Does KOTOR hold up today?

[Gargen]

It's one of those classic games that I accidentally missed (thanks Everquest ). Steam is having a 66% off all Star Wars games sale, so I figured it's easily worth a shot for $3.39, but is it worth the time*?




*Keep in mind I've reached the "time is a premium and playing this game means I won't play some other game" part of my life

 

[futurefields]

IMO no it does not. Even when the game came out in 2003 it's systems were seen as dated.

 

[frozentundra123456]

I have to disagree. One of my favorite games ever, and I would seriously consider playing it again, except that I played through it already at different difficulties for each of the three classes.

I think the question is not so much whether it holds up today, but whether that kind of game fits your play style. It is a pausable combat, strategize and control each character type of game. I personally like that because I like manipulating stats and using various weapons and powers for each character. If you like a more fast paced twitch reflex game that relies on fast reflexes for combat, it might not be the game for you.

I have to say though, that the production values of the game, cut-scenes, music, etc are top notch and IMO better than any other game I have played. Graphics of course will be dated, but are still decent.

BTW, I assume you are referring to KOTOR 1. KOTOR 2 was also a great game that was spoiled by a rushed and terrible ending.

 

[shortylickens]

IMO no it does not. Even when the game came out in 2003 it's systems were seen as dated.

No, they werent, other than by snobs who know dick about gaming and just wanted hits on their crappy blogs.


However, I wont comment on its perception right now.


I did take the opportunity to purchase the handful of games i was missing. Am not sorry I spent a mere 12 bucks to complete my collection.

And for those who dont own any, 33 bucks is a phenomenal bargain.

KOTOR 1 and 2 are worth that much by themselves, the other stuff is practically free. the Jedi games are great, not perfect, but damn good fun.
Battlefront is an OK waste of time you are sick of Battlefield 17 and COD 12 multiplayer.

 

[DaveSimmons]

KOTOR 1 and 2 both have great stories if you don't mind the dated graphics and the Baldur's Gate style combat where you basically just watch it happen and click on a special attack. (No aiming, it's not a shooter-RPG like Mass Effect.)

KOTOR 1 is more like a George Lucas story so a little more simplistic. KOTOR 2 is by Obsidian instead of Bioware so it has a bit more depth and darkness.

It's hard to view them without nostalgia glasses but they're in my top 10 for PC RPGs. The Steam versions play perfectly under Windows 7 64-bit.

 

[Wingznut]

Of course the graphics are going to be dated... So, if that's all that matters, then skip it.

But if you are interested in a great turn-based RPG, with a phenomenal story, set in the Star Wars universe... It's a must play!

 

[Skel]

For me it doesn't hold up so well. It's not the graphics or story, but the fact that most Bioware games just feel like the same game with a different skin. There's been some differences but they normally boil down to the same thing. The same level path and choices are the same through out most of their games, not to mention the same 2 NPCs joining you when you grind the level. I know a lot of people love Bioware, and it's not they're a bad company, I just know exactly what I'm getting.

 

[callaway86]

Fantastic game, the story, locations and lore insights were awesome. Combat was meh, but for me, that was a small part of the overall game.

 

[Clinkster]

Yes it does hold up well. I normally cannot sit down and play a dated game because it's graphics bother me too much. But KoToR is a one of a kind game I keep coming back to.

I haven't given KotoR 2 a fair chance, I may just go buy it.

 

[DaveSimmons]

> I haven't given KotoR 2 a fair chance, I may just go buy it.

For $3.50 this week on Steam you really should.

If you plan to play through once each as light side and dark side (worthwhile since the story / quest choices are very different) then I'd recommend playing KOTOR 2 as light side first with the "vanilla" game, then dark side with the DeadlyStreams / TSL content restoration pack.

Some of the restored / extra content works better for darksiders, and some of it was cut for good reasons not just for time. I think the story before the end flows a bit better without the restorations.

 

[futurefields]

Since all the story and lore are just written by outside people and are non-canon. Those parts arent important to me.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Since all the story and lore are just written by outside people and are non-canon. Those parts arent important to me.

Canon: Jar Jar Binks, midichlorans, "hold me like you did under the moons of Naboo", "NooooOOOOOOoooooOOOOOooooOOOO!!!!!!!"

KOTOR 1 and 2 have great stories, better than episode 1-3. I don't care whether or not this year's retcon leaves them as canon or not.

 

[Lonyo]

Played through both twice, and was considering a third time a couple of weeks ago but haven't got round to it yet.

Main problem I had in the past was finding a machine that they would work on.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

They are definitely worth that kind of $$.

I played through kotor 1 a few months ago with my fiance (she really only plays candy crush and crap like that on her phone). Once the game got rolling enough she was seriously interested in the characters enough to stick with it. That should tell you something about the game.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Main problem I had in the past was finding a machine that they would work on.

Yes, with the CD version of KOTOR 1 I had to go to the DRM vendor to get a special patch to run under Windows 7.

The Steam versions work without problems for me using Windows 7 64-bit, 8 GB, GTX 680. I'd say they run better than the CD versions did under XP.

So go to Steam and spend the $7 to get both

 

[norseamd]

not sure why this is even a question

you have to try it

 

[smackababy]

Story and immersion wise, yes, they (KOTOR and KOTOR 2) hold up very well. From a graphics and gameplay standpoint? Not really. They are traditional D&D, turn based games. Although, they did add some animations to appear real time, which was a nice touch.

For the money, they are worth it. If you're a big Star Wars fan, there is no doubt you're missing out if you don't grab these up.

 

[gothamhunter]

Yes, definitely. There are some mods online that do some QOL adjustments (like widescreen support), but even without them it's excellent.

 

[smackababy]

Since all the story and lore are just written by outside people and are non-canon. Those parts arent important to me.

Revan and the Old Republic story line is considered canon, and one of the endings. I am not sure about KOTOR 2, but the first is canon.

 

[PhatoseAlpha]

It depends on what you mean "hold up". If you mean "Don't have anything else to play, will this be fun?" then yeah. If you mean "Would I be better off playing this then something more modern that I haven't played yet?", then probably not.

The combat is very basic - the mage types only have a handful of 'spells', and fighters will tend to just use the same move over and over for efficiency. Plus, a lot of the player's dialogue options are carefully crafted so the NPC can use the exact same voice response to all three options, maybe with one extra line on one of those options.

They're not bad games, but I'd be hesitant to put my money on them if there was anything else more modern I hadn't played yet.

 

[PhatoseAlpha]

Revan and the Old Republic story line is considered canon, and one of the endings. I am not sure about KOTOR 2, but the first is canon.

Canonically, KotOR 2 was the light-side female storyline, and the exile was named Meetra Surik.

 

[gothamhunter]

Revan and the Old Republic story line is considered canon, and one of the endings. I am not sure about KOTOR 2, but the first is canon.

Not anymore.

In the wake of the October 30, 2012 sale of Lucasfilm to The Walt Disney Company for $4.05 billion, Disney/Lucasfilm has established a committee to keep track of and define the “canon,” (Lucasfilm Story Group) in an effort to unify all the new movies, comics, spinoffs, etc. with the existing material. [17] [18]

On April 25th, 2014, a new, simplified canon system was announced. Previous Expanded Universe material is no longer canon, and will be published under the new Star Wars Legends banner, while new canonical material, such as Episodes VII, VIII and IX and the upcoming Star Wars Rebels will continue to be published under the Star Wars banner.[19][20]

Basically, the movies and the series "The Clone Wars" are the only things canon now.

 

[KeithTalent]

Yes; I played them for the first time about two or three years back and they were awesome. Can't imagine they have fallen off too much since then.

KT

 

[DaveSimmons]

Basically, the movies and the series "The Clone Wars" are the only things canon now.

Yep, according to the Mouse House both LensFlare VII and Jar Jar are canon, Revan is not. Unless they change their minds and retcon him back in. Or Cumberbatch plays him in LensFlare IX.

But that's nothing to stop you from enjoying KOTOR 1-2. Star Wars is a collection of science fantasy stories not the answer to Life, the Universe and Everything.

 

[futurefields]

anything post-Episode 6 EU is being disowned because they have to make the new movies now. I believe Lucas has prepared a story outline for them to follow. they arent going to base these new mega budget movies off of the EU stories.