This review contains spoilers
(This review is made after completing the game with the Restored Content Mod installed, which is the only way to experience the full intended game in its entirety)
Obsidian does it again. They brought us away from a relatively on the rails story with a pseudo open world (exactly what Bioware is known for, see: Mass Effect) that is Knights of the Old Republic, and presented us with the option to actually do whatever the fuck we want to in Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords.
Despite Revan the first game’s protagonist being the actual Dark Lord of the Sith, it never really felt quite right or fulfilling playing as a Dark Side character. You HAD to help the Republic, yes you were given the option to reclaim your throne from Malak but it never really made any sense narratively. Fundamentally KOTOR 1 is about saving the Republic from the Sith Empire. KOTOR 2 is about deciding the fate of the Jedi order post-Revan, and there is much much more validity to the idea that a disgruntled Jedi Exile (our player character) being manipulated by a Sith Lord (Kreia) would actively participate in ensuring the downfall of the Order. Playing and choosing the Dark Side options feels natural even if cartoonishly evil at times, and not at all out of place as in the first installment where it felt like they were added out of necessity. There is a whole nother real story being told as you kill off the remaining Jedi holdouts, it doesn’t feel like you’re an evil character stuck carrying out the path of a hero; you are an evil character with your own motivations and desire end point.
Once again just like the first game, the party members are A+++. Games like this live and die by the characters and their journeys, and this game knocks it out of the park. Whoever came up with the idea to allow you to train your companions as Jedi/Dark Jedi deserves endless praise showered upon them for the rest of tim.
Additionally, this is the best implementation of Dungeons & Dragons rules in the Star Wars setting by far. About the only thing KOTOR 1 edges it out on is the leveling system, the 20 cap in DnD exists for a reason and was handled better by Bioware in the first installment of the series.
Obsidian does it again. They brought us away from a relatively on the rails story with a pseudo open world (exactly what Bioware is known for, see: Mass Effect) that is Knights of the Old Republic, and presented us with the option to actually do whatever the fuck we want to in Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords.
Despite Revan the first game’s protagonist being the actual Dark Lord of the Sith, it never really felt quite right or fulfilling playing as a Dark Side character. You HAD to help the Republic, yes you were given the option to reclaim your throne from Malak but it never really made any sense narratively. Fundamentally KOTOR 1 is about saving the Republic from the Sith Empire. KOTOR 2 is about deciding the fate of the Jedi order post-Revan, and there is much much more validity to the idea that a disgruntled Jedi Exile (our player character) being manipulated by a Sith Lord (Kreia) would actively participate in ensuring the downfall of the Order. Playing and choosing the Dark Side options feels natural even if cartoonishly evil at times, and not at all out of place as in the first installment where it felt like they were added out of necessity. There is a whole nother real story being told as you kill off the remaining Jedi holdouts, it doesn’t feel like you’re an evil character stuck carrying out the path of a hero; you are an evil character with your own motivations and desire end point.
Once again just like the first game, the party members are A+++. Games like this live and die by the characters and their journeys, and this game knocks it out of the park. Whoever came up with the idea to allow you to train your companions as Jedi/Dark Jedi deserves endless praise showered upon them for the rest of tim.
Additionally, this is the best implementation of Dungeons & Dragons rules in the Star Wars setting by far. About the only thing KOTOR 1 edges it out on is the leveling system, the 20 cap in DnD exists for a reason and was handled better by Bioware in the first installment of the series.