlds, new
characters, and new stories. What makes this game even more special is that
much of the story is done with spoken dialogue.
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| Characters from KOTOR I |
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| Darths Revan and Malak |
One thing that truly sets this game apart is the
fleshing out of worlds that had, previously, never been visited. Before this
game’s release, we had never been to Dantooine to see the “rebel base” to which
they referred in Episode IV. We were also introduced to a more intimate look at
who the Sith are and what they really stand for. In KOTOR, we get to see one of
the most popular Star Wars characters who ends up being significantly misunderstood
for the vast majority of the game – it sets up an excellent twist. There was
character customization in a time where this hadn’t really become a staple.
These kinds of details set the stage for a very impressive and immersive adventure
experience. Influence from this game can be found in many others that followed.
The KOTOR franchise also gave us a much more
intimate look at the Force and the organization of the Jedi/Sith Order. Things
like Jedi Consular and Jedi Guardian didn’t really exist prior to this game,
but they have become a standard in Star Wars games and stories. In the second
installment, we were introduced to lightsaber combat in a way that was unheard
of. Now there are formal styles, like any martial art. This gave more depth to
characters that were on the verge of becoming stale.
I’m one of the few people who will tell you that KOTOR II is better than KOTOR I. This game was the first to really expand the
understanding of the force. More importantly, we weren’t given obvious choices
which was good and which was evil. On the one hand, you have a decision that
seems right, but ultimately results in something that is almost universally
considered negative. The decision making has consequences. As gaming ages, there seems to be fewer and fewer games that truly do give the players consequences. In KOTOR II, we’re
introduced to decisions that question the abstract… maybe Sith lords aren’t actually
evil. Maybe a Sith Lord is someone who uses the Force to advance their own
agenda, not just to do evil acts. I picture a Sith Lord could be someone who
exerts his power to manipulate a situation the way he wants, not only to cause
misery. Maybe a Sith Lord is someone for whom the means are just a way to an
end?
By throwing in a system of influence, the makers of KOTOR II added a degree of complexity that was far beyond anything that was needed... but it makes sense. You can elicit the aid of, or get nothing but derision from, the people around you depending on what decisions you make. In so doing, these characters will either aid you or they won't - it all depends on if they think you're doing the right thing. Adding an influence system like this adds depth to the characters and the story, making this game one of the deepest games I've ever played. Rather than just fighting for a
cause, we’re given a look at what makes each character tick. Now we are
expanding on who is who and why they have chosen a their paths. This is very
appealing in a universe that is typically a simple tale of good vs. evil. Maybe
the lines aren’t actually so clear…
For a similar gaming experience: Look at “The Old Republic” - a
spiritual successor to this franchise. It’s an MMO set a few hundred years
later, and has many of the same gameplay features that made the KOTOR franchise
so great.
Thanks for reading!
-Jack
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