The Xboxs thin
RPG library is going to get a mammoth shot in the arm with the release
of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Development is being handled
by the role-playing geniuses over at Bioware Corp, whose achievements
include Neverwinter Nights and the unforgettable Baldurs Gate series.
Fans waiting for a viable Star Wars RPG could not be happier with this
dream team at the helm. Their collaboration may arguably produce one of,
if not the best Star Wars game to date.
The direction
the game takes is quite refreshing. Rather than try to assimilate their
game into the already crowded timeline surrounding Episodes 1-6, the
decision was made to lay the titles foundation in the distant past.
Knights of the Old Republic, as the name implies, will take place
thousands of years before the birth of Galactic Empire we all loved to
hate. Gamers will come face to face with a completely fresh cast full of
heroes and villains as compelling as Luke and Vader ever were. Whoever
it was that said history was boring will be eating their words next
year.
Events
leading up to the story behind the game leave the Republic and the Jedi
Knights in pretty bad shape. A fallen Jedi, Exar Kun, had revived the
power of the defeated Dark Lords. Proclaiming himself as the new Dark
Lord of the Sith he began his own campaign of conquest. He succeeded in
ravaging the Jedis base of operations, the planet Ossus, as well as
crippling the Republic itself. The Jedi banded together, though, and
defeated him. This is where the game picks up and begins to develop its
plot.
Sensing the
Republics weakened state, the fierce Mandalorian warriors begin
striking the worlds on outer boundaries of the Republics domain. In
turn the Republic appeals to the Jedi for help against this menace. The
Jedi are not at full strength so they wish to proceed carefully in
dealing with the problem. There are two Jedi who feel differently,
though. The two Knights, Malak and Revan, rally many to their cause and
after a long and bloody conflict they defeat the invaders. Something
unexpected happens next. On the planet Korriban, out in the galaxys
Outer Rim, the two Jedi are exposed to the Dark Side of the Force and
become warped. They no longer call themselves Jedi Knights. Twisted by
the Dark Side, Revan proclaims himself Dark Lord of the Sith and his
friend, Malak, assumes the mantle of dark apprentice.
Together
they turn the armies they were leading to the Dark Side and speed toward
Republic space bent on conquest. Another bloody struggle ensues, marked
by the death of the Dark Lord, Darth Revan. His apprentice, Darth Malak,
escapes and takes over Revans role as Dark Lord. After regrouping Malak
vows revenge on behalf of his master and turns his military might toward
the Galactic Core. At this point the game begins. Lucasarts and Bioware
could not have found a more fertile, untapped resource for epic
conflict.
Gamers can
expect a wide variety of characters to interact with and control as
their party grows. At any one time a player will have control over a
party of three members, including the main character they create at the
outset. Anyone familiar with the Baldurs Gate series or other games
like Dungeon Siege will be no stranger to real-time party combat. Your
group will no doubt include some interesting folks. Lucasarts says that
players will be able to recruit Wookies, Twileks, or even droids into
their party. You will also be able to switch your lineup around to
better deal with scenarios, after all each member will have his, her, or
even its own strengths. Players will make these decisions aboard their
mobile home base, the ship Ebon Hawk. Here will be the staging ground
for much of the customization available.
Knights of
the Old Republic will also introduce players to several interesting
environments. Destinations will include the mysterious planet Korriban,
where the two Jedi heroes, Malak and Revan, were horribly twisted.
Planets more familiar, such as Tatooine will also be available for
exploration. Fans will should be excited that another stop off will
include the treetop villages of Kashyyyk, home of the Wookies. The
graphical depictions of both these environments and the characters
themselves are beautiful to say the least. Once you see your party
wading through the tall grasses of Dantooine, the location of the Jedi
training academy, words will fail you.
The mechanics
of the actual game remain a little fuzzy, but the premise will surround
the "Action-RPG" environment. The magic system will most likely involve
manipulation of the Force as hinted at by developers. Several side
quests and games will be included to invigorate players. These
"mini-games" will certainly keep the action lively as they range from
manning gun turrets to speeding around on swoop bikes.
To say Im
excited about this game would be the understatement of the century.
Knights of the Old Republic promises to broaden our horizons and prove
what the Star Wars license can really do in the right hands. The amount
of painstaking detail that is being put into this title will ensure its
supremacy for quite awhile. Gamers will be free to explore one of the
more mysterious sides of the Star Wars Universe and their experience
will be one accompanied by outstanding visuals and what looks to be
immersing gameplay. With an accompanying PC version arriving later next
year, the future of both the Star Wars universe and RPGs couldnt be
brighter.