Because Who Doesn't Love Killing Bad Guys With Lightsabers - Knights of the Old Republic iOS Ryview

Knights of the Old Republic, by Aspyr Media, Inc.

Recommendation: Great for nostalgia, and a truly wonderful port, but the $9.99 price is steep for a re-buy, so wait for a sale. If you're new to the game, this is a great deal and it's a great way to play a classic.

Knights of the Old Republic is largely responsible for my love of RPGs. I recently reviewed another formative RPG for me, Dungeon Siege, but KOTOR is a much better execution of the genre, and let's face it, who doesn't like swinging a lightsaber at bad guys?

This is not, however, a review of the classic game. This is a review of the iOS port. I have been fairly unhappy with some games that deal with complicated movement controls on the iPad. Frequently they're clunky and difficult to use. So I was hesitant to play a game that I loved in PC form because I was worried it would sully the experience.

I was pleasantly surprised.

The game translated remarkably well to the tablet. The real time-turn based mode works well, the movement was fairly smooth, and KOTOR's ability to pause to give commands or to re-equip felt seamless. So, from a controls standpoint, the port is a complete success except for the lamentably frustrating turret sections. Those required movement and tapping in real time combat, making for a very difficult experience that its wholly unavoidable. Those scenes weren't great in the original, and they're dreadful with a touch interface.

As for the game itself, it's the same as the original. An intriguing story, a plot that in my opinion is one of the best in gaming history (to give perspective, I'm also a large fan of the plots of Bioshock and Halo: CE), and memorable characters that you either love or hate.

Dammit, Mission, I don't care!

I honestly think that this game is a wonderfully immersive tale that makes the player feel the true weight of being a Jedi. It's a fun, complex game with an intriguing loot table, meaningful choices, and breathtaking powers.

If you've never played it before, this is a fantastic RPG, but it will confuse gamers new to the genre. This is deep in the Dungeons and Dragons style of Role Playing, with base attributes and skills that have a tremendous effect on gameplay and can stunt a player when not properly applied. If you're new to the world of meaningful attribute assignments, this will take a little getting used to. But even with that, it's a great game for both new and old fans.

And if you play as a bad guy, you get to Sith Lightning the shit out of enemies

I highly recommend this game. If you're wanting it to replay the game, this is a pretty steep price, so it may be worthwhile to wait for a sale. But if you're a diehard fan, or if you're new to the game, the price is very low for the quality of content you're receiving. Go out and slash your way to success.

Scorecard:

Category	Score
Time Value	9
Money Value	5
Originality	9
Ryplayability	9
Fulfillment	10
Final Score	8.4

Let me know what you think of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic!

Until next time,

Ryan

Images courtesy of Apple