It's been almost four decades since the first ever Star Wars game, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back for the Atari 2600, was released. Over those 38 years, there have been over a hundred titles set in the universe, both move tie-ins and standalone games. Not all were successes, but a handful have been recognized as excellent games in their own right, rather than just Star Wars tie-ins.
One of these titles is Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, which impressed fans and critics alike with its unique setting and well-written narrative. The game and its sequel paved the way for a number of successful RPGs from developers Bioware and Obsidian Entertainment. It was the KotOR series that popularized teams of colorful companions, morality systems, and branching conversation trees.
While it had some big boots to fill, KotOR 2 built on the strengths of its predecessor with a darker tone and a more nuanced story. It's this step away from black and white, good and evil, Jedi and Sith that would really benefit future Star Wars titles.
Questionable Heroes
While the Exile, the player character of KotOR 2, is a relatively blank slate, each companion has a rich life and backstory. And given the dramatic galaxy-spanning events of the first game, many of these companions have equally dramatic pasts. This results in well-seasoned characters, who have often lived difficult and dangerous lives even before they encountered the Exile. It also gives them a tendency toward secrecy, and most have a few juicy stories that they won't share until the Exile has won their trust.
One of these characters is Atton Rand, a pilot with a layered personality. While Atton comes off as classic Han Solo style character at first, his backstory takes a considerably darker turn. Atton was once a Jedi Hunter for the Sith, who only defected when it was revealed he might become a target himself. While he pretends to drift through the universe with an apathetic, careless attitude, his emotions are anything but placid. His first personal experience of the Force left him confused, and uncertain of his place in an uncaring galaxy.
Another such character is Bao-Dur, the male Zabrak engineer whose skills were essential to the conclusion of the Mandalorian Wars. Bao-Dur is a complicated character, tortured by his former work but striving to make amends. His creation of the Mass Shadow Generator, a doomsday weapon that destroyed both the Republican and Mandalorian fleets in their final confrontation, was both his greatest success and greatest failure.
A Great Betrayal
While the heroes of Knights of the Old Republic 2 may subvert the expectations of typical Star Wars good guys, the villains really push the envelope. The main antagonists of KotOR 2 are the Sith Triumvirate, a loose alliance of what remains of Darth Revan's Empire after KotOR 1. As you'd guess from the name, the Triumvirate has three leaders.
The most important is Darth Traya, also known as the Lord of Betrayal. Traya is first introduced to the Exile as Kreia, a mysterious former Jedi who becomes a companion for most of the game. Having been both a Jedi Master and a Sith in her life, Traya rejects both creeds. Instead, she's an existentialist, believing in the primacy of free will above all else. This belief leads her to oppose the Force itself, denying its hold over the destiny of the galaxy. Her unique story, and opposition to both the Sith and Jedi, make her one of the most interesting villains in the Star Wars canon.
Nuanced Villains
Unlike Traya, the other two Sith villains in KotOR 2 are a little more traditional. However, they each interact with the Force in unique and interesting ways. The second Triumvirate leader is Darth Nihilus, a former apprentice of Darth Traya. Known as the Lord of Hunger, Nihilus is a living wound in the Force, capable of draining Force energy. The Force is the core of the supernatural in the Star Wars universe, and Nihilus' existence broadens the scope of its effects and capabilities.
The final Triumvirate leader is Darth Sion, the Lord of Pain. While Sion may be the most traditional Sith in the Triumvirate, he still exhibits an extreme use of the Force never before seen in the Star Wars universe. Darth Sion's body is a shell composed of a thousand fragments of his original form, held together by his sheer will, and the power of the Dark Side.
These characters, who break away from the simple Light vs Dark conflict ever-present in Star Wars canon, could be just what the next Star Wars title needs. Electronic Arts, which entered an exclusive deal for the rights to Star Wars games in 2013, has several sub-franchises currently in development. While their next release, Star Wars: Squadrons, is a completely different genre to KotOR 2, it will have a complete story campaign. Otherwise, players will need to wait until Star Wars Jedi: The Fallen Order 2 to see if EA are taking lessons from the successful Star Wars titles of the past.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2Â is available now on PC.