This game is a bit of everything an RPG normally has, but also much more than expected to be found. I think Bioware's golden age was this game specifically.
Technically it was quite ahead of the competition at the time (great visual effects, vertical cities which are rare in games in general, interactive mini games and problems with more than one solution. Even the famous Hanoi tower puzzle which left the teenage me frustrated), but this aspect does not matter from the perspective of the player interested in the story.
This game (KOTOR) is perhaps one of the best RPGs to exist. Not in the traditional sense of fantasy games with dragons, dungeons and character that obtains new skills to perform quests.
Knights of the Old Republic was created as a game with a 'spine' and philosophy upon which it expanded and delivered very immersive experience.
This game is intertwined with philosophical doctrines, complex thoughts and examples of codexes similar to those in real life.
While it is still a game, back at the time many people had this chance to enjoy a more 'intellectual' approach to the universe of Star Wars with all of its potentially infinite lore, alien races, technology and planets. KOTOR carries many references to capitalism and corporations, cartels and smugglers (poachers too), empires with lords, pacifist enclaves of people wishing to just co-exist. It might actually be the only game I know of that early on introduces a player to a beautiful planet, which delivers so many different stories - only to have this entire location be orbitally flattened back to stones.
I don't even like Star Wars franchise - I find the movies shallow and extremely boring, but KOTOR games pulled me in as a non-fan that became much interested (another exception would be Star Wars: Empire at War with its spectacular battles in space). My favourite characters were the HK-47 (the quotes were the height of dialogues developed for any video game, perhaps competing only with the famous Planescape Torment) and (obviously) Kreia.
My favourite planet was perhaps Manaan, but also Tatooine, but almost all of them were unique and distinct in many different ways. Even the space station with nothing else present, but a merchant - it carries a special quest.
Few Star Wars games fascinated me and both KOTOR and KOTOR 2 are such games. They should not be forgotten and should be treasured. It is a shame that KOTOR 3 was never created and only an MMORPG was made in its place (which I played briefly).
Allegedly, KOTOR 3 might be in the making. I do believe this series is more than just another RPG game - it is a manifested vision of a potential fictional universe, where multiple schools of thought clash and maintain a never ending conflict, but done with style and value. The galaxy revolves around this conflict and carries 'arcs' of different cultures, both of existing and lost races. While movies may present 'an idea', this game implements the real lore and especially expands upon the concept of broadly defined 'corruption'. Kreia from KOTOR 2 was such a terrific character in any video game ever made.
This is what I found the most fascinating about KOTOR. Some of the choices might seem primitive, but in the wider perspective they are all quite realistic.
Revan is a very well written character/story with a hidden arc not known until the game is played and this makes KOTOR 1 very special.
