10/10
Dec 30, 2017·✓ Recommended
Beat·Xbox
In my mind, this CRPG take on Star Wars is among the very finest pieces of media ever to be set in George Lucas's galaxy far, far away. Bioware's work here is exemplary, a huge story that spans the entire galaxy as you fight to end a vast war that threatens the entire Republic.
Set some 4000 years prior to the original trilogy, we find the stars beset by an unending horde of Sith. We play as a rookie ensign in the Republic army who winds up wrapped up in a plot by the Jedi to finally defeat the unhinged power of Darth Malak. Central to the narrative is the presence of Darth Revan, a Sith defeated prior to the events of the story but whose influence still ripples throughout the conflict. After escaping a planet besieged by the Sith, we are tasked with reassembling a map to an ancient weapon, gathering myriad allies to our cause and delving deep into the roots of the war. The writing is a major strength here; while the trappings are as familiar as ever when it comes to Star Wars, the galaxy still feels new thanks to the setting far divorced from the usual time period of Rebels and Imperial might, with a ton of fantastically written characters that have held an indelible influence in the wider Star Wars canon even to this day.
Combat is classic CRPG fare, with a vast array of options at our disposal as we level up our character, specialising them into Star Wars themed versions of the standard warrior / mage / rogue builds. While the pace can be a bit lumbering and there's a lot of clicking and inventory management to put up with if you're not a fan of this style of RPG, for me it's a comforting and familiar approach to gaming that I adore coming back to again and again.
Check out my full review! The Almighty Backlog, review #5:
https://thealmightybacklog.wordpress.com/2018/01/29/off-the-backlog-star-wars-knights-of-the-old-republic/
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