Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Preview

A wide array of games have made use of the Star Wars license. While the first few games stayed close to the films, later titles have explored the rich history and varied worlds that have been touched on in the Star Wars canon. The latest and easily most ambitious Star Wars game to date, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, is the result of a collaboration between LucasArts and Edmonton-based BioWare, whose Baldur's Gate RPG series has earned critical acclaim and established a devoted fan base. We recently had a chance to get a closer look at the game at BioWare and have come away impressed with its progress. Knights of the Old Republic features a healthy mix of eye candy, RPG-style gameplay, and strong story elements.

Could this be C-3PO's cousin?

Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic will tell an original tale set 4,000 years before the events of Episode I, during the formative years of the Jedi order and the Republic. The rather vague amount of information on that era has allowed BioWare a great deal of freedom to play to its strengths as a developer and craft a game that features a rich story and deep gameplay. The developer's collaboration with LucasArts has ensured that the various elements drawn from the Star Wars universe work within the franchise's continuity and has even allowed BioWare to create new characters and locations that will become part of the official Star Wars universe. The game's story drops you into the middle of a conflict between the Jedi and the Sith that, as usual, threatens the whole galaxy. The big bad guy you'll be facing is a nasty fellow by the name of Darth Malak, who lives up to the grand tradition of all evildoers named Darth and causes mischief on an epic and deadly scale. In true Star Wars fashion, you stumble into the action during a planetary bombardment and wind up becoming a key figure in deciding the galaxy's fate. As if that weren't enough pressure, you'll also have to keep tabs on what path of the force your actions lead you down.

You'll find that some the local wildlife isn't terribly friendly.

The gameplay in Knights of the Old Republic is shaping up to be a truly impressive balancing act that will walk the line between the deep gameplay and options available in BioWare's PC RPGs and the far more simplistic RPGs found on consoles. Rather than opt to cannibalize both styles of game, BioWare has layered them to offer two distinct levels of play in Knights of the Old Republic. The core gameplay uses the basics of all RPGs and focuses on exploration, character interaction, quests, and character development. The exact mechanics, especially those revolving around character creation and development, can be tailored to suit your preferences. If you're accustomed to the fairly limited options in console RPGs, it will be possible to create a character and hop into the game with a minimal amount of work. You'll just pick a name, a gender, and a class; choose some default options the game offers you; and then hop into the game. If you prefer PC RPGs or you're hankering for more to do with your virtual self, you'll find the ability to customize nearly every aspect of your character's attributes and abilities. This duality extends to the game's combat as well, as you'll be able to pause the game to carefully consider your options or just hack and blast away until your foes stop moving. The combat is enhanced by the use of your party, which is made up of whichever three characters you select to accompany you on your adventures. As you progress through the game, you'll encounter a motley assortment of characters you can encourage to accompany you on your travels. Each character will have his or her own strengths and weaknesses, and you'll be able to review your available party members and pick those you feel would be the best companions before you leave the Ebon Hawke, the ship that serves as your base of operations. You'll also be able to swap party members out as conditions change during a quest to ensure you have the best group with you at all times.