This review contains spoilers
I am a lifelong Star Wars fan, and, like many other fans, I believe that the themes and storylines advanced by the Old Republic era are some of the most engrossing that the series has ever had. Every now and then, the “I should replay KotOR” bug hits me, and this time around, I decided to check out the iOS version.
There’s a lot to love here - memorable companions, extensive character progression, and an iconic storyline that has been burned into the minds of fans for almost 20 years. However, this type of game lives and dies by its writing, and this is where the original KotOR falls flat. Bioware doesn’t fully understand the dichotomy between the Jedi/Sith religions, as the writers elect to paint with noticeably broad strokes. In Bioware’s world, the Jedi as infallible heroes and their Sith counterparts are sinister, meritless psychopaths, other than in a couple of key instances. For example, in Bastila’s vaguely compelling, late-game turn to the dark side, she may as well be a different character entirely. I played as a Sith this time, and the game approaches this version of Revan as though he sacrifices children to unwind. This would later be remedied by Obsidian in KotOR 2, which heavily delves into the “grey area” and understands that a Jedi/Sith’s ideology should be shaped by their experiences. Its worth mentioning that Bioware’s broad approach significantly affected my immersion this time around.
Yes, the combat is simple, the planets are pretty rote, and the writing can leave a lot to be desired. With Aspyr’s KotOR remake on the horizon, a lot of people are going to have their eyes on this one, so let me quickly say: KotOR remains a must-play game in spite of its many flaws, and I’m confident that I’ll keep coming back to it anyway.
There’s a lot to love here - memorable companions, extensive character progression, and an iconic storyline that has been burned into the minds of fans for almost 20 years. However, this type of game lives and dies by its writing, and this is where the original KotOR falls flat. Bioware doesn’t fully understand the dichotomy between the Jedi/Sith religions, as the writers elect to paint with noticeably broad strokes. In Bioware’s world, the Jedi as infallible heroes and their Sith counterparts are sinister, meritless psychopaths, other than in a couple of key instances. For example, in Bastila’s vaguely compelling, late-game turn to the dark side, she may as well be a different character entirely. I played as a Sith this time, and the game approaches this version of Revan as though he sacrifices children to unwind. This would later be remedied by Obsidian in KotOR 2, which heavily delves into the “grey area” and understands that a Jedi/Sith’s ideology should be shaped by their experiences. Its worth mentioning that Bioware’s broad approach significantly affected my immersion this time around.
Yes, the combat is simple, the planets are pretty rote, and the writing can leave a lot to be desired. With Aspyr’s KotOR remake on the horizon, a lot of people are going to have their eyes on this one, so let me quickly say: KotOR remains a must-play game in spite of its many flaws, and I’m confident that I’ll keep coming back to it anyway.