Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is wonderful, but another long-awaited Star Wars game could rival it – and it’s already in the works. Survivor and its predecessor, Fallen Order, have won the hearts of many Star Wars fans. Both games follow the story of Cal Kestis, a survivor of the Great Jedi Purge, as he helps to assemble a fledgling resistance movement while embracing his half-forgotten training. They’ve been praised for their engaging narratives, thrilling Soulslike combat, and deep exploration, although some criticism has been directed at the Star Wars games’ performance issues.
Many Star Wars games, Jedi: Survivor included, lack a certain freedom, however, being confined to a particular character’s story or having little customization or freedom of choice. For players who want to create their own characters and insert them into the Star Wars universe, there are relatively few options – but that could change soon.
Knights of the Old Republic Is Star Wars’ Premiere RPG
First released in 2003 for PC and Xbox, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (affectionately called KOTOR) is the franchise’s flagship RPG series – and a remake is on the way. It was developed by BioWare, a Canadian studio that would later go on to create an original sci-fi RPG series in Mass Effect. Based on Wizards of the Coast’s Star Wars Roleplaying Game, a tabletop RPG, KOTOR allows players to customize characters and set them loose in a galaxy far, far away. Unlike in Jedi: Survivor, players aren’t limited to just one type of character; they can choose between three classes – Scout, Soldier, and Scoundrel. Later on, the game allows them to choose a Jedi-based subclass.
Like Jedi: Survivor‘s, KOTOR‘s story takes players to a series of iconic Star Wars locations, including Tatooine and Kashyyyk, and features a plot with some fascinating ties to the franchise at large. Set shortly after a Mandalorian invasion of Republic space, it pits players against the rogue Darth Malak, a Jedi turncoat now leading a Sith armada against the Republic. Malak’s betrayal has split the Jedi order, and he’s gained some followers from among their ranks. Players will also visit the Jedi Order in its glory days, and can train at the Jedi academy on Dantooine. It’s a truly turbulent setting in the Star Wars continuity, and one in which players have a lot of agency and choice.
KOTOR‘s greatest strength, however, is its morality system. Dialogue and story choices give characters points toward the light or dark side of the Force. The side players choose affects what type of abilities they’re able to gain – as well as certain events in the story. Unlike Jedi: Survivor‘s single ending, KOTOR also has multiple endings depending on which side the player character trends toward.
The KOTOR Series Really Takes Off In The Sequels
The first KOTOR is good, but its sequels take the series to new heights. 2004’s Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords, developed by Obsidian Entertainment, simplifies many of the systems its predecessor introduced. It also incorporates new skills and classes, and some adjustments to weaponry similar to the new lightsaber stances in Jedi: Survivor. Its moral choices are more impactful, its writing more nuanced, and its characters more complex. The player character, an exile from the Jedi Order, can seek redemption – or not. However, players shouldn’t expect a total revamp of the KOTOR system in its sequel; the two are almost identical in terms of gameplay and graphical engines, and KOTOR 2 is not without its bugs.
KOTOR had another sequel in 2011’s The Old Republic, although this time, it came in the form of an MMO. The Old Republic allows players to start as members of the Jedi Order or Sith Empire, although their characters’ individual morality isn’t linked to which side they choose. For the first time ever in the series, players can also choose their characters’ species. With new combat and dialogue systems, The Old Republic served as a major upgrade – although it has been criticized for the limitations of its multiplayer functions. A number of expansion packs have been released, most recently 2022’s Legacy of the Sith. The early game is currently free to play, but some content is locked behind a subscription.
KOTOR Remake News Is Scarce
Aspyr and Sony Interactive Entertainment announced plans for a KOTOR remake in 2021. Built from the ground up as a timed PlayStation 5 exclusive, the remake intended to revamp the original’s clunky combat system and better incorporate it into the wider Star Wars continuity, including that of Jedi: Survivor. It included many developers and artists who worked on the original, along with a number of newcomers. Some speculated that the remake would include the events of both the first KOTOR and its sequel, or at least part of the sequel, as a more complete project, though this was never confirmed.
Although the KOTOR remake was originally set for a 2022 release, that release date was canceled suddenly with a series of firings. This apparently followed poor reception of a gameplay demo shown to executives at Sony and Lucasfilm. Aspyr was removed from the project and replaced by Saber Interactive. However, with no news to the contrary, it’s possible that the remake is still in development, though no verifiable release window has been provided.
Although the KOTOR remake hasn’t been officially canceled, it’s hard to tell where the project stands. However, players who want to experience the classic Star Wars RPG don’t need to wait indefinitely for a remake. The original KOTOR and its sequel can be played on a variety of modern platforms. KOTOR 1 and 2 are available on PC and Mac, Android and iOS mobile phones, and Nintendo Switch. The Old Republic, however, is only available on PC. Old as they are, these classic RPGs are still worth checking out in 2023, and would make an excellent follow-up to a Star Wars Jedi: Survivor playthrough.
