Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - Sith Lords (Xbox)

The cutscenes are brilliant, I really did get engrossed in the game, to the point of addiction.... Beware, you will experience sleep deprivation when you play this game.

If you're after a replication of the Star Wars movies then you'd probably prefer Revenge of the Sith (or even Lego Star Wars), but if you want to become engrossed in a completely new take on Star Wars, then this one is for you - Top Notch...

The companions accompanying you this time around are a more diverse and interesting bunch of personalities, often with agendas of their own. Weapons, upgrades and supplies can all be created with the new workbench facility and lightsabers are infinitely more customisable than before. The ability to influence your companions Force orientation is very welcome (something that FELT like it should have been in the first game, but wasnt). The music is also excellent. The plot is excellent, deeper than before but drawing on the previous story. The new Sith lords are an intriguing bunch, mysterious and rather chilling (unlike Malak who was imposing but relatively unscary).

There are, however, some downsides to this game. The same game engine is used as before which is a pity as I can't help but think that the xbox is capable of more. It is also a very buggy game, characters fail to attack enemies right in front of them and sometimes run off in the opposite direction! Unlike Kotor 1 the game rarely autosaves which can make unexpected deaths VERY galling.

Although I was very keen on the plot, events towards the end snowball together very quickly which curtails your options in terms of partnering various characters together. I have played the game through twice as both a sith and a jedi and have not managed to get the full story out of all the character's in my team by the end of play. This is fine if you have bags of time to play through again but seeing as it takes around 30 hours from beginning to end it is rather frustrating.

There are relatively few sith artificats or new suits of armour and Obsidian seem to be reluctant to add new ones in, very dissapointing. Anyone who got a kick out of creating good/bad star forge robes in the orifginal kotor will find no such surprises here.

Weapon selection is now much faster thanks to the handy option of a second selectable weapon set. The downside being that it gets in the way of selecting you which type of attack you pick on occasion. Another button on the panel, just for that, would have been helpful. More force powers new moves would have been great. How about an escape move e.g escaping backflips, light saber speed draws (iai-jutsu style for the martial artisits out there!) lightsaber feints (Obi Wan in Episode 4 against Vader).

It would be great if you could travel between locations on a hover bike (think darth maul in episode 1 - it would need a better game engine, maybe on xbox 2!) There is still a lot of tooing and froing on foot, despite Obsidian cutting down on journey time.

Overall a very good game but also something of a missed opportunity. The next Kotor will need to have a new graphics engine, more variety in opponents (just how many sith assasins can anyone really take?) and a freer third act. It is also qwuestionable how often you can have a jedi losing their memories and/or their powers only to build them up again.

Perhaps kotor 3 should take a leaf out of fable's book and mature a character from birth and adolescence to adulthood Anakin style. The mysterious jedi routine will lose its allure in a third Kotor. That said if they make the above changes I would be more than happy to get a copy.

WHAT'S GOOD:
This game gives you everything it's phenomenal predecessor gave you and a little bit more. Elements of the gameplay have been tweaked slightly so that small changes (like a caption telling you if you've already emptied a box) make the game a lot smoother to play. The new worlds are excellently diverse, allowing for a wide variety of sidequests including preparing a settler compound for a siege, helping overthrow a planetary ruler and gaining the respect of the Mandalorian warriors. Of course, part of this game's charm is that each of these missions is different depending on whose side you choose to be on and whether or not you walk the dark path. The additional characters available are more interesting than before as each has their own agenda and secrets to be unlocked. This game takes a more mature approach to the Star Wars galaxy, with sexual tension, the ability to see the dangers of even kind acts and two genuinely sinister Sith Lords out to hunt you down (well, four really - but they're for you to uncover). For fans of the first game there's new revelations about Revan and the Mandalorian Wars, as well as appearances by T3-M4, Canderous (although you might not recognise him at first), Carth, Bastila and (best of all, meatbag) HK-47.

WHAT'S BAD:
Because it's more complex and adult, it lacks some of the Star Wars feel that so deeply pervaded it's predecessor. Also, lightsabers are REALLY hard to come by, which is a shame because let's face it, they're what we want to see!

I have played it for about ten days now and am only half way through! But by all means buy this game it will give you weeks of enjoyement and will at times make you cry with anger, but its still a great game.

1)Your dialogue with your team now affects how much they like you. In the first one they got annoyed or please with you in the convo's but this didn't change their opinion of you.

2)Having your team liking you makes them go to the same side of the force as you, on the first game they just turned against you.

3)Everything you say now gives you light or Dark side points so it is easier and more fun to choose a side. On the original you could only become a proper Dark Jedi near the very end.

4)More moves are available as well as force powers, you get different fighting styles with your lightsaber and different colours such as silver.

5) A superb plot keeps you playing this game non-stop, excellent storyline.

6)Your team have their own background which you can find out, and you can now train people in your party to become Jedi, rather than having to stick with those you are given.

7)If you are a Light Side Jedi then using light side force powers cost less force energy, and if you are Dark Side then Dark powers cost less.

8)Every Teammate is interesting to talk to and they all have their own ways of fighting.

What is bad about it???

I don't think there is anything wrong with it but heres what some people may not like...

1) the way the game played is almost the same, the way you fight and the controls etc (i think this is a good thing)

2)The ending is not quite as good as it could have been, but it allows a space for a sequel.

3) It does take a while until you get a lightsaber but it is definitely worth it.

Please do not waste your money on SW Revenge Of The Sith, it is too easy and is nothing compared to this game.

Warning! this game is excellent but if you did not like the first you probably won't like this one, though if you didn't like the first you must have a problem. lol only joking :) everyone has their own opinion.

1)Your dialogue with your team now affects how much they like you. In the first one they got annoyed or please with you in the convo's but this didn't change their opinion of you.

2)Having your team liking you makes them go to the same side of the force as you, on the first game they just turned against you.

3)Everything you say now gives you light or Dark side points so it is easier and more fun to choose a side. On the original you could only become a proper Dark Jedi near the very end.

4)More moves are available as well as force powers, you get different fighting styles with your lightsaber and different colours such as silver.

5) A superb plot keeps you playing this game non-stop, excellent storyline.

6)Your team have their own background which you can find out, and you can now train people in your party to become Jedi, rather than having to stick with those you are given.

7)If you are a Light Side Jedi then using light side force powers cost less force energy, and if you are Dark Side then Dark powers cost less.

8)Every Teammate is interesting to talk to and they all have their own ways of fighting.

What is bad about it???

I don't think there is anything wrong with it but heres what some people may not like...

1) the way the game played is almost the same, the way you fight and the controls etc (i think this is a good thing)

2)The ending is not quite as good as it could have been, but it allows a space for a sequel.

3) It does take a while until you get a lightsaber but it is definitely worth it.

Please do not waste your money on SW Revenge Of The Sith, it is too easy and is nothing compared to this game.

Warning! this game is excellent but if you did not like the first you probably won't like this one, though if you didn't like the first you must have a problem. lol only joking :) everyone has their own opinion.