Knights of the Old Republic in Star Wars My favorite switch review is Yoda's.
Our Verdict
A phenomenal RPG, one that has withstood tests of time. Nearly 20 years on, and it remains an enjoyable expereince. Be you a new fan, or old, KOTOR is a must-play for Star Wars and RPG fans. Light or dark? Only you can decide.
A long time ago, it seems, one of the greatest role-playing games ever made for consoles was released. When Bioware first launched Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic for Microsoft Windows and Xbox in 2003, it was like finding lightning in a bottle. Even after eighteen years, the game is still very much loved by many members of the Star Wars community. It was an instant smash. Due to its popularity, it has naturally been released on a number of platforms throughout time, including smartphones. Thanks to backwards compatibility, it is also accessible on all Xbox systems.
In addition to being an avid lover of RPGs, I am a major fan of Star Wars. Since Knights of the Old Republic is one of my all-time favorite games, you can only imagine how thrilled I was to learn that Aspyr was bringing the game to the Nintendo Switch in all of its glorious originality. I can't think of a better moment to go back to the original location than now that a remake is planned for the PC and PlayStation 5. The timing of the Switch version couldn't have been more ideal, to be honest.
The flexibility that players have is a major factor in why the story remains compelling even after eighteen years. As you can see, the force has two sides: the light and the dark. However, much too often, you find yourself naturally drawn to the light side because you feel compelled to be a decent person most of the time. But KOTOR doesn't act in that manner. Rather, you are given an option. Are you light or dark in this story? It is your choice how you use the energy. To be honest, this isn't a difficult choice to make since, at our core, we're all a little bit dark.
The fact that this narrative is set 4,000 years before the creation of the galactic empire, in my opinion, is what makes it the most intriguing element. That means that none of your favorite characters—not even Yoda—exist yet. But we also get to know a lot of fascinating individuals, all of whom contribute to our final fate. Some exhort you to fight for justice. Others mightily tempt you.
This fulfills all the requirements for an RPG, including character creation, class selection, and game progression options. What matters most, however, is that you have alternatives. They really have an impact on the course of your tale. Your character makes a natural shift.
As the game progresses, you may choose to begin as a devoted soldier who eventually becomes corrupt. In my experience, attempting to be the nice guy never works, and I eventually wind up doing more and more heinous actions before accepting my darker side. In addition, the villains usually seem to have more fun, and red lightsabers are the coolest. Little things are what captivate me.
You are greeted by a variety of recognizable settings, like as Korriban, Manaan, Tatooine, Dantooine, and Rakata Prime. Then there are the scenes on board Saul Karath's ship, the Leviathan, and the Endar Spire, which are Republic cruisers. As a result, the game never becomes boring. Instead, a tale that really represents your decisions is told as you're continuously taken to new locations and given fresh experiences.
We've previously covered how amazing Knights of the Old Republic is and how everyone who like Star Wars and role-playing games should play it. Still, there's a key point we need to address: can the game play smoothly on the Nintendo Switch?
Alright, so to start, don't anticipate amazing and modern visuals when you play this game. The game is being directly ported here. That is not to argue, however, that the game cannot survive the test of time; on the contrary, it does. I would even argue that its attractiveness is enhanced by the antiquated visuals. It transports you back to your early years or the first time you encountered KOTOR. Alternatively, you haven't missed anything if this is your first time. You may fully immerse yourself in the original version of the game.
Knights of the Old Republic is a good port for the Switch. There aren't many issues to mention. My main issue is really with the camera movement; it seems quite stiff. This is perhaps because the game is about twenty years old. The port itself is unrelated to it.
It's amazing how fluid the controls seem for a game this age, except from the camera. Fighting is as enjoyable as ever. My need to always be in the middle of things led me to make many of my decisions. That's what I would do if I wanted to go further into a conflict. I never once chose the cowardly route, and the reason for this isn't so much that I want to be helpful as it is that I like chaos and devastation.
And if you're new to KOTOR, the instructional phase walks you through all the fundamentals and how to equip things. Naturally, this is essential to winning any role-playing game, and it becomes much more crucial when using force.
To be honest, this version is rather good and offers a wonderful glimpse into the past during the heyday of Star Wars video games. Returning to Knights of the Old Republic is a true delight, and both new and seasoned players will find this quest to be appropriate.