There's no score at the end of this review. Even though we've been playing The Old Republic for 30 hours (and counting), giving a definitive verdict is basically impossible at this stage. But what we can do is tell you whether it's worth playing it or not.
Even if you've never played an MMO before, or fear the very idea of them, you might be surprised by BioWare's take on the genre. We'll be playing the game all over the Christmas break, so will return in January with a score. For now, here's what we think.
People play MMOs for a lot of different reasons. Some are compelled by loot and leveling, others by playing the numbers and exploiting the system. Some are in it for PVP, others for raiding with friends.
But nobody plays an MMO because they want to get immersed in a rich story - and that's where Star Wars: The Old Republic comes in. It's everything you expect from a modern online RPG, but with a few crucial differences: the addition of a meaningful plot arc for each class, moral choices and full voice acting.
In other MMOs, quests often feel like pointless errands. The Old Republic's are, structurally, no different, but by book-ending each one with a plot with multiple outcomes, every objective - no matter how mundane - feels like it serves a purpose.
Talking point
The dialogue system is pure BioWare; think Mass Effect or Dragon Age. As you talk to NPCs you're given three ways to respond, each of which steers the conversation in a different direction. Your choices also affect your standing with the light and dark sides of the Force, which fans of the Knights of the Old Republic games will appreciate.
Don't expect a quest system that completely rewrites the MMO rule book. It's still essentially killing and collecting, but the story really does bring it to life. Quests often have humorous or unexpected outcomes, and the class-specific missions offer a constant, running story that's genuinely compelling. It also means you can comfortably play the game solo without being numbed by boredom.
Convnience is another thing The Old Republic brings to the table. Whether it's something as simple as the 'area loot' option, which automatically loots all nearby fallen enemies at once, or the ability to send your companions on errands, like collecting materials or crafting items. There's still busywork, but less of it - and if you really don't want to delegate to your crew, you can do it all yourself.
But let's rewind. Your first, and most important, choice is what class you're going to be - and whether you'll side with the Republic (the good guys), or the Empire (the not-good guys). Here's a breakdown of the classes for each side, and the different types of gameplay each one offers.
SITH INQUISITOR
Starting planet Korriban | Advanced classes Sith Assassin, Sith Sorcerer | Races Human, Rattataki, Sith, Twi'lek, Zabrak | Personal ship Fury-class Imperial Interceptor
Basically a mage. They can use lightsabers, but their specialisation is in the Force. They can fry enemies with powerful lightning, trap enemies in whirlwinds and sacrifice their companion for a health boost.
SITH WARRIOR
Starting planet Korriban | Advanced classes Sith Marauder, Sith Juggernaut | Races Cyborg, Human, Sith, Zabrak | Personal ship Fury-class Imperial Interceptor
The Empire's tanks. They're best at wading into groups of enemies with their lightsabers, protected by heavy armour. They can also dual-wield lightsabers if they opt for the Marauder advanced class.
IMPERIAL AGENT
Starting planet Hutta | Advanced classes Operative, Sniper| Races Chiss, Cyborg, Human, Rattataki, Zabrak | Personal ship X-70B Phantom
These guys use tech and stealth to defeat enemies. They can take cover, use portable shields, and score critical hits by sniping. Later, they're able to poison foes and use bots to increase health regen.
BOUNTY HUNTER
Starting planet Hutta | Advanced classes Powertech, Mercenary | Races Chiss, Cyborg, Human, Rattataki, Zabrak | Personal ship D5-Mantis Patrol Craft
Bounty Hunters also favour tech, but combine it with brute strength and heavy weapons. They can torch enemies with flamethrowers, toss wide area explosives and fly with their trademark jetpack.
Comments
15 comments so far...
Joco84 on 22 Dec '11 said:
If only I had a PC to play it - Shame, as I loved the KOTOR games on Xbox....
c97dem on 22 Dec '11 said:
Have generally hated MMO's (tried Star Wars and WoW and didnt even last a month) and swore to never play them again, but this is seriously tempting me....
nologo on 22 Dec '11 said:
so many ppl have bad things to say about mmo's when they first came out...
WoW today is totally different from vanilla wow.
ppl need to know the game will build.. new end game content will be released.
more classes...races.... expansions... its got endless potential. 1 of the reason why i love mmo's so much over a static single player. my character can grow with game content.
the things i got annoyed with on the original games is that my character grew.. i levelled him up..for what? just for the end battle.. then what? nothing. mmo's are awesome.
MattyR95 on 22 Dec '11 said:
I want this game, but my PC is crap, so i'll have to make do without it.
potnoodle1 on 22 Dec '11 said:
Seriously guys, give this game a shot. Even if you've never touched an MMO before, or if you've tried one but didn't like it. Finding it difficult to put down and the class quests are very compelling that you just have to see what happens next. So far the player commuity on there as a whole have been fantastic. If you were a fan of KotoR, don't ignore this one just because it's mmo.
Metatasian on 22 Dec '11 said:
This game looks awesome, but I am not prepared to pay monthly to play it. that's what kills MMO's for me, the recurring cost.
potnoodle1 on 22 Dec '11 said:
I suppose it's a matter of what you get out of it. I've paid a lot more for a single player game that has barely lasted me a few days than I have for the cost of a single month of an mmo that I've played continuously.
KMakawa on 23 Dec '11 said:
This game is just a beast, it truly is.
Consular class quest is something special, LOVE IT!
Medven on 23 Dec '11 said:
I'm playing this game too and have to say my first impressions have far exceeded those of other MMO's in leaps and bounds.
I am a big fan of the MMO genre and have tried quite a few of those post-WoW but none of the others have come close.
For me the first few months are the golden ages of an MMO; when players are all still exploring the world, crafted items of all levels are useful to someone out there and players will occasionally scream out in General chat "ZOMG! Look what i found!!". We are all leveling together and enjoying it.
But once that is over what will keep people wanting to play through to the end-game? Bioware have hit the nail on the head with a personal story arc for each class. So far i have tried the Sith Inquis, Imperial Agent and Bounty Hunter and each one is completely individual with no rehashing of quests. While you do end up having to go the same areas you have completely different objectives and motivations which enable your character to stand out from the other classes around you.
If you are thinking about getting this game but hedgeing your bets I would advise you to try it asap with us.
After your 30 days if you dont feel like continueing then you can at least be happy with that months worth of excelent gaming which is more than most console games offer now (for a similarprice!)
nologo on 23 Dec '11 said:
agreed - i've paid £40 for game i've spent less than an hour on.
i've played wow since beta (i think that was about 5 years ago).
update: also agree withe the person above.. the game costs £35 with 30days free play. i've not played a single player game since FF7 which ive played for longer than 30days....
MPH on 23 Dec '11 said:
The thing is this is the sort of game you'd play all the time.. so no need to go out and purchase new games every month. I've cancelled all of my preorders for next year as I'm too busy playing this and I've already taken out a 6 month sub at £46. I'm going to save s**tloads compared to buying new games each month or even renting. And even once I do eventually get bored of the game, I can pick up the games I missed cheap as chips. It's a win-win situation.
The_KFD_Case on 27 Dec '11 said:
If others wish to spend time and money on MMOs, that is is their business. Personally I resent the business model as a matter of principle. Couple that with the fact that I greatly prefer single-player campagins (though apparently this MMO is supposed to have something passing for genuine story telling for once, or so CVG claims) and I outright refuse to lend my support to MMOs. Interesting how BioWare can go from being my personal developer darling for over a decade to being the loathed tramp of the developer neighbourhood in a matter of a couple of years (and the influence of EA). Oh well. NEXT!
Malmo on 28 Dec '11 said:
You still end up paying a fortune to play a single game, and there's bound to be other games people would actually want to play. Its not like you're getting anything new when you renew a subscription, as in your case you're simply missing out on playing any other games.
Then there's the fact that in many cases such as mine, games are not the issue at all. I work full time, and spend a lot of time with friends and my other half, so gaming is not much of a regular activity for me, and when it is, it isn't usually for very long. Subscription based games completely negate a large potential market of people who simply cannot dedicate the time to playing it once they've payed.
FlacidDonkeyGuy on 28 Dec '11 said:
"You still end up paying a fortune to play a single game, and there's bound to be other games people would actually want to play. Its not like you're getting anything new when you renew a subscription, as in your case you're simply missing out on playing any other games."
This quote hear is from someone who has never played a MMO (or for any reasonable length of time), as for "missing out" that goes both ways.
In any case, Swtor game and a year subscription £132, year after £92 with added content.
XBL subscription and Call of Duty MW3 & FIFA 12 £120ish (No DLC)
allygray69 on 2 Jan '12 said:
Well been level 50 for a few days now. Bit gutted there aint much to do at 50. Yes theres flashpoints but i have no interest in PVE. The PVP side of things is pretty limited, fed up of the same 3 battlegrounds, hutball had enough of, sick to death of it, even if we are winning most of the times. Nearly full Champion gear already lol.World PVP doesnt exist in Ilum at all, both sides just trade quest objectives and chat together in the middle. Lots of annoying bugs, lets hope for a mega patch in the first month else people will walk away.