I teach this part in some of my history classes — one of the best ways to reinvent a successful brand comes from people who do not mind ignoring the core parts of a previous version of the franchise — Knights of the Old Republic is an example of this. When BioWare developed a Star Wars game that stood out due to its high quality, the reason it did so was not because they used Luke Skywalker or Darth Vader, but because they produced a number of believable and intriguing original characters, and because the game told a story in a way that respected the player’s decisions regarding a morally ambiguous choice.
Prior to the release of Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR), Star Wars video games were at best inconsistent and at worst completely forgettable. While some were decent action games simply because they were called Star Wars, others were nothing more than tie-in video games designed to capitalize on movie releases. KOTOR asked the question, “What if we created a truly excellent RPG that just happens to take place in the Star Wars universe?” As a result, an RPG was developed that has a lot to offer on its own merit, and at the same time provides a sense of authenticity to the Star Wars universe.
A lot of what makes the story so captivating is that you play as a character who wakes up with no memory of who he/she is and discovers his/her identity over the course of the game. The way the moral choice system is structured is not merely mechanical; your choices directly affect the way that party members react to your decisions, influence the direction of the story and influence the development of the characters. As such, you become invested in your decision-making process as opposed to feeling as though your moral choice is an optional aesthetic feature of the game.
What Knights Of The Old Republic Does
After you create your character, you begin on a ship that is being attacked. After you manage to escape the ship and gather your thoughts, you start to assemble a party of other characters. Once you have assembled your party, you travel to various planets and complete quests, recruiting additional party members along the way. The story of the game develops slowly, revealing pieces of a larger conspiracy and your character’s history. The campaign of Knights of the Old Republic is long enough to last for many hours (over 30 hours). The pacing of the game is also excellent, providing you with a constant stream of new discoveries and opportunities to add to your party.
The turn-based combat is fast-paced and does not drag on. In addition to coordinating attacks with your party members, you will need to manage your resources, including health, Force points, and cooldowns of special abilities. The difficulty of the game is adjusted appropriately as you progress through the game. Early battles provide you with the opportunity to learn the mechanics of the game. Late battles require strategic thinking regarding the use of your party members’ special abilities and your party members’ compositions.
In addition to influencing your party members’ perceptions of you, your moral choices in Knights of the Old Republic will also determine the nature of your Force abilities. The moral choice system is not a separate system that is simply added to the rest of the gameplay. Instead, it is fully integrated into all aspects of the game, including your relationship with your party members, your party members’ reactions to you, and the way that your character develops over time.
One of the primary reasons that you will find the character interactions in Knights of the Old Republic so enjoyable is that each member of your party has their own personality and backstory. Your party members interact with each other as well as with you. Each conversation is well-written and includes voice acting of a high caliber. Rather than having to endure lengthy expositions to learn about the personalities of your party members, you develop a sense of who they are as individuals through your interactions with them. As you complete missions together and share experiences, you develop a connection with your party members.
Why Star Wars Needed Knights of the Old Republic
Prior to the creation of Knights of the Old Republic, Star Wars video games typically featured the player in a role similar to that of a familiar character from the films, such as a Jedi knight, a pilot of a famous spaceship, or a Sith lord. Knights of the Old Republic stated, “What if you got to be the person you want to be and explore your character’s journey?” By changing this approach, the game allowed the player to become emotionally invested in the game.
The Old Republic is an ideal setting for Knights of the Old Republic. At the time of the game’s release, the Old Republic is a period in the Star Wars universe that has not been explored in any detail in either the films or television series. Therefore, there is no preconceived notion of what should be included in the game. This allowed BioWare to develop unique stories within the Star Wars universe.
The conflict between the Jedi and Sith is central to the story of Knights of the Old Republic, but it is not presented in a simplistic manner. The player can choose to be a Jedi who remains committed to the light side of the Force, a Sith who remains committed to the dark side, or a character whose allegiances fall somewhere in between. The game allows for a level of moral ambiguity that is rare in video games and is representative of the complexities of real life.
The Technical Achievements
While the graphics in Knights of the Old Republic may appear dated compared to those found in contemporary video games, they remain visually appealing. Each character model is highly detailed and animated smoothly. The environments of the game are diverse and detailed. The special effects for the Force abilities of the characters are also impressive. The art direction of the game creates a clear visual distinction between each planet in the game. The designs of the party members are also memorable.
Each character in Knights of the Old Republic has competent voice acting. The main character is not voiced by an actor, allowing the player to imagine themselves in the role of the character. The supporting cast includes voice acting that adds personality to the characters. The writing of the dialogue is consistent with the voice acting. The conversations of the characters are written in a style that is conversational rather than artificial.
The sound design of Knights of the Old Republic helps create an immersive atmosphere. The music changes depending on the location of the player and the circumstances surrounding the player. The lightsaber ignition sound effect is iconic. The sound effects for the use of Force powers are distinct and creative. Combat features satisfying audio feedback, and the overall sound design of the game consistently conveys the state of the player to the player.
Does Knights Of The Old Republic Still Hold Up Today?
The graphics of Knights of the Old Republic may seem outdated compared to those found in contemporary video games, however, the artistic vision behind the game continues to support the game’s visuals. The character models are simple, but they are well-animated. The environments of the game are less detailed than those found in current-generation video games, but they effectively communicate the purpose of each environment.
The turn-based combat of Knights of the Old Republic still functions well today. The difficulty of the game is still reasonable and fair. The pacing of the game is still effective, and the game is still fun to play today. The story of the game is still engaging, and the relationships between the player and their party members are still believable and realistic. Overall, playing Knights of the Old Republic today gives you a sense of why fans of the Star Wars franchise still hold this game in such high regard.
The moral choice system of Knights of the Old Republic still provides meaningful choices to the player. The player’s choices still impact the game world and the characters that inhabit it. The alignment system still provides a sense of ownership and responsibility to the player. The interactions between the player and their party members still carry emotional weight. The ending of the game still feels earned by the player.
Overall, Knights of the Old Republic provides a campaign that is long enough to be satisfying, but short enough to avoid feeling padded. There is always new content available to the player as they progress through the game. The side quests are engaging and the optional content enhances the overall gaming experience. The progression of the player through the game is rewarding and fulfilling.
Why Knights of the Old Republic Was Important To Star Wars Gaming
Knights of the Old Republic provided the template for future Star Wars RPGs. Knights of the Old Republic showed that Star Wars RPGs could be exceptional in terms of storytelling, choice, and character development, without being limited by the requirement that the player be a recognizable character from the films. Knights of the Old Republic showed that a moral choice system could be more than just a cosmetic aspect of the game, and that the developer could structure the game to include multiple possible paths for the player. Knights of the Old Republic also laid the foundation for future Star Wars RPGs, including Knights of the Old Republic II and the Star Wars: The Old Republic MMORPG.
Conclusion
Knights of the Old Republic is a game that shows that Star Wars RPGs can be exceptional in terms of storytelling, choice, and character development. The game has a rich storyline, and the game respects the player’s choices. The game is filled with original characters and the player can develop meaningful relationships with their party members. The game’s turn-based combat is tactical without becoming tedious, and the difficulty of the game increases appropriately as the player progresses through the game. Every element of the game contributes to creating an exceptional RPG experience in the Star Wars universe. BioWare demonstrated a clear understanding of how to create a game that respects both the source material and the player’s desire for originality and excellence.
Rating: 10/10 — The Star Wars RPG that showed us that great games require great stories and meaningful choices
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