User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 960 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 48 out of 960
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  1. NickC.
    Aug 2, 2007
    9
    By far one of the best star wars games ever. played many times through because every time it seems different.
  2. AlexV.
    Dec 12, 2004
    10
    Great game, great plot line and challenging game. Better than part 1.
  3. AndrewR.
    Jan 27, 2005
    10
    Best game ever !!!
  4. NicoleM.
    Feb 16, 2005
    10
    Loved it, it exceeded my expectations. I was addicted for days. I can't wait to see if there is another one.
  5. DavidB.
    Feb 24, 2005
    7
    Don't you just hate the conversations that go round in circles. Don't you just hate the conversations that go round in circles. Don't you just hate the conversations that go round in circles. Don't you just hate the conversations that go round in circles. Don't you just hate the conversations that go round in circles. [Ed: yes]
  6. Jeremy
    Feb 23, 2008
    8
    Great game. Played it on a modern computer, quad core, 2 gb ram etc but still got some bugs. But not enough to ruin the gameplay. Starts off slow, I gave up on it the first time, second time around a few months later and I was hooked. Took me 38 hours to finish it. Graphics are dated especially now in 2008 but still do their job. Excellent sound. Storyline is very well thought out. But youGreat game. Played it on a modern computer, quad core, 2 gb ram etc but still got some bugs. But not enough to ruin the gameplay. Starts off slow, I gave up on it the first time, second time around a few months later and I was hooked. Took me 38 hours to finish it. Graphics are dated especially now in 2008 but still do their job. Excellent sound. Storyline is very well thought out. But you need to be careful not to miss anything, I could never get the HK48 droid to work in the whole game. Will keep you up all night, and addicted until you finish it. Highly Recommend it to all gamers! Expand
  7. SimoneD
    Dec 29, 2009
    10
    This Game is fantastic. This was for me the best introspection in the Star Wars world.
  8. MasterBoredom
    May 14, 2009
    7
    Forced. Knights of the Old Republic II suffers, in short, from being in the shadow of it's predecessor's brilliance. When the former not only brought to life the Star Wars world better than any previous game, but also managed to combine PC RPG stats and dice with Console RPG storytelling, it did so almost unexpectedly. KotOR threatened to be far less than the sum of its parts, Forced. Knights of the Old Republic II suffers, in short, from being in the shadow of it's predecessor's brilliance. When the former not only brought to life the Star Wars world better than any previous game, but also managed to combine PC RPG stats and dice with Console RPG storytelling, it did so almost unexpectedly. KotOR threatened to be far less than the sum of its parts, and when it turned out to more, much more, its success was guaranteed. Unfortunately, that first game, but for a few tiny control issues, really didn't leave much to be improved upon. Taking up the motto of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it", the developers subsequently created something that feels more like a hefty expansion, rather than a true sequel. New story, slightly altered levelling up system, but all within the same shell. Unfortunately, the game fails to match its predecessor on several of these levels. Firstly, the combat and skill related section of KOTOR II lacks the balance of the first game. Certain fights in the first game were genuinely difficult, and frequently your choice of skills and party members only opened doors at the expense of others being shut. In contrast, from the outset of KOTOR II, it is easy to have a party capable of accomplishing everything and kicking ass to boot. A carefully constructed jedi is quite capable of destroying even the toughest enemies on their own, and several of the other party members (or yourself, if you choose) can cover ALL of the skills needs you'll ever have, while remaining quite combat capable. The satisfaction of levelling up becomes muted as the game wears on, and towards the end begins to feel rather meaningless. Secondly, the interactions between your fellow party members and yourself, while still a cut above most rival games, never reaches the brilliance of the first game. Ultimately, despite the game's efforts, the brilliance of Bastila, Carth and Mission is not replicated, and instead we end up with characters who range from the flat to the outright dislikeable. This is coupled with a well intentioned system of converting followers to the light or dark sides, which while a promising idea ultimately serves to replace rather than support the "it looks like something is bothering ____" of the first game. Rather than developing, the game instead seems to pour all the character's stories into initially accessible paths and abandon them for the endgame. Indeed, the game also includes a rather bizarre continued conflict between two NPCs that might well not feature in the player's plans. Finally, the story itself borders upon weak, though it likely suffers again from the impact of its predecessor here. The pacing of the game, certainly, is poor, and the game seems to drag for large periods without any injection of urgency or a strong wider goal. When the endgame does approach, it is thrown on almost unexpectedly. This combines with the game's enemies, who, after appearing deeply menacing when we first meet them, and radiating a sense of power, proceed to fall like bowling pins so quickly at the end, that you're left expecting revivals that do not come. This is a shame, because while characters like Darth Malak and Darth Revan (KotOR) might have been impossible to best, the game initially appears to have matched them. Frankly, KotOR II's concepts deserve far better than the game delivers. It isn't all doom and gloom, though. The sensation that this is KotOR 1.5 will probably be welcomed by most, and although the game doesn't match it's predecessor, you would be hard pressed to accuse KotOR II of being the cash-in it might have been. Some of the dialogue is genuinely brilliant and there are many pleasing little concepts in the storyline. And it is another replication of those wonderful star-wars worlds, which is always appreciated. My final gripe with the game, concerns the way the story progresses from it's predecessor. It would have been nice if the game could have absorded some details of what happened in the player's previous outing, but instead we have a hotch-potch amalgamation of the potential light/dark paths ventured last time around. Indeed, given the options available in the previous game, it is disappointing to see a story told where the actions of my character seemed completely contradicted. The ending, in particular, is very unsatisfying, and seems to cater for only one path of play. Frankly, the story of the second game is best ignored when thinking about the series. KotOR II remains an acceptable RPG romp, but fails to deliver to the level of it's predecessor. Ultimately, it fails to reach the benchmarks in gameplay, story and characterization of the first game, and though fans will welcome the extension of the series there is no doubt that it will take more to acheive the success of the first game. Expand
  9. Sep 5, 2012
    9
    I played the Sith Lords again recently and realised it deserved far ore credit than I had originally given it. Kotor 1 is y favourite game of all time, and I always looked on Sith Lords as an inferior follow-up. On further inspection, it's only really the ending that sucked.
    In the Sith Lords you have one of the best opening sequences - exciting and gripping - of any gae I have played.
    I played the Sith Lords again recently and realised it deserved far ore credit than I had originally given it. Kotor 1 is y favourite game of all time, and I always looked on Sith Lords as an inferior follow-up. On further inspection, it's only really the ending that sucked.
    In the Sith Lords you have one of the best opening sequences - exciting and gripping - of any gae I have played. Obsidian kept the good looks and a similar interface, made the Items available more interesting and varied, made the characters far more interesting, and went for a more complex plot. I still think the ending was a shame, it felt so sudden and rushed and The Trayus Core scene just felt ridiculous. But the Sith Lords is a sequel not to be missed.
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  10. Aug 16, 2011
    9
    A great game, Not like the fist one, but I can say its really hard to beat the fist one. This game is one of my favorites of all time too. You must play it.
  11. Feb 18, 2011
    10
    This was the first Star Wars game I have ever played with and I loved it only after 5 minutes of game play. It is intriguing, challenging but not ultra- hard, re-playable, fun and star wars. :D
    Even if you don't quite like the Star Wars universe it is a very decent RPG. I would definitely recommend this game for everyone to try at least once.
  12. Apr 5, 2011
    8
    This game is at a disadvantage in that it is expected to live up to the original, which it doesn't. Surely, the gameplay is better than the first and many of the stats/abilities, etc. are better, but the rest has declined. The story line is confusing and bland. It seems like they tried to satisfy both possible endings of the first game, which didn't work at all. Most of the characters areThis game is at a disadvantage in that it is expected to live up to the original, which it doesn't. Surely, the gameplay is better than the first and many of the stats/abilities, etc. are better, but the rest has declined. The story line is confusing and bland. It seems like they tried to satisfy both possible endings of the first game, which didn't work at all. Most of the characters are boring and forgettable. The dark side/light side endings vary little, and the ending of the game makes almost no sense at all. That being said, it still holds all of the great combat and RPG elements (minus the story decisions) that made the original game so great, so it's still worth the small price you'll pay. Expand
  13. Apr 19, 2011
    6
    First of all, as released I'd give this title 3/10: this game is unplayable in places due to bugs glitches. Considering this and a storyline cut short to the point of nonsense, I played through this once and felt very let down in light of the original. Then I found a "Kotor 2, restored content mod" which added in aspects of the game that were left in the data files but unimplemented forFirst of all, as released I'd give this title 3/10: this game is unplayable in places due to bugs glitches. Considering this and a storyline cut short to the point of nonsense, I played through this once and felt very let down in light of the original. Then I found a "Kotor 2, restored content mod" which added in aspects of the game that were left in the data files but unimplemented for whatever reason. From here, the game was a vast improvement. The graphics are a polished take on the original, but looking slightly aged by modern standards. That being said, the environments are considerable and there doesn't seem to be any "copy paste" level-design going on. So far, so Bioware. Dialogue is true to KOTOR form, engaging and well written with excellent voice acting. Major improvements are the inventory system and weapon customisation (it's almost worth playing this game purely for the light sabers), as well as character development among your crew mates and resultant story elements from these aspects. In this respect, the RPG elements in this game (once modded) live up well to Biowares' token game design. Personally I'm not a fan of the D&D "real-time turn-based" combat, but it's playable at least and you notice marked improvements as your character progresses. Squad AI has the tactical IQ of a slightly gifted baked potato, but later in the game it is very enjoyable having the ability to go solo into large enemy groups without having to rely on bad squad mates. Cutscenes are entertaining and the soundtrack is true to the Star Wars canon and its' bombastic sensibilities.

    Given further development to finalise the ideas presented in the "restored content mod", this game would have been genuinely astonishing. As released it felt rushed and incomplete, especially considering minimal chances of a sequel.
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  14. Jan 13, 2013
    8
    I remember playing this game so much when it first came out I nearly gave myself a back injury playing it for so long whilst sat in a badly designed chair. Seven years have passed and The Sith Lords was finally made available on Steam after Windows 7 compatibility issues and broken CDRoms prevented another look at the game. Essentially KotOR 2 is more of what we got in KotOR, it has a fewI remember playing this game so much when it first came out I nearly gave myself a back injury playing it for so long whilst sat in a badly designed chair. Seven years have passed and The Sith Lords was finally made available on Steam after Windows 7 compatibility issues and broken CDRoms prevented another look at the game. Essentially KotOR 2 is more of what we got in KotOR, it has a few bugs and is rough around the edges in places but again, I couldn't put it down for 24 hours (logged in Steam). Story-wise it's a little more interesting than KotOR and has some terrific moments, excellent voice acting as well as the return of some much-loved characters. Expand
  15. Oct 18, 2011
    8
    This game isn't nearly as good as the first one. Too me this game is just flat out unfinished. The graphics aren't nearly as good as the first one, the game play is exactly the same as the first one, and the story is way too dark and Gothic for my taste. If this game had only finished development, it would have been so much better. To be fair, this game was made by a completelyThis game isn't nearly as good as the first one. Too me this game is just flat out unfinished. The graphics aren't nearly as good as the first one, the game play is exactly the same as the first one, and the story is way too dark and Gothic for my taste. If this game had only finished development, it would have been so much better. To be fair, this game was made by a completely different company than the first game, so I'll go easy on them. While I don't like this game, I'd still say that there's still enough charm in it to be worth a rent. Otherwise, just stick to the first KOTOR, and only play this if you're curious as to how the sequel really is. Expand
  16. Oct 16, 2011
    8
    The game play is better than the last game, in fact everything seems like a step up above the first game EXCEPT its story. Can be very dark. well worth playing.
  17. Dec 17, 2011
    10
    This is the only game series I feel advocated to create an account to review for. First off, I love the first KotOR, but honestly, the story in this game is the best in-game story I have ever witnessed. Many people have rated this game a failing game because of its bugs, which I will not deny; they do exist. However, on the xbox version, the only bug I witnessed was a frequent audioThis is the only game series I feel advocated to create an account to review for. First off, I love the first KotOR, but honestly, the story in this game is the best in-game story I have ever witnessed. Many people have rated this game a failing game because of its bugs, which I will not deny; they do exist. However, on the xbox version, the only bug I witnessed was a frequent audio glitch, which was perhaps caused by a dirty DVD. Despite the bugs/glitches, this game gets a 10/10 for one reason. BEST STORY-LINE OF ALL TIME. I don't know why people say the first one's was better. This game has a much darker, realistic tone. Also, your actions effect EVERYTHING in the game. Everything you do or say will make an impact, and there is almost no end to the amount of things affected by your choices. If you liked the original story, this is a must-play. Expand
  18. Mar 29, 2016
    9
    A truly amazing game, unfortunately shadowed by cut content. If only Obsidian was given more time, this could have been the best Star Wars game of all time, or at least on the same platform as its sister. Character development, companion development, atmosphere and a true test of what is considered right and wrong give this game the seasoning it needs to live up to the original Kotor. IfA truly amazing game, unfortunately shadowed by cut content. If only Obsidian was given more time, this could have been the best Star Wars game of all time, or at least on the same platform as its sister. Character development, companion development, atmosphere and a true test of what is considered right and wrong give this game the seasoning it needs to live up to the original Kotor. If you enjoy moral dilemmas and a dark, deep story line that extends the Knights of the Old Republic (and gives more depth to The Old Republic MMO) timeline or simply if you are new to the scene, then I would highly recommend this game, it is a staple for any Star Wars fan. Darth Traya is probably one of the most amazingly written game characters I have ever known.

    And if you are into modding, there is a restored content mod that injects parts that were cut out of the game into it. While it is nice to see some new content, it is slightly messy in how they have implemented it, but it does give companions some extra character development. And with the added steam support and resolution fix, there is simply nothing to be putting you off in trying Kotor 2.
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  19. Mar 20, 2012
    9
    Knights of The old republic 2: The Sith Lords isn't as good as the first game, but it's close. There are some improvements enabling you to gain affection with companions, and giving you more customization options. It's also nice to not have a leveling cap. however the game has a weaker story, weaker characters and more bugs then the first game, but still one of the best rpg games out there!
  20. Jan 27, 2014
    6
    This game makes me very sad. To see so much potential being killed by stupid decision. This game has amazing, rich story witch captivating dialogs and potentially very good atmosphere. However it REALLY needed more time for development. Since tha game was pushed to be aut by christmas it is broken, stripped down and filled in in a hurry )not to mention buggy). You can see it everywhere.This game makes me very sad. To see so much potential being killed by stupid decision. This game has amazing, rich story witch captivating dialogs and potentially very good atmosphere. However it REALLY needed more time for development. Since tha game was pushed to be aut by christmas it is broken, stripped down and filled in in a hurry )not to mention buggy). You can see it everywhere. Unfinished storylines, copy paste from first game everywhere, boring unimaginative locations and so on. This game had potential do be far better than the predecessor. Sadly it is barely average this way. Expand
  21. Jan 13, 2018
    10
    One of the best Star Wars games out there, and while it is a matter of preference, I believe it to be superior to KOTOR 1, mostly due to its writing.

    KOTOR 1 (and pretty much every other Star Wars story) is very straightforward and primitive in its morality - the bad guys wear dark clothes and have red lightsabers and are evil; the good guys wear light robes and have colorful
    One of the best Star Wars games out there, and while it is a matter of preference, I believe it to be superior to KOTOR 1, mostly due to its writing.

    KOTOR 1 (and pretty much every other Star Wars story) is very straightforward and primitive in its morality - the bad guys wear dark clothes and have red lightsabers and are evil; the good guys wear light robes and have colorful lightsabers and are unquestionably good. KOTOR 2, however, goes to great lengths to criticize the Jedi with their code and self-righteousness as much as the Sith with their unchecked hunger for power.

    Unlike the first game, pretty much all the party members have an interesting and often dark back story to make conversations with them engaging. Also now you can influence your followers and even train 3 of them to become Jedi.

    Anyway, I've just replayed the game for at least the third time, and my opinion still stands - a solid 10/10, if you like old-school RPGs and Star Wars, don't miss it out, they don't make games like these nowadays. Also make sure to install the Restored Content Modification, it fleshes out some dialogue and expands the ending.
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  22. Sep 20, 2012
    9
    One of the Best and the most flawed games you can find. Lucas Art forced an early release and denied Obsidian the chance to release a game patch later. That means that KotOR 2 is heavily cut, especially towards the ending; and it was intended to be an open ending from the start, much like Empire Strikes Back, to begin with. On the good side TSLRCM fan-made mod managed to restore many ofOne of the Best and the most flawed games you can find. Lucas Art forced an early release and denied Obsidian the chance to release a game patch later. That means that KotOR 2 is heavily cut, especially towards the ending; and it was intended to be an open ending from the start, much like Empire Strikes Back, to begin with. On the good side TSLRCM fan-made mod managed to restore many of the cut contents, which lead to a bearable ending, especially for a Light Side player. Be advised: it makes the game very buggy on Onderon, but it's still worth it if you play for the story like I do. If you play the "vanilla" version than it deserves it's 7.8 score. KotOR 2: The Sith Lords has a slower pacing than the first game, and a different, darker and more reflective vibe. It's more rich and detailed, one of the deepest stories set in the Star Wars universe. It explores more gray, morally ambiguous areas, questioning the Force itself and its ways, the position of jedis in the galaxy and the effect of a war on them, the consequences of their actions, and their echoes. To say it plainly if that's not what you are looking for, KotOR2 won't do for you. Otherwise it will make for a fulfilling, if somewhat wearing experience, featuring some of the best NPCs ever seen in a RPG game, many of which will echo strongly the feeling you got from some of the NPCs from the masterpiece Planescape: Torment. Expand
  23. Sep 23, 2013
    8
    A very good overall game. Does not quite live up to the original, BUT the restored content mod fixes a lot of the 'unfinished' content from the main game.
    Unfortunately that mod can't fix everything wrong with this game though. The ending seems pretty abrupt, the added in planet is awful and interaction with characters seems to be missing something that the first game had nailed down.
  24. Aug 6, 2012
    7
    This game had so much potential, but suffered heavily from a lackluster developer and a rushed release. The game engine, graphics, etc. are all basically the same from the first game--no improvements there, but that's not such a bad thing. The real problem is the bugs, which were still not fixed a couple of years after release. The good news is that KOTR 2 does add some interesting newThis game had so much potential, but suffered heavily from a lackluster developer and a rushed release. The game engine, graphics, etc. are all basically the same from the first game--no improvements there, but that's not such a bad thing. The real problem is the bugs, which were still not fixed a couple of years after release. The good news is that KOTR 2 does add some interesting new features, such as stat bonuses from developing relationships with your party members, item crafting, and the ability to train some party members as Jedi (eventually). The story is not as good as the first, but is nonetheless pretty good. Unfortunately the ending is very rushed and becomes both confusing and unsatisfying. It's also a bit slow getting started: the first 'level' or two are fairly dull, but after awhile you get to visit some pretty cool places. KOTR2 is probably well worth playing, but I'd recommend against expecting it to live up to the first game's standard... Expand
  25. Aug 23, 2012
    8
    This game is very buggy and completely unfinished. But it's got a great storyline with memorable characters, an interesting plot and plenty of Star Wars goodness. The gameplay is only slightly improved from the first one but still pretty good. It's a flawed gem but definitely worth picking up especially if you liked the first one
  26. Nov 5, 2012
    9
    This is my favourite game ever, I constantly revisit it.
    Gameplay and Item crafting really fleshed out, the story is phenomenal - I would even go far enough to say that it's story is 10x better than that of the original Knights.
    However it is not without ( sadly devastating) bugs, and is unfinished. Though, TSLRCM fixes most of the bugs and adds most of the cut content. I feel that if
    This is my favourite game ever, I constantly revisit it.
    Gameplay and Item crafting really fleshed out, the story is phenomenal - I would even go far enough to say that it's story is 10x better than that of the original Knights.
    However it is not without ( sadly devastating) bugs, and is unfinished. Though, TSLRCM fixes most of the bugs and adds most of the cut content.
    I feel that if LucasArts weren't the greediest bastards and let Obsidian finish it, it could be one of the greatest rpgs of all time.
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  27. Jan 26, 2013
    9
    I really can't undrestand why peole say that this second enstalment is worse than the first. First of all the main questline is well-builded and it's not as commonplace as the original KOTOR was. Secondly, none can say that the gameplay has been worsened (in fact some features have been developed). Last but not least, the role of the main character has been rearranged in a better way: 1.I really can't undrestand why peole say that this second enstalment is worse than the first. First of all the main questline is well-builded and it's not as commonplace as the original KOTOR was. Secondly, none can say that the gameplay has been worsened (in fact some features have been developed). Last but not least, the role of the main character has been rearranged in a better way: 1. you can empathise better, because of his obscure past (and considering he has not a real identity); 2. the choices he makes can rally change the course of galaxy history.
    Considering how well-made KOTOR I was, I can't but promote this game with full-marks. I really think that people don't like this game only because they played the former before, and, unable to adapt to this one, they can't make a lucid analisys.
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  28. Feb 10, 2020
    9
    I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Chris Avellone is the best game writer and designer on the planet, period. Man's a genius. Now, KOTOR 1 was a great game, don't get me wrong, but KOTOR 2 is much better, especially the story. However, due to time retrains (something that happens a lot with games), KOTOR 2 was released before it was complete. if only Obsidian would have had moreI've said it before, and I'll say it again, Chris Avellone is the best game writer and designer on the planet, period. Man's a genius. Now, KOTOR 1 was a great game, don't get me wrong, but KOTOR 2 is much better, especially the story. However, due to time retrains (something that happens a lot with games), KOTOR 2 was released before it was complete. if only Obsidian would have had more time, the game would have been even better. There is a mod (TSLRCM) "The Sith Lords Restored Content Mod," which does add a lot of what Obsidian had planned, but not all. The ending(s) to the game are rather bland and leaves you feeling a bit confused and unsatisfied, but despite how great the rest the game is, it's tolerable. Any ways, it is a super great game and I thank everyone who played a part in making it for us. 9/10. Expand
  29. Aug 17, 2016
    7
    This game could be easily better than the first part, but as everyone knows, the production was rushed and it has still some bugs. There are some missing parts in many areas, that you can still feel. There is the great Restored Content Mod, but anyway it doesnt feel perfectly connected. Like in the first part the controlling is very bad, because they almost ignored, how we PC Gamers play.This game could be easily better than the first part, but as everyone knows, the production was rushed and it has still some bugs. There are some missing parts in many areas, that you can still feel. There is the great Restored Content Mod, but anyway it doesnt feel perfectly connected. Like in the first part the controlling is very bad, because they almost ignored, how we PC Gamers play. The AI is sometimes frustrating: companions doing stupid actions fora example.
    They improved the gameplay a bit, but it has still some weaknesses like simple dialog system. The story is interesting like the Kotor 1, but often there are too many unnecessary dialogs, especially Kreia talks too much.
    -> In my view Kotor 1 is much better.
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  30. Jul 28, 2013
    8
    Excellent game, very entertaining, maybe a bit too easy on normal difficulty. Great plot and storytelling, very interesting characters. Not as great as the original, but still a very recommendable game.
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 31
  2. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. 80
    As good as the storyline and basic gameplay are, there are more than a few issues that keep this game from reaching the bar set by the first KotOR. The first: bugs. There a lot of them; most are just annoying, but a few are deadly.
  2. It's remarkable that the game's quest is every bit as big and complex as the original's. On the other hand, some unsightly technical issues and a general feeling of déjà vu will probably prevent you from feeling as strongly about The Sith Lords as you did or still do about the first game.
  3. 87
    More importantly, all these mechanics -- the moral slider, the influence system, combat, etc. -- are surrounded by a first rate story that's almost as mythic and fantastic as the films themselves.