STAR WARS™ Knights of the Old Republic™ II - The Sith Lords™

[h1]Review: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith feast on Betrayal[/h1] 2004 | played time: 43 hours | 6/10 The role-playing game Star Wars Knight of the Old Republic II, developed by Bioware, revolves around a hero saving the galaxy and is a great game for Star Wars lovers. The plot revolves around the Jedi protagonist who has barely survived an attack by the Sith and is rescued by Kreia one of his many companions in this game. The Jedi Civil War left the Jedi Order dispersed and the Sith are hunting and destroying its remnants. After regaining consciousness, the protagonist and their companions escape the Peragus Mining Facility. They travel to the close planet Telos for repairs of their damaged starship and in search of answers as to why the remaining Jedi are being hunted and how to stop the Sith. The gameplay is like the previous installment. The player moves in a 3-dimensional world where they can interact with objects and non-playable characters. The menus of interactive terminals are not very responsive and require a lot of patience. Combat is based on a D20 fighting system as used in tabletop roleplaying games such as Dungeons & Dragons. Notably, the game including combat can be paused to line up upcoming attacks for both the protagonist and their companions allowing a more strategic approach. Sounds of objects and enemies are repetitive though understandable given the size of the game files. The planets and maps include nicely made environmental background sounds and music. The conversations with non-playable characters might seem jagged and unnatural from time to time. Given the limitations of the mid-2000s, the graphics are nicely made but are far from being up to par with today’s standards, especially in terms of fidelity. Assets are noticeably and frequently reused though reasonable given the size of the game. Cutscenes offer a horrendous resolution as they were not made with better monitors in mind in 2004. As the stories are not connected, it can be played without having to experience the predecessor of the game. The story is comprised of three acts, leading to a captivating climax. The story has a few key plot points keeping the player engaged in the game. It is notable that the game does not appear to be railroaded given the many choices the player has. The protagonist can build relationships with side characters as they have rather deep backgrounds. The numerous side quests on the planets add depth and culture making the visited worlds feel alive. Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II is a must play for any hardcore Star Wars fan, especially those who have played the predecessor or Star Wars: The Old Republic. However, it needs to be considered that the game is from 2004 and as such rather outdated, though the story this game tells is worth it to overlook the flaws it has. Note: The game was played with the Restored Content Modification v.1.8.6.