Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic Download UPDATED

Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic Download

While The Whole world has been getting excited - and rightly then - about Verant's astonishing online RPG Star Wars Galaxies, BioWare has been quietly toiling away at "the other" nigh exciting Star Wars game ever devised. Playing a Wookiee potter or working in a Tattooine light saber shop is all very well, merely Knights Of The Former Democracy will have something that Galaxies won't: a marvellous single-histrion story set in a world designed solely for you to explore, and with then much depth you'll need to depressurise after playing it. At least that'southward what we're hoping. The story is ready 4000 years before the films, when there were thousands of Jedi and thousands of Sith warriors, charging through the universe like calorie-free-sabered samurai.

In typical Advertizement&D manner, you lot create a main grapheme before going off questing with a political party of adventurers of differing skills and personalities. The classes bachelor include soldier, scoundrel, scout and, more promisingly, bounty hunter or Jedi guardian. There's too a choice of iii different races. By far the most interesting idea though, is that your deportment throughout the game volition take you lot closer to the light or dark side of the Force, echoing Planescape: Torment's footing-breaking grapheme development system.

Gainsay is also set to reprise the Baldur'due south Gate tradition of real-time fighting with the selection to break while you select tactics, use objects and special powers. Of course the 3D engine will take all this to another level both tactically and visually, with Jedi versus Sith battles featuring the full acrobatic handling.

The simply bad news is that the game volition exist actualization on Xbox commencement, this autumn, with the PC version planned for the following leap (partly so equally not to disharmonism with the release of Galaxies). We just hope that doesn't mean they'll sacrifice the rich detail and vast immersion we've come up to acquaintance with Baldur's Gate. It may be that we gain something into the deal, as Knights will feature an onetime favourite in consol RPGs - mini-games - like racing swoop bikes and manning laser turrets. And to requite you an thought of the scope, we can tell you that there are ten worlds to quest through (including Tatooine, the Sith earth, the Jedi Academy and the Wookiee homeworld Kashyyyk), each teeming with life, power struggles, NPCs and unique objects. As if that'weren't enough, you lot'll be travelling betwixt those worlds in an ancestor of the dearest Millennium Falcon.

Considering that the game world strays far, far abroad from the designs of the films, information technology'due south remarkable how shut to the spirit of Star Wars it all looks. It's exactly equally you would imagine it would be 4000 years (Earlier Luke). In fact, the architecture, the droids and the costumes are all much more aesthetically satisfying than those in Episode I, correct down to the primitive R2 units.

What else can I say? After seeing the potential of this title it's gone straight into second position in my near wanted listing -right later Deus Ex 2.

Download Star Wars: Knights of the Quondam Republic

XBox

System requirements:

• PC compatible
• Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP

PC

System requirements:

• PC compatible
• Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP

Game Reviews

In three months time PC players volition finally exist able to enjoy the first proper function-playing game to be set in a galaxy far, far abroad. Trust usa when we tell yous that the expect is going to be worth it. The game is essentially complete - in fact the Xbox version is now available in the States - and we've played through the latest version of the PC game. Twice. (It's that skillful.) Even on Xbox, some are proclaiming this equally i of the finest role-playing games ever fabricated, and when Knights Of The Old Commonwealth becomes bachelor on the machine for which it was originally intended, it's going to be even better. How much better we don't however know, but if it'south just a teensy iddy-biddy scrap better, come Christmas nosotros'll exist every bit eagerly attached to it as a mynock to a power coupling.

Part of the reason why Knights Of The Former Republic has received then much attending is downward to creators BioWare, a studio solely responsible for reviving what was, until Baldur's Gate came along, a genre suffering a crippling -3 to all popularity rolls. Since then they've imparted a sequel, and so last year'south Neverwinter Nights, cementing their reputation every bit the finest BRPG (beardy role-playing game) programmer in the gratis world. Who ameliorate and so to fashion the first e'er Star Wars dice 'em up?

But the other reason for all the hubbub is that chronologically speaking Knights is fix across virgin Star Wars territory - a full iv,000 years earlier a certain Miss South Skywalker lay in the motherhood suite at Mos Espa Full general and screamed from her hydro-stirrups "the Strength is incorrect in this i." What this means is that in that location is no Vader, no Stormtroopers and certainly no Death Star. And y'all know what, you won't miss them one flake.

Medieval Empire

The Old Republic, far from existence some Neanderthal governance, is much as Sometime Ben described it: a more civilised historic period, where hokey religions and aboriginal weapons reign supreme. If you were expecting - or Force forbid, hoping -that Knights Of The One-time Republic would feature primitive hairy-backed Jedi dressed in Wampa skins, beating the crap out of mono-browed Sith warriors with wax-powered Lightclubs, well, you'd exist disappointed to say the least. The general await of the cities and towns is much more art deco than Phantom Menace ever was, with a dash of the medieval thrown in for good measure. However, despite the yawning chasm of time that separates ancient Star Wars from modern, the game is distinctly Star Wars throughout; protocol droids hobble about the bustling towns and spaceports, familiar aliens - among them Twi'leks, Rodians and Ithorains -get about their shady business. And when you lot do eventually end up in a fight, the familiar shrill of blaster fire and hum of Lightsaber can quickly exist heard. Make no mistake, Knights Of The Erstwhile Republic is as Star Warsy as you could ever hope for.

Only Man

Of grade this wouldn't be much of an RPG if information technology didn't permit you to create an alter ego beforehand and of the forty or so sentient species that inhabit the various planets of the Star Wars universe, you can choose to play as whatever of them - just so long as they're human. Yous then choose betwixt three graphic symbol types: a Soldier skilled in the arts of weaponry, a sneaky Scoundrel or a somewhere-between-the-two Scout. The character class you lot choose will to some extent dictate your attributes (forcefulness, dexterity, wisdom etc). Afterward tinkering with these you get to assign skill points and select a couple of special abilities - called Feats, which range from mundane skill bonuses to gainsay abilities that better accurateness or the amount of damage yous can inflict with sure types of weapon. Although you're limited early on past a slight lack of playable races and classes, it isn't long before recruits are joining your merry band of freedom fighters. A full of nine characters may join your group throughout the game, among them mercenaries, droids, a Wookiee and the odd Strength-sensitive Jedi, and upward to iii of these can be selected to join your personal entourage at any one time.

Liberty Force

Of course, Star Wars wouldn't be Star Wars without some galactic civil war kicking off around the place and in this particular conflict The Democracy is beingness soundly thrashed past the Sith as they advance on the Cadre worlds. You'll begin the game equally a new recruit freshly posted aboard the Endar Spire, a Commonwealth cruiser on the run from a Sith fleet assail capturing a Jedi named Bastila. Every bit the Sith board the ship, Bastila bails out to the planet below and it becomes your mission to find her and escape before the Sith patrols get concord of her. By the fourth dimension you do you lot are left in doubt as to the path your character will take.

KotOR's replayability lies in the amount of choices you tin can make, not just in respect of solving puzzles and playing through the story, only choices and actions that will dictate your destiny as regards to your Force alignment. Kill NPCs rather than befriend them and your Forcefulness-o-Meter will pitter-patter slowly towards the red, your confront will even change to reflect your inner anger and in front of the otherwise tolerant Jedi Council you will have to openly lie.

There are currently over 40 dissimilar Force powers in the game and while all are bachelor to master, depending on whether you are closer to the Lite or Dark side of the Strength, certain powers will toll more than to perform.

Merely Break

Combat in Knights Of The Erstwhile Commonwealth is carried out in real-time, but for those that adopt their tactics breadbasket-based, the action can be paused at the press of a key. Each character can simply target an enemy and pick a weapon firing fashion, special abilty or Force ability and the action is played out with the computer rolling the virtual die in the background. If one of your party is eliminated they stay downward until the fight is over. If y'all win they scramble to their feet in need of medical attention. If y'all lose yous all stay down permanently.

Although the gainsay may seem rather simplistic (terrain seems not to be a factor for example), the battles are entirely driven by skills. Best of all, more powers and feats go available equally your characters progress, and towards the end of the game combat not merely becomes more strategic but furiously entertaining, with Jedi Knights cavorting beyond the screen, fingers pulsing with electric Force energy and Lightsabers spinning all over the place. Quite beautiful really.

Utilise The Phonation

Apart from the combat, the lengthy and well-paced story, the wealth of weapons, powers and abilities, BioWare has institute time to flesh out the characters to quite a degree. Each fellow member of your party has a lengthy history you can explore by chatting with them at length when there'due south a lull in the action. Because of this, each character is afforded a great deal of personality, and this is the first RPG in some time in which you can't help but become emotionally attached to the characters. Similarly, if you lot're hankering to join the Nighttime Side, it's easy to tire of their constant whining. A prissy bear on.

The dialogue itself is exhaustive and professionally delivered. And with John Williams' familiar strains running through it, the sound overall is meridian notch. If we were to take any concerns at this stage they would be small-scale ones. The puzzles we've encountered in the game aren't the virtually taxing, but the lack of potentially frustrating moments lends the game a sense of pace that rarely lets up. This is helped by the fact that the action is fix across a multifariousness of worlds, all of which (apart from Tatooine, which is, perforce, in every Star Wars game) will exist unfamiliar to y'all.

The Force Is Strong

Already the PC version far surpasses the Xbox game in terms of graphical loveliness, although BioWare'south plans for the PC incarnation extend across adding high detail texture maps. As yous would expect it's the control system and interface that are receiving the greatest attention, and we promise that with mouse control fully in identify, sifting through the inventory and exploring the in-game map will exist a breeze.

Although hardly what you lot'd phone call a hardcore RPG, we reckon Knights Of The Old Republic has enough going for it to appeal to any PC game fan. Star Wars enthusiasts volition exist in hog sky exploring the Star Wars prehistory, while the dialogue, storyline and sheer depth of the game volition appeal to anyone pining for a good take a chance. Subsequently playing Jedi Knight: Jedi University it's a difficult call to make which is better, but with a few pocket-sized tweaks we're confident that Knights on PC will exist ane of the very finest interactive experiences Star Wars has to offer. In this or any other era.

That THIS RPG is just six years onetime feels strange, given it's immense influence. Knights of the Old Democracy was the outset PC game to combine RPG play with cinematic storytelling. BioWare didn't put a foot wrong putting KOTOR together the setting is original even so canonical; the characters instantly iconic; and its story was gripping, epic and personal, and adapted to your decisions. But at present KOTORs flaws stand out.

To first you spend 75% of the time running between locations. You selection upward a mission from a stationary NPC, spend a long while running to the location where you lot complete it run back to the NPC, who gives yous a new mission, and you run, and repeat ad infinitum. To brand it worse, there'south no autorun button.

This is made more infuriating past the control system existence awkward and fiddly. Using the mouse to change management means moving the mouse cursor to the edge of the screen, so you terminate upward using the keyboard to turn.

And the combat is really dull. If you use a firearm all you exercise is select a target queue up four special attacks (hint rapid shot), and expect for your opponent to die. You can't use cover, or even move without disengaging from the fight so there'due south very niggling chance for tactical play.

Melee combat is the same: click on a bad guy, utilise a Force power (hint: stasis field), queue attacks (hint: flurry), and echo until corpses surround you. Beyond choosing your special abilities, fights require no skill past the role player.

Finally, in that location's being evil. Your actions over the class of the game determine whether you become a Jedi Principal or a Sith Lord. But you lot don't human activity really evil; you're more of an obnoxious dick Simply given your other option is to be an obnoxious paragon, this balances out.

Despite these flaws Knights of the Sometime Republic is a bright game - BioWare's epic sci-fi story is packed with humour and drama, and the "douchebag or not'' choice gives it some replay value. Play this game, if only as a taster for the upcoming The Quondam Commonwealth MMO.

Kecks, undercrackers, scants... however you refer to them, it's rare to see whatever would-be hero making his yard entrance sporting little else just a pair of organ grinders - let alone i hailing from a galaxy far, far away. Notwithstanding, having gone through the usual character-creation procedure of virtual dice-rolling, skilltweaking and the oftentimes tortuous procedure of procuring a plumbing equipment name for your alter ego, your journeying through Star Wars' offset RPG begins with you in a fitful slumber in your pants. You're roused by a panting CO, who learns upon entering your berth that standing to attending first matter in the forenoon is something that comes quite naturally to most humanoid males, and as it happens, females too, though not in quite the same way.

Despite the potential for noncommissioned hanky-panky in the depths of space, it appears your superior's abrupt and urgent archway has much to do with an attack of the Sith, who accept taken it upon themselves to lath your ship, the Endar Spire, and tear information technology autonomously in search of some lady Jedi called Bastila. Without much in the manner of breakfast, a shower or even a fresh set up of undergarments, your mission (after acquiring wearable more than suited to boxing) is to explore the gleaming corridors of your Republic transport to find and rescue the fugitive saber-swinger earlier the evil silver-suited ones get a agree of her.

A Presence Not Felt Since

Despite the ominous get the girl, kill the baddies' scene-setting, KOTOR quickly establishes itself as an adventure singled-out from any other in the Star Wars catechism. Apart from the fact information technology's the kickoff ever Star Wars die 'em upwards, it's also the first time since Phantom Menace that fans have been given a new timeline to explore, this one gear up across largely virgin territory a full 4,000 years before any of the films.

Ironically the gist of the storyline will exist hauntingly familiar, seeing as it features an evil Jedi going past the name of Darth with y'all playing a young backwater hick with powerfully raw and untapped Force abilities that may (or may not) facilitate his downfall. As the story progresses, yous'll encounter a peaceful planet obliterated, gather a ragtag crew of freedom fighters (amidst them a mournful Wookiee, a wheely useful droid and a lovable rogue) and y'all even acquire a ship which is no doubtfulness the fastest hunkajunk in the galaxy. Even the intro picture show apes the opening scenes of A New Promise.

Not that we'd have it whatever other way. The blatant scenechecking is obvious and intentional, to bear witness that despite the lack of our favourite characters, KOTOR is equally Stars Wars-packed as they come up. In fact I would say this game offers the virtually gripping and enjoyable piece of Star Wars-tagged fiction since Super Star Wars: Render of the Jedi, with enough in the way of plot, action and diverse and interesting characters to fill a movie trilogy of its very ain.

Ah, Lilliputian Sister

Even so, it is as a function-playing adventure Knights Of The Old Commonwealth must exist judged, and comparisons with other PC RPGs would, initially at least, show information technology upwards to have something of the impaired blonde about it. For instance, there are few starting options compared to the exhaustive character choices in BioWare's previous D&D-flavoured role-role player outings.

Progress a few hours though, and even earlier y'all begin your Jedi preparation and start down the Dark or Light path, y'all'll observe the game is full of hidden depths. These range from dozens of optional side quests that shadow the fundamental mission, to the thousand or so inventory items that tin be found, traded, adapted and equipped across your party of nine.

What makes KOTOR such a wonderfully engaging experience is the characters and the way they take been brought to life. I'g not merely talking almost the graphics either (which -unlike most console-to-PC transferrals - are befittingly vibrant, highly detailed and incessantly watchable), only the depth of personality lavished on the diverse not-thespian characters. Thanks to a combination of an excellent script and a quality in the voiceacting that is almost without equal, there is a existent diversity and dynamism amongst your party, even if your potential enemies are a petty onedimensional. An early recruit to your crusade is Mission Vao, an ho-hum and plucky adolescent who initially y'all'll wish would fall off a ledge. But take the fourth dimension to talk to her and her sidekick Wookiee, and by the stop you'll honey her like you would a sister. Unless during the grade of events you become seduced by the Dark Side, in which case you'll end up wanting to cave her skull in like a Jaffa Cake and blame it on HK-47, your mildly psychotic assassin droid.

Enjoyable equally all the talky bits are, Knights is only as skillful when it comes to slicing droids and shooting Sith troopers in the face up. As most modern RPG combat tends to be, battles are conducted in real time, and tin be paused at volition to allow you lot to select targets and queue upwards which special moves to use.

Use Your Feat

With the right skill progression a soldier can use Feats such as Rapid Fire and Sniper to take down an enemy from range. Melee specialists with dual Vibroswords have a similar array of lethal moves, including Flurry, Ability Assail and Critical Strike. In between all this hoo-ha characters tin actuate personal shields, lob grenades or patch themselves upwardly during a lull in the action. The combat may non be as in yer face as the first-person Jedi Knight games, but it's just as intense and certainly much more enjoyable to spotter, especially later on on when y'all accept a roomful of Nighttime Jedis cavorting effectually letting off lightning bolts and trying to asphyxiate the life out of their opponents. With over 30 Strength Powers to work with (not to mention hundreds of weapons) gainsay is quite a tactical challenge.

Smoke In Your Eyes

In terms of general presentation KOTOR is about the best RPG at that place is - no question. Most faultless throughout, the familiar music is complemented by a few original pieces, and the audio effects are spot on with a mix of the familiar and the new.

The interface is a massive comeback on the console version, everything being mouse-driven of course. Information technology would have been dainty to have been able to zoom the photographic camera around a bit more than and be able to wait up and down, just these are pocket-size nuisances every bit graphically the game is absolutely beautiful throughout. That said, the larger battles will exam all simply the near modern graphics cards (with some degree of slowdown when the screen fills with smoke), but the dramatic and varied environments, not to mention the . varied grapheme and grand background animations are pay-off enough.

The only existent effect we I take with the game is a lack of multiplayer support, which isn't then much an event anyhow since BioWare has been quite open well-nigh the fact that adding such options would ultimately take weakened the single-player experience. On the prove of the finished game, that determination appears totally vindicated. Although Baldur'southward Gate II remains the hardcore choice and Morrowind may offer more scope for non-linear gratis-roaming, when it comes to story, characters, accessibility and replayability Knights Of The Old Republic is one of the finest RPGs of the terminal five years and hands the virtually accomplished, unique and entertaining Star Wars product released in the terminal x.

The Power Of The Light Side

It May Await Light And Fluffy, Merely Accept A Peek Underneath And Kotor Has Die Of Stone

A fact non lost on its Xbox-owning fans (who've been playing the game for some months) is that Knights Of The Sometime Democracy has a pace, charm and yard sweeping story reminiscent of classic era Final Fantasy. Knowing the characters and the story - as opposed to amassing raw stats and arbitrary skills - is what marks the focus of the gameplay.

Not that we're implying KOTOR is RPG-calorie-free - far from it. For those turned on by initiative rolls and to-hit modifiers, you'll be pleased to know that by tweaking a couple of gameplay buttons in the options menu, KOTOR transforms into a bewitching display of numerical randomness certain to please the beardiest of modern-day warlocks. The point is that for those of us with an disfavor to arbitrary and ultimately meaningless statistics, such things can be hidden out of sight. Yous can auto-assign feel points and new skills and exist left alone to enjoy the I game for what it ultimately is - one of the all-time Star Wars games always made.

With all the hype surrounding the evolution of Knights of the Quondam Republic, expectations were high upon its release and for adept reason. The data coming from Lucasarts caused uncontrollable drooling from RPG and Star Wars fans alike as the scope of the game was billed as incredibly rich and wide. Star Wars games however have a history of disappointment simply Knights of the Old Republic delivers everything it promised and more than.

When you think of successful RPGs, things similar non-linearity, sub plots, graphic symbol evolution, and dynamic plot development might come to mind. What's so impressive well-nigh Knights of the Erstwhile Republic is that all these areas are well represented and even revolutionary in some cases. Graphic symbol development for case stands out, as choices yous make throughout the game volition affect the blazon of Jedi you are and dissimilar paths you take. If you value life and make decisions that are generally good, versus destroying life and making basically evil decisions, your opportunities and interactions with others will reply accordingly. Other issues like the numerous sub-plots assistance expand the Star Wars universe and requite opportunities to acquire more about specific characters and locations, while increasing experience points. If that doesn't interest you even so, the majority of these sub-plots aren't required and can exist passed over.

To circular out the game, the graphics and sound help to hold Knights of the Quondam Republic together past creating a rich environment. Visually, the Star Wars license was used better than it always has in the past with new and familiar worlds coming to life. The sheer amount of detail and beautifully sculpted environments combined with the uniqueness of the characters and creatures is astounding. The simply complaint is the repeated use of a few generic characters that are used over and over again, but generally it isn't a factor in the game. Besides the graphics, the audio is of the same caliber as recent Star Wars games and most will be pleased with sound quality we've come to wait from Lucasarts.

Without a doubtfulness this is the best Star Wars game created to date. Fifty-fifty those not historically interested in RPGs or Star Wars shouldn't pass by this too apace every bit information technology'south rare to find a game executed with this level of quality. The bar has been raised on game development and hopefully other developers will take notice.

Most of this Star Wors-themed RPG is still too early to testify, but BioWare Producer Casey Hudson and Mike Gallo, producer on the LucasArts side, take its framework firmly in identify. You command a party of three characters, each with his ain stats, items and powers (in standard RPG fashion) in a vast 3D world. "Gainsay is real-time," Gallo explains, "and every graphic symbol is paw-animated for each item, weapon and assault." Hudson adds, "At that place's a lot of character customization. You'll get to develop Forcefulness skills with each character." In Knights, the Strength works kind of like magic does in a conventional RPG, and your mastery of it increases with time.

Knights won't have whatever online multiplayer components; Gallo and Hudson are cyberbanking on the strength of the game as a single-histrion take chances. Merely it already has a host of minigames, an assortment of vehicles, and a circuitous, character-driven story to keep the chief quest interesting. "We set the game iv,000 years before the Episode Ii movie," says Gallo, "which gives united states of america a caste of freedom in creating the world we wouldn't have had otherwise." While this means no recognizable characters for Star Wars junkies, they can count on tons of necktie-ins. Ever hear of a walking carpet named Chewbacca? Well, the Wookiee homeworld, Kashyyyk, is a crucial part of the game's plot, as are familiar planets like Dantooine and Tatooine, then you won't feel completely out of sorts.

As well, it can't hurt to shed some of the less favorable Star Wars associations Oar jar, baby Greedos, and, well, nearly of Episode I in full general). Casey and Mike are excited about introducing new ideas to the Star Wars universe. "There are many things, both good and evil, that Jedi tin do in the game," says Gallo, "that nosotros've never seen earlier."

LucasArts Nov 2002--The Star Wars: Knights universe is nonetheless looking pretty barren, but we're finally seeing some more signs of life in these screenshots. Set 4,000 years earlier this summer's Episode II flick, Old Commonwealth lets the actor assume the role of a budding Jedi Knight with traditional function-playing abilities (you lot wield a lightsaber "sword," and mastery of the Force serves as your magic). Moreover, the game'southward 3-person party system allows yous to control any one of the characters in your group at whatsoever fourth dimension. BioWare Producer Casey Hudson explains, "During combat, y'all'll command one grapheme while the others fight aslope you using A.I."

Not everyone had a skilful feeling about Star Wars: Knights of the Old Democracy, last year'south superb Xbox function-playing game that came along just in time to wipe our retentiveness banks of the blah Episode I and II flicks and bantha-poodoo Wars games like Super Bombad Racing. "I threw my controller down," Chris Avellone says of the first time he tried the RPG, ready 4,000 years before Anakin Skywalker donned a dark helmet. But now'due south a good time to authorize why this guy'south seemingly dissing a championship that we declared Xbox Game of the Year and that sold more than 400,000 copies. Avellone is pb designer for its sequel, Knights of the Old Republic: The Sith Lords, due on Xbox and PC in February 2005. The original was built by a dream squad: publisher (and keeper of all things Star Wars) LucasArts and developer (and PC RPG heavyweight) BioWare. It was a match made...oh, somewhere between Tatooine and Korriban. But with BioWare too swamped with Chinese-mythology RPG Jade Empire to arts and crafts a sequel, LucasArts tapped veteran RPG developers Obsidian Entertainment back before the beginning Knights was even released. The team was already brainstorming how to make a Star Wars RPG earlier getting to play the first KOTOR. And that'southward the rub: When they got their hands on the game, they knew that making an impressive follow-upwards would exist a Expiry Star-size challenge. "Nosotros had a huge listing of features," Principal Development Officer Chris Parker says. "And so we played it and nosotros were like, 'Son of a b****l They did that too!"' And later Avellone tossed his joypad aside in frustration, he asked, "How are we supposed to practise a sequel?"

6 months later, he has his answer: "We don't desire to reinvent the wheel just to reinvent the bike," Avellone says. "We want to concentrate on what made the first game great--story, characters, an ballsy Star Wars feel--and expand and improve wherever possible."

Sith Lords picks up five years afterward the terminate of the beginning KOTOR. (If you lot haven't beaten that game, yous might want to skip to the side by side section to avoid minor spoilers.) The Democracy is in shambles, reeling from the aftermath of the Jedi civil war and the scourge of Darth Malak. The Jedi Order has been disbanded, and you--a veteran of the Mandalorian war who was conveniently in exile during the recent civil state of war--are the final known Jedi, left to slice together a future for yourself and the Jedi Order. Since the story is such a crucial part of an RPG like this, the squad doesn't want to reveal too much more. "If we start giving away too much stuff too early on," says LucasArts Producer Michael Gallo, "it could ruin the feel for people."

But we do know that you won't play the same character and that the story does not selection upward where the last game left off. This was a tough simply necessary design choice, according to Avellone, considering the first game gave players such liberty in developing the story. "I didn't desire to stomp all over anyone's decisions from the first game," he says. "Whatever resolution y'all chose in that game should factor into this one." So whether you lot played a valiant Jedi pursuing the light side or a dark lord wreaking havoc all effectually (or even if you didn't play the first game at all), this one will make sense to you. Early in The Sith Lords, you'll have various conversations that explicate and address primal plot problems from the last game--you lot'll tell the game how yous believe things went down--and the dialogue choices you brand will affect story development in the rest of the game. "We tried to sideslip information technology in subtly," Avellone says, but conspicuously, the freedom to customize the story--such a dear and important attribute of the get-go game--will exist alive and well in this follow-upward.

Though yous're not the same graphic symbol, somehow y'all pilot the same send as in the first game, the Ebon Hawk, which finds itself on the mysteriously deserted asteroid mining facility of Peragus at the first of the game. Y'all start out equally a Jedi--no more training with Yoda wait-alikes, as in the original--but that doesn't mean you'll have all your powers (being in exile tends to put you out of touch on with the Force) or even a lightsaber right away. "The lightsaber'south the thing," says Avellone. "Yous should have to work for it--it makes you experience that much better in one case you really have information technology." Jedi classes in this game will exist the same every bit in the last, but you'll notice new Prestige classes yous can choose at higher levels--Sith Lord, Sith Marauder, Sith Assassin, Jedi Master, Jedi Watchman, and Jedi Weapon Master (run across page 81).

The Sith Lords volition, equally expected, accept different endings depending on whether you lot cull the dark- or calorie-free-side path. Merely this time the choice won't residuum solely on your shoulders. "You lot're not the just ane getting dark-side and lite-side points," says Avellone. "Some companions idolize you, and if you get-go falling to the dark side, they start falling to the night side, besides. Or if they don't similar you, the opposite happens." So care for that droid buddy nicely if you want him to do your bidding. The fate of the universe could depend on it.

Structurally, the game is like to the first KOTOR. The Sith Lords is generally linear but with a lot of freedom to cull what specifically you exercise next. In all, y'all'll visit 7 worlds (nigh of which accept lots of separate game areas within), including Dantooine from the first game. Just don't expect Dantopine to look like the peaceful grasslands where you killed kath hounds of yore. Retrieve, the planet was ravaged by Malak's army and the Jedi Academy was destroyed, so this Dantooine looks a lot different. "We don't want KOTOR 1 players to think nosotros're re-using stuff," says Gallo (a veteran of the original KOTOR team). "We desire to hearken back to the showtime game...but we want it to be a dissimilar experience for them." The other worlds will be totally new; the team, notwithstanding, is keeping the identities of these worlds nether wraps for now. We do know, though, that you'll visit Telos, dwelling planet to the offset KOTOR's Carth grapheme.

LucasArts and Obsidian know the design of the commencement game was pretty impeccable, and then you won't see any huge interface or combat differences. Y'all'll nevertheless control up to three characters, and the controls will work basically the same. Inventory- and graphic symbol-management screens will also look familiar. "Nosotros don't want to mess with functionality also much," Gallo says, "because we felt information technology was pretty adept." Instead, the theme here is refining what'south in the game and making improve use of everything that'due south there.

For case, y'all'll now have quick-key slots for ii different weapon configurations. "In the get-go game, certain weapons worked really well against certain opponents," says Avellone, "but the effort of going to the Equip screen and switching to the correct weapon meant most players probably just didn't bother. If you lot only had a quick button, you'd encounter a lot more mileage out of certain weapons that were really cool." Upgrading equipment, a fun but underdeveloped attribute of the start KOTOR, will as well be redesigned so people will go to do more of it. "In the first game," Gallo adds, "you wound upwards with a ton of items you might non ever utilize." Now, the workbenches where you . upgrade items have many more options. You lot'll exist able to deconstruct existing items, and then utilize components to build upwards new, more powerful ones. Y'all'll even have more upgrades for your lightsaber and more lightsaber colors. Your character's unique balance of skills will also affect your upgrade options. If y'all take a really high Repair skill, for example, you'll meet more armor types, or if a grapheme in your party has a high Security skill, of a sudden your workbench options will go heaven-high. The intention is that you'll end upwardly using the many options available to you lot instead of sticking to a few weapons, pieces of armor, and party members for near of the game.

If you were expecting a totally new graphics engine and knock-your-socks-off visuals that many say the showtime game lacked, you can go on waiting. "Technically, this is the first KOTOR," says Gallo. But he promises that the visuals will be optimized and says the team has actually learned how to do more with the same graphics engine--particularly with lighting. "We're trying to amend the graphics as much as possible," says Parker, "but our focus is really more content driven than technology driven."

Weather effects and slicker set on animations are a couple examples of the visual content Parker hopes will bring the environments to life. "I played the first game using the Critical Strike feat basically the whole style through," he says. "So by the cease of the game, I was pretty sick of that animation." At present, equally your character gets higher-level feats, the accompanying animations will become more complex, giving players a more than visually satisfying sense of progress.

Many characters you knew from the commencement KOTOR volition make appearances (if only cameos) in this game. But don't expect to see everyone (Gallo says they "had to be careful about who died and who lived"), and don't expect them all to play major roles. The merely recurring characters we know for certain volition take sizeable roles are the R2-D2-esque droid T3-M4 and another 'bot who bears a suspicious resemblance to the original'southward irascible "meatbag"-loathing HK-47. Gallo says that'south inspired by the movies, where "the droids are the common chemical element." But here, too, the team is focusing on enhancing what you accept instead of going for a wholesale redesign. They want to make certain you lot get upward close and personal with your buddies, rather than just letting some of them hang out on the Ebon Hawk soldering lightsaber hilts. "In the get-go game, we had all these absurd characters," says Gallo, "but some of them were underutilized." Besides each character's optional personal quests (something Avellone "loved" about the first game), the designers hope more than sub-missions in which y'all choose 1 detail party member to help you (every bit in the first game'southward Leviathan level). Each party fellow member will besides accept a unique special ability, and the team is working on more than quests that tin be fulfilled simply by one particular member of your group. When in doubt, the team looks--of form--to the movies for inspiration. "In the Star Wars movies, your friends all split upwards and exercise various things," Avellone says, and he wants this game to create a similar experience.

One thing all players loved in the original KOTOR was how they developed their own Strength powers and used them when and how they wanted. The Sith Lords will give you more than to piece of work with, though we learned of only a few new powers: Dark Sider Rage and Battle Meditation. Force Sight is a new stealth ability that will permit yous see through walls, plus assess a grapheme'due south alignment (dark siders show up as ruby; light siders are blue). Force Clairvoyance will assist you run across other parts of a level without being near them (a la Prince of Persia's glimpse-of-the-future visions).

Unfortunately (as these screenshots show, they're using the art from the first game), new armor, weapons, and other absurd boodle wasn't part of our 3-hour tour. The designers recognize that these items. are a high point of the game, but they didn't have a lot to testify. What'south their excuse? That the game is withal a year away. In fact, Avellone jokes, they reserve the right to change anything that they showed the states. "There's similar a little asterisk next to everything we've said that says, 'Year away from launch,'" Avellone says.

Geek heaven: a l-60 minutes role-playing game fix in a galaxy far, far away. With lightsabers! But geek heaven can plow into geek hell if your crew of motley reprobates keeps getting killed at the easily (not to mention the blasters) of the Sith. Does Carth Onasi continue falling over in the combat zone? Is Bastila attempting to thwart Dark Jedi with a vibroknife?

You need a serious equipment makeover, immature Jedi. Check out our complete overhaul of some of the main political party members. For advice on improving and outfitting the remainder of your crew, bank check the Prima guide.

Carth Onasi

Carth is a bones human soldier. He tin can wear whatever kind of armor he desires, but he has no special skills to make him stand out from your more than flamboyant crew members. Because Carth isn't the nearly impressive melee fighter, invest in his pistol skill as presently every bit possible and choose feats to accommodate his pistolpacking. Two-weapon fighting and improved ii-weapon fighting will let Carth to wield double pistols like Chow Yun Fat, only in space.

Don't place him in harm's way. Let Carth stand up abroad from combat and nail with both barrels. Allow him to cultivate a pistol collection. Consider giving him an added bonus with the rapid shot skill, although this lowers his defense force.

Equipping Guide

Carth starts with his own weapon (Carth's Blaster). It's a good weapon that becomes more impressive the farther you upgrade it. Do non supercede this weapon, as information technology tin be made into 1 of the finest guns around. Place a second pistol in world's other paw, like Bendak Starkiller'southward Pistol, which is likewise upgradeable. Get your parts together and commencement modifying!

Carth can be clad in any armor. If yous proceed him out of melee combat, he tin get away with moving a chip slower. Attempt shoe-horning him into Mandalorian Battle Armor (unless yous're using Canderous). Notwithstanding, Carth starts with a reasonable dexterity, so don't fit him with armor that'southward and then heavy it negates his dexterity modifier. Instead, put him in Davik'south War Suit or, for the ultimate expect, the Echani Boxing Armor. A keen armor find early in the game is the Democracy Mod Armor. It's upgradeable!

Carth has no admission to implants unless y'all're willing to gain the necessary feats, so concentrate on his regular equipment. Fit him with belts that help his volition relieve bonus or those that will protect him confronting mental force or stun furnishings. For his headgear, choose any item with a will salvage bonus. Endeavor to find him some gauntlets with a dexterity bonus. They'll help with reflex saving throws, ranged assail bonuses, and defence force.

Bastila Shan

Bastila is a good choice for shut combat. She carries a double lightsaber, an upgradeable combat weapon yous should let her keep unless y'all want your primary character to wield it.

Unfortunately, Bastila's strict Jedi code and Forcefulness powers do not allow her to wear armor. Unencumbered, she does move quickly, but she's vulnerable to attack. To commencement this weakness, place the attribute bonus she receives every four levels into dexterity, which volition help her defense.

When y'all run across her, she can level up immediately. Choose the light-side cure Strength power for Bastila, since her default combat intelligence is to autoheal as long as she has enough Force points. Cure affects all three team members. That'll save you lot credits on medpacs.

Her specialty is melee attack, simply her power and constitution aren't as impressive as Zaalbar's, meaning she can't absorb the sort of damage the Wookiee can. So send her into the fray, merely brand sure she doesn't get caught in the centre of a hostile mob.

Bastila isn't a watch, so she has no implants (unless y'all buy into that line of feats). She has no extraordinary skills, except her healing. Pump all your available points into lite-side powers since she leans that way already; moving her to the night side (via offensive Force power acquisition) costs besides many Force points.

Equipping Guide

Since she tin't wear armor, yous take one choice: locate and don Jedi robes as soon every bit possible.

Never change her double lightsaber, since it'south impressively upgradeable (like all lightsabers). Braze bondar crystal to her weapon for a stunning special ability: 10 percent of the fourth dimension she hits, her enemy must make a low difficulty save or exist stunned for six seconds. It doesn't sound like much, but it pays off relatively frequently. Also look for damind crystal, which volition boost both her attack bonus and the damage she deals. Remember that all of the crystals you collect should be shared among your Jedi close-combat specialists (Bastila, Juhani, optionally your own grapheme, simply non Jolee, every bit he isn't much of a melee fighter).

Bastila's face should be covered past a mask of some kind, such as the Verpine Headband, which increases her volition save bonus. The ultimate headgear is the Circlet of Saresh (+5 wisdom against Force powers), a unique particular which serves Bastila well. Place whatsoever gauntlet on Bastila that adds to her dexterity, which will assist her dodge attacks. Belts should help her fortitude: try the cardio-regulator, and later on into your gamble, fix her with the adrenaline stimulator (+2 dexterity, +4 all saving throws). Finally, tie shields on her arm slots since these tin be used by any character except Zaalbar.

Zaalbar

This walking carpet may come with a bowcaster (a Wookiee weapon that acts similar a blaster rifle), merely his incredible strength and constitution statistics mean he's best used as a melee monster. He has a huge number of hit points, and his tremendous strength means he inflicts bonus damage with melee weapons. So why keep him at the dorsum equally a ranged tighter? His innate species skill, Wookiee's toughness, too helps him at close quarters.

This skill negates the beginning couple of impairment points he receives. By now information technology should be clear that he belongs in the thick of the fray.

Of course, his hair and civilisation practise not allow him to wear any type of armor (not even arm shields), and his armor grade isn't equally high as other party members', but his brute force more than makes up for that.

Drib all necessary points into gainsay feats, such equally melee focus and proficiency. Then move on to the flurry line of skills, which give additional attacks per round. Better yet, invest in two-weapon feats for Zaalbar and then he can dual-wield the powerful swords constitute throughout the game. Unlike Canderous, Zaalbar cannot regenerate during combat, so keep an eye on him and heal him every bit needed.

Because he's a scout, he tin and should receive feats that let implants. Since he can't wear body armor, equip Zaalbar with dexterity implants to enhance his defense. Of class, you lot could follow the bowcaster line of skills, but this is nowhere near as effective as capitalizing on his close-quarters skills. Put off using Zaalbar until he obtains a few combat feats. Then bring him out to carve and rend.

Equipping Guide

Zaalbar can't wearable body armor, so be certain to equip him with Brejik's Arm Band and Belt for +5 resistance to slashing and bludgeoning damage, respectively. Concentrate on his close-gainsay fighting. Zaalbar's first melee weapon should be the prototype vibrosword y'all find on the Endar Spire. It's simply a little better than a regular vibrosword, but information technology's upgradeable with parts. Buff up the weapon with the vibration cell upgrade (+1 slashing), the durasteel bonding alloy (+ane attack), and the energy projector (+2 attack bonus, +1 slashing impairment). When y'all achieve Kashyyyk, seek out Bacca'due south Ceremonial Blade. This culturally meaning weapon isn't as well powerful at start, but it's positively monstrous with the correct upgrades! Perhaps the best weapon for Zaalbar is Yusani'due south Make, a double-bladed vibrosword with two attacks per round.

People say:

9

After 40-plus hours of gripping gameplay, I tin safely say that Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is a total blast. BioWare's trademark open up-ended gameplay (made famous in PC hits like Baldur'southward Gate and Neverwinter Nights) dovetails remarkably well with core elements from Star Wars sociology to create one masterful role-playing game. What makes KOTOR so appealing is that from start to finish, you lot direct how the run a risk unfolds. You lot shape every aspect of your hero'southward existence--from physical appearance and class attributes to the color and qualities of their lightsaber. Yous choose whether your character follows the calorie-free or nighttime side of the Strength--a philosophical struggle that can be as simple equally saying the right thing in a conversation, or as intricate as deciding whether to let someone alive or die. The story line itself delivers an incredible sense of freedom and surprising replay value, with separate calorie-free/nighttime endings and multiple optional quests to tackle. After suffering through the stilted screenplays (and equally wooden acting) of the recent flicks, KOTOR'S engaging plot is a welcome relief to Star Wars geeks like yours truly. Fleshed-out characters, surprising plot twists, and expertly delivered dialogue combine to form an epic narrative. The game also boasts a fine balance of exploration and combat. Battles occur frequently, only they're and so quick and activity-packed that I never tired of kicking the crap out of Kath Hounds. Gamers looking for pure action will need time to acclimate to the stomach-based melees, but the smoothen mechanics of slicing, tossing grenades, and busting out Force powers are ultimately easy to grasp. 2 minor problems do arise. The visuals could employ another coat of polish, and after finishing the game, you can't return to complete whatsoever remaining side quests. But at to the lowest degree the latter provides me with an excuse to invest some other 40 hours (plus, then I tin can see what information technology's like transforming my character into an evil Sith Lord). No Jedi mind tricks needed hither--this is a must buy.

10

Both PC role-playing fans (like me) and console gamers weaned on less hardcore fare can sit back and bask in KOTOR'S magnificence. This is an RPG like no other, either on PC or console. The statistics-heavy Dungeons & Dragons rules set that dominates most BioWare RPGs is about transparent hither. Y'all can ignore it if yous want to but charge through, merely all your die rolls and combat modifiers are right there on the feedback screen if you wish to study them scrupulously to improve strategy. Your iii-person political party is piece of cake to manage--but again, at that place'south utter flexibility. For the most function, party members have intendance of themselves, though if yous wish to break at whatsoever signal and arrange their moves, y'all can become right ahead. You'll also enjoy outfitting your party members with the loads of cool loot you lot find along the manner. Dual-wielding two lightsabers is crawly, but when you can upgrade them with found crystals, it's that much more personal. KOTOR is like the moving-picture show we all hoped Episode one would be--enthralling plot, marvelous visuals and vocalism acting, deep immersion in the galaxy'southward many worlds, with all that noble Jedi malarkey lightened up past one-time-school Episode 4-way humour. But the genius is in the lite- and night-side choices yous're forced to brand throughout. This bright adaptation of the D&D alignment arrangement helps you truly experience how even the most well-intentioned Jedi would consider the night side: A lot of the time, information technology's simply easier that mode. I'm not saying I succumbed, merely I did struggle with the temptation frequently. Add to all this a bounty of side quests, tons of absurd gear, and nice touches like the well-designed map arrangement, quest log, and inventory management, and this is an RPG revolution every console gamer should experience.

10

With its excellent story line, likeable characters, and snappy sense of sense of humour, KOTOR hits many of the same notes that the original Star Wars trilogy did. In fact, in many ways it's a meliorate follow-up to the first series than the current film run. You could simply spend days exploring Knights' numerous side quests and non only barely scratch the surface of the game's narrative arc, only also not mind in the to the lowest degree. It's that skilful. Some of the game's less fantastic moments stand out in contrast against the rest, merely but slightly. For case, the combat system initially seems strange because you feel like you should have more than control over your characters' actions, but the plough-based fighting becomes progressively more interesting (and intuitive) over fourth dimension. Likewise, the minigames (manning a gun turret or racing a pod-racer-similar swoop bike) are largely uninteresting, simply they're easily avoided or over likewise quickly for you to mind. Minor quibbles cannot tarnish the brilliance of the open-ended gameplay--Knights is such an all-encompassing experience that when yous're away from the game, you'll end upwards talking about information technology to anybody you know. "Hello, Dad? Judge what? I've finally gotten to Kashyyyk. (Pause.) C'mon, you know. Wookiee World?!?" Full of the sort of charm and polish that you normally discover just within titles from developers similar Nintendo, Square, and Bungie, Knights sets new standards for both its genre and system. Finally, Xbox owners have some other game worth mentioning in the aforementioned sentence as Halo.

Why the disturbance in the Force?

Ever try to create an RPG, much less one based in the Star Wars universe? Information technology's tough work. "On a game of this size," says Producer Mike Gallo, "wrapping up all of the last little bits, like bug testing, play balancing, user-interface tweaks, optimization, etc., takes a lot longer than anyone could imagine. If something isn't working, we can't simply cut it from the game."

Prognosis: The engagement is strong with this one

LucasArts feels "very confident" that this is the final delay. More than important, nosotros're very optimistic about the quality of the game itself, given programmer BioWare's track record of excellent RPGs on the PC, like Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights. Plus, we accept discussion that George Lucas himself is personally notvery involved, which, later Episode 2, is happy news indeed.

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