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Brevity
05-14-2003, 07:36 AM
LucasArts finally forced to show their oft-delayed RPG opus.
By Hector "Eddy" Guzman | 5/14/2003



Developer: BioWare
Publisher: LucasArts
Release Date: June 14, 2003
Genre: RPG
http://www.gamespy.com/e32003/screens/xbox/kotr/12.jpg

Checking out LucasArts' and BioWare's labor of love for a couple of hours, it's now easy to see why this game is taking so damn long to come out: the epic nature of the title. The vastness of the worlds, the complexity of it all, and the sheer number of differently colored lightsabers you can customize all point to a genre-defying Xbox release this July -- or whichever month the game finally comes out in. Unlike other developers, when BioWare says that their game lasts 40 to 60 hours, they mean it.

It looks like there's around nine party members to gallivant around the galaxy with, and although two of them can be interchanged, you'll spend most of your time with your own created player. You can choose from three character classes (including brutal fighting fiends or the more sedate, cunning and weedy) and two different sexes. Sadly, transgender Jedi haven't been included yet.

As with those addicted to BioWare's Neverwinter Nights, you'll have plenty of character control. You'll have to be ready to tweak your character's statistics to almost insanely detailed levels -- everything from your strength to computing skills can be fiddled with, and contribute to how well you interact with the environment and enemies. Buy a variety of items from shady Twi'lek vendors, and then optionally spend at least two hours swapping the dozen different blasters for the one that smokes the Sith Soldiers you'll be shooting at.
http://www.gamespy.com/e32003/screens/xbox/kotr/13.jpg

Shooting? Melee hacking? It's all gelled together in an initially confusing but finally innovative combat engine that freezes the action momentarily, allowing you to flick through available targets, tell your cohorts which cool-armored Sith foot-soldier needs an Arkanian Rifle shot through the torso, and then starts in real-time. After this, you can stop the action again at any time, heal, equip different items, and the like. Then you can flick between intelligent CPU-controlled party members at any time if you'd like to control a badass Twi'lek instead of a walking-carpet Wookie.

Mainly though, you'll be attempting to keep your galactic scoundrel in check as you search the gigantic city of Taris for a downed escape pod and a Jedi warrior named Bastila. With combat techniques fully optimized, allowing "defensive" or "offensive" (and many other) techniques to be programmed into AI routines, you'll eventually wonder why every other RPG hasn't employed this type of combat strategy.
http://www.gamespy.com/e32003/screens/xbox/kotr/6.jpg

Graphically, there's still a little problem with the framerate of the game (something we're assured will be fixed sharpish), and sometimes you'll enter an area and become completely bewildered with the sheer scale of everything you can do. This includes speaking with everyone, unlocking doors, and following numerous quests in the game, ranging from simple asides to a critical path spanning planets -- ranging from Dantooine to the all-new, all aquatic Manaan. And let's not forget the huge forested Wookie world of Kashyyyk.

With ambition on a scale that a small preview can't hope to do justice, it's impressive to see that BioWare seems to be on the verge of actually delivering their lofty ideals to a public salivating for a Star Wars game that doesn't explore the depths of mediocrity. Knights of the Old Republic: Redefining role-playing action on the Xbox, this July. Or August. Or hopefully sometime before the end of the year.

Source:Gamespy.com

Waterspout
05-14-2003, 08:22 AM
I hope this games turns out well. I have been disappointed with just about every Star Wars game that has come out so far.