We need a new KOTOR game now, more than ever.
It is hard to imagine pleasing Star Wars fans in 2003.
I know the prequel trilogy enjoys no small amount of love
from fans nowadays but, at the time of its release, many felt disappointed,
especially by the first two efforts in Lucas’s second trilogy. However, in
2003, Canadian developer Bioware released something seemingly universally loved
by Star Wars fans; ‘Star Wars: Knights of The Old Republic’ or ‘KOTOR’. KOTOR is
still regarded as one of the best games of all time, bringing an unfamiliar era
of the Star Wars mythos to life in a manner that was dynamic, compelling, and
downright awe inspiring in places and I think we need a new KOTOR now, more
than ever.
Quick disclaimer: I’m not counting 2011’s ‘The Old Republic’.
I know it has continued the story and still has a relatively healthy player
base, but I think Star Wars needs more single player experiences, given the
messy [although redeemed] Battlefront 1&2 of recent years.
A Long time ago…
Star Wars needs a win! The Sequel trilogy was divisive to
say the least. Whilst recent efforts such as the Disney Plus original ‘The
Mandalorian’ and Respawn’s ‘Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order’ were well received,
the reputation of the franchise hasn’t fully healed. Diving back into a beloved
property like KOTOR could be a huge boost in restoring the confidence of the
fandom. The first KOTOR is set in the titular ‘Old Republic’, around 4,000
years before the original trilogy. Given this, the setting provides several exciting
opportunities for original storytelling either as a remake of the first game or
a completely new story. More important than story however, is the intangible
element of Star Wars. Star Wars resonates with so many fans because of the
sense of wonder it instils in people across generations. KOTOR [in my humble
opinion] was so successful because it managed to capture this in a way that was
completely original and intriguing. It’s
getting harder to capture that same sense of wonder and mystery with content
set around the Skywalker saga. The Old
Republic however, gives Star Wars fans a setting that is both foreign and
familiar, feeling enough like Star Wars to capture that magical feel, but
different enough to prompt significant intrigue. In short, heading back to the
Old Republic could be the breath of fresh air that Star Wars is in desperate
need of.
You were the chosen one…
Bioware also needs a win! After the back to back missteps of
‘Anthem’ and ‘Mass Effect Andromeda’, the studio is a shadow of its former
self. Whilst a new ‘Dragon Age’ title is on the way, given the reputation that
Bioware’s parent company EA have for axing studios, there is uncertainty in the
developer’s future. However, with Fallen Order proving that there IS undeniable
demand for a single player Star Wars game, a new KOTOR could be a great opportunity
to get Bioware back on track. EA’s deal to exclusively publish Star Wars games
expires in 2023 but, given the strong critical and commercial performance of Fallen
Order and the potential success of the upcoming ‘Squadrons’, a renewal of this
deal certainly doesn’t seem out of the question.
A more civilised age…
The original KOTOR took much of its gameplay mechanics from
the 3rd edition of the legendary ‘Dungeons and Dragons’. Believe it
or not, according to D&D publisher ‘Wizards of The Coast’, D&D is more
popular than ever before, with shows such as ‘Stranger Things’ and ‘Critical
Role’ making it more mainstream. So, now would be a perfect opportunity to
translate D&D’s wildly popular 5th edition into a KOTOR game. Not
only does the new edition of D&D boast its own exciting features and
gameplay that could easily allow for a more refined version of KOTOR, but, when
coupled with the [enormous] developments in technology since the last KOTOR in
2004, a new game could be a true spectacle.
Our only hope…
Star Wars and Bioware have a rich history together and it
seems as though they need each other now more than ever. Now seems the perfect
opportunity to return to the Old Republic, an era before the dark times…
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