I finally got around
to writing a review for this game. After playing about eighty hours
total on this game (30+ each for dark/light side males, and still playing
15+ each dark/light side females), I realized this is the greatest RPG
in 2003 without question. Having the Star Wars license just adds to
the whole atmosphere of this game. The story is great, the characters
are great as well as their development in the story, the fighting system
is awesome, the levels are sweet, and so much more. You are in the Star
Wars universe when you play this game. Once you play it, you can't get
enough of it. And when you beat it once as a lightsider, you can play
it again as a darksider. Or vice versa. I can't imagine this was the
first RPG made in the Star Wars universe. BioWare has done a superb
job and let's us know that they are the best in doing RPGs and making
them fun and involving. I've never spent so much time on a game or thought
about it while I wasn't playing in a long time.
Graphics
Initially when I
first popped in the disc I was disappointed. Really. I mean it was cool
to start off on a ship about to explode, but that environment was pretty
bland. Lots of gray, but I have to admit that the particle effects were
nice with sparks flying during sword fights and grenades. After I got
off the ship my disappointment turned around. The first world of Taris
was huge and the cityscapes seemed to go off for miles. The city is
reminiscent of Coruscant only 4,000 years before. People were walking
about along with droids and ships taking off in the background. The
sun glare was also particularly nice to look at. And you know what?
The other planets look more stunning as you go through the storyline,
like Dantooine and the Sith world of Korriban.
The character models
themselves look nice, but not really eye-popping. They move their mouths
according to the dialogue and show emotion in their faces pretty well.
Other beings like the Duros do the same thing. Characters flow smoothly
as you fight. They flip, slice, flurry, dodge, jump, and more. Once
you get the lightsaber and become a jedi though, you're in for a treat.
Lightsaber on lightsaber fighting is really sweet to look at with sparks
flying on each successful or non successful hit. The force powers are
nice like the force lightning, and the force wave. You can pause the
action to see the mayhem unfold as each wave of electricity coming out
of your hand electrocutes the enemy. The force wave which knocks down
groups of enemies, has a wave-like effect like when you see heat coming
from the ground on a hot day.
Gameplay
What's an RPG without
gameplay? Probably garbage, but Star Wars is anything but. The fighting
system takes a little bit to get used to, but once it's mastered you'll
be inputing commands without thinking anymore. The system is quasi realtime.
You input commands that you want like attack, flurry, then force wave,
and you'll do those attacks in that order. You can cue up to 4 attacks.
You can cancel moves too just in case you don't want to do that move
anymore. And to keep track of all the action you can pause it on command
for you to think up strategies on how to beat your enemies. Sound simple?
Not really, but it really is innovative.
Walking around planets
you have to talk to people, but the cool part is you can be mean or
nice as you like. Being mean leads to the darkside and being nice, well,
you know, the lightside! This adds more gameplay depth on what you want
to say to a certain individual. The dialogue options are pretty clear
cut on which is the dark and light answer. So once you add up all the
light side and dark side points you want you can look on one of the
menu screens of a light and darkside meter. The higher you go on the
meter the more light side you become and your face changes to a noble
one. Go on the path of the darkside and you'll start looking more sinister
as your skin color gets paler and veins start showing up around. Sounds
sweet doesn't it?
Sound
We all know the
familiar Star Wars theme by John Williams, which is at the beginning
of this game, but the rest of the game's music is all original. That
music really fits the mold in the Star Wars universe 4,000 years ago.
There's no way to explain it only that it just sounds right. The voice
acting is really well done, it's like you're watching an actual movie.
The only person that doesn't talk is your character. Even the alien
species have their own language and adds to the feeling like you're
actually there. The
weapons are all Star Wars authentic. You'll hear the familiar buzz of
lightsabers, clang of swords and bursts of blasters. It feels good to
hear the sound of your lightsaber clashing with another lightsaber and
finally slashing that final blow on your opponent as they fall to the
ground. No complaints here.
Overall
I would say this
is the best RPG I've ever played. This game is an experience. If you
like Star Wars, get this game and even if you don't you might get pulled
into the universe anyway. It has great gameplay, good graphics, and
awesome sound. This game should have been a movie. It's that good.
"Roaarrrgrrrwraaaarrrr.
That means you're as cute as a kinrath pup in Wookie-speak."
--Alvin
| Graphics - Just
great. Good cinematic quality. You're actually playing a Star Wars
movie. |
9.0 |
| Sound - Same old Star Wars theme
never gets old as you being the story. Lightsabers sound like lightsabers.
The voice acting is top notch. |
9.7 |
| Gameplay - Very deep. So much
to do with all the sidequests along with the main quest. Fighting
system takes a while to get used to, but it's smooth once you know
how to use it. |
9.6 |
| Satisfaction - Oh yeah, this game
is duly recommended. Get if even if you're not a Star Wars fan.
2 different endings make you play it twice. |
9.6 |
| Overall |
10 |
