Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic may have lost some of its luster as the years have gone on, but the foundations of a well-written and enjoyable RPG haven't aged a day. If you can get past things like awkward controls, middling presentation, and a complete lack of handholding, the 30-ish hour campaign offers up an engaging romp through the beloved Star Wars universe. We'd give KOTOR on Switch a strong recommendation to any fans of Star Wars or RPGs in general, just with the caveat that you'll get more out of it if you can stomach archaic game design elements.

BioWare's legendary first trip to a galaxy far far away is now available on the Nintendo Switch with a solid port that is an easy recommendation for new and old fans alike.

Even at almost twenty years old, the classic Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is an excellent RPG port for the Switch.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remains one of the best games ever made and arguably the best Star Wars game.

Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic takes place 4000 years before the Galactic Empire, and the Jedi Knights have fallen at the hands of the Sith. It’s up to you, a nameless protagonist, to save the Jedi Order from becoming a memory. You must protect the Republic’s last hopes, the Jedi knight Bastila Shan. Unfortunately, the Jedi are hellbent on interfering with your plans. After the squirmish, you and Republic soldier Carth Onasi need to hunt down Shan as they escaped before you. Can you master the power of the Force or will you succumb to the Dark Side?

Though the design feels a little dated these days, there’s no denying KOTOR II is among the gold standard for Star Wars in terms of story and immersion. Look past the clunky combat mechanics and you’ll be in for a treat.

Knights of the Old Republic presents us with an excellent, if not predictable, story in the galaxy far, far away; while it has aged, KOTOR remains a solid RPG to this day.

It's a strange one. There couldn't be a title that's more due of a remake yet also still a really good time as Knights of the old Republic. Although it came out around the same time as when the prequels were in cinemas, it has more in kin with the classic trilogy insomuch as what was once cutting edge is now low-fi and that very aspect comprises a large part of the charm. Not without issues, but to focus on those issues in the harsh light of day would feel too much like pestering an old person for losing their teeth - an influential old person, with lots of great stories. So, while a remake is most welcome one does wonder if it'll lose something in the translation about what makes this version work. It's the OG that captures the scale of the Star Wars Universe unlike any other Star Wars game. It absolutely deserves play in 2022.

For a 2003 Xbox/PC game, KotOR is frankly an ugly game. Design wise, it’s fine, and some of the characters are very memorable. But graphics wise, this is a poor showing. Looking less like a game halfway through the strongest console at the time and more like an early PS2 game. At least, like every other piece of Star Wars media, the music is fantastic. As is the voice acting.

Picking up Knights of the Old Republic is absolutely still worth your time and money in 2022. There’s an engaging story with a timeless focus on good versus evil, and mechanics that allow you to choose your own destiny – something that modern-day players still absolutely love. The audience shouldn’t be limited to Star Wars fans either, with KOTOR standing out as a fantastic RPG experience regardless of setting. Sure, the graphics and menus haven’t aged well, but that’s entirely moot when you consider just how enjoyable this game is to play. Like rewatching the original Star Wars trilogy today, forget your seamless CGI effects and high definition screen for a few hours and enjoy KOTOR for what it is – you’ll have a fantastic experience that leaves a seriously lasting impression.