Game News KotOR shots at 3D Gamers

[Saint_Proverbius]

Tags: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

<A href="http://www.3dgamers.com/">3D Gamers</a> has posted <a href="http://www.3dgamers.com/screenshots/games/swknightsrepublic/">more screenshots</a> in their section devoted to <A href="http://www.lucasarts.com/products/swkotor/">Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic</a>.
<br>
<br>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.3dgamers.com/screenshots/games/swknightsrepublic/"><img src="Http://www.rpgcodex.com/images/screenshots/swkotor/tiny007.jpg" height="120" width="160"> <img src="Http://www.rpgcodex.com/images/screenshots/swkotor/tiny008.jpg" height="120" width="160"></a></div>
<br>
<br>
Fear the big, brown rancor beast!
<br>

 

[Jed]

In Reference to the Rancor Screenshot:

"Well, if the kids liked regular lightsabers, then they'll foam at the mouth for DOUBLE lightsabers! EXTREME!"

Has the world really become so distorted that a classic lightsaber is no longer impressive? Has PH4T L3WT really become so pervasive?

I hate everything.
Jed

 

[Saint_Proverbius]

Yeah, I was kind of thinking that too. You'd think things like that would be rare considering you've only seen one of those out of all the five Star Wars movies. However, nearly every single screenshot of KotOR you see features either dual wielding or the double light saber..

And the big question is.. Without shields and the great sword equivalent of a light saber, how the hell are they going to balance all this?

 

[Mistress]

And the big question is.. Without shields and the great sword equivalent of a light saber, how the hell are they going to balance all this?

Badly, no doubt.

 

[Flarnet]

I fear that the uni-directional stencil shadow will be the curse of games now that overdone colored lightning is on the decline. It works reasonably well in most outdoor situations, but in most indoor scenes, where the ligthning is complex, it becomes painfully obvious that it doesn't cut it.

Just look at this screenshot:

http://www.3dgamers.com/screenshots/gam ... ic/14.html

And while you're looking, notice the similarity of the fish-like things to the fish-like thing in Half-Life.

And hi btw.

 

[Jed]

I don't know much about lighting, but I do know how scary those big fish were in HL when the decided to come after you.

J

 

[Mistress]

And while you're looking, notice the similarity of the fish-like things to the fish-like thing in Half-Life.

And hi btw.

Hah! Those fish things scared the crap out of me when I played Half-life. :!:

Hi - and welcome to RPGCodex, hope you like it here

 

[Section8]

What is this "bal-ans" of which you speak?

 

[Walks with the Snails]

Does anyone else think a double-bladed lightsaber would really be pretty useless in real combat? Just think of how much more limited you'd be in your range of movement with the thing, since a lot of sword moves you'd normally be able to use would chop you in half with the other end. It's not like you'd probably be much more effective using the thing two-handed, either, since the things appear to be really light-weight. I really hate it when making characters look cool is all that matters, reminds me of reading fan-fics made by 13-year olds.

 

[protobob]

Does anyone else think a double-bladed lightsaber would really be pretty useless in real combat?

The biggest problem is avoiding slicing yourself open with it. In the end though, it's a gimmick more than anything.

 

[Saint_Proverbius]

Well, that depends on how the impliment it. If it's a gimmick, that's more acceptable than if it follows the D&D rules for a double bladed axe. After all, there's really not much in the way of items that exist in Star Wars to balance out using just one, normal light saber versus one that hits twice like the double bladed weapons in D&D do. Even dual wielding in D&D versus just having one weapon in this context is preferable. You may get a lesser chance to hit, but you get two hits. There's no shield consideration here, nor is there a large, two handed version to consider.

 

[protobob]

Well, my gimmick comment was pointed at the existance of the double lightsaber in the movie. There is really no real reason why one would want to use one unless you want to have a nicely choreographed 2 v 1 fight for the big screen.

The only thing it compares to (atleast that I know of) in real life is quarterstaff fighting. Now that I think of it, the only time I've seen anything similar was in that Looney Toones 'Robin Hood' cartoon.

If i was going to put a double light saber in a game, I'd require the player character have mega skill to use it properly. If a level 1 padawan tried to use it, they'd probably experience a rather fatal critical failure.

Then again, maybe back in those legendary days every jedi worth his salt used a double light saber. Grin.

 

[Walks with the Snails]

Well, Episode 1 was so forgettable, I've pretty much already, well, forgotten about it, so I don't remember how the dude's lightsaber looked in it. I just took another look at the screenshots, and the double-lightsaber does look like it's there and has an extra-long grip that's held with two hands, indicating they're probably going with the 3E double-weapon rules, which is pretty silly. It would most likely be easier to use the thing one-handed, but then you wouldn't get the cool bonus attack I suppose. Part of the idea of using a double-weapon for an extra attack is that it has enough heft to where using two hands gives you some extra momentum (and also enough to make the use of it a bit awkward), but I guess they forgot about that. If you've just got a one-pound handle that you insist on using with two hands, it's not going to work the same way as a double-axe or the like.

As far as balance, all I can think of is you shouldn't be able to use your free hand for Jedi powers if you decide to dual-wield, but I don't know if they're going to do that or just want to snag a few starry-eyed kids who'll wet their pants at the idea of finding an ub4r-l33t double-lightsaber they can whoop up on people with.

 

[MF]

Hmm. It's ridiculous.

It reminds me of why I liked the first Dark Forces game so much. It was a mission based FPS with refreshing features, and it was Star Wars with just guns. It even dwelled on that fact. Katarn was a tough mercenary that kept to guns and worldy things. No Jedi tricks involved. In a world in which you KNEW that sort of stuff existed, it was a 'cool' idea to play a guy that doesn't have that and still kicks ass. Jedi Knight kind of ruined that for me after getting your lightsabre. (Even though it stil was a nice game, unlike JK2)

A Jedi should be something awesome. But moreso, a Jedi should be something more than a fancy faggot with a lightsabre. Lightsabres are used to deflect blaster fire in combat and the initial fight between Vader and the Alec Guinness guy..e Obi-Wan was nice. It looked as if they had a sword with a weightless blade which they wielded in a fashion similar to certain Asian styles using lightweight swords or to a certain extent rapiers. They actually made moves from the wrist.

From those shots, it looks as if they're swining a 50 pound claymore.

Oh, I just thought of another thing. Aren't lightsabres a hard thing to craft, or rare? If you could wield two, why not wield a lightsabre belt that has a radius of death when you click in your buckle or something? Or extend that belt and make it vertical to use it as a permanent shield? The whole idea is silly. Star Wars loses all of its mysticism and majesty. 'Explaining' The Force in Episode 1 was a horrbile mistake, since Star Wars left more to the imagination than Star Trek, which was exactly its forte.


The concept of a Jedi does make for excellent levelling/experience systems in an RPG, though. It just ruins Star Wars (even more).


How about a Star Wars porn movie? You could have both remasterd and manipulated footage of Carrie Fisher and have Natalie Portman in, and you can have cool stuff like Lightcocks and ...

 

[Mistress]

How about a Star Wars porn movie? You could have both remasterd and manipulated footage of Carrie Fisher and have Natalie Portman in, and you can have cool stuff like Lightcocks and ...

That idea truely disturbs me. Especially when I consider what part Chewbacca might play in such a movie.....

 

[Sol Invictus]

The furries would love it. Remember the Star Wars Christmas Special? Chewbacca's family made fun sex sounds and Carrie Fisher was made to sing an awful song.

 

[Section8]

Carrie Fisher was made to sing an awful song.

While smacked up to the gills, too. I really want to see that video, but don't really want to go to some con and find some geek selling boots of it.

 

[Saint_Proverbius]

A Jedi should be something awesome. But moreso, a Jedi should be something more than a fancy faggot with a lightsabre. Lightsabres are used to deflect blaster fire in combat and the initial fight between Vader and the Alec Guinness guy..e Obi-Wan was nice. It looked as if they had a sword with a weightless blade which they wielded in a fashion similar to certain Asian styles using lightweight swords or to a certain extent rapiers. They actually made moves from the wrist.

That's one thing about the screenshots that really bothers me. Look at all the screenshots with people using lightsabers. How many fucking jedi are there in this game?! It almost looks like the only way to be different in this game is NOT to be one.

Oh, I just thought of another thing. Aren't lightsabres a hard thing to craft, or rare? If you could wield two, why not wield a lightsabre belt that has a radius of death when you click in your buckle or something? Or extend that belt and make it vertical to use it as a permanent shield? The whole idea is silly. Star Wars loses all of its mysticism and majesty. 'Explaining' The Force in Episode 1 was a horrbile mistake, since Star Wars left more to the imagination than Star Trek, which was exactly its forte.

I think the only thing rare, or semi-rare, are going to be the MAGICAL light sabers, which is a feature that really turns me off. It looks to me like they're just porting D&D to the Star Wars universe. Everyone's running around with lightsabers(re: swords), along the way you get to encounter magical versions of those lightsabers(Dude, it's +1, +2 vs Wookies!), cast spells(we'll call them "force powers"), and so on.

 

[triCritical]

Same 'ol Bioware crap.

Looking at these screenshots I can't help but think that this game will play no different from the BG's and NWN. I see all sorts of neato moves and garbage, only to think that they will be animations that you have absolutely no control over. I can see it now, I will be a jedi with a uber-quad saber +4 and simply left click over the enemy to watch stupendous animations for the next 23 minutes of gameplay. No worries for Bioware since Star War fans are so easy to please.