Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
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Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
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| Developer(s) | BioWare |
| Publisher(s) | LucasArts |
| Designer(s) | David Falkner Steven Gilmour Casey Hudson Derek Watts Drew Karpyshyn James Ohlen Preston Watamaniuk |
| Engine | Odyssey |
| Platform(s) | Xbox, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X |
| Release date(s) | Xbox July 15, 2003 September 12, 2003
Microsoft Windows |
| Genre(s) | Computer role-playing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: T OFLC: G8+ USK: 12+ PEGI: 12+ |
| Media | CD, DVD |
| System requirements |
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| Input methods | Keyboard and mouse, Gamepad |
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KotOR) is a computer role-playing game developed by BioWare and published by LucasArts. It was released for the Xbox on July 15, 2003, for Microsoft Windows on November 19, 2003, and later for Mac OS X. KotOR is the first computer role-playing game set in the Star Wars universe. The sequel, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II The Sith Lords, was developed by Obsidian Entertainment at BioWare's suggestion[1] as BioWare wanted to focus on their own intellectual properties.
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Gameplay
This game's system is based on Wizards of the Coast's Star Wars Roleplaying Game, which is based on the d20 role-playing game system derived from the Third Edition Dungeons & Dragons rules. Combat is round-based; time is divided into discrete rounds, and combatants attack and react simultaneously. However, the number of actions a combatant may perform each round is limited. While each round's duration is a fixed short interval of real time, the player can configure the combat system to pause at specific events or at the end of each round.
The alignment system tracks actions and speech—from simple word choices to major plot decisions—to determine whether the player's character aligns with the light or dark side of the Force. Generosity and altruism lead to the light side, while self-serving or violent actions will lead the player's character to the dark side, which will alter the character's appearance, turning their eyes yellow and their skin gray and scarred.
Non-combat interaction with other characters in the game world is based upon a dialog menu system. Following each statement, the player can select from a list of menu responses. The dialog varies based on the gender of the main character, and may include kissing if the character is female.[2]
Story
The game takes place 4,000 years before the rise of the Galactic Empire. Darth Malak, a Dark Lord of the Sith and Darth Revan's former apprentice, has unleashed a Sith armada against the Republic. Malak's aggression has left the Jedi scattered and vulnerable; many Jedi Knights die in battle and others swear allegiance to Malak. The game opens with the player's character, whom the player can customize to be either male or female awakening aboard a Republic ship under attack by Malak's forces.
After escaping the ship, the player's character gradually gathers companions and pieces together his past while attempting to stop Malak's forces. While taking refuge at the Jedi Academy on Dantooine, the group discovers a "Star Map" and learns of the "Star Forge" -- the probable source of Malak's military resources. But the Star Map is ancient and its files corrupted -- the group can only access a portion of the map's memory. The Star Map mentions other planets across the galaxy - Manaan, Tatooine, Kashyyk and Korriban, and the group surmises there might be similar Star Maps on those planets that will help them piece together more information about the Star Forge. In searching for these maps, the main character's actions and speech influence whether he aligns with the light or dark side of the Force.
Malak reveals that the main character is Malak's former master, Revan. Revan had been brainwashed to forget his past as the Dark Lord. Depending on the character's alignment, he reaches the Star Forge and either defeats the Sith (the light-side path) or usurps control from Malak (the dark-side path). A light-aligned character and his companions are hailed as saviors and heroes; a dark-side character stands before the remaining Sith forces as the new Dark Lord of the Sith.
Characters and locations
- Further information: List of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic characters
Eventually joining the main character's quest are the Jedi Bastila Shan, Jolee Bindo, and Juhani; pilot Carth Onasi; Mandalorian mercenary Canderous Ordo; assassin droid HK-47; the Twi'lek teenager Mission Vao and her Wookiee companion, Zaalbar; and utility droid T3-M4. Antagonists include bounty hunter Calo Nord, crime boss Davik Kang, Sith Admiral Saul Karath, Sith apprentice Darth Bandon and Darth Malak.
Action takes place on the planets Tatooine, Dantooine, Kashyyyk, Korriban, Manaan, Rakata Prime, and Taris; aboard the cruiser Endar Spire and Saul Karath's Leviathan; and on the Star Forge space station. A space station near Yavin is a playable location in the PC version of the game and is available to Xbox players via download from Xbox Live. Travel between these locations happens aboard the freighter Ebon Hawk, which is also a playable location.
Critical reception
The general critical response was extremely enthusiastic. KotOR won numerous awards, including Game Developers Choice Awards' game of the year, BAFTA Games Awards' best Xbox game of the year, and Interactive Achievement Awards for best console RPG and best computer RPG.[3]
KotOR has seen success as the game of the year from many sources including IGN, GameSpot, Computer Gaming World, PC Gamer, GMR Magazine, The Game Developers Choice Awards, Xbox Magazine, and G4.[3] Interactive Achievement Awards awarded it for Best Story and Best Character Development.[3] IGN gave KotOR additional awards in Best Sound (Xbox category), Best Story (PC category), Xbox RPG Game of the Year 2003, PC RPG Game of the Year 2003, Xbox Game of the Year 2003, PC Game of the Year 2003, and Overall Game of the Year 2003 across all platforms. In 2007, IGN listed it at #27 on its list of the Top 100 Games of All-Time.[4]
At the 2004 Game Developers Choice Awards, HK-47 won the category of "Original Game Character of the Year".[5] In 2007, the plot twist in KotOR was ranked number two in Game Informer's list of the top ten video game plot twists of all time[6]and number 10 on Screwattack's "Top 10 OMGWTF Moments".[7]
The game is also part of The Xbox Platinum Series/Classics for sales in excess of 1 million units.[8]
The Los Angeles Times listed Knights of the Old Republic as one of the most influential works of the Star Wars Expanded Universe.[9]
One of the criticisms of the game is that it can involve extensive back-tracking. That is, the player has to make frequent in-game trips back to a previous locations along passages that have already been explored and cleared.[10]
Partial cast
| Character Name | Actor/Actress |
|---|---|
| Revan (male) | Rino Romano |
| Bastila Shan | Jennifer Hale |
| Carth Onasi | Raphael Sbarge, Eric Gumpel (in extended PC-specific content.) |
| Darth Malak | Rafael Ferrer |
| Canderous Ordo | John Cygan |
| HK-47 | Kristoffer Tabori |
| Jolee Bindo | Kevin Michael Richardson |
| Juhani | Courtenay Taylor |
| Mission Vao | Cat Taber |
| Master Vrook | Ed Asner |
References
- ↑ Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords Developer Interview 2. GameSpot. Retrieved on 2007-08-22.
- ↑ Isbister, Katherine (2005). Better Game Characters by Design: A Psychological Approach. Elsevier. pp. p. 119–120. ISBN 1558609210.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Critical Acclaim". BioWare. Retrieved on 2007-03-30.
- ↑ "Top 100 Games of All Time". IGN. Retrieved on 2008-03-06.
- ↑ Inside the 2004 Game Developers Conference - Event Coverage
- ↑ Game Informer Issue #168 April, 2007
- ↑ http://www.gametrailers.com/player/36111.html
- ↑ "Xbox.com Platinum Hits: Adventure/Role-Playing Games(RPGs)". Retrieved on 2007-10-26.
- ↑ "Star Wars' expanded universe", Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-07.
- ↑ Byrne, Edward (2004). Game Level Design. Charles River Media. pp. p. 117. ISBN 1584503696.—interview with Harvey Smith
External links
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