Star Wars: Knights of The Old Republic
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System Requirements:
Windows 98/98SE, Me, 2000, XP
1 GHz Pentium III or Athlon Processor
32MB OpenGL 1.4 compatible graphics accelerator with Hardware transform and lighting (GeForce-class or better)
DirectX 9.0b
DX 9.0b compatible sound card
Ratings:
ESRB: Teen (13+)
PEGI: 12+
Review
=====
Star Wars is almost a classic nowadays. Many want to be part of the action. So its fitting to make games on it. But setting the story 4000 years before episode IV is a bit strange, really. I mean, people would think: "who wants to go way bacK? The technology sucked back then!"
But even then, BioWare and LucasArts have brought together a really compelling game, and have put together a rich storyline with staisfying gameplay, intense dialogue and fast action too. They've improved the graphics for the PC version, and added a new area (Yavin Space Station), and put more items in the game.
There's tons of character development in the game - Yes, all the paradigms of Jedi vs. Sith and political intrigues are present. The lure of the dark side is always strong, and while you start out being neutral (there's even an indicator for your alignment!), you will eventually be on either the light or the dark side, depending upon your actions and your replies during conversations. The characters and party members will react differently to you based upon your current position in the indicator. Do good things and you are on the path of being a true Jedi. Do bad and you begin to fall to the Dark Side. You also have force powers, and they develop with your character.
Gameplay
The game is based upon a d20 ruleset (a system in which a 20-sided dice is used for chance rolls). It seems a little strange and confusing for players not experienced with previous RPGs (It did to me), but luckily there is enough help provided to get everyone familiar with the system, and the Auto Level Up and Recommended feats buttons are a real boon to the unexperienced players.
You get an option of three character types when you first begin the game, either male or female gender: The Scoundrel (who uses guile and stealth to get by obstacles), The Soldier (who is the biggest badass in the galaxy, and The Scout (who is somewhat of a hybrid). The character creation process is well-defined and quite easy, though it may seem a bit lengthy for some. A random name generator is also included (Yippee!).
The so-called "tutorial" level actually places you directly in the action, with your comrade explaining the basics should you need it. It has been very well done, and needless to say that everyone will be familiar with the basics once its finished. Your ship.
You have a wide variety of environments, starting out at the Endar Spire spaceship (the tutorial), and then landing at Taris. Later on you'll get to see Dantooine, Tatooine, Kashyyk, Korriban, a space station near Yavin, and the water world of Manaan.
The story of the game is told through conversations, events and narratives. Needless to say that it is very well written and has interesting twists to it. In fact, it seems just like a Star Wars movie when we play it through. The dialogue is quite believable, as are the expressions (way better than Attack of the Clones). You'll meet new characters as you progress through the storyline, and acquire new party members, who'll stay with you aboard the Ebon hawk. Each character in your party has special abilities, its up to you to use them as needed.
Talking to NPCs through the game will also give you a number of side quests, and the actions you take on the conversations with these NPCs or on your side quests will give you dark side or light side points. Just like in real life, however, getting dark side points becomes easier the more you fall to its will. Your dialogue options change as you sink into your darkest self. Its a bit harder to get light side points however. Your alignment will affect how characters talk and react to you.
The game provides for many hours of gameplay, and I'm a very slow gamer, so it took me about a month to finish the game (no, not 30-days non stop!). But needless to say the game is longer than any I've ever played. And it never gets boring
There are also two mini-games in the game: A card game called Pazaak and Swoop racing. While swoop racing may be fun, I personally didn't like Pazaak much.
Graphics and Sound
Besides spending much time for this excellent storyline cupled with diverse environments and multiple side quests, BioWare also managed to bless KOTOR with decent graphics courtesy the Odyssey engine. Even though it seems slightly dated, the graphics engine manages to produce the Star Wars feel perfectly. The environments of the various planets are convincingly rendered with vivid color and good geometric detail. Characters are superbly rendered with good facial details and body animations, but weapons aren't rendered so well.
The sound effects in the the game is as perfect as any Star Wars movie will ever get. The blaster and lightsaber sounds are very well done, as are the sounds of boxes and doors opening. The music score is commendable, and is soothing when it is heard. All the dialogue in the game has been voiced by actors who, in my opinion, should get awards for their superb job. The alien speak as well as the human speak is very convincing and really blends in with the rest of the game. EAX is also used nicely.
Closing note
BioWare has very efficiently blended a deep storyline and intense dialogue into a fun game with great graphics, fast action and nice missions and have really created a feeling of what it was like a very long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. But I recommend that you install the latest patch for the game before playing, because there are a few niggling bugs that may irritate some users, though others may not care about those.
Overall: 96/100
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is available in India for Rs. 999, imported by Gayatri Impex, under EA's 'Classics' packages.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
System Requirements:
Windows 98/98SE, Me, 2000, XP
1 GHz Pentium III or Athlon Processor
32MB OpenGL 1.4 compatible graphics accelerator with Hardware transform and lighting (GeForce-class or better)
DirectX 9.0b
DX 9.0b compatible sound card
Ratings:
ESRB: Teen (13+)
PEGI: 12+
Review
=====
Star Wars is almost a classic nowadays. Many want to be part of the action. So its fitting to make games on it. But setting the story 4000 years before episode IV is a bit strange, really. I mean, people would think: "who wants to go way bacK? The technology sucked back then!"
But even then, BioWare and LucasArts have brought together a really compelling game, and have put together a rich storyline with staisfying gameplay, intense dialogue and fast action too. They've improved the graphics for the PC version, and added a new area (Yavin Space Station), and put more items in the game.
There's tons of character development in the game - Yes, all the paradigms of Jedi vs. Sith and political intrigues are present. The lure of the dark side is always strong, and while you start out being neutral (there's even an indicator for your alignment!), you will eventually be on either the light or the dark side, depending upon your actions and your replies during conversations. The characters and party members will react differently to you based upon your current position in the indicator. Do good things and you are on the path of being a true Jedi. Do bad and you begin to fall to the Dark Side. You also have force powers, and they develop with your character.
Gameplay
The game is based upon a d20 ruleset (a system in which a 20-sided dice is used for chance rolls). It seems a little strange and confusing for players not experienced with previous RPGs (It did to me), but luckily there is enough help provided to get everyone familiar with the system, and the Auto Level Up and Recommended feats buttons are a real boon to the unexperienced players.
You get an option of three character types when you first begin the game, either male or female gender: The Scoundrel (who uses guile and stealth to get by obstacles), The Soldier (who is the biggest badass in the galaxy, and The Scout (who is somewhat of a hybrid). The character creation process is well-defined and quite easy, though it may seem a bit lengthy for some. A random name generator is also included (Yippee!).
The so-called "tutorial" level actually places you directly in the action, with your comrade explaining the basics should you need it. It has been very well done, and needless to say that everyone will be familiar with the basics once its finished. Your ship.
You have a wide variety of environments, starting out at the Endar Spire spaceship (the tutorial), and then landing at Taris. Later on you'll get to see Dantooine, Tatooine, Kashyyk, Korriban, a space station near Yavin, and the water world of Manaan.
The story of the game is told through conversations, events and narratives. Needless to say that it is very well written and has interesting twists to it. In fact, it seems just like a Star Wars movie when we play it through. The dialogue is quite believable, as are the expressions (way better than Attack of the Clones). You'll meet new characters as you progress through the storyline, and acquire new party members, who'll stay with you aboard the Ebon hawk. Each character in your party has special abilities, its up to you to use them as needed.
Talking to NPCs through the game will also give you a number of side quests, and the actions you take on the conversations with these NPCs or on your side quests will give you dark side or light side points. Just like in real life, however, getting dark side points becomes easier the more you fall to its will. Your dialogue options change as you sink into your darkest self. Its a bit harder to get light side points however. Your alignment will affect how characters talk and react to you.
The game provides for many hours of gameplay, and I'm a very slow gamer, so it took me about a month to finish the game (no, not 30-days non stop!). But needless to say the game is longer than any I've ever played. And it never gets boring
There are also two mini-games in the game: A card game called Pazaak and Swoop racing. While swoop racing may be fun, I personally didn't like Pazaak much.
Graphics and Sound
Besides spending much time for this excellent storyline cupled with diverse environments and multiple side quests, BioWare also managed to bless KOTOR with decent graphics courtesy the Odyssey engine. Even though it seems slightly dated, the graphics engine manages to produce the Star Wars feel perfectly. The environments of the various planets are convincingly rendered with vivid color and good geometric detail. Characters are superbly rendered with good facial details and body animations, but weapons aren't rendered so well.
The sound effects in the the game is as perfect as any Star Wars movie will ever get. The blaster and lightsaber sounds are very well done, as are the sounds of boxes and doors opening. The music score is commendable, and is soothing when it is heard. All the dialogue in the game has been voiced by actors who, in my opinion, should get awards for their superb job. The alien speak as well as the human speak is very convincing and really blends in with the rest of the game. EAX is also used nicely.
Closing note
BioWare has very efficiently blended a deep storyline and intense dialogue into a fun game with great graphics, fast action and nice missions and have really created a feeling of what it was like a very long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. But I recommend that you install the latest patch for the game before playing, because there are a few niggling bugs that may irritate some users, though others may not care about those.
Overall: 96/100
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is available in India for Rs. 999, imported by Gayatri Impex, under EA's 'Classics' packages.
hyeah: had around a 1000 force points.... plus extra fp regen.. fried everything in sight with lightning... used ta use push (lvl 3) to soften em up first...
