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One of the Great Xbox Games of 2002

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 20 / 72
Date: May 20, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I just got done playing this game today and let me tell you, this game rocks. The controls were so smooth and the graphics were out of this world. It is made by the same people who made Baldur's Gate and they are well trained in the Jedi arts. I think this game is a system seller, meaning you should own a Xbox just for this game. If you don't get this game when it comes out, you are a Sith Lord. May the Force be with you.

O-V-E-R-R-A-T-E-D

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 9 / 25
Date: October 06, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Along with Brute Force, this is one of the most overrated games to come out on the Xbox yet. Fortunately, I only rented it. I hate to think that people actually spent $50 on this waste.

Now for the reasons. Unlike what people have been saying, there really isn't much freedom or depth in this game. Sure, you can make choices that will turn you toward the Dark or Light Sides, but these choices throughout the game are obvious. There aren't any choices in the game that actually require thought and an understanding of long-term consequences. Most of the decisions you have to make in the game are on the level of, "kick the stray dog," or, "give it some Alpo."

Additionally, there is very little physical freedom to this game. The environments are extremely restrictive and the places you can travel are very limited. You start out on this beautiful looking world that is one giant city to find out that you can travel on like two of its streets. I would much rather have had fewer worlds, but much deeper, more explorable and complex environments. Every world you go to has a very small area you can actually explore. These areas are of course bordered with eight foot tall granite slabs. The desert world (Dantooine if I'm not mistaken, but it's been a long time since I played) looks like it was designed in a day and a half.

The fighting system in this game does an ok job at copying that of Parasite Eve, which originally came out on the PS. Although it appears to be real-time, it maintains that sluggish feel found in turn-based RPGs where I hit you and you hit me (although traditional turn-based RPGs at least do that part well).

For a game that was really trying to be a groundbreaking RPG for the Xbox, I feel that it really pales in comparrison to Morrowind. I would actually recommend buying Pirates of the Carribean before KOTOR. Although Bethesda, with Morrowind and Pirates, put out two very bugged and glitch-filled games, you'll definitely spend more than your money's worth on the full RPG experience.

For those RPG fans, who played the originals like Dragon Warrior and Final Fantasy, leveling up in KOTOR is also painful. Random encounters are few and far between, and you're usually stuck fighting sandpeople or those lizard/rhinocerus things. And that's when they're actually around.

Don't waste your money or time on this game. Save up money for early 2004 when both B.C. and Fable come out. Or better yet, put down your controller, put on your sneakers, and go outside. Go for a run, take up a sport, do anything but play this game.

Even as a preview it's worth 5 stars.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 11
Date: February 27, 2003
Author: Amazon User

There's always going to be banter about how good a game is, or should be, prior to its release. That depends on what you've read, what you believe, and whether any one has gotten their hands on the demo yet. While Star Wars games have a spotty history, there are also some great moments in there, and this is the next one.

For the first time ever we have a Star Wars RPG, based on Wizards of the Coast d20 system, which comprises 6 primary attributes (what are commonly referred to as "stats"), a collection of secondary attributes (a set of stats which are rules derived) and lastly skills and feats. A skill is anything a character can learn to do and can be improved with time. They include swimming, sneaking, bluffing and ; a feat is best described as a heroic trait which separates your character from the average Jane or Joe Alien.

Combat is run in "bullet-time" for lack of a better explanation. Things continue to happen in slowmotion as you select an action/attack/Force power to use and then goes back to real time once you've selected it. You can be accompanied by two other members of your overall team and can switch them out aboard the Ebon Hawk, your personal ship and cruiser.

The game is developed by Bio-Ware, who are the front-line geniuses of PC RPGs right now. Their first foray into the realm of the console RPG looks to be nothing short of stunning. Believe the hype. Use the Force. And get ready to pick a side, because KOTOR is going to put the fate of the galaxy directly into your hands.

Very Nice

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: July 18, 2003
Author: Amazon User

First of all, I don't mind the space already being taken by people who think the game will be good. There were demos of this released and plenty of preview to form an opinion on the game before its release...besides those who are always posting saying "This game isn't out yet so how can you review it?" What's gonna happen when the game IS out such as now and they're still there saying it isn't? Something to ponder no doubt.

Anyway, I don't play that many XBOX games (Halo didn't even please me) so surprisingly enough I found myself picking up the controller to this game and trying it out. I was intrigued by the fact that I couldn't put the controller down! It was actually an amazing game. What was even more surprising is that I don't tend to like Star Wars games.

Let's start off with the eye-candy, or "graphics" so to say. Not quite as good as some other XBOX games. In fact it looks like a rejected PS2 game. In other words there are a lot of blocky and tarnished images. The graphics aren't nearly as smooth as other games. BUT the enviroments are very nicely laid out and done and they are smooth. It's the character graphics that need the work.

The game is very wide and while the path is very linear there are plenty of side-quests along the way. Also, your actions depend on whether or not you'll be on the light side of the force (a good guy) or the dark side of the force (a bad guy). So it's a pretty free RPG but that also means you'll get asked A LOT of questions. Depending on what side of the force you're on and what decisions you make alter the games ending and dialogue. Also keep in mind that just because there is a decision that seems like the right thing to do, doesn't mean you'll go closer to the light side. You may actually go closer to the dark because of it. Not only that, but just because something is bad doesn't mean you can go closer to the light side of the force. For example I chose to take a bounty on someone near the beginning of the game only to end up saving that person and gaining light force points. Remember, when you make a decision you have to also think of the consequences. It's all cause and effect.

While I do not usually like RPGs that have a lot of voice overs and tend to be like movies, I made an exception for this one. This is because the voice acting is actually GOOD (unlike FFX) and I can actually SKIP the dialogue (unlike most of it in FFX).

Choosing a character is different to me. I'd been playing console RPG's my entire life and never once did I play any D&D games at all so the thrill of getting to choose my own character class and stats made the game much more engaging for me.

If there were any cons I'd have to say that its the battle engine. It feels a lot like playing Chrono Trigger in the aspect that when you run into enemies you don't see any special scene changes (such as the swirl that FF7 does or the zoom-in zoom-out thing that FF6 and FF4 do), instead you "engage" in a battle righ ton the spot. What makes this bad? When you are "engaged" in a battle the game tends to run a tad bit slower and when you select an attack it takes a long time before the attack is excecuted. Also, you need to choose attacks quickly because unless you were to pause the battle action to select an attack, your character may attack on his or her own free will without you giving them a command to do so.

The game has a nice learning curve of about a half an hour or so to master everything it has to offer. Also, depending on whether or not you chose a female character or a male character also makes a difference in a sort of "Romance" the game has. Thus, the game is different with each play through!

The game also has very nice sound quality that only the movies can best and that makes the game pretty damn thrilling if you ask me. So this is this game worth it? Well, I'd say so. I haven't quite beaten the game yet (it just came out today where I live) but when I do I'll tell you more about it's replay value.

This game rocks, if you like Star Wars or RPGs, go get it!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: July 21, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I've been playing non-stop since I got this one. I am a fan of computer Role-playing games and Star Wars so this game is a good match for me. Still, a good game is a good game, and this one has all the qualities of a Game of the Year.

First, the atmosphere, sounds, visuals, events, characters, and everything feels like Star Wars to me. The character you play is created by you and you get to choose if you are warrior for the light side of the force or if you are sinking into the dark side; this element adds a lot of personalization and depth to the game.

You get to do lots of cool things in this game: gamble with smugglers in dank cantinas, blast your way into sinister command bases, engage in space combat from your ship's gun turrets, race swoop bikes, train to be a Jedi, take on other Force users in lightsaber battles, and more. I find this kind of thing very fun and entertaining, and the variety is welcome.

There are several worlds to visit of varying backgrounds, such as the familiar Tatooine and an Ocean world called Manaan. The cultures and feel of these places are unique and each has a number of adventures to dive into, some of which are combat-oriented rescues or assaults, some of which are diplomatic missions, and others that are search and find. There's really a lot to do and many ways to solve problems.

Overall this is an example of how to do a game right, how to make a great RPG experience, and how to make a player feel like they are in the Star Wars universe.

Buy this Game You Will

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: June 17, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I'm not going into detail about the story or characters but this in my opinion is my favorite Staw Wars game on the market. Great Story, Characters, voice acting, graphics, ect... Definately worth buying even if you have no knowledge on Star Wars what so ever. Also expect to spend some time on this game, it's not as time consuming say like Morrowind or Final Fantasy VII but it will still take a little while to complete the game. So to all of you that have doubts about this game doubt no longer, this is definately worth the time and money spent.

love it or hate it

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: September 06, 2005
Author: Amazon User

The biggest gripe with this game seems to be combat. Of course. They've put out something pretty innovative and people aren't used to it. I think it's great. Basically, when you run into an enemy, your game pauses for you to select a string of moves for enabling defensive measures and/or general combat. Then you press the white button to start the action. You continue to qeue up your moves or, if you desperately need something to happen at that time, you can press A for the current string to be erased and the action pressed will happen immediately. It's a little weird at first, but it's really pretty easy to catch on to if you've got any intelligence.

There's plenty of weapons, lightsabers with ability affecting crystals, and awesome force powers.

The story is incredible and very involving. You get to visit 7 planets, including Kashyyk and Tatooine. The areas on the planets can seem somewhat limiting, but I didn't really notice it all that much, usually being preocuppied with one quest or another.

You collect 9 members for your group as you progress, though only two at at time can go with you when you leave your ship. I guess having 9 is cool, but I tend to only find 3 of them indispensable. I occasionally switch things up, but only to either see what inter-character chat springs up, or to activate a character-specific side-quest. Of course, the game occasionally tells you that you have to or can't have someone in your party, but that's just for quests driving the story. It happens only a few times.

As for the "CHOOSING YOUR PATH" part: it rocks. Haha. Really. I played through the game on the light side. There's a big surprise near the end of the game and that blew me away. Then I beat the game and immediately started over, this time playing on the dark side. I was blown away by some of the cool things that cropped up, such as force-choking a guy who disrepects you. You don't kill him, but every time you run into him after that he's too afraid to talk to you. Sort of like everyone running in terror from you in Fable, only not quite as irritating. And things changed radically near the end, and that blew me away. Of course, the ending itself is different, but I was prepared for that.

So overall, it's pretty cool. Rent it first, I'd say, just to see if you can cope with the combat system.

I'd love to say more about the stuff that made me really love the game, but I don't want to put down any SPOILERS.

Timeless

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: October 24, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Delayed again and again, it seemed as though the first Star Wars role playing game, Knights of the Old Republic, wasn't going to deliver on it's promise; a full fledged, high budget, engrossing Star Wars game that would deliver novel gameplay as well as a gripping, intense story that would raise the conscience of gamer's expectations everywhere.

But when the game was finally released in late 2003, it was apparent after the first hour of play that Canadian super developer Bioware had produced the goods...

Knights of the Old Republic, or KotOR for short, is set more than four thousand years before Anakin Skywalker descended into darkness and became the black cyborg Sith, Darth Vader. As such, Bioware was allowed large amounts of creativity in the story and storytelling of KotOR, though that only becomes apparent as the game progresses. The premise is very simple, and sounds like countless bland and unoriginal Star Wars comics, books, and other games; the galaxy is being ushered into a new age of darkness by Darth Malak, the Dark Lord of the Sith, who has begun crippling the battered and seemingly impotent Old Republic, a precursor to the Republic of the original Star Wars movies that has already been weakened by a previous war with the Mandolorians, a race of super-mercenaries who are nearly as destructive as Malak and his massive Sith armada.

This beginning will cause many new players to think of the game as yet another piece of the largely unoriginal and somewhat mundane Star Wars universe. But the game proves itself to be much more, even in the first hour of gameplay.

After finishing the somewhat in-depth character creation process, you are immediately placed in the middle of the conflict of the main story. The ship that you are on, the Endar Spire, has been boarded by the Sith, who hope to destroy or capture Bastilla Shan, a female Jedi who is gifted with the rare art of Battle Meditation. Bastilla is capable of using the Force to guide and coordinate the actions of allies, and cause enemies to lose the will and ability to fight, making her important to the Republic's war against Malak.

It is apparent in the first skirmish that the gameplay of KotOR is different from most games of it's ilk. Both sticks on the Xbox controller work to move the player around and control the camera, making navigation feel less clumsy and more like an action game. Combat takes place in a quasi-turn based system that emulates the best aspects of real time combat. Foes can be engaged or disengaged at any time, and if the pace becomes too frantic, the combat can be paused and actions 'stacked' to better plan the flow of battle.

Also apparent from the beginning of the game is the non-linearity which gives players the freedom of selecting dialogue choices or actions which will change their path in the story, reflecting their alignment to the dark or light side of the force. This implementation of the biggest aspect of the Star Wars universe changes not only the story, but also gameplay and even the player's appearance, bringing the non-linearity of PC role playing to the console world with style and effect. In retrospect it has been one of the greatest contributors to modern western console role playing game design.

No grand story or unique and fun gameplay can add quite a sense of immersion like a memorable score, and here Bioware's game excels as well. Composed by the award winning Jeremy Soule, KotOR's soundtrack reeks of excellence, from the tranquil meadows of Dantooine to the sinister and excellently brooding theme of the Sith. Bastilla's theme, aside from being one of the more memorable themes in a game in some time, also gives a feeling of great age and romanticism.

The feeling of antiquity is complemented again by the production and art style of KotOR. The game truly feels old, far older than any of the air brushed set designs of of the Star Wars movie prequels, and helps solidify a feeling of authenticity and romantic flair, as well as suspending the player's sense of disbelief. The world and character designs are done well with variety.

And what great characters populate this game: from an old, curmudgeon Jedi to a early version of R2D2, KotOR's characters are unique to themselves, and in the case of one particularly infamous assassin droid, they are some of the best done in any game. Bastilla, one of the main characters in the game, will likely endear herself to male players especially, with her somewhat snobby (but never annoying) banter. Everyone in this game has compelling and different personalities, and will react differently to the player's actions. The cast does their job admirably well in telling the entertaining and twisting story of KotOR, which turns on themes of betrayal, friendship, and eventually, redemption.

All characters - even non player characters - are fully voice acted. Aided by a solid and satisfying script, they carry what is one of the best voice acted games. Humor is witty and genuinely funny, and serious moments are handled with somberness that conveys the necessity of carrying the importance of key moments. From lively banter to simple rudimentary exchanges, hearing as well as reading dialogue in Knights is a joy.

Special consideration must be made to Darth Malak, the main villian of the game. Voiced by Rafael Ferrer, Malak exudes a cool, detached inhumanity and brutality that is not reflected in any Star Wars movie. Lacking the cool disposition and blackness of Darth Vader, and the scheming of the Emperor, Malak exudes a barbarian recklessness that showcases his vile and vicious nature that was needed to solidify his claim as the Master of the Sith at a time when the Sith were many, but only one could rule them. Instead of merely acting and sounding evil, Malak changes the course of the game's story in several important ways, and the biggest surprise of all is his to tell. With a red cape and white skin, he is striking and well designed. While some of his lines and voice can come off sounding cliche', he manages to be a more worthy adversary than any of the prequel movie bad guys, and doesn't sound like he was named from a Saturday morning cartoon villain.

Aside from the memorable characters and main story themes, Knights also captures a grand feeilng of adventure, as the great globe trotting from the previous Star Wars movies has been recreated on a grand scale.

When gamers are not being swept away by the story and the innovative gameplay, they will be enjoying the lore of the Star Wars universe. KotOR not only fills in details of the Sith and Jedi, but also their codas and ancient past. Players who do not know about the Star Wars universe will have an especially great treat while playing - the lore can easily be as fascinating as the main story at times, especially in the instance of a particular planet with a dark history.

Unfortunately, despite all of these accolades, there are some problems. Knights can end up crashing right in the middle of loading levels, causing much frustration and backtracking. Other bugs are numerous, and can distract from the overall game experience. Also, as great as the script of the game is, some dialogue pays unfortunate homage to the corny side of Star Wars, and some voice work - namely a scene or two with Malak - makes too much use of some bad guy cliche's. Finally, the graphics of the game do not take full advantage of the Xbox, and some environments can look bland and unimpressive. These problems are not enough to greatly distract from the game experience, but it does stop Knights from being a perfect game.

With a well told story that touches on the very nature of the beginnings of the Star Wars universe with one of the biggest twists in any game, an innovative gameplay system that is a hybrid of both action and role playing games, and a memorable soundtrack and characters, Knights of the Old Republic is one of the best games made this generation, and finally fulfills the great promise of the Star Wars universe, recreating it's magic and passion in a way that has not been done since The Return of the Jedi. Timeless.

Epic and Memorable

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: March 19, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, or KOTOR, is an amazing game. It took me over 60 hours to beat, side quests and all. This game delivers a whole new aspect of the Star Wars universe you can't get in the movies. Play as your own character, customizable down to the last detail. Choose among dozens of fighting tactics and force powers, as well as dozens of weapons, both melee ad raged. Players engage in a unique Real-Time Turn-Based combat system, providing a wholly new challenge to the player.

-Storyline: 9/10
Excellent story. It really plays on the Star Wars saga, and brings out a whole new dimension not seen in the movies. But, at times, the plot goes a little thin, which is why it lost that tenth point.

-Graphics: 7/10
Breathtaking graphics, but Bioware could have used a few more polygons here and there. A little more detail would have been nice. But, of course, that would have meant that you would have had less room on the disc for everything else.

-Characters: 10/10
Very in-depth character design. Though some game models were used more than once for different characters, the personalities attached to the characters made them each seem wholly unique. That's how good the characters were.

-Music: 9/10
Excellent score. The music really seemed to play on the overall Star Wars theme, and molded itself to the respective worlds, as well. But....there could have been a little more of it.

-Control and Mechanics: 10/10
Perfect. The interface is expansive, but not complex, it builds itself on a few basic control principles. It's very easy to understand. As far as the combat system goes, I'm really impressed. I've never seen a system like it before, but it really adds a whole new aspect to the game. Very good, indeed.

-Flexibility: 10/10
It's an RPG. The game lets you alter your character in more ways than just looks, you can choose from numerous weapons, both ranged and melee, as well as dozens of upgrades, such as gauntlets, visors, belts, and armors. You can even customize the weapons themselves, by adding upgrades. You even get to build your ow lightsaber. In KOTOR, you follow either the path of the Light Side, or the Dark Side....but it's not that simple. Every decisio you make in the game has an effect on this modifier. Hear, hear Bioware.....good work.

All in all, if you're a star wars junkie, or just a fan, this game is for you. It throws you across seven wholly different planets, and introduces you to nine different companions, all of whom have their own special skills. Whether it be hacking security doors, or slashing Kath Hounds, they'll all come in handy.
KOTOR packs in an amazing amount of game time, yet still has the appeal to be played again and again.

Run, Don't Walk...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: September 17, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This game did what the prequels couldn't for me... it drew me back into the Star Wars universe with a vengence. I am not a real big gamer, and really don't like console games but this game is a must have for any fan, casual or hardcore. Knights also comes in a PC version for those who don't have access to a console or like me don't really care for them. In fact the PC version has more Mods available for it I believe so I would probably recommend it first.

Knights, or Kotor as it is known in the fan community is set 4000 years before A New Hope. It's the sweeping tale of a talented Padawan who comes late to the Force and holds the fate of the galaxy in their hands. Since this is an RPG the best part is the Jedi is YOU! What really drew me to this game was the well developed storyline and the flushed out characters. The other members of you party have backstorys that play directly into the plot in the form of sidequests during the course of the game. You almost feel like they are real and I found myself becoming emotionally attached to the party memebers as the story progressed. Their responses are also influenced by your dialog choices, and can even affect the main character's relationships with the other party members. This is a Bioware game as well so there is the option to romance one of the other party members. You can also choose which side of the Force to follow. The player can either be the quintessential Light Jedi, evil as Palpatine, or somewhere inbetween. Your choices throughout the game affect your alignment in the Force and also what powers are less exhausting to use.

The dialog is fantastic and rarely comes off as cheesy (unlike certian prequals which shall remain nameless) and the voice actors who portray the other characters are wonderful. Even the dialog for the main character has the option to be funny without necessarily gaining you dark side alignment.

The game gives you the choice to play as a male or female character which actually influences what side quests you can pick up, as well as having a minor effect on the main story. Personally I thought this was the most gratifying aspect of the game. I got to play as a kickin female Jedi who holds the fate of the galaxy in her hands. Due to this as well as the ability to choose your alignment there are four possible endings to this game.

Knights has been able to hold an excellent replay factor as well due to the number of Mods available for the game from other fans. LucasArts actually encourages and even supports fan mad mods on thier website. When you get bored with the main storyline there are mods out there that change everything from looks to clothes to Force Powers and even dialog. There's even a Mod out there that restores the cut fifth ending that was only available as a female character.

The game mechanics are pretty easy to get a handle on. The combat options give you the ability to either choose what attacks each character in your party use or leave them automated. Those who aren't real familiar with computer games should be able to pick up the basics fairly fast. Those who like first person shooters may find it a little frustrating as the attacks themselves are automated. For me this was a plus as I'm not a fan of "button smashers."

A work of advice to someone who hasn't played the game or isn't familiar with it's storyline, avoid searching on the internet for info on it as much as possible. This may be frustrating if you are someone who likes getting walkthroughs but believe me, the storyline's twist is not something you want to spoil. You'll enjoy the game storyline much more if you don't spoil the surprise. There are gaming sites where you can get cheats and only cheats if your a cheater like me.

Not only will teen players enjoy it but I know plenty of 20 and 30 somethings who adore this game. It does a great job of capturing the feel of the Original Trilogy. If you like Star Wars at all, run... don't walk and buy this game.

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