Within the early 2000s, my Star Wars fandom was at its absolute peak. That does not imply I hate the present path of Star Wars, as I in reality fairly adore it, however the degree of obsession I dedicated to it again on this period was unimaginable to match. Between the prequel movies and mountain of wonderful video video games, I used to be in a state of bliss.
One ongoing saga inside George Lucas’ far, distant galaxy that I had a specific fondness for was Knights of the Outdated Republic. The primary one is considered one of my favourite video games of all time, and I consider Knights of the Outdated Republic II: The Sith Lords is an underrated masterpiece. One sport I want I may have an opinion on was a 3rd KOTOR title, however resulting from lots of baffling enterprise choices and shifting priorities, that will by no means come to go.
I adopted the continuing rumors of the proposed Knights of the Outdated Republic III for years, ready and hoping that it might lastly get a displaying at E3 or another commerce occasion. These occasions got here and went, with KOTOR III no-showing each single one, till LucasArts unofficially canceled it by displaying off an MMO often known as The Outdated Republic in 2008.
Within the years since, what KOTOR III was going to be stays a sore spot. If issues had gone based on plan, we had been going to see what may have been top-of-the-line Star Wars video games ever made. As a substitute, we’re left with a story that may eternally go unfinished, and a cliffhanger ending that might be eternally unresolved.
A Console Era Far, Far Away
Regardless of the present state of the Xbox model, it was truthfully one of the vital thrilling consoles on the planet when it first launched again in 2001. Microsoft secured some fairly unbelievable exclusives once I look again, together with a number of Star Wars video games. Star Wars: Obi-Wan is an underrated OG Xbox unique, however one that also feels so insane to me at this time is Knights of the Outdated Republic.
Developed by BioWare, KOTOR was a straight-up Xbox unique with completely no likelihood of it showing on different consoles. Early on in growth, BioWare was instructed they needed to make it a tie-in to 2002’s Assault of the Clones or set it earlier than the occasions of your complete Skywalker Saga. They selected the latter, well avoiding any ties to the movies.
It allowed them to create a world that felt uniquely Star Wars, but in addition had its personal sense of identification and place. It was acquainted, however felt prefer it could possibly be its personal world. It was really fascinating, and I’ve so many wonderful reminiscences of KOTOR. My dad was not a gamer, however he would watch me play the sport virtually just like the Star Wars film that by no means existed. He would make each narrative resolution, leaving the gameplay to me.
Because of the robust, PC-centric structure of the Xbox, BioWare’s historical past of PC growth made the console a straightforward selection. Although the PlayStation 2 and the GameCube had been remarkably highly effective, KOTOR’s deep ties to the unique Xbox helped make the console such an incredible go-to for anybody who was taking part in PC video games on the time.
Knights of the Outdated Republic is all the time within the dialog for top-of-the-line Xbox video games of all time. The mixture of its excellent fight, complicated story and epic scale helped elevate it to a timeless traditional. No different Star Wars sport on the time may compete, and even up to date video games based mostly on the franchise are simply now catching as much as what it completed.
One 12 months Later
Knights of the Outdated Republic was an infinite success, delivery virtually a million models inside its first 5 months. A sequel was greater than on the radar of LucasArts, who commissioned Obsidian to tackle the undertaking. BioWare felt like they’d stated all they wanted to with regards to Star Wars, as an alternative eager to create their very own scifi universe that will later turn out to be Mass Impact.
One other key component for BioWare’s departure was LucasArts’ strict deadline. They wished the sport in a 12 months, no questions requested. Looking for extra inventive freedom, BioWare handed and Obsidian took management of the undertaking. Towards all odds, Knights of the Outdated Republic II: The Sith Lords would meet its proposed launch date, hitting the streets on December 6, 2004.
Although the PlayStation 2 and the GameCube had been remarkably highly effective, KOTOR’s deep ties to the unique Xbox helped make the console such an incredible go-to for anybody who was taking part in PC video games on the time.
The controversy about whether or not KOTOR II is best than the primary will proceed till the top of time. Whereas I personally desire The Sith Lords, it may possibly’t be understated how genuinely distinctive these two video games are. The Sith Lords was sensible in its exploration of the complicated realities of the Power itself, musing on the hubris of making an attempt to regulate one thing that highly effective, marking the Jedi and the Sith as virtually two sides of the identical coin.
KOTOR’s darker, extra sophisticated view of Star Wars can be majorly influential on the present state of the franchise. The Sith Lords was one of many first Star Wars tales to actually dive into the harsher, extra sinister realities of the Jedi. It additionally ended on one thing of a cliffhanger, leaving an open-ended be aware that was simply begging for a crescendo.
An Unfinished Finale
Following the completion of The Sith Lords, the workforce at Obsidian had been seeking to end off the trilogy that began all the way in which again in 2003 with KOTOR I. The stage was truthfully and really set, as the sport was poised to discover uncharted worlds that existed within the darkest corners of the Star Wars galaxy.
Revan’s destiny was within the palms of the Exile, as The Sith Lords spent fairly a little bit of time establishing their inevitable assembly within the third chapter. Obsidian was excited to discover the worlds that existed far past the Outer Rim, in what’s identified in Star Wars lore as Unknown House. That was the place Revan and the Exile had been destined to satisfy.
The Sith had been additionally deliberate to be the sport’s predominant antagonist, as KOTOR III was plotting to look at the darkest, most horrific types of the longtime Star Wars villains. It was actually planning to go to some fairly darkish locations, as Obsidian inventive director Chris Avellone made clear. The purpose was to complete the story, pitting Revan and the Exile towards among the most sinister Sith Lords the franchise had seen.
Celebration members from KOTOR I had been additionally deliberate to return, together with Bastilla and Carth. All in all, KOTOR III was meant to each wrap up the present trilogy whereas leaving room open for lots extra. It actually appeared like KOTOR had every little thing going for it, and the sky was the restrict.
KOTOR’s darker, extra sophisticated view of Star Wars can be majorly influential on the present state of the franchise.
Sadly, it was a narrative that we by no means received to see. Shifting priorities at LucasArts and a number of failed tasks put KOTOR III in deep trouble, and it was finally shelved in favor of The Outdated Republic. Sadly, the studio simply noticed extra money in an ongoing MMO versus a one-off RPG.
It is possible we’ll by no means see what KOTOR III was going to be. It is attainable that Casey Hudson will use gentle parts of what KOTOR III was going to be for the upcoming Star Wars: Destiny of the Outdated Republic, however its place within the timeline makes it unlikely to be any type of direct continuation. As a substitute, all we’ll possible ever have to point out for KOTOR III are the phrases of Obsidian and some followers who proceed to work on fan tasks to this present day. It is a story that by no means received an opportunity to be completed, and that is fairly unlucky.
