'Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords' is the sequel to one of the best games of the 21st century. It had an awful lot to live up to, and I believe it did so surprisingly well.
Many of the companions are fun to interact with and bring along on your adventures. Players of the original 'KOTOR' will be pleased to find themselves reunited with more than one familiar face. One of the companions is simply awful, and barely deserves mentioning. The character I'm referring to is a droid-like drone, and you *won't* want him around for long. I have no further criticisms of the companion system, though; in fact, I'd say that a few of the player's sidekicks are outstanding. I'm chiefly thinking of Atton and Kreia - two characters you meet very early in the game - but it could be extended to several others.
The story is considerably more complex than the original game's. Some people will welcome this; others won't. I *did* welcome it, and found the network of plot twists and unforeseen developments to be fascinating. The RPG quality of the game also means that the twists may not occur on your playthrough, or that you may experience other developments that I haven't faced.
This game has two key antagonists - Darth Sion and Darth Nihilus. (This isn't really a spoiler as they're featured on most cover art!) I don't think that either of these two Sith Lords are quite as intimidating as the original game's Darth Malak, but the way in which they are written will really challenge your perception of the 'Star Wars' universe, especially where the Force is concerned.
The planets and other environments open to exploration are broadly as good as those in the first game, but I found it slightly disappointing that none of the worlds became quite as immersive or deep as Taris, the first planet the player experiences in the original 'KOTOR'. I view this rather negatively, but not all players will: some will welcome the lighter approach to the worlds of 'KOTOR II', as you can cover more ground in less time. My only other criticism of the landscapes of 'The Sith Lords' relates to Korriban. You may recall visiting this planet in the first game. I do, and I remember finding it considerably more interesting and enjoyable in that earlier game.
The side quests maintain the high quality set by the first game, you'll be pleased to hear. It should also be noted that there appear to be a greater number of them in this game, and many of them can be completed very quickly. They're absolutely worthwhile, though, as they often expand on the player's understanding of the various lands, characters and events experienced throughout the game.
Pazaak and swoop-racing both make a welcome return. Pazaak hasn't really changed a great deal (although I don't think NPC pazaak players are quite as easy to find), but the swoop tracks have been made significantly more challenging - and addictive! Overall, whilst 'KOTOR II' falls slightly behind the original game in certain areas, I believe that it actually surpasses it in others. The first one was a great game for RPG fans. The second one is a fantastic game for 'Star Wars' fans. It's definitely one of my greatest gaming experiences this year, and I have to recommend it to almost all gamers.
Many of the companions are fun to interact with and bring along on your adventures. Players of the original 'KOTOR' will be pleased to find themselves reunited with more than one familiar face. One of the companions is simply awful, and barely deserves mentioning. The character I'm referring to is a droid-like drone, and you *won't* want him around for long. I have no further criticisms of the companion system, though; in fact, I'd say that a few of the player's sidekicks are outstanding. I'm chiefly thinking of Atton and Kreia - two characters you meet very early in the game - but it could be extended to several others.
The story is considerably more complex than the original game's. Some people will welcome this; others won't. I *did* welcome it, and found the network of plot twists and unforeseen developments to be fascinating. The RPG quality of the game also means that the twists may not occur on your playthrough, or that you may experience other developments that I haven't faced.
This game has two key antagonists - Darth Sion and Darth Nihilus. (This isn't really a spoiler as they're featured on most cover art!) I don't think that either of these two Sith Lords are quite as intimidating as the original game's Darth Malak, but the way in which they are written will really challenge your perception of the 'Star Wars' universe, especially where the Force is concerned.
The planets and other environments open to exploration are broadly as good as those in the first game, but I found it slightly disappointing that none of the worlds became quite as immersive or deep as Taris, the first planet the player experiences in the original 'KOTOR'. I view this rather negatively, but not all players will: some will welcome the lighter approach to the worlds of 'KOTOR II', as you can cover more ground in less time. My only other criticism of the landscapes of 'The Sith Lords' relates to Korriban. You may recall visiting this planet in the first game. I do, and I remember finding it considerably more interesting and enjoyable in that earlier game.
The side quests maintain the high quality set by the first game, you'll be pleased to hear. It should also be noted that there appear to be a greater number of them in this game, and many of them can be completed very quickly. They're absolutely worthwhile, though, as they often expand on the player's understanding of the various lands, characters and events experienced throughout the game.
Pazaak and swoop-racing both make a welcome return. Pazaak hasn't really changed a great deal (although I don't think NPC pazaak players are quite as easy to find), but the swoop tracks have been made significantly more challenging - and addictive! Overall, whilst 'KOTOR II' falls slightly behind the original game in certain areas, I believe that it actually surpasses it in others. The first one was a great game for RPG fans. The second one is a fantastic game for 'Star Wars' fans. It's definitely one of my greatest gaming experiences this year, and I have to recommend it to almost all gamers.