Knights of the Old Republic, quite literally, took my breath away. It has done what few other games have done for me. Such was the power of this game's hold on me that it currently ranks as my second favorite RPG of all time, beaten out only by Panzer Dragoon Saga. While in many other RPGs I often found myself taking a break from for a while before going back, Knights of the Old Republic's expertly woven and brisk story kept me engaged throughout. The wonderful characters, from the main characters to the NPCs to the menacing villains, were well thought out, complex, emotional and humorous, and compelled me to become caught up in their stories and trials.
The quests, the main ones and the side quests alike, were hugely rewarding and wonderfully designed. Gone are pointless, unrelated quests and minigames like you see in many other RPGs. The skill tree system and customization aspect added a nice level of depth. However it's the game's paths of moral choices and good/evil aspect that truly make this game shine.
But it was the battle system, the huge environments, and the story's major plot twists that made my jaw drop. The game's half real time and half turn based combat made for some truly fast paced and exciting battles. The multiparty fight in the Wookie homeworld stands out in my mind as one of the best brawls in an RPG ever. Making a battle seem fast paced and exciting is something many ponderous RPGs struggle to do. And much like Panzer Dragoon Saga, instead of having a top down view of often tiny characters, Knights of the Old Republic puts you in close and at eye level to the characters, adding even more to the sense of "being there". The wonderful environments only added to the authenticity. The deserts of Tatooine seemed to stretch for miles, and the ocean world was utterly beautiful.
Every game has flaws, naturally, and this game is no exception. The alien speech is often long-winded, and the background, unimportant people tend to jump around in glitchy manners occasionally. Swoop racing isn't as challenging as it should be. And for a game with such a brilliant narrative, the graphics aren't exactly polished. Thankfully, they're not ugly either, and the beautiful environments offset the character models.
But one thing you can't call Knights of the Old Republic is shallow. It is doubtful that you would see everything in one playing. Even if you witness both the good and the evil ending, this game is about choices. Choices in the skills and feats. Choices in the classes you start out with. Choices in the type of jedi you become or how you fight in battle. Moral and ethical choices. Choices in what order you visit the planets. Even some of the decisions in the story and quests aren't so black and white and can be done in different ways.
Even if Star Wars isn't your thing, Knights of the Old Republic is a brilliant game, let alone an RPG. Its story utterly wipes the floor with the stories of most RPGs, with their often stock and derivative ways. In this game, some things aren't so cut and dry. Sometimes your enemies aren't inherently evil and sometimes doing the right thing means innocents get hurt. Knights of the Old Republic moved me and made me think. It also made me feel powerful, like a real Jedi Knight, something which not even the Jedi Knight series could do. But most importantly, this game made me have fun. Many other games have offered players what this game offers. But few have measured up. I doubt no amount of Final Fantasies that come out in the future could do what this game has done for me.
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