The two main Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic games marked a transition in RPG storytelling as the genre grew to integrate old storytelling techniques into gaming's new technical capabilities. The first game established a style that BioWare would continue to develop in the Mass Effect and Dragon Age series, while Obsidian's second installment is considered by many to surpass the already impressive original.
Earlier this year rumors began circulating that a third Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic was in development at a new studio. With Disney licensing a wide array of new Star Wars stories, many fans have become increasingly hopeful that KOTOR could make a return. However, there are some good reasons that the series should remain a fond memory.
Star Wars Stories
The first Knights of the Old Republic released back in 2003, placing players in the role of an amnesiac who awakens on a ship already under attack. Taking place 4000 years before the rise of the Galactic Empire seen in the original Star Wars trilogy, the game's setting allowed BioWare to create its own familiar but distinct version of the Star Wars universe.
Combat was based on a series of generated numbers, a throwback to the kinds of system found in earlier pen-and-paper RPGs. Unlike many RPGs at the time almost every NPC the player could interact with was fully voiced, although Star Wars' fake languages helped cover up repeated audio for many of the alien NPCs.
Players went from knowing nothing about their past to slowly uncovering the fact that they were once the powerful Sith Lord Darth Revan, in what is still considered one of the greatest twists in any BioWare game. The game's companions were memorable and, instead of acting as sidekicks or combat aids, were integrated extremely well into the game's story arc, particularly Bastila Shan.
Both games allowed for some serious moral decisions, sometimes with more nuance than those found in the movies. The scope of the choices was impressive as well. In the second game, players found themselves hunting down reclusive Jedi Masters, choosing to either seek their aid or slaughter them in revenge. All in all, the KOTOR fundamentally shaped the growth of both BioWare and the genre as a whole.
The Future Of RPGs
The first two KOTOR games helped develop some of the key tenets of BioWare's storytelling going forward, and inspired countless other developers. Developed and well-integrated companion characters, romances, and moral choices were all staples of the RPG genre, but Knights of the Old Republic was among the first games to realize them in a truly cinematic way that reflected the games' movie source material.
Since then the same cinematic storytelling style can be seen developing throughout the original Mass Effect trilogy and the Dragon Age games. Combat underwent significant changes over these series, however, becoming less turn-based and more dynamic. After recent disappointments like BioWare's Anthem, many fans of the studio consider BioWare's golden years to start with KOTOR and end around Mass Effect 2.
Turning back to KOTOR for a third game may not be the answer some fans are hoping for. The games were hugely influential, but now it would be hard to emulate their style without it feeling dated. A new KOTOR game would need the tight, fast-paced combat found in series like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. It would need to avoid recreating companions found across the BioWare games that released since the first KOTOR. In short, both BioWare and the RPG genre has moved past KOTOR to the extent that KOTOR 3 would risk feeling very distant from the original games.
The most successful aspects of KOTOR's tone and storytelling style should continue to influence new Star Wars games. It was the first games' innovative developments in its genre and interesting take on its source material that made it so special. If fans are ever going to see a true spiritual successor to KOTOR that pushes the boundaries of video game storytelling to the same extent, it cannot be an attempt to recreate the past.
A new Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic game is rumored to be currently in development.