I've Got a Bad Feeling About Star Wars: The Old Republic

by Michael Donahoe , COMMUNITY WRITER

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Tags: Star Wars: The Old Republic, Mass Effect, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Star Wars Galaxies

Paging the nearest Jedi: Please mind trick me into believing developer BioWare's upcoming Star Wars massively multiplayer online role-playing game won't suck bantha balls. Because, honestly, without the magic wave of a midi-chlorian-infused hand, my desire to play Star Wars: The Old Republic is about as high as watching the late Bea Arthur belt out a cantina ditty on the Star Wars Holiday Special.

Seriously, though: This is coming from someone who absolutely adored both Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and its not-nearly-as-good, but still highly enjoyable sequel. So, logically, you'd think that if the developer of the original game, BioWare, is making The Old Republic, I'd hardly be able to contain my saber-igniting excitement? Correct. So what's wrong then? Oh, I'll tell you.

1. The game looks bad. CGI Clone Wars-bad. Actually, worse! Which, in a way, is quite the accomplishment. So, uh, kudos to BioWare for masterfully screwing up one of the easiest licenses to work with. Because messing up the look of Star Wars is like screwing up a piece of toast -- seemingly impossible.

2. Strangely, The Old Republic is currently PC-only. OK, that's not that strange considering this is a MMO. What is strange, however, is that both previous KOTOR games came out on the Xbox first, meaning this series is synonymous with Microsoft's console. And for it to not appear on it is pretty disappointing for long-time fans like myself. Which leads to my last reason...

3. This doesn't really feel like a real sequel to the KOTOR series. Sure, it has the "Old Republic" duct taped to the title, but it seems more like a Star Wars Galaxies reboot than the next iteration of a beloved series. Which is probably my biggest source of apathy. Especially considering BioWare has repeatedly said The Old Republic is essentially multiple KOTOR sequels all in one package. Uh, nice try, guys. It's hard not to imagine what a true sequel would have looked like. Need help conjuring up what could have been? Here you go: Picture Mass Effect's dynamic dialogue and eye-pleasing graphics engine with a Star Wars makeover. Now that's hot -- Slave Princess Leia-hot.

I could go on, but what's the point? It's obvious The Old Republic is not for me. And no amount of Jedi tomfoolery can get me to change my mind. Like Yoda would say: Disappointed, I am.

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Comments (37)

Zachary Gilson

June 11, 2009

Maybe the Bitmob community is different than every other videogame site, but you might have just unleashed the beast.

I'm in your boat on this. I want to like this game, but you pretty much summed up all my own fears. We'll see; I always have faith in BioWare.

Toby Davis

June 11, 2009

Maybe you might be suited better as a bounty hunter and not Jedi. That is just me, but I feel the same way about DC Universe.

K. M. Fox

June 11, 2009

There are few things I can really say in response to your reasons, Michael Donahoe. Your opinion on the art style is very much a personal preference and one that cannot be argued. All I can say about that is so far, from what I've (general public standpoint) seen, I like it.

Your second reason, well... while that is true, I can see why it couldn't have been made for the XBOX 360. Yes, it's an MMO, but even more so than just that, for they would be dealing with Microsoft. When dealing with XBL, Microsoft likes to charge money on every little download. Imagine having to pay for patches... *shudder* It's still a disappointment that the next game in the Old Republic universe isn't on its native console though.

And for number three, I'm right there with you on the KotOR III bit. I think it's great that BioWare is developing a Star Wars MMO, as I think they're the only ones who can do it justice, but I would still like to finish up the story started back in the original game. I mean, Star Wars is supposed presented as a trilogy, right? Where's the third game?

This is coming from a long-time Star Wars and BioWare fan, who honestly can't wait for this game as WoW just doesn't cut it anymore.

Juan Letona

June 11, 2009

Bioware's seems to have stretched themselves out a bit too much, Dragon Age, Mass Effect 2 and Star Wars The Old Republic all have the look of being lackluster titles.

Rory Tedford

June 11, 2009

I have to agree with number 3, I was super bummed when I found out it was not a true sequel, especially after how KOTOR 2 ended. I am, however, holding out hope. What they have shown has been fairly neat, and that CG trailer gave me a massive nerd boner.

One thing though. Comparing the art style to CGI Clone Wars? That is just cruel.

Jeff Voss

June 11, 2009

Duuuuude. You have to wait until you play it, man! They have a good chance at taking some of that WoW market share with the Star Wars name on their side. Why would they screw that up?

Lance Darnell

June 11, 2009

Michael, you really know how to touch a nerve in people. I agree with your skepticism, and although I agree with Rory that the trailer rocked, it is up to Bioware to prove to us to even care about this. But to repeat what Kurt said: it IS Bioware, and they have never done an MMO.

Cody Stone

June 11, 2009

Totally in agreement sir. This game has all the makings of a poopy flavored lollipop. I just hope that BioWare knows what they are doing with this franchise. Please let them know what they are doing.

Michael Donahoe

June 11, 2009

Don't get me wrong guys, it's like I said: I *reallllly* wanted to like this game. But the demo I saw did absolutely nothing to get me jazzed about for the game. Whereas if they announced a true sequel using the Mass Effect engine, I'd be copying "OMG! OMG! OMG!" for 17 pages.

Rory Tedford

June 11, 2009

What Bioware needs to do is start showing off the story aspects of the game. I remember hearing this was an attempt to bring story to MMOs but all we keep seeing is the usual MMO preview checklist of the different zones you can visit and the different classes you can play.

A KOTOR game using the mass effect engine would be a reason to celebrate though. Fingers crossed they will use more Marilyn Manson songs in it.

Alejandro Moreno

June 11, 2009

I don't think BioWare's stretching itself too thin:

a) The Edmonton office is always working on two or three titles. Currently: ME2 and undisclosed, at least.
b) The Austin office is working on SW:tOR, and maybe on something else.
c) Dragon Age is DONE.

Chris Davidson

June 11, 2009

I just don't think MMOs are meant to be demo'd. I feel like the only true way to demo an MMO is to jump in the beta. Nothing can really fix your opinion of the art style but I think it's a little early to grab torches because the demo didn't go so well. Demos in general can be poor at showing whats great about a game.

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Ryan Schuster

June 11, 2009

like everything else about gaming I gotta play it before I can judge but you bring up some good points.

Leonard Helferty

June 11, 2009

Does it matter if it's a sequel? Why not approach it as more of a spinoff (except with the lesser implications that term implies) - something set in the same universe (hence the Old Republic tagline), but not continuing the same direct story. The BioWare quotes I read suggested to me that their idea was that this contained the same amount of content as seven sequels to KOTOR would, but it doesn't seem like a direct sequel - otherwise they would call it KOTOR III.

Your complaint about the art I can understand, although I don't share it. I like the look. And maybe I just don't care about the platform because I played the first one on PC anyway.

Benjamin T. Elrod

June 11, 2009

I'm hesitantly semi-quasi-excited 'cus it's a new stab at a SW MMO thingy, but very worried 'cus it's (an admittedly rad) developer who's never done an MMO thingy before. I realized they've hired people with experience in that area, but as a team, they're green. Fingers crossed!

Dan "Shoe" Hsu

June 11, 2009

People keep acting like this post is a powder keg, but so far, the comments are very reasonable and mature! I hope I didn't just jinx it, though.

Btw, toast is actually really easy to screw up?

James Parr

June 11, 2009

While I would prefer a true sequel and not an MMO, I thought the E3 trailer was excellent and the screenshots look better than they did before. I'm hopeful that it plays more like WoW than Galaxies. I think wait and see is the right attitude to have on this game.

Brian Shirk

June 11, 2009

I wouldn't be so hasty to judge the title (unless there's a lot more concrete information out there that I don't know about). Yeah, Bioware making an MMO is a little worrisome (since there hasn't been an MMO that I've enjoyed yet), but if anyone can do it, it's Bioware. Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire, and Mass Effect, were all phenomenal games, so I'm sure they could figure out a way to make an impressive MMO, considering their track record.

But yeah, since this is an MMO, I'm more interested in Dragon Age and Mass Effect 2.

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Bryan Harper

June 11, 2009

I was told that this would be deviating from the typical quest-hub reiteration verbatim and focusing more on character development; if this is the case, we may be on the cusp of the first TRUE MMO*RPG* we've seen in a long time, if ever. Forgive me if LOTRO was all about that; I never had a chance to pick it up.

Character development? I liked WoW for a very long time, and I'm not a very big fan of Star Wars, but if the storyline is driven by your character(s) instead of those that came before you, sign me up. Sounds refreshing.

Jason Wilson

June 11, 2009

I don't know if a "story-based MMO" is possible. At this point, I'm still not sure if BioWare is just spouting PR/Marketing speak ("Look, shiny new MMO! Subscribe to it!") or truly intends to create something distinct in the genre.

But I'm afraid: With the exception of Knights of the Old Republic, everything that takes place before Episode IV just sucks the soul out of Star Wars. Timothy Zahn gave Star Wars a great playground with his "Heir to the Empire" series of novels (which remains virtually untapped); I wish someone would do something with that instead. Who would you rather encounter: a bunch of Sith Lords running around with their lightsabers and Force lightning or Grand Admiral Thrawn and a revitalized Empire?

David J Panek

June 11, 2009

Micheal: I'm sort of confused as to why the reasons you listed are reasons the game will be bad. I think they're valid "The Old Republic might not be the KOTOR sequel I want" complaints, sure. But do they mean that it won't be a good game? That seems like a stretch.

Rory Tedford

June 11, 2009

That is it! I am officially taking this into the fanboy territory. Jason Wilson, I am calling you out. Old Republic is way cool man, you are not giving it enough credit. Sith Empire. Sith Empire. It implies that there is not a few Sith, but a whole shitton of them. Way rad.

Chris does have a good point. MMOs are hard to demo. Though, I feel that showing chunks of gameplay will do a sorta kinda goodish job of what makes this MMO cool. Of course, it does just that, compartmentalize aspects of the game without giving a feel for the whole, but that is just the nature of the genre. Short of an open beta, there's no way to really get across the meat of an MMO to the average consumer.

I think I got a smidge off topic here.

Jon Solmundson

June 11, 2009

Uh oh spahgetti-os!

I really can't understand how people can hate a game they've never played.
Hope for the best, EXPECT the worst.

This is bioware, the worst that could happen is that everyone at bioware gets a bite from mr. Blizzard (and all those daimonds in his teeth only make it hurt more) and we end up with no dialogue trees, more levels than years of life and hideously unbalanced new classes.

I am not a prphet of doom.
I LIKED NWN2.
KOTOR 2 HAD SOME COOL BITS.
if I can use 'give me all your credits and jump into the central pit/ meat grinder/ drown yourself in bantha fodder' I will be pleased. If I can have thoughtful combat and minimal grinding then I will be delighted.

And the graphics, well, it's just you Americans and... Every other western nation.
Back here in the land down under if someone says 1mb per second you raise your brow. If someone says 3 you 'asplode in da face', as they say. I want to be able to run the game. I don't want to buy a new 2000$AU PC and then have to pay 100$ a month for connection PLUS SUBSCRIPTION.

I'm fine with their efforts, give me star gate world of imperial jade wars: origins any day.

Jin .

June 11, 2009

i kinda agree, mmo are usually shit. but with all the hype the trailer is bringing, how its better the the prequels combined etc. the mmo can only be super awesome or fail miserably.

Michael Keegan

June 12, 2009

I think I'm about done with MMOs, I used to have to try every one that came out. If this game turns out to actually be good, the Star Wars license combined with a critically and word-of-mouth good game is the only thing that may get me to try it.

I pretty much adore Bioware games, but yea I totally agree with MD, why am I not jazzed about this game?

Toby Davis

June 12, 2009

@Michael D now did you play the demo or was it just a visual demo. I find that some visual demo's leave you wanting, but when you play said demo that is really when you take that deeper look in a game.

Jared Robinson

June 12, 2009

meh...that's my feelings for this game. Before KOTOR (which I call BK) I had only played JRPG's. KOTOR blew my friggin mind. But as far as the KOTOR MMO? At first I was excited and able to convince myself that early shot were exactly that, but they havn't really improved since then. I'm not a graphics whore but the game could at least look as good as the original please.

Lance Darnell

June 12, 2009

Fanboy Fight!! Fanboy fight!! Watch out for flying Star Wars figures and breast tape!!!

Jason Wilson

June 12, 2009

That is it! I am officially taking this into the fanboy territory. Jason Wilson, I am calling you out. Old Republic is way cool man, you are not giving it enough credit. Sith Empire. Sith Empire. It implies that there is not a few Sith, but a whole shitton of them. Way rad.

A fanboy fight? Oh, my. I'm not sure I'm up for this!

What made Jedi/Sith special in the Original Trilogy was their scarcity. Their powers stood out because only a handful of characters had those abilities. But when you have hundreds/thousands of characters with similar powers, that sense of uniqueness quickly dies. It's no longer special. It becomes mundane.

Thrawn, to me, is the most interesting villain from the Star Wars Expanded Universe. He was unique. His mind is his weapon; his knowledge, his insight, and his cunning are his tools of conquest. He was the only alien to achieve the rank of Grand Admiral in the Empire. He gathered insights on a person/species from their art! Not from mindreading or spywork, but from artwork. How cool is that? He nearly brought the New Republic to its knees with a handful of Star Destroyers and a fleet's worth of cunning.

Darth Malak? He needed a superweapon, like so many other Star Wars villains, to make himself a galactic threat. Thrawn needed just his cunning.

Ward Huypens

June 12, 2009

2. Strangely, The Old Republic is currently PC-only.

Well, I'd look at it from the bright side, Michael. It might mean Bitmob and most other game sites will start covering the PC platform properly again, maybe even without accusing all PC gamers of being lousy pirates. ;)

A bit more seriously though, I think they got an Xbox360 SKU in the works as well. And with Mass Effect 2's visual quality Bioware wouldn't be talking about TOR as if it's KotOR 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, ... in one game.

Dan "Shoe" Hsu

June 12, 2009

Hey "a guest" above... you're appearing like that because you registered your name with some weird character that causes a bug in our system. Try fixing that, and your name should appear correctly.

Ward Huypens

June 12, 2009

Hi, the 'guest' here, I've made a comment here before (with my proper name Ward Huypens, login is SwiftRanger) but didn't tick the 'Subscribe via email' then. Might that be it? Only one way to find out I guess.

Ward Huypens

June 12, 2009

Ok, seems to be the tickbox then, I do remember I still had the post preview up and then clicked on the original 'Add Comment' button which resulted in the 'guest' post.

Evan Lahti

June 12, 2009

This is Diggbait.

I know it's hard being a startup site on these big ol' video game internets and all, but (as someone that's both seen and played TOR) throwing up three baseless comments about a widely well-received game to generate angry comments won't earn you any readers. You say something "looks bad," but give no support. You're surprised an MMO is only appearing on PC. And you're surprised that a non-sequel feels like a non-sequel. Maybe you should stick with cookie-cutter features set against stock art: http://bitmob.com/index.php/mobfeed/Time-Out-Five-Games-That-Need-A-Break.html

Michael Burridge

June 12, 2009

@EJL -- Diggbait? Why, because Michael is expressing his opinion on a series that features the fan-boy holy-grail? This is a site consisting of blogs, so of course the writer's own opinions are going to be said in posts!

throwing up three baseless comments about a widely well-received game to generate angry comments won't earn you any readers.

What exactly makes them "baseless"? Because they differentiate from your's? You should really provide some more detail. Oh, and BitMob posts like these are getting readers, well, it's at least keeping me around. Who doesn't like hearing actual opinions from veterans in the industry? Apparently you.

You're surprised an MMO is only appearing on PC. And you're surprised that a non-sequel feels like a non-sequel.

He's surprised because the series (yes, Bioware is pitching TOR as a new iteration in the series) started off as an Xbox exclusive, so why shouldn't there at least be an Xbox 360 version. FFXI, anyone?

It was all very clear.

Tom Laurie

June 13, 2009

Your fears seem mostly valid, Hoe, though I kinda like the art style. Sure, it isn't Galaxies glossy, but it also isn't filled with all the horrible sharp angles of the Clone Wars design...

Honestly, what I've seen (which isn't a lot) looks a lot like the original KOTOR titles. I've heard the combat compared to WoW, but "faster," which just made me think that commentator didn't really know what they were talking about.

All in all, I'm expecting standard MMO fair with a nice Star Wars coat of paint. Their constant touting of the power of "story" is what has me most concerned. Nothing they've said has explained how story can persist over the often multi-year lifespan of an MMO character.

George Zamfir

June 13, 2009

Most of the "bad feelinging" you have about the game seem superficial. By no means do I have a problem with you expressing your opinion about the game, but a more in depth analyses of your points would have made a more intresting read. Instead we got a bullet point presentation.

I agree that in does not look like the sequel of Kotor series that it deserves and more like a cash in on the success of the series. It very much looks like WoW clone with the patented Bioware morality system (which has become more or less a joke lately) set in the Star Wars universe. I do hope they actually prove me wrong tho. *fingers crossed*

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