Review KotOR satisfies 1Up

[Saint_Proverbius]

Tags: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

<A href="http://www.1up.com/">1Up</a> has drawn up <A href="http://www.1up.com/article2/0,4364,1393615,00.asp">their review</a> of <a href="http://www.swkotor.com">Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic</a>, giving it a <b>8.5/10</b>. It's a pretty good read, and even covers some of the downsides of the title, like this:
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<blockquote>Choice, whether acknowledged or not, does present a few problems. The first of which is looping goofiness. Sometimes it can be difficult to discern whether or not all the talking and decision making that just occurred had any relevant effect on the path ahead. And so, because things in KOTOR are not always cut and dry, it's possible to run a loop with people, repetitiously chatting about the same things again and again simply because I wanted to advance down a certain road but didn't know how or even if I was supposed to at that certain point. It's also possible, in these non-branching situations, to go back and rewrite history. Pursue one course of action -> continue speaking -> cause dialog string to loop -> pursue another course -> loop it again. In a sense it may seem like this tree is broken, but keep in mind the loop only occurs during non-pivotal encounters. I'd like to believe loops of any and every kind were left in to ensure that players could go back and speak to people, relearning what they inevitably forgot, but a more robust notes system and cues from NPCs (Hey buddy, we already talked about this) could have done away with the conversational loop of death altogether. </blockquote>
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You can also use this to keep trying <b>Persuade</b> checks until you get a <b>Success</b> on them. Wheee!
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Spotted this at <A href="http://www.bluesnews.com">Blue's News</a>.

 

[Voss]

That is a negative point. Very, very exploitable.

"Sell me this droid for half price"

[Failure] "No."

<loop x 12>

[Success]"Well, I will give it to you for 75%."

"Deal"

Though I also have encounter some people that walk away or end the conversation. The exploitable ones are more common though.

 

[Volourn]

I agree. It happens way too often; but as Voss points there are a number of convos that there is going back and those ones are more enjoable when you succeed knowing that; and much more painful when you don't.

 

[Seven]

I haven't brought this game yet, is it worth it?

 

[Volourn]

No.

 

[Otaku_Hanzo]

No.

lol

I think it is, Seven. But that's just my opinion and I'm probably being biased.

 

[EEVIAC]

Isn't it great to see that perpetual RPG Codex favourite Ivan "Gnarly Dude of Doom" Sulic has found himself a new job? No? I didn't think so either.

 

[Sol Invictus]

Volourn no likey the gamey?

I find that odd, considering I actually like this game more than NWN or Dungeon Siege. In fact, I'm rather enjoying it.

 

[Azael]

Sarcasm?

Anyway, the game somehow ended up on my harddrive, and I'm enjoying it at the moment, although the controls aren't too my liking.

 

[Diogo Ribeiro]

Did You Know?
Near the halfway point of the game, your character can choose to become an ad hoc lawyer in a murder trial with a presumably innocent man's life at stake, a sequence that is meticulously played out, from your opening argument to your closing statement.

NWN Blues. Is it that hard to come up with more diverse quests? A quest solely devoted to our investigation skills isn't a bad thing, but having it repeated again in their next game....

 

[Volourn]

Hehe, Exitium. It's sarcasm. Just look at my other more detailed poosts on the game.

Well.. RP, true, some quest are like their older ones; but then again, their are different quest as well. Plus, let's face it, there's only so much types of quests one can make. That said, it's the characters involved the various quests that make KOTOR special, I think.

 

[Diogo Ribeiro]

Thats true, yes. However, i dont think quest diversity is necessarily reached a dead end. Oftentimes, you'll see some quests being handled the same way (or being given similar choices of resolution) in different games. It amounts many times to "do this, kill that, talk to X and bring it back" (whoa, that rhymed). Truth be told, i don't know how different the trial quest in KoTOR is different from NWN's quest, but i'm guessing the circumstances and NPCs are the only main differences. Probably the same with other quests. I think CRPGs should start investing in Deus Ex-like possibilites and go beyond simple dialogue possibilities. I like my dialogues, but sometimes i get tired of seeing the same choices over and over. By DX-styled, what i mean is that programmers should program it in a way that quest-solving should be open to players' interpretation. Its not often we scoff at people who say it was impossible to be a pacifist all the way trough FO1. But it was programed in a way we could do it, and some of us did. While DX1 certainly is more contrived in that area, the basic rules allowed us to sometimes develop our own ways of handling problems, beyond the expected ones. I don't know how much i'll like or dislike KoTOR, but i probably would like it better if such a freeform approach was taken, similar to FO, DX and Arcanum.

 

[Volourn]

You had to go there. How many times must I say this - you can't be a complete pacifist in FO. Close; but no cigar. Geez.. hehe. Anyways, I agree, it's always good to mix up stuff. I think most would agree that avriety is always the better part of valour. As for the trial in KOTOR, I haven't done it yet so can't actually compare it to NWN's trial. I did just do an investigation which I liked; but I think they could have allowed the player to use a little more of their skills.

 

[Spazmo]

Yes, you can, Volourn. The Military Base and the Master's Vault--effectively the ONLY two locations you absolutely have to do in Fallout--can be completed without firing a single shot. I know. I've done it myself. You can just flat-out run away from all the other fights. Speech and sneak can get you through Fallout.

 

[Volourn]

Until you set the bomb in the miltitray base which kills how many? Yeah, it may not be bullets, but it sure isn't pacifism...

 

[Jed]

Until you set the bomb in the miltitray base which kills how many? Yeah, it may not be bullets, but it sure isn't pacifism...

It sure ain't combat, either, which is the point. That you can get through the game using skills other than combat skills.

 

[Volourn]

Hello Mcfly! We are talking about pacificism. Blwoing people up with bombs is NOT pacifiscm. Anyone home, Mcfly? Oh, oops, its, X. I'm not surprised he completely misses the point so tries to change the subject. What a Mcfly!