![]() And while the main character and battle controls are still functional, they could have used an update to operate at least a little more smoothly. ![]() The mini-map is small and only shows a limited area around the player I almost never used it and had to keep returning to the clunky menu screen to access the main map of the level. Traversing these areas is only made more frustrating by the absolutely useless mini-map. The areas themselves aren’t terribly large, but they are just big enough to become frustrating running across them to talk to an NPC just to be told to run all the way back to where you started. While there is a rudimentary fast-travel system to quickly return to a central location to heal and tend to the party, it is extremely limited and only takes you between one point and the home base at a time. A fast-travel option between at least some points in the various locations would have been helpful and cut down on the endless backtracking required to complete side quests. ![]() However, a few minor updates might have been appreciated with this remastered version from developer Aspyr. The core gameplay and narrative of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic still hold up well and create an immensely enjoyable experience. The system is a little clunky to use because of the controls, but the overall combat and resolution mechanics still work well.Ĭombat becomes much more exciting when Lightsabers and Force powers are involved Using BioWare’s classic “pausing” method, players can pause combat to give specific commands to the player character and the two accompanying companions. As characters progress and gain more powers (especially Jedi powers and weaponry) and gain new companions with different abilities, combat becomes more strategic and engaging. Early combat encounters in the game are particularly hilarious, as the number of low-level characters fire wildly until a lucky combatant finally rolls high enough to actually hit someone. The behind-the-scenes mechanics implement Dungeons and Dragons-style attributes and resolutions using a d20, which can lead to some frustrating encounters and results. The core gameplay still holds up surprisingly well. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic offers a clinic on authentic world-building and delivering compelling narratives in that world, and the dedication to the Star Wars setting and its characters represents BioWare at its best. Side activities and mini-games, including the addictive card game Pazaak, are frequent and often provide their own great moments of word-building and storytelling. While the emphasis on character interaction and side quests can lead to some meandering at times, they work with the core narrative to create a setting that feels alive and authentic. In classic BioWare fashion, players will need to make choices that will veer a player towards the “light” and “dark” side of the force, and the outcomes of decisions aren’t always clear. In addition to a great core narrative, the game features fantastic interactions between various party members and meaningful side quests that lead to meaningful choices for the player. Set 4000 years before the saga of the Galactic Empire in the core Star Wars canon, Knights of the Old Republic weaves a terrific tale that is as engaging and compelling today as it was in 2003. The graphics aren’t great anymore, but it looks like Star Wars, which is good enough However, the game did crash on me a handful of times, so saving often is recommended to avoid losing progress because of game stability issues. The game runs well on the Nintendo Switch, and the friendly save system makes the game well-suited for handheld play. The voice-acting, sound effects, and music still hold up and help lift up the overall presentation. It may look old, but it looks and feels like a Star Wars story, and there is nothing graphically that gets in the way of the gameplay and storytelling. While the game certainly looks old, it doesn’t look bad, thanks to impeccable art design and clever use of spatial imagery to convey scope and scale. The user-interface is laughably nostalgic with its giant, clunky, and awkward menus. The fidelity of the graphics, especially the character models, animations and textures, is dated. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic on the Nintendo Switch is clearly a game that was released on the original Xbox. If I roll a natural 20, I think I can critically hit and blow up the planet
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