29 Nov, 2011
Star Wars:
The Old Republic
Some time last week
In a Capital city far, far away
ggsgamer spent two hours playing the story-driven,
massively-multiplayer online role playing game from Bioware and Lucas Arts…
There is something magical that happens to audiences everywhere whenever John William’s goosebump inducing film score majestically bursts into life as the iconic yellow text, set against a dark starry sky scrolls up the screen at the beginning of every Star Wars film. Whether you are a fan of the franchise or not, it is unarguably one of the most recognisable and successful series of all time. Arriving just in time for Christmas, Star Wars: The Old Republic will offer players the chance to fully immerse themselves in the Star Wars Universe as a war between the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire rages across the galaxy.
Set thousands of years before Darth Vader was even a glint in Daddy Vader’s eye, the Empire outwitted the Republic and forced them to unwillingly sign the Peace Treaty of Coruscant. Understandably, tensions have been high ever since and the game begins with the galaxy divided and a new war inevitably about to kick off. In typical Bioware fashion, the first thing to notice about SWTOR is how personal the game play is. The masters of presenting players with excruciating moral questions, Bioware have consciously developed and poured an engaging, complex and gripping story into this epic MMORPG. There are 8 classes (character types) to choose from including Trooper, Smuggler, Jedi Consular or Jedi Knight all representing the Republic whilst Bounty Hunter, Imperial Agent, Sith Inquisitor or Sith Warrior are found in the Empire’s corner. From the very first click of the mouse, it’s evident how each class defines and informs the player’s personal story as you determine which path down the light or dark side of the force you take.
Being a good girl all year round can get quite boring so with a crimson face full of horns, my evil Sith Warrior set off for a training session. As each class has a unique story attached to it (there isn’t a single repeated quest which is great news for those of you who might attempt multiple run-throughs) whilst all the NPC and side characters are fully voiced. With over 60 novels worth of dialogue, the stories are in no way linear as freedom to choose how you progress is incorporated. Even within the training section, there were areas only I could access (other Sith classes had their own access points). How I interacted with people influenced how they and other people I subsequently met, responded to me, both vocally and physically. My character was given the task of talking to three prisoners, all of whose fate was up to me. Listening to their stories, I had to decide whether to let them go, leave them to rot in jail, honourably fight with them to the death or have them executed. Truth and mis-truths, defiance, guilt and remorse, power and mercy were all wrapped up in three very different scenarios. My actions then shaped the opinions of my mentor. Turns out he didn’t agree with – or rather, had a counter argument for each of my decisions. This was one small task in a small dungeon in a vast training school that occupies a small section of a giant planet – one of 19 that are playable within the game. Be under no illusions, this game is massive in every sense of the word. What the lasting impact of my decisions on this occasion will be remains to be seen but there is a real sense that it matters; that every decision does have some consequence within the game, no matter how big or small.
Along the way, you will also befriend companions that will rally to your side or most likely in my case (as I was being rather rude and merciless to everyone), stab me in the back and betray me at the most inconvenient time. Teaming up with other players with similar attitudes and actions is probably going to be the best way to overcome the incredible challenges on offer.
That’s if you can tear your eyes away from the pain-staking meticulous attention to detail that oozes from every inch of the environments from liquor bottles and spatulas in the rest areas to the dashboards on your personal Starship. “Everything within the game had painted concept art”, laughs Senior environmental artist, Michael Harnisch as we sat down for a chat. “We also used a lot of the original Star Wars concept art from 1979 that wasn’t used in the films, that we’ve adapted for the game, especially the planet landscapes”. Exploration is also a huge part of SWTOR and I wondered how much freedom the artists on this game had, considering the vast in-depth knowledge and expectation Star Wars fans will have towards the game. Michael explained, “We had total support from Lucas Arts whilst making this game. We know there are lots of things that fans will be looking out for but then we we’ve worked really hard at balancing that with presenting our audience with something new.” He went on, “I worked a little on all of the planets, we all crossed over at some point but I really took ownership of Hoth with its icy reflections and blue colour scheme. 90% of a game is the environment. My priority was to make the story meet the play and making this happen by getting the environment right, so it still feels like you’re in the Star Wars Universe was so important.” Other planets like the polluted world of Hutta with its gassy yellow atmosphere or of Alderaan, which we only get to see in the briefest of glimpses in the films but here is fully fleshed out certainly do add to the sense of scale and depth you get when playing. As does the sweeping accompanying soundtrack that sometimes hints at John William’s amazing original score as musical themes and melodies filter through.
Whether you choose to use the light or dark side of the Force, Star Wars: The Old Republic is grand in its design and bold in its ambition to become a genre defining experience. Putting the ‘massive’ into MMO with huge worlds and an intriguing, engaging story, once you’re in, it’s hard to stop playing. The controls are simple and the HUD is well designed allowing ease of use and navigation for newcomers whilst offering complex detail for MMORPG masters. Bioware and Lucas Arts have created a special sci-fi mix that should appeal to the core of gamers everywhere, not just the Star Wars diehard fans who can tell you who was the only Jedi to not fall to the Dark Side thanks to his study of Vaapaad which as we ALL know is the modern seventh form of lightsabre combat…
Star Wars: The Old Republic is due out on 20th December 2011 for PC. PEGI 12
Recent Comments