Following Star Wars Celebration 2023, Star Wars hype is at an all-time high. Like never before, new series, comics, books, merchandise, and game titles abound within the Star Wars universe. The brief teaser for Star Wars Jedi: Survivoralone had gamers in a frenzy, anxiously awaiting the state 2023 release date. If you are like me and looking for something to hold you over for now, look no further than the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II-The Sith Lordsport for that Nintendo Switch by Aspyr.
Improving on a sequel isn't easy, not to mention one as successful as Star Wars: Knights from the Old Republic (KOTOR). In 2004, Obsidian Entertainment attempted such a feat with the discharge of Knights from the Old Republic II. Overall, the reception waspositive with a brand new compelling story, complex characters, and the capability to influence the galaxy like never before. However, Knights from the Old Republic IIhad its share of difficulties with various glitches and pathing bugs that left a sour taste in the mouth of gamers. The largest question once the Nintendo Switch port of Knights from the Old Republic II was announced was whether or not the experience would improve nearly 20 years later.
Knights from the Old Republic IIis set 5 years following the era of its predecessor. The storyline centers on The Exile-a Jedi Knight cast out of the Jedi Order following the events of the Mandalorian Wars led by Revan, who's the primary character in the first game. Despite being close within the timeline, playing the original is as simple as no means a requirement. There's lots of exposition through the Knights of the Old Republic IIthat will inform much of what occurred years prior. Actually, players can determine the outcome of Revan’s story prior to the Exile disappeared. Early on, players can decide if Revan was a man or woman and the savior of the galaxy or its temporary conquer, allowing players to recreate their KOTORoutcomes or create different things. It’s here that Knights of the Old Republic IIshows its promise of improving the original design.
Just like inKOTOR,dialogue options can pull players for the Light or the Negative side. However, in Knights of the Old Republic II, there are other options, including more neutral options, which could shape how the galaxy evolves around the player. If you want to embrace your life like a “grey Jedi,” that's totally possible, whereas it had been much more hard to toe the road in KOTOR. While it may not be as extensive as other BioWare games like Mass Effect, I still had a different playthrough about this port than I did all those years ago by just taking my Exile inside a different direction. This dialogue expansion also reaches companions. Nevertheless there is no romance feature, the opportunity to turn various companions into Force users based on your influence (low or high) adds an extra incentive to probe deeper in to the lives of those characters in your journey.
The combat in Knights from the Old Republic IIfollows the same d20 system from KOTOR. The combat improvements originate from players starting as a Force user instead of becoming one later within the story, as with KOTOR. This allows players to feel the power a Jedi or Sith in the first mission. With thirty new Force powers and flexible lightsaber forms, there is more chance of players to play their way. The main harbour stays most evident to the combat from 2004, and by playing in a different style than my original playthrough, the gameplay felt fresh, even if it's very simplified when compared with modern role-playing games. However, the authenticity of the experience does extend to a few of the bugs found in 2004.
While controls were fluid and easy to use, whether while using pro controller or perhaps in handheld mode, the pathing issues might make combat clunky at times. When enemies are near, the game will pause for players to choose how to approach combat. This is ideal for preparing buffs, switching gear around, or setting companions in additional aggressive or defensive modes. However, at times the game will recognize enemies that are either very far away or behind some sort of cover or behind a wall. Participating in these situations often led to some wonky pathing that typically led to receiving a large amount of unnecessary damage. Thankfully, it was much more of a small annoyance than a game-breaking situation, as the main battles in Knights from the Old Republic IIweren’t affected.
The more frustrating glitches were once the port outright crashed. The crashes were sporadic and never as frequent because the original launch but happened enough times to warrant a gentle curse. Luckily, Knights of the Old Republic IIautosave features work well, and that i never lost greater than a couple of minutes of playtime. During my first playthrough in 2004, I'd an identical crash right before the ultimate battle. The crash would happen immediately after the autosave, and since I had been so deep in to the playthrough, I hadn’t manually saved it in hours. I had been worried that I could be stuck inside a similar situation with this particular port, but I am pleased to report that no such situation arose.
Unfortunately, the bugs from Two decades ago have still made it in to the Nintendo Switch port. With that in mind, the primary mechanics and also the story continue to be fantastic. While the ending still is restricted to two, it doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot of replayability. The companions have their own diverse stories, abilities, and interactions with other people in your crew. This resulted in many character moments which i had not experienced before despite multiple playthroughs from the originals. The focus on the characters and also the worldbuilding all around the Exile makes for a plot that rivals its predecessor. Kriea alone remains one of the best characters in role-playing game history, let alone in a Star Wars game.
Overall, Knights of the Old Republic IIfor the Nintendo Switch is a fantastic time. Aspyr does a great job, just like they did using the KOTOR port in 2023, and also the experience with the story far outweighs the inconvenience that stems from the glitches. There is something for every Star Wars fan, regardless if you are a long-time fan looking to jump back into the next playthrough and have never played before. With Obi-Wan Kenobi out now, Ahsoka on the horizon, and also the success of the High Republic, the storyline of an outcast Jedi 1000's of years prior to the era of the flicks has not been more relevant. Through the minor inconveniences, players will discover joy in creating their own path as The Exile, along with a feeling of wonder that I believe can only be captured at this moment with the great The exorcist content surrounding Knights of the Old Republic II.
Star Wars: Knights from the Old Republic II-The Sith Lords is on the Nintendo Switch on June 21, 2023.
