Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic | |
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Creator(s) | Drew Karpyshyn, James Ohlen |
Platform(s) |
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First release | Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic July 15, 2003 |
Latest release | Star Wars: The Old Republic - Legacy of the Sith February 15, 2022 |
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) is a
The first title, and subsequent
Gameplay
The game's system is based on
Alignment system
The alignment system tracks actions and speech – from simple word choice to major plot decisions – to determine whether the player's character aligns with the light or dark side of
Lightsabers
The series includes a high level of lightsaber customization including crystal colors and blade styles.[9][10] The developers of the series "fought" to expand the number of lightsaber colors.[11] The game includes the ubiquitous colors blue and green[12] but also colors such as orange and yellow.[13][14] Danny Paez, for Inverse, commented that "KOTOR's spectrum of lightsaber crystals led to gamers obsessing over collecting them all to design the lightsaber of their dreams. This led to fans going out of their way to explore every nook and cranny of the games".[15]
Synopsis
Plot
Four thousand years prior to the Star Wars films,
The main character's actions and speech influence whether they align with the light or dark side of the Force. Depending on the character's alignment, they eventually reach the Star Forge either to defeat the Sith (the light-side path) or to usurp control of the Sith from Malak (the dark side path). A light-aligned character and their companions are hailed as saviors and heroes; a dark side character stands before the remaining Sith forces as the new Sith Lord.
The Sith Lords takes place five years after the events of Knights of the Old Republic, in a time when the Jedi have been nearly exterminated by the Sith. The player's character is a former Jedi Knight exiled from the Jedi Order, referred to as "the Exile" or "Jedi Exile". During the Mandalorian Wars, the Exile served under Revan who ordered the activation of a devastating gravitational superweapon – the Mass Shadow Generator – that caused so many deaths to the point where they stripped themself of all connections to the Force unconsciously to save themself, and was removed from the Jedi Order. Throughout the game, the player's character restores a connection to the Force while, with the help of their new companions, try to stop the Sith. Unlike the previous game where your actions affect the fate of the galaxy, here your actions affect only the planets you visit. You can choose to either help or hinder the Republic's attempt to rebuild these planets. In the end, if the character is light-aligned, the Mass Shadow Generator is activated and destroys Malachor V and the Exile goes into unknown space to find Revan. A dark-aligned character, however, takes over the Sith academy on Malachor V and the Mass Shadow Generator is destroyed.
The Old Republic takes place 300 years after the previous two games, shortly after the establishment of a tenuous peace between the re-emergent Sith Empire and the Galactic Republic. The Jedi are held responsible for the success of the Sith and chose to relocate from Coruscant to Tython, where the Jedi Order had been initially founded, to seek guidance from the Force. The Sith control Korriban, where they re-established a Sith Academy. The game begins as new conflicts arise.[19]
Characters
Locations
Several new planets make appearances in the series as major locations. These include, for example,
Video games
2003 | Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic |
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2004 | Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords |
2005 | |
2006 | |
2007 | |
2008 | |
2009 | |
2010 | |
2011 | The Old Republic |
2012 | |
2013 | Star Wars: The Old Republic – Rise of the Hutt Cartel |
2014 | The Old Republic: Shadow of Revan |
2015 | The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire |
2016 | The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne |
2017 | |
2018 | |
2019 | The Old Republic: Onslaught |
2020 | |
2021 | |
2022 | The Old Republic: Legacy of the Sith |
2023 | |
TBA | Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic — Remake |
Original series
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KotOR) is the first installment in the Knights of the Old Republic series. KotOR is the first role-playing video game set in the Star Wars universe. The game was released on the Xbox on July 15, 2003, in North America and on September 12, 2003, in Europe. The PC version was released on November 19, 2003, in North America and on December 5, 2003, in Europe. The iOS version was released on May 30, 2013, and an Android release followed on December 28, 2014.
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords (KotOR II) is the second installment in the video game franchise. The game was released on the Xbox in North America on December 6, 2004, in Europe on February 11, 2005, and in Australia on February 15, 2005. The PC version was released in North America on February 8, 2005, and in Europe on February 11, 2005. Per request as to have time to deal with other matters, BioWare, the original developer, handed over the job to Obsidian Entertainment.[3]
In addition to technical changes – such as more combat animation and interface scaling – The Sith Lords includes several drastic changes from the original game's features.[20] As mentioned earlier in the gameplay section, the player's actions now affect not only the player themselves but their teammates as well. The player can also teach some teammates the ways of the Jedi. The player also has more diversity when upgrading items, and can even create certain items, such as computer spikes and explosives, themselves.
In a similar way the player's actions and alignment with the light or dark side affects their teammates (both a teammate's alignment and who teams with the player in the first place), gender is also a factor when it comes to companionships and gameplay in general. In addition the appearance (due to choices) also affects your teammates. For example, choosing a female character teams the player with Mical the Disciple, while being male teams the player with Brianna the Handmaiden.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic III (cancelled)
In 2003, LucasArts cancelled the Proteus console MMOG project during its design phase. The game was intended to be an in-house sibling to
Star Wars: The Old Republic
Star Wars: The Old Republic (also known as SWTOR) was released for the Microsoft Windows platform on December 13, 2011, in North America and Europe, and released in Australia on March 1, 2012. It was first confirmed by
The game has received six storyline expansions and two smaller add-ons focusing on new gameplay mechanics.
Title | Launch | Description |
---|---|---|
Storylines | ||
Rise of the Hutt Cartel | April 14, 2013 | It is centered on the rising threat of the Hutt Cartel, which has arisen to challenge the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire for control of the galaxy. The level cap was raised to 55, with the leveling from 50 onwards centered on the new planet Makeb. |
Shadow of Revan | December 9, 2014 | It is centered on the Order of Revan, an army seeking to establish a new galactic rule. It is led by the reborn Revan, who is depicted in Shadow of Revan as a canonical male character. The campaign raised the level cap to 60, and takes place on two new worlds: Rishi, a tropical pirate haven on the edge of the galaxy, and Yavin 4 (which first appeared in the original Star Wars film), home of an ancient Sith warrior sect called the Massassi. |
Knights of the Fallen Empire | October 27, 2015 | The largest expansion to The Old Republic, it features a renewed focus on cinematic storytelling, as well as new planets, new companions, and a dynamic story affected by player choices, introducing the new threat of the Eternal Empire and its leader, the Emperor of the Eternal Throne. At Level 60, the player's character is frozen in carbonite and awakens five years later to find that the Eternal Empire has become the dominant force in the galaxy. The player becomes the "Outlander" and builds an alliance to wage war against the Eternal Empire. |
Knights of the Eternal Throne | December 2, 2016 | Set in the aftermath of the events of Fallen Empire, the Outlander leads the Alliance against the forces of Empress Vaylin. Eternal Throne also features two new gameplay features, Galactic Command and Uprisings, allowing the player to participate in new battles and expand their influence across the galaxy. |
Onslaught | October 22, 2019 | It focuses on the reignited war between the Republic and Sith Empire; the player chooses to support one side. It also introduces the Nautolans as a playable species. |
Legacy of the Sith | February 15, 2022 | It focuses on the return of Darth Malgus and the rise of a new cult of dark lords. It was released on February 15, 2022, in celebration of The Old Republic's 10th anniversary. |
Gameplay mechanics | ||
Galactic Starfighter | February 4, 2014 | Introduced 12v12 space-based PvP combat on two maps, with 2 'capture-the-flag' combat missions. |
Galactic Strongholds | October 14, 2014 | Introduced player housing and flagships for guilds. |
Remake
In September 2021, Knights of the Old Republic — Remake, a graphically updated remake of the original game, was announced as in development by Aspyr in collaboration with Sony Interactive Entertainment, for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 5. It will be a timed console exclusive for PlayStation 5 before releasing on other platforms.[25][26][27] On the remake's development, lead producer Ryan Treadwell wrote: "We’re rebuilding it from the ground up with the latest tech to match the groundbreaking standard of innovation established by the original, all while staying true to its revered story".[25] Several individuals who worked on the original game are returning for the remake, such as former BioWare developers and Jennifer Hale (reprising her role of Bastila).[28][29] However, certain original cast members have since been deceased or will not be returning, such as Tom Kane who has retired due to medical reasons.[30] Little information was otherwise revealed about the project.[25]
In July 2022,
Other games
Select characters from the series have also made a non-canon appearance in the
Comics
The original
The second comic series, titled Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, takes places around 3964 BBY, approximately eight years prior to the story of the video game series, and focuses on Zayne Carrick, a Padawan framed for the murder of his fellow Padawans by his masters, who are members of a mysterious Jedi Covenant. The series was written by John Jackson Miller with art by Brian Ching. And published monthly from March 1, 2006, to February 17, 2010, by Mike Richardson and Dark Horse Comics.
An webcomic series, titled Star Wars: The Old Republic: Threat of Peace, was written by game developer Robert Chestney with art by Alex Sanchez. The story spans ten years from the signing of the Treaty of Coruscant to the events that start the game. The comic was produced by Dark Horse and released bi-monthly from February 27, 2009, to March 2010. It is separated into three acts titled Act 1: Treaty of Coruscant, Act 2: New Galactic Order and Act 3: Uncertain Surrender.
A second webcomic series, titled The Old Republic: Blood of the Empire, was written by Alexander Freed, with art by David Ross, and follows the story of a Sith apprentice on a dangerous secret mission set 25 years before the Treaty of Coruscant. The comic was produced by Dark Horse and released weekly from April 23, 2010, to August 13, 2010. It is separated into three acts titled, Act 1: Shades of the Sith, Act 2: The Broken World and Act 3: Burn the Future.
Threat of Peace and Blood of the Empire were published in printed format from July 7 to December 2, 2010. A third series by Alexander Freed and David Ross, titled Star Wars: The Old Republic: The Lost Suns, was released, in printed form, monthly from June 8 to October 12, 2011, by Dark Horse. It follows Satele Shan's son Theron Shan.
Novels
A 256-page novel called Star Wars: The Old Republic: Deceived was released by
Films
Cinematic trailers
Bioware released six short films as cinematic trailers for The Old Republic and its expansion packs.
Film adaption
In April 2019, Kathleen Kennedy was asked by MTV News about a potential Knights of the Old Republic adaptation and stated, "Yes, we are developing something to look at. Right now, I have no idea where things might fall".[37] The following month, BuzzFeed News reported that Laeta Kalogridis had been hired in the spring of 2018 to write a film based on the 2003 video game, and that she was close to completing the first script of a potential trilogy.[38] Representatives refused to comment,[38] and nothing has been reported since.
Reception
The general critical response of Knights of the Old Republic was overwhelmingly positive. KotOR won numerous awards, including
The Sith Lords was generally well received by fans and critics alike. Mirroring the success of the first game, The Sith Lords has garnered over thirty-five "Game of the Year" awards.[41] The game received high marks from major reviewers - 8.5/10 from GameSpot, 4.5/5 from Gamespy and 93% from IGN. Based on 30 professional reviews, Metacritic gave the game an average rating of 85 out of 100,[42] compared 93 for Knights of the Old Republic.[43] The game was however criticized for being incomplete due to a rushed deadline.[44]
The Old Republic has received generally positive reviews from critics, with a score of 85 on
Notes
References
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- ^ "Aspyr, Lucasfilm Games & Sony Interactive Entertainment Announce Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic - Remake". BusinessWire.com. September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
- ^ a b c Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords Developer Interview 2. GameSpot. May 8, 2004. Retrieved August 22, 2007.
- ^ Duckworth, Joshua (April 23, 2022). "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Remake Has to Emphasize Light vs. Dark Side Choices". Game Rant. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
- ^ Brown, Joey (June 1, 2022). "Knights of the Old Republic 2: How Light and Dark Side Choices Impact the Main Character and Story". Game Rant. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
- ^ Wilder, Nicholas (January 12, 2020). "A Retrospective Look at Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic's Story". Game Rant. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
- ^ "The History Of The Grey Force In Star Wars". Gizmodo Australia. August 3, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
- ^ Amoroso, Daniel (October 20, 2022). "Star Wars Could Use More Games About Grey Jedi". Game Rant. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
- ^ MacReady, Melody (May 25, 2022). "Star Wars: 10 Best Lightsaber Customization Across The Games, Ranked". ScreenRant. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
- ^ Mason, Paul (April 28, 2021). "Knights of the Old Republic Remake's Lightsaber Mechanics Have a Ton of Potential". Game Rant. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
- ^ "Boss Fight Books' Knights of the Old Republic Studies a Studio on the Verge of a Golden Age". Paste. April 24, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
- ^ Cao, Caroline (April 22, 2022). "Every Star Wars Lightsaber Color Explained". /Film. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
- ^ Rob, Leane (October 21, 2019). "Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Brings Back Orange Lightsabers". Den of Geek. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
- ^ Raymond, Charles Nicholas (February 2, 2020). "Star Wars: Rey's Yellow Lightsaber Real Meaning Explained". ScreenRant. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
- ^ Paez, Danny (October 22, 2019). "'Jedi Fallen Order' lightsaber crafting might mimic the best Star Wars RPG". Inverse. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
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- ^ Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords Developer Interview 2. GameSpot. July 14, 2004. Event occurs at 2:56. Retrieved August 22, 2007.
...as you increase the resolution in the game, the interfaces will scale the same way
- ^ Smith, Rogue Leaders, 171.
- ^ Smith, Rogue Leaders, 202.
- ^ Smith, Rogue Leaders, 176.
- ^ Smith, Rogue Leaders, 202-203.
- ^ a b c "Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic Gets PS5 Remake". Kotaku. September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
- ^ "Knights of the Old Republic returns with remake that is a timed exclusive to PS5". VentureBeat. September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
- ^ Gartenberg, Chaim (September 9, 2021). "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is getting a remake for the PS5". The Verge. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
- ^ Valentine, Rebekah (September 9, 2021). "KOTOR Remake: Jennifer Hale Will Reprise Her Role as Bastila Shan". IGN. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
- ^ "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Strikes Back with New Remake". StarWars.com. September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
- ^ "Popular Knights of the Old Republic Voice Actor Tom Kane Can't Return for Remake Due to Serious Health Reasons". Game Rant. September 11, 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Schreier, Jason (July 26, 2022). "Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic Game Paused Amid Studio Shakeup". Bloomberg News. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
- ^ Scharnagle, Jessica (July 26, 2022). "Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic remake infinitely delayed, report says". Dot Esports. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
- ^ Goslin, Austen (July 26, 2022). "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic PS5 remake reportedly 'delayed indefinitely'". Polygon. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
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- ^ James Hoare (January 30, 2012). "How Star Wars: The Old Republic owes it all to Tales of the Jedi, an interview with Tom Veitch". scifinow.co.uk. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
- ^ MTV News (April 16, 2019). "#Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy talked to us about the future of #StarWars – including a Knights of the Old Republic movie and female filmmakers taking the helm, as well as Palpatine's surprise return in the trailer for @StarWars #EpisodeIX". Twitter. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
- ^ a b Aurthur, Kate (May 24, 2019). "A New "Star Wars" Movie Based On "Knights Of The Old Republic" Is In The Works". BuzzFeed News. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Critical Acclaim". BioWare. Archived from the original on January 1, 2007. Retrieved March 30, 2007.
- ^ Game Informer Issue #168 April 2007
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Further reading
- Smith, Rob (2008). Rogue Leaders: The Story of LucasArts. ISBN 978-0-8118-6184-7.