arael

I think i'm going to buy it. but i heard from some people that it's still really buggy and crashes alot. Is that true? and are we expecting a patch?

charlesesl

i just finished it
the frame rate is a bit low on my mx440 with high detail at 800*600
overall the game is great
as long as u can get it to work u ll have a blast playing it

__________________
It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us.
Dr. Viktor E. Frankl

Lokus

It looks great and plays great, and I haven't had a single crash or bug. It could be that I'm just lucky though.

__________________
The black wind howls...

Jeff

Kind of sluggish on my P-4 2.0, with 9500 pro. The games awfully slow paced, I didn't know what I should have expected though knowing it was an RPG.

__________________
For those who believe in God, most of the big questions are answered. But for those of us who can't readily accept the God formula, the big answers don't remain stone-written. We adjust to new conditions and discoveries. We are pliable. Love need not be a command or faith a dictum. I am my own God. We are here to unlearn the teachings of the church, state, and our educational system. We are here to drink beer. We are here to kill war. We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us.
--Charles Bukowski

arael

thanks guys, i'm definately going to buy it

Distraction

Game was great, got it the day it came out and had a couple of sleepless nights trying to beat it as fast as possible. Work was real fun that week.

Ran well for me, frames were decent to tolerable at 1024x768 until I found the option that to turn off the grass, then it was pretty smooth. Running an athalon xp 2800 with 512 megs ddr300 and a geforce fx 5200.

Only crashed once for me, but I was also minimizing it alot so...

goat_attack

The game's a blast, but pretty resource intensive. I haven't had any crashes in about 10 hours of play, but sometimes the ground textures disapear, and I end up walking around in a black void. Weird, but I can play through it.

Lasereth

Oh well, the XBox version is available and most excellent! I'm sort of a fan of the game. I'd play it on XBox before PC unless you have a damn nice system. The XBox version has great graphics and the same gameplay (sans a few extras for the PC version). If you don't have an XBox I can see playing it on the PC though. I've seen the PC version getting slightly lower reviews than the XBox version. None of the reviewers really tell why, however. Technical issues maybe? I think it might be something with the control scheme.

-Lasereth

__________________
"A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert

arael

Just shipped!!! i can't wait

Prophecy

I'm still waiting for the Downloadable content for the Xbox version, hopefully we'll get some the stuff you PC people are getting. And for all the people just getting this game for PC, enjoy it's one hell of a RPG.

__________________
La Disciplina È La Mia Spada,
La Fede È Il Mio Schermo,
Non salti Ciecamente In Incertezza,
E Potete Raccogliere Le Ricompense.

fameslee

i just finished my first run through and am considering playing it again... i did like it a lot, although i get this strange sense of deja vu when playing it. sometimes the design seems slightly similar to neverwinter nights, but in the star wars universe. but that's not necessarily a bad thing!

i did get more than a few freezes and odd crashes, but usually they happened at predictable spots (after playing for WAY too long, right after a bunch of quicksaving and reloads, etc.), so it didn't really bother me that much. i just did a lot of manual saves, so i never lost any real progress.

as far as performance goes, i expected it to run very badly on my old system (1ghz athlon, 512mb PC133 RAM, Geforce3 Ti200), but i actually ran through virtually the entire game at 1024x768 textures at high (no AA, AF, or soft shadows though). it did get kinda choppy when looking at distances with a lot of scenery at certain points, but lowering the resolution didn't really seem to help that much. otherwise, surprisingly enough, it ran okay considering the slower RPG pace of the game.

in the end though, i think i'll play it again!

Destrox

Played through as the *Light* side once, and working on doing a *Dark* side character now.

Almost done with that one as well Love this game.

It does have a small amounts of bugs, but if you save often enough it shouldnt be any problem.

__________________
You bore me.... next.

bussman

This game turned me into a zombie for a few days, I really liked it alot. Though it did run a little bad on my system and I was really hoping for it to have depth of something like Morrowind.

BuddyHawks

They were both made by BioWare..

I'm 16 hours into the game and am really enjoying it.

SysteMatiC

I have played it on the xbox, and thought it was a pretty good game. My friend has it for PC and has had no problems thus far.

__________________
I have more respect for a man who says what he means, even if he is wrong, then one who acts like an angel, but is nothing but a devil.

fameslee

yes, and since i'm a sucker for bioware games, i'm not really complaining!

on the bioware forums for KOTOR there a 'little' bit of discussion about whether KOTOR uses the same engine as neverwinter nights... the team says that it is a heavily modified version with a different name (different interface, inclusion of minigames, etc.), but a lot of other people notice more than a family resemblance in not only the game level design (and plot), but in some similar animations and stances....

but of course, with me being a bioware junkie, this means that i just feel at home playing the game!

Lestat

I just finished the game. I must say it rocks! I did have a few odd slowdowns and an occasional crash. This game had me hooked. I'll be playing it again (after I finish with Conquests) as a dark jedi.

__________________
I hope life isn't a big joke, because I don't get it. - Jack Handy

oscar0308

i have run into a huge bug. i just entered the apartment complex after leaving the starship to find the jedi (forgive me that forgot all the names). as soon as i entered the room, my character jerks, the sounds buzzes, and then he gets stuck in mad run.. which wouldnt be bad except then the screen will only refresh every 15 or 20 secs. it is totally unplayable. i found that turnigoff the sound on the config screen does completely alleviate the problem, but its too weird to play with no sound.

dragon2fire

a reviw cause i care

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/starw...or/review.html

Canadian developer BioWare is well known for producing high quality role-playing games, thanks to its successful Baldur's Gate series, and offers up what is, in many ways, its finest such game to date in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. LucasArts wisely delegated the task of producing a deep and involving Star Wars-themed RPG to BioWare, which has done a remarkable job of making Knights live up to the Star Wars name. In fact, Knights arguably lives up to the Star Wars name better than any other Star Wars property in years, including the last two theatrical releases. The game's greatest accomplishment is its focused-yet-open-ended plot progression, which gives you the freedom to play as either a morally good or evil character--or shades in between. The struggle between good and evil is, of course, central to Star Wars and manifests itself extremely well throughout this outstanding game, which debuted on the Xbox earlier this year. For good measure, Knights features hours and hours of top-notch voice-over (all the dialogue is spoken), so you'll certainly be impressed by how different characters respond differently to you, and you'll also be impressed by the sheer size of the game. Sadly, a number of bugs and technical issues in the out-of-the-box product mar what otherwise is the best version of one of the year's best games.

Those who've played BioWare's computer RPGs--either the Baldur's Gate series or last year's Neverwinter Nights--will recognize the influence of these games on Knights of the Old Republic. In fact, the main difference between the gameplay of Knights and BioWare's previous games is superficial. This one is played from a third-person perspective and thus resembles a 3D action adventure game rather than one of BioWare's older isometric RPGs. Other than that, gameplay is similar. You create a main character and then explore many different areas, interact with many different characters, settle many different disputes, solve many different puzzles, and engage in plenty of combat. Combat appears to be in real time but actually uses a turn-based system "under the hood" just like Neverwinter Nights, which means that your character's statistics and attributes (and your strategy) make all the difference, and your personal reflexes and hand-eye coordination have no bearing on the outcome. Most importantly, Knights is very different from your average RPG in that you'll always be an active participant in the storyline, rather than a passive observer. You don't just read, watch, and listen to a lot of text, cutscenes, and dialogue; instead, your character is constantly invited and required to make difficult decisions, and that's ultimately the most entertaining, impressive, and rewarding aspect of the game. The interface has been completely overhauled for the PC release of the game, and it works exceptionally well by taking full advantage of the familiar mouse-and-keyboard controls you're used to from other games. Additionally, it gives you easy access to all your options, as well as your inventory, map, and quest log, at all times.

Knights of the Old Republic actually takes place thousands of years before Star Wars Episode I, though you'll still see many of the same sorts of alien creatures and technology in the game that you probably associate with Star Wars. The story begins in the midst of a power struggle between the Republic and the Sith, an evil Imperial power that's encroaching on Republic space. Your character seems to be just another Republic trooper, and, at the beginning of the game, you manage to avoid certain death as your spaceship is attacked and destroyed. Your escape pod lands on a world that's been put under quarantine by the Sith, so your first order of business is to find a means of escape. You also need to find out what happened to Bastila, a gifted young Jedi who is key to the Republic's war efforts and who also managed to flee your doomed ship. Later, you'll be charged with uncovering the secrets of an ancient relic, called the star forge, apparently the key to the Sith's seemingly limitless supply of weaponry.

You'll end up visiting a number of key Star Wars locations, including the wookie homeworld of Kashyyyk and the desert planet Tatooine, in what's, by all means, an adventure of epic proportions. The game's main storyline isn't remarkable and eventually boils down to squaring off against your standard bad guy, and the main plot twists along the way don't really seem plausible. You'll encounter so many great little subplots and characters as you go along that this really won't matter. You'll investigate murders, become a bounty hunter, resolve cultural disputes, find a cure for a deadly disease, take sides or play both sides against each other in various ambiguous conflicts, and find out how life really treats citizens of the Republic and followers of the Sith. There's just a lot to see and do in this game, and it'll last you a good 40 hours or so from start to finish. You'll never see all that the game has to offer if you finish it only once. Actually, the PC version of the game adds a good amount of new content that wasn't in the original Xbox release, and it mostly comes in the form of some powerful new items.

It may seem strange, but Knights of the Old Republic actually uses a slightly simplified version of 3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons rules for both combat and character generation. So, despite the obviously different setting, fans of BioWare's D&D-themed games will be in relatively familiar territory here. Your main character starts off as a male or female soldier, scout, or scoundrel. These three basic classes roughly correspond to D&D's fighter, ranger, and rogue. The soldier is straightforward but very strong, and he or she begins with proficiencies in various types of weapons and armor and gains the most vitality points per experience level. The scout is slightly less tough than the soldier but gains more skill points per level, thus allowing him or her to do such things as repair droids, pick locks, and disarm land mines. The scoundrel is physically the weakest class but can disappear from sight by using special cloaking devices; after "cloaking" he or she can inflict great damage to a foe if that foe is caught unaware of the impending attack. The scoundrel is also best suited to talking his or her way out of situations where the other character classes might have to resort to violence. Your choice of gender also has a bearing on the outcomes of some situations.

t's not spoiling anything to point out that you eventually gain access to Jedi powers. In turn, there are three different Jedi classes available, which emphasize either the Jedi's prowess with a lightsaber, his or her Force powers, or a balance of the two. Force powers are basically like magic spells, allowing you to do such things as stun opponents, knock them down, and choke them. In addition, you can heal yourself and use the Force to persuade characters to see things your way (the option will come up at times during dialogue). Some powers are inherently light-inclined, while others are dark-inclined, and though Jedi characters may gain access to any Force power as they gain experience levels, powers that match a Jedi's moral alignment can be used at a lower cost in Force points (which steadily recharge, thus allowing you to use your powers continuously).

The game does a fine job of letting you customize your character and his or her companions. Nine main different characters may join you over the course of the adventure, and you'll be able to travel with up to two of them at a time. They mostly do a good job keeping pace, but in some of the more mazelike environments, they're liable to lag behind, which can be slightly annoying. Most every character has an interesting story to tell that unfolds as you converse with him, her, or it over the course of the game, though some are developed better than others. The most entertaining of the bunch is probably HK-47, who's like a homicidal and slightly insubordinate C-3PO. As you and the others gain levels, you develop your abilities by choosing from a wide variety of skills (repair, stealth, persuasion, and so on) and combat feats (critical strike, two-weapon fighting, toughness, and so on).

Ultimately, the 3rd Edition rule system works quite well for the game and makes for an experience that seems consistent with the Star Wars mythos. Namely, the game presents Jedi as extremely powerful beings against whom conventional weapons are practically useless when opposed to the Jedi's lightsabers and Force powers. However, a few things don't quite make sense, such as how your strength statistic (rather than your dexterity) is tied to your proficiency with a lightsaber and how ranged weapons generally seem too weak, thus offering no substantial advantages over melee weapons since it's easy to close the distance between you and a gun-toting opponent. Also, much like in 3rd Edition D&D, fighter-type characters in Knights of the Old Republic can become overpowered to the point where they're virtually unstoppable. If you focus on building up such a character, you'll find that most of the combat in the game will be rather easy at the default difficulty setting, though you can crank it up to make your enemies stronger.

Combat looks dynamic, and, at a glance, you could mistake Knights of the Old Republic for an action game. You'll see characters firing away with their blasters, while those armed with melee weapons, like lightsabers, will perform a variety of close-combat moves. Characters dueling with such weapons will block and feint while looking for openings in their opponents' defenses. It's all clearly inspired by the dramatic lightsaber battle at the end of Episode I and also resembles the outstanding lightsaber battles in the recent Jedi Academy and last year's Jedi Knight II.

Despite appearances, though, the combat is really just a series of statistical checks, just like D&D. Your character's "to hit" rating, determined by his or her class, level, and weapon, is added to a random 1-20 dice roll and is then compared against the opponent's defense rating. If the to-hit roll is greater, you connect and deal damage. Your characters will automatically attack any foes nearby until either you or they are all dead, so, in some cases, you end up simply watching the fight as it unfolds. You'll only need to intervene to use healing kits, stimulants that boost your combat abilities, Force powers, and the like. You may also intervene, if necessary, to prioritize targets. You can pause the action at any time and can easily queue up specific orders for all your characters, but you can usually get away with just looking after your main character and will rarely need to micromanage things (your party members will lag behind once in a while, as you're running around, but it's not a big deal). Generally, the combat is exciting to watch and is paced nice and fast. You needn't worry if one of your characters falls in battle, as he or she will simply get up once the fighting is over--though you're tossed back to the title screen if your entire party goes down.

The combat and the dialogue are the two main elements of Knights of the Old Republic. Other than these activities, you'll find yourself running from place to place, but you'll have little interaction with the environment other than being able to open footlockers and other objects that contain goodies. You can sometimes hack into certain computer systems, but this is all done in text and isn't very interesting. Loading times between areas can feel a little disruptive, especially when you have to backtrack. Fortunately, there's an option to instantly return to your hideout or ship if you're not in a dangerous area. Some of the environments are pretty big but most aren't, and a mapping system clearly shows where you can and can't go and what the points of interest are in each area. There's also a very clear record of all the quests you have pending (and all the quests you've completed). As such, you'll probably never get lost in the game, though, at the same time, you might feel a bit confined by where you can and can't go. Fortunately, the game opens up later on, thus allowing you to freely travel between planets to accomplish numerous tasks in whichever order you please.

Knights of the Old Republic also contains several minigames. You can gamble by playing a fairly entertaining card game that's similar to poker, you can compete in simple drag races on swoop bikes, and you can man the turrets of a spaceship to shoot down enemy fighters from a first-person perspective. These are all simple diversions, however.

As mentioned, character interaction really is the best thing about Knights of the Old Republic. There's a lot of dialogue in the game--all in full speech--and if you listen to all of it rather than read it (you can turn subtitles off), the game will probably last hours longer than it could otherwise. The dialogue is well done, and many of the game's characters are well defined. Most all of the numerous subquests in the game are suitably justified and present you with more than one viable solution. You'll constantly be able to choose between good and not-so-good solutions. Early on, for instance, you can rescue a man who's being hassled by bounty hunters. Do you then offer to pay the dues he owes so that the poor man may live without fear, or do you threaten to mug him for his last remaining credits?

Knights lets you play as a really nasty character if you so choose, and that's certainly part of the fun. It's also an interesting aspect of gameplay when you consider that a big part of the theme is how Jedi constantly run the risk of falling to the dark side. Indeed, you'll probably often be tempted to see what happens if you pick the evil dialogue options rather than the good ones, if only because most RPGs simply don't let you make these types of decisions. Certain key points in the game will play out very differently depending on the decisions you make, thus creating lots of replay value.

The graphics in Knights of the Old Republic are clearly a cut above BioWare's past RPGs. The PC version of the game looks mostly identical to the Xbox original but, provided you have a top-of-the line system and don't experience the sorts of technical issues we observed, it is capable of smoother frame rates at significantly higher resolutions, providing a significantly better visual experience overall. Some important aspects of the visuals are handled particularly well. Specifically, the lightsaber combat looks dead-on, though you won't see any forearms getting chopped off or anything. Effective use of bump mapping and environment mapping can be seen on some of the aliens and their shiny armor or slick, oily skins. Many of the environments also look quite good, though some of the others are plain and lacking in detail. Character models are relatively simple, and their lip-synching and facial expressions don't always look quite right. You'll also notice that some character models will repeat often throughout the game. You'll encounter a number of different characters who all share the same face. The frame rate of Knights of the Old Republic also doesn't hold up (even on systems well in excess of the game's recommended requirements), and it can frequently bog down in combat or whenever a lot of characters are around. Furthermore, the occasional cutscenes using the game's 3D engine tend to look downright crude, which is disappointing. Knights is a great-looking game overall, but it's easy to find fault in its visuals when the other aspects of the game are so well done.

It's also easy to become extremely disappointed with the game's technical issues. Your mileage may vary, but we experienced problems with the game on four different test systems, each with a different processor and graphics card. One system simply could not load the game at all after it had successfully been installed. Another system experienced graphical issues and sluggish frame rates, though it greatly exceeded the game's recommended system requirements. The third system encountered sporadic frame rate issues as well as some unavoidable crash bugs, which prevented us from progressing further into the game. A fourth system ran the game beautifully--though with occasional, spontaneous crashes to desktop later on in the game. A look at the official technical support forums for Knights of the Old Republic revealed that none of these issues seemed to be unique to our test systems, but no clear solutions to the problems were available either. It seems likely, then, that the PC version of Knights of the Old Republic wasn't thoroughly tested on many of today's standard PC configurations before it was shipped. It also seems likely that these problems will be addressed in a patch at some point (a beta patch that addressed certain specific problems was already available a few short days after the game's release), but it's still a shame that some players' experience with this otherwise outstanding game will be worsened or even cut short because of these embarrassing problems.

Technical issues aside, some of the audio is what you'd expect from a Star Wars game, though Knights deserves credit for featuring a mostly original (yet very subdued) soundtrack, which is a nice change of pace from the ubiquitous John Williams' score. The high quality and sheer quantity of the voice acting are exceptional. Alien characters even speak in convincing alien languages, though you'll pick up on the fact that the alien voice-over actually repeats often. Overall, though, the professional voice cast does an excellent job with the material by delivering believable performances, and this really enriches the gameplay experience. Not only does Knights of the Old Republic have some of the most voice-over of any game to date, but it also has some of the best.

Assuming the bugs don't deter you, it's apparent from playing Knights of the Old Republic that a remarkable amount of effort, work, and talent went into this game. It's one of the only Star Wars games that truly makes you feel, at times, as though you're a key player in and a part of this unique and beloved sci-fi setting. You'll get to do all the sorts of stuff that you've seen and enjoyed in the Star Wars movies, and you'll get to emulate any of your favorite characters' personalities and actions over the course of the game. You'll also experience a much more morally complex version of Star Wars than what you get from the movies. Along the way, you'll find a few aspects of the game that you'll wish were better, but that's mostly because the vast majority of Knights of the Old Republic is so exceptionally good. You don't need to be a fan of Star Wars or of RPGs to appreciate all the impressive qualities of this game--but if you are, all the better.

Lasereth

I've heard from most reviewers that the XBox version is better simply because of the performance issues on PC. My brother and my friend are both playing it on PC, and it looks fine to me! Either way, the XBox version has a better menu and combat interface system, that's for sure. Despite that, both versions still offer the same gameplay and the same story. That's what made the game on XBox. If you haven't played it on XBox, go buy one, and play it. If you own a good PC, then play it on PC if you don't have an XBox. This game is one that should not be missed, trust me.

-Lasereth

__________________
"A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert

Mantus

I give the game 7.5/10 (PC version)

Its average, fun to play but doesn’t really pull you in.

Here are rating of specific features:

Plot: 5/10
Challenge: 4/10
Puzzles: 3/10
Combat tactics: 6/10
Character customization: 7/10
Graphics: 8/10
Sound: 9/10
Controls: 6/10
NPCs: 8/10
Side Quests: 8/10
Evil character playability: 7/10
Loot: 6/10
Adversary design: 5/10

Prophecy

Mantus that's a harsh review there. I'm curious, if KOTOR is that bad, how do you rate other RPGs? Here's my quick and dirty review under your categories.

Plot: While the story wasn't the best story ever in an RPG I liked KOTORs. I'd give the plot at least an 8.5 or 9 out of 10.

Graphics: well I have the Xbox version. The graphics were crisp. Not to many jaggies, the one problem I have is the numerous re-used character model faces.

Challenge: well this really depends on if you use your party or not. This could be a 10 out of 10 if for some reason you want to solo the game. I’d stick this with an 8, not to hard, but not to easy

Puzzles: heh, to till the truth I don’t remember any real puzzles…

Combat tactics: A definite 10. Tactics seriously make or break some of the battles in this game. 10/10

Character customization: This is a hard one, there are a lot of different ways to customize your char in this game. Some aren’t worth trying but the possibility is there. 8 out of 10.

Sound: This game has great actors doing voices and good music. 9.5/10

Controls: Again, I have the Xbox version, the controls aren’t grand but they work. 8.5/10
NPCs: 10 out of 10, Think HK-47 people. The party members all are fleshed out and made life like if you explore the side quests involving them. The villains are given life too though not as grand as the members of your party.

Side Quests: Not sure how to rate this one, I’ll just say there are there and serve the purpose they are supposed to have.

Evil character playability: Anyone that tries to be truly evil in this game will see it’s freaky, but in a good way. One of your potential party members excels here 9/10

Loot: Let’s just say there are some great items in this game, you just have to find them

__________________
La Disciplina È La Mia Spada,
La Fede È Il Mio Schermo,
Non salti Ciecamente In Incertezza,
E Potete Raccogliere Le Ricompense.

Lasereth

That's the main reason I get mad when everyone says professional critics are full of shit and that we should go by consumer opinions. This is a great game, and Mantus is making it sound like the bottom of the barrel. That's one hell of a harsh review, especially for a game that's easily a candidate for Game of the Year.

-Lasereth

__________________
"A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert

Mantus

Meh…the game is fun, but is it great? No.

6.5/10 is a decent score, though perhaps a bit too low for this game. The reason its so low is because pretty much everything about this game is mediocre. There are no major flaws, but nothing stands out accept for the fact that it’s STAR WARRRRRRSSSSSSSS!!!!111oneoneone.

Ahem…so anyways. The game is fun. Will I play it a second time? Probably not.

Just in case you people wonder about my rating system. Here is an example

5/10 is average. Like say, Vampire the Masquerade
6/10 is fun. a fun game is Icewind Dale 2
7/10 is good in my books. as good as Final Fantasy XII
8/10 is very good, Baldur’s Gate good.
9/10 is excellent, up there with Fallout 2 or Torment.
10/10 …haven’t seen a perfect game yet.

Now some might say, THAT’S harsh. No its not, it’s realistic. I hate how most reviews rate games as either by either giving them a 6 or a 10. What the fuck is up with that? Why does every game that doest suck have to be a 10 and every game that does suck have to get a pitty score of 6?

Though you people are right, it deserves better then a 6. Ill change my score in the original post to a 7.5.

Lestat

Everyone one has their own opinions...

I give it a 8.5/10. I thought it was a great game, it definately pulled me in. It had some bugs. It was cool to play a good guy then play it again as a bad guy. I look forward to Part 2. This is coming from a guy who doesn't like Star Wars.

__________________
I hope life isn't a big joke, because I don't get it. - Jack Handy

Mr.Deflok

I give it a Haven't-Played-it out of 10.

orphen

i give it a 8/10 on pc. just beat it. i wish they had more evil NPC for my darkside counselor. all the sidecomment on my evil action really gets annoying. another thing is the uselssness of some of the non combat skills. But other then that, the game is really great

Lasereth

Which reviewers are you talking about? The only way I can see that happening is with reviewers like Adam Sessler and Morgan Webb on X-Play. They go with the 5 system (1 is worst, 5 is best) and they don't even have halfs. In other words, there's only 5 ratings. They give dozens and dozens of games a 3 out of 5, but few 5 out of 5. That would equal 6 out of 10 and 10 out of 10.

IGN has yet to give a PS2, Gamecube, or XBox game a 10 out of 10. Most games do get somewhere around a 6 out of 10, simply because the gaming industry is flooded with shit every year (but that's never gonna change).

EGM has given straight 10's only 10 times in the past 15 years. They're a bit more harsh than IGN most of the time, so their average review is more like a 5 ouf of 10. GamePro does give a fair amount of 3's and 5's, but you can't blame them. Most games are average, therefore they get an average score. Some games are damn good (Prince of Persia, KOTOR, etc.) and get a 5 out of 5. If the game rocks, then it deserves a good review! The fact that they're on a 5-point scale is the reason a lot of 3's and 5's are issued. I think all reviewers should go for the 10-point scale.

-Lasereth

__________________
"A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert

Prophecy

I still think you rate rather harshly, but now my only question is where did you get a playable copy of FF XII to rate?


Put HK-47 in your party

__________________
La Disciplina È La Mia Spada,
La Fede È Il Mio Schermo,
Non salti Ciecamente In Incertezza,
E Potete Raccogliere Le Ricompense.

theburner

Only played the Xbox version, but I found it VERY engrossing, good storyline (Plot twist anyone?), great combat engine, and great graphics.
I am waiting for the DLC before I try my darkside run.
Also, I did have a bug in the Xbox version. For some reason I jumped from like 20 hours to 340,840 hours. Game froze, I rebooted and next thing I knew my playing time jumped exponentially. No biggie though.

__________________
Take Off Eh!

Lestat

HK-47 is a riot! Evil at its best.

Meatbag! I nearly fell off my chair when I heard that.

__________________
I hope life isn't a big joke, because I don't get it. - Jack Handy

BuddyHawks

I've almost beat it, but I'm curious so see what happsens if I play as the Dark side and as a girl.

__________________
Watch More TV

NeverBorn

Everything about KOTOR mediocre..bullshit

Mr.Deflok

Really? Why?

flamingdog

i'm playing as the evillest fucker i can dream up my first time through.

Lasereth

If you're gonna make statements like that, at least back them up with evidence or reasoning.

-Lasereth

__________________
"A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert

Bonesaw

It's on my Christmas wish list. Regardless of what the other opinions are on this game listed above I can't wait to play it. BioWare knows how to make a solid game.

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Q. What is the difference between erotic and kinky?

A. Erotic is using a feather... kinky is using the whole
chicken.

Lasereth

The KOTOR developers have mentioned that playing through on the light side is best the first time through. I think it was something like 50% of the game's quests are done through the light side and are unavailable to the dark side people. It's also a much, much longer and more rewarding game on the light side. I'm not saying the dark side is a bad way to play the game, but I'd do the light side the first time you play it.

-Lasereth

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"A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert

Mantus

I didn’t want too cuz it would take up time, but fine ill give a brief overview.

The best parts about this game are:

- The great side-quests and minor plots. Have allot of character and individuality to them.
- Great sound.
- The voice acting is amazing considering every NPC has a voice.
- NPCs are great. Many have awesome personalities.
- Party members are nicely done. A few great personalities and allot of comments and interaction from them.
- You can be a total scumbag character.
- The worlds are small but have lots of detail.

These are some of the minor flaws in the game.

- The plot is nothing special, without any depth at all.
- Evil characters motivation is a little weak (as always).
- The game is very easy, the puzzles they offer are pre-school level at best, and quests take no time to figure out.
- The mini-game are neat but not too well developed. The swoop-bike racing could really be a bit more envolving and challenging; while Palzak or whatever its called is just a modified game of 21.
- The combat tactics are pretty basic, power up, use debilitating weapons/powers, follow up by the main attack. The little micro-management which is needed once a battle starts usually involves bossing around the dumb party members.
- Character customization is okay. Better then most games but the lack of weapon and spell variety limits character options.
- Graphics are nice but nothing new or special, a bit disappointing considering my computer lags on high detail.
- There is a general lack of cool things that you can find in the game. There are a few neat items but they doesn’t really suffice.
- There is a lack of areas to explore that have nothing to do with the main quests. Very few hidden treasures for those that look in every nook.

Phew, I ended up writing way more then I intended. As you can see there is some good and some bad. I don’t feel that the good totally outweighs the bad. There were other games like Fallout and Baldur’s Gate which had flaws as well but had elements that were so engrossing that they made you forget about the rest. This game doesn’t do that for me. Hence the revised score of 7.5/10.

Lestat

Good points Mantus. I agree with many of your minor flaws. The one thing that bothered me is the sheer number of useless items (the swords, blasters, ect.).

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I hope life isn't a big joke, because I don't get it. - Jack Handy