Star Wars: The Old Republic

 PC
User Score
6.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 2879 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,378 out of 2879
  2. Mixed: 545 out of 2879
  3. Negative: 956 out of 2879
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  1. Avadon
    Dec 22, 2011
    5
    A few key points from my experience in the beta and at launch: THE GOOD: - Cool voiceovers - Class stories are great for MMO standards (mediocre for single player standards but anyway) - The game is pretty stable and ping times are ok - Some of the planets are very well designed and put a smile on your face. THE BAD: - Terrible engine is as heavy as Witcher 2 but looks like WoW withoutA few key points from my experience in the beta and at launch: THE GOOD: - Cool voiceovers - Class stories are great for MMO standards (mediocre for single player standards but anyway) - The game is pretty stable and ping times are ok - Some of the planets are very well designed and put a smile on your face. THE BAD: - Terrible engine is as heavy as Witcher 2 but looks like WoW without antialiasing. It also dislikes more than a couple players on screen at the same time, which is not great for an MMO - Long queues to play - Heavily instanced and phased, which hurts the MMO part - Laughable "space combat" - Refuses to break the mold that WoW set, instead follows it to the letter - Combat system is disappointing, one would expect action-style combat in a game with lightsabers and rifles, but no, they might as well be shadowbolts - PvP needs a few years of class tweaking before it can be taken even remotely seriously - No endgame content. As Warhammer and AoC showed pretty clearly, any MMO that ships without lots of endgame content under the mentality of "we'll just focus on the leveling for now and add that later" will simply bomb regardless of launch sales, because noone will sub after their month is over. Catastrophic mistake by Bioware. In general, if you have a month with lots of free time, this is a game worth buying, you will get your money's worth, but it is certainly not worth suscribing to. Play your month and check back in a year or two, if it still exists, for some endgame. Shame.… Expand
  2. Wireded21
    Dec 22, 2011
    4
    I had 8 days of free early access due ot cancelling my pre-order but EA forgot to remove my early access code so thanks EA. I'm glad I did, had a good 8 days but it's not worth £45 + a monthly sub. It should be F2P as it doesn't offer anything innovating to make a subscription worthwhile. It really is WoW with a StarWars skin. It's a good game in it's own right but not goodI had 8 days of free early access due ot cancelling my pre-order but EA forgot to remove my early access code so thanks EA. I'm glad I did, had a good 8 days but it's not worth £45 + a monthly sub. It should be F2P as it doesn't offer anything innovating to make a subscription worthwhile. It really is WoW with a StarWars skin. It's a good game in it's own right but not good enough to justify a subscription.… Expand
  3. silentcore01
    Dec 22, 2011
    10
    I made an account specifically to write a review on TOR. I don't write reviews or participate in online game forums. (other than guilds)

    I spent 5 years playing Everquest. I promised myself I'd never play MMOs again. I somehow got around the era of Warcraft without getting highly addicted to the game. After spending 5 days and blowing through about 30% of the Empire worlds I can honestly    I made an account specifically to write a review on TOR. I don't write reviews or participate in online game forums. (other than guilds)

    I spent 5 years playing Everquest. I promised myself I'd never play MMOs again. I somehow got around the era of Warcraft without getting highly addicted to the game. After spending 5 days and blowing through about 30% of the Empire worlds I can honestly say this is one of the best games of the year and one of the most polished MMO releases I've ever seen. TOR isn't perfect. It lacks many common social and market features of modern MMOs. Soup to nuts it just doesn't stack up with the breadth of features games like Rift offer. What it does offer, is a highly focused polished experience. The things Bioware set out to make amazing turned out amazing. (Story line, character development, RPG mechanics, etc.) This is the game I've been waiting 10 years to play.    … Expand
  4. warruse
    Dec 22, 2011
    10
    I read a lot of these bad reviews and can tell you more then half of what i have read are completely false..stuff they are complaining about isnt even in the game and stuff they have said they have done like "got to 50 and hated every second of it" can you really take someone like that serious thats over 200 hours of game play..IT IS NOT A WOW CLONE..i have played wow for 6 years andI read a lot of these bad reviews and can tell you more then half of what i have read are completely false..stuff they are complaining about isnt even in the game and stuff they have said they have done like "got to 50 and hated every second of it" can you really take someone like that serious thats over 200 hours of game play..IT IS NOT A WOW CLONE..i have played wow for 6 years and dozens of other mmos and this is my most enjoyable experience ( Advice for people who dont like voice overs..dont get it) the story is where this game shines everything else is really well done too but i dont have add and take my time.… Expand
  5. Raygun
    Dec 22, 2011
    5
    Guess most of 0 point reviews are just really big disappointment "venting". My thoughts are they made mistake of using Hero Engine. Google it and check wikipedia, watch youtube videos too (Faxion Online, Hero's Journey) and see similarities. You cannot do major mmorgp with "Game maker XIV". Of course you can, but certain game engines have a limitations and those limitations are well seenGuess most of 0 point reviews are just really big disappointment "venting". My thoughts are they made mistake of using Hero Engine. Google it and check wikipedia, watch youtube videos too (Faxion Online, Hero's Journey) and see similarities. You cannot do major mmorgp with "Game maker XIV". Of course you can, but certain game engines have a limitations and those limitations are well seen in swotor. Although Bioware has it's usual strong points. Storyline, Music and Dialog voices, but it really falls short of game play. Try it...you yet maybe get kick out of it, but don't except too much. You will be disappointed.
    I predict this game will be a subscription free or f2p sometime end of the next year or two.    … Expand
  6. Vega
    Dec 22, 2011
    9
    First off & most important of all is to not listen to the blatant trolling/game bashing by the upset Wow community players out there! I was lucky enough to be involved in the beta last year and have already been involved with game since the early access began on the 13th & I can confidently say without any hesitation that this game is fantastic! Yes of course that are a few minor issuesFirst off & most important of all is to not listen to the blatant trolling/game bashing by the upset Wow community players out there! I was lucky enough to be involved in the beta last year and have already been involved with game since the early access began on the 13th & I can confidently say without any hesitation that this game is fantastic! Yes of course that are a few minor issues here & there but that's to be expected at launch - these will of course be addressed in good time, no doubt along with adjustments following player feedback. But if your looking for a MMO with a deep, rich narrative, some fantastic voice acting & interesting quests then look no further. This game simply oozes class & is everything I had hoped for from a Star Wars game. Leave the Wow players to troll all they like, this game will shine brightly despite some of the **** being written here. Pick it up, you wont be disappointed :)… Expand
  7. CaptainRAVE
    Dec 22, 2011
    10
    Ignore the low ratings, this deserves nothing less than a 7 or 8 out of 10. I am having an absolute blast! Even if people call it a WoW clone with lightsabers, what is wrong with that? I see that as a compliment. The story is the best of any MMO I have played, the light/dark decisions actually fun to make, companions add an extra social element, the graphics excellent for an MMO, and theIgnore the low ratings, this deserves nothing less than a 7 or 8 out of 10. I am having an absolute blast! Even if people call it a WoW clone with lightsabers, what is wrong with that? I see that as a compliment. The story is the best of any MMO I have played, the light/dark decisions actually fun to make, companions add an extra social element, the graphics excellent for an MMO, and the flashpoints positively exciting! This is by far the best MMO out there, play this now, you won't be disappointed!… Expand
  8. lalaland4
    Dec 22, 2011
    5
    This game is mediocre at best. The first turn off was the horrible character creation and how little you can customize appearance. Next was the horrible graphics. My PC can run most of the latest games on high settings and I can barely run this game on low without shadows. And it's not like state of the art graphics by any means, just a bad engine. The interface is pretty good but isThis game is mediocre at best. The first turn off was the horrible character creation and how little you can customize appearance. Next was the horrible graphics. My PC can run most of the latest games on high settings and I can barely run this game on low without shadows. And it's not like state of the art graphics by any means, just a bad engine. The interface is pretty good but is pretty much like WoW with a star wars skin. Also there is nothing innovative for an MMO in this game at all besides the addition of voice acting which isnt that great its just like a quest giver reading off the objectives to you and gets annoying very fast. For the "most expensive game ever made" it is pretty average and I don't see it having a lasting community or following. It is definitely not a "WoW killer" and is absolutely not worth paying $15 bucks a month. Needs major improvements.… Expand
  9. JewishAllah
    Dec 22, 2011
    10
    This is a very solid game at the moment, for the people who say it is very buggy, all i have to say is we can not possibly be playing the same game. Yes in all honesty there are bugs, but wasn't that expected, it is a mmo. On to the game, yes it is the standard kill this do that quest system, but the difference is that i enjoy this time. To those of you who don't like the combat, well WoWThis is a very solid game at the moment, for the people who say it is very buggy, all i have to say is we can not possibly be playing the same game. Yes in all honesty there are bugs, but wasn't that expected, it is a mmo. On to the game, yes it is the standard kill this do that quest system, but the difference is that i enjoy this time. To those of you who don't like the combat, well WoW has tons of subscribers and you know what, I actually like this combat style. The story is also awesome, I've experienced 3 of the different classes and all of them have been awesome. Flashpoints are also very well done, the stories in them are on par with the questing and everything in them flows and feels right. At first I thought warzones were just ok, but then i played Huttball and a close Alderaan game, and let me tell you they were better than any other mmo's pvp for me. On people worried that queue for warzones will be too long, because it is not cross server, well set your worries aside. Thanks to the boosts you get when entering into warzones, anybody can compete with anyone no matter what level. Also space combat is a fun diversion to the standard questing if you don't feel like questing. Overall I love this game, it is very fun and the story really does bring you into the world. There definitely are a few things missing from the game, what would benefit it greatly, but the main thing is that they are nothing huge and they aren't anything that can't be fixed in a patch. A few things I forgot to say, I have not experienced any large imbalance in pvp. Also some people may not think the game has very good replayability, well after leveling through coruscant 4 times, I can honestly say that the interesting quests are still interesting, and i found it still very fun to level. Also the graphics are what i feel they should be, but where they start to show their strength is when you get to the wide open planets, where some of the views are just gorgeous. I would strongly recommend this game to anyone.… Expand
  10. irishman505
    Dec 22, 2011
    10
    A fantastic game if u are into star wars or mmo get this there a bunch of naysayers but truly it is great experience. Get this game ignore wow obsessed haters
  11. ClassHero1
    Dec 22, 2011
    1
    Can't believe I wasted money on this game, it was so overhyped.

    I have spent so many hours on it already but I am definitely not coming back.

    The combat system is the most broken thing I've ever seen not to mention the phasing.

    Completely disappointed.
  12. robbiengall
    Dec 22, 2011
    10
    Speaking of Bioware... I loved BG 1 and 2, I loved KOTOR, I loved both ME games, I liked DA:O very much, I was bored to death with DA2. And I'm in love again with TOR. Thank you Bioware :)
  13. ImmoralAtheist
    Dec 22, 2011
    5
    Very Lifeless world. Bad graphics. Linear/boxed enviroments. "holy trinity". Cliche bioware stories (the witcher has better storytelling). Uninteresting crafting. No interesting (real) open world pvp. Mob's still follow the aggro ring principle.
  14. daftshadow
    Dec 22, 2011
    10
    Fun mmo game. Even for a casual gamer. If you're into star wars lore and rpgs, this game is for you. sure it has some flaws, it's expected for any new mmo game. the learning curve isn't hard so any one with half a brain can pick up this game and quickly master it. the graphics are not exactly the best but for an mmo game it is pretty good. presently, swtor is probably the best thing rightFun mmo game. Even for a casual gamer. If you're into star wars lore and rpgs, this game is for you. sure it has some flaws, it's expected for any new mmo game. the learning curve isn't hard so any one with half a brain can pick up this game and quickly master it. the graphics are not exactly the best but for an mmo game it is pretty good. presently, swtor is probably the best thing right now to play an mmo. if you want something new and refreshing.… Expand
  15. thormart
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    Bioware has created something amazing with this game that no developer will be able to match or even attempt in the next 10 years.

    The story immersion and all out star wars "feel" of the game is all there while at the same time feeling fresh and unique. The sheer anount of work that has gone into each facet of it is nothing short of stunning dwarfing any mmos that has come before it.    Bioware has created something amazing with this game that no developer will be able to match or even attempt in the next 10 years.

    The story immersion and all out star wars "feel" of the game is all there while at the same time feeling fresh and unique. The sheer anount of work that has gone into each facet of it is nothing short of stunning dwarfing any mmos that has come before it. Having played several of the higher level flashpoints i'm also pleased to say that the game offers a substantial challenge as well.

    This is a game for those who really want to see the scope of storytelling in ANY medium taken to a whole new level.    … Expand
  16. TrissM
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    Official reviews so far:

    Venturebeat - 89%, G4TV - 5/5, Digitaltrend - 9/10, Eurogamer Italy 8/10, AusGamers - 9.5/10, Gameblog.fr - 8/10 Who are you gonna believe? Legit reviews with pages worth of info and opinion or trolls who have only reviewed this game making BS comments that aren't true at all. You decide.
  17. ReviewerX103
    Dec 21, 2011
    4
    This game is not all bad but overall not good. The soloplayer content is good for a mmo in my opinion. The content is story driven and keeps you moving. The group content... well saying just lacking would be an understatement. This is easily the most solo player focused mmo game in the genre. It is very obvious little went into designing content for anything above small group, and evenThis game is not all bad but overall not good. The soloplayer content is good for a mmo in my opinion. The content is story driven and keeps you moving. The group content... well saying just lacking would be an understatement. This is easily the most solo player focused mmo game in the genre. It is very obvious little went into designing content for anything above small group, and even that is limited. Really it is a mmo only in respect to alot of people being online at once... all other aspects of what you expect from a mmo are missing.

    Graphics wise the game is honestly really poor, it appears very little of the massive budget went into building a large world with unique and detailed elements. Even if realistic is not the goal ascetic wise the graphic related things such as texture detail and polygon counts are horrific for a late 2011 release. Animations are in the same boat. The graphics and animations might of been acceptable in 2006, but every other AAA mmo released since WoW easily outclasses ToR in the areas of Graphics and Animation.

    Voice overs are decent, better then any other mmo and most offline games I have played this is a plus. The storytelling lacks compared to the rest of the Knights of the old republic games. And the use of cut-scenes are overused for mundane events and just drags out the "Kill X mobs" quest. The whole lightside/darkside with quest gives a false sense of choice since the outcomes are the same no matter what you choose.

    Combat is a near perfect WoW clone same with the UI. While this is not a bad thing, It is not revolutionary or even remotely different. If you are tired of the WoW playstyle well this is more of the same in that respect.

    Instances are way overused for things that honestly have no reason to be instanced, and exploration is limited in the zones.

    In conclusion:

    If you are a Starwars and a big WoW fan you can probably get some enjoyment out of this game. If you are a Starwars Old Republic fan but not a mmo fan you will be applauded by what you see. If you are a mmo fan but not a Starwars fan you will probably play for awhile but leave once the new mmo feeling goes away.

    Those tired of group focused mmos should give this a try it might be up your ally. But for those wanting the group/guild focused mmo you should play another title and stay far away from this one.

    This game is still an infant atm, and no mmo should be counted out especially at this early stage, but this is currently a very unimpressive mmo, if it can even be called a mmo, compared to what else is out there. This game does not even close to live up to the rest of the Knights of the Old Republic series. BioWare has a lot of work to do and very little time if they do not want to lose the big population they started with.    … Expand
  18. Qwibs
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    A perfect game for a Star Wars, RPG, MMO fan. This game does have some issues, but I am giving it a 10 because frankly the current user score of 5.7 is not TRUE! If you happen to stumble upon this review and are planning on using it to purchase the game DON'T. Go to a different website and find a trusted reviewer (NO not IGN). Ok rant over, this game is great.
  19. RPaul12
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    I have contacted metacritic about what's going on with the user scores here and hopefully they will be cleared out. 4 chan is scum and if the one good thing SOPA can do is shut those boards down for good than that is fine with me.
  20. VAIsag-
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    Bah, here we go again. Another big name game is released and the trolls are out in full force raiting the game with 0's the minute it is released. Anywho, I am really enjoying the game and it's definitely the best MMO I have played. You wouldn't believe how much of a difference story, dialogue, choices makes in an MMO until you have actually played it.

    The game has everything that an    Bah, here we go again. Another big name game is released and the trolls are out in full force raiting the game with 0's the minute it is released. Anywho, I am really enjoying the game and it's definitely the best MMO I have played. You wouldn't believe how much of a difference story, dialogue, choices makes in an MMO until you have actually played it.

    The game has everything that an MMO is supposed to have and more, that more is the story, writing, and voice work of a high quality single player MMO. You'll be hooked!    … Expand
  21. Harlen11
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    Gameplay - Very slick, fast, fun with some top quality animations. The blocking and reversals of the lightsaber classes are a joy to look at. Visuals - A really nice, stylized look that will be revelant for years to come. I especially looove the character models and sky boxes.

    Sound - Great weapon sounds, lightsabers sound great, voice acting is tremendous, and the music is Star Wars    Gameplay - Very slick, fast, fun with some top quality animations. The blocking and reversals of the lightsaber classes are a joy to look at. Visuals - A really nice, stylized look that will be revelant for years to come. I especially looove the character models and sky boxes.

    Sound - Great weapon sounds, lightsabers sound great, voice acting is tremendous, and the music is Star Wars what more could you want? =)    … Expand
  22. obviousguy
    Dec 21, 2011
    0
    I'm giving it a 2. It gets 2 points for the story and voice over. The audio work is fairly well done. Even though the stories themselves (went to level 35 and 22 on another) are really hokey. It is I suppose better than what mmos have offered in terms of story advancement before. And all of their resources appear to have gone into this. If that's your thing, this game is for you. HoweverI'm giving it a 2. It gets 2 points for the story and voice over. The audio work is fairly well done. Even though the stories themselves (went to level 35 and 22 on another) are really hokey. It is I suppose better than what mmos have offered in terms of story advancement before. And all of their resources appear to have gone into this. If that's your thing, this game is for you. However If you are looking for a next gen mmo, this game is probably not for you. It really is the most blatant wow ripoff to date in a star wars skin. I got up to 35 before calling it quits. I really wanted the game to be great, but it just falls flat. The worlds are very, very small. There is literally no free exploration, it is so linear you are always on a very narrow path. For an mmo this is a game breaker. This is a world I want to live in for years. If there is nothing off the beaten path from leveling, what am I supposed to do after I reach max level? I need places to explore and this game does not deliver that. It feels like a single player game aside from seeing a person running around here and there. But the way they have instanced the city areas, as well as pve areas, it seems no more than 50 people can be in an entire zone together. So the world feels pretty lifeless and empty. The UI functions and that's about it. You cannot customize it at all. Not even scale it. No macros, no mods, not even a target's target. Character customization is terrible. I can not believe how limited it is. Galaxies, a game that came out 7 years ago was so far beyond what came out yesterday. Bioware should be embarrassed. And I wasn't even a galaxies fan. The combat is same old wow combat. Animations are ok, but I wouldn't call them good. Lightning looks cool, not much else seemed worth writing about. The pvp is terrible, so much crowd control it's silly. Clearly an afterthought and nothing to offer for a player looking for good pvp. From what I've heard from the max level guys, there is no endgame content. One raid (8 people) with a couple bosses. That's it. Enjoy farming that one raid for 6 months or so until they release something else. This game innovates on nothing. It took wows model and added mass effect type story. They combined 2 games and came out with a terrible mutant of an offspring. It's clunky, predictable, and stale. It's now two days old and I have never seen a game that is about to bomb as fast as this one. Congrats Bioware. I think you are going to set a record with this game. Biggest disappointment in video game history. I know it is for me. Believe it or not I was a fanboy until I started playing it 3 days ago. Now I'm an ex player, who will never be purchasing a Bioware product ever again. Also I decided after writing this review, the game is getting a 0. It was a 2 for story, but after realizing how bad it is as a whole writing this, it doesn't even deserve that. What a mess of a game.… Expand
  23. ImprovV
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    This is just unbelievable...the same people are bombarding this game with 0's over and over again. This needs to stop. It has happened with every big named game to come out and enough is enough. You are all a bunch of no life trolls. God PC Gamers are the whiniest group of people I have ever had the displeasure of dealing with.
  24. Yuze
    Dec 21, 2011
    0
    This is an awful game. Completely void of the Star wars franchise and of KotOR, everything has been retconned removing any form of consistency with bland, lifeless performances, yes, the voice acting may be good but in this day and age the lack of facial movement, limb movement, any movement at all outside of the 3 pre-created 'talk' animations - there is no emotion at all. This isThis is an awful game. Completely void of the Star wars franchise and of KotOR, everything has been retconned removing any form of consistency with bland, lifeless performances, yes, the voice acting may be good but in this day and age the lack of facial movement, limb movement, any movement at all outside of the 3 pre-created 'talk' animations - there is no emotion at all. This is essentially WoW 2.0. There is nothing new, nothing has changed. The art style is simplistic and clearly rushed for economic reasons with generic textures and bland colour palates. The raids/fights are dull and laborious and the atmosphere of an mmo is not there. The worry is that in a months time once everyone has managed to complete the joke of a story, the 'economy' i.e. auction house will collapse and it'll be barren. Good riddance I say - If you really must buy this, play the pathetic story which even a 5 year old could foresee then cancel your subscription. Sad excuse for an MMO in 2011, absolutely atrocious.… Expand
  25. Fyn56
    Dec 21, 2011
    0
    It works, but you will not find anything new in this game. It's a silly clone with VO and light sabers. World seems very dead, not much to explore. Very poor char creation, almost no choices, I. The end you get everyone looking the same. Pop is very dull same type of combat and maps same scenarios nothing new and impressive.
  26. Jabrony
    Dec 21, 2011
    4
    Heavily instanced and linear like old single player RPGs. Basically a combat lobby like WoW but nowhere near as deep when it comes to group combat, fight dynamics, or even exploration. Gamers looking for deep gameplay should look elsewhere. The game's main selling point is story and VO. Story itself gives only the illusion of choice as there is never lasting consequence (save forHeavily instanced and linear like old single player RPGs. Basically a combat lobby like WoW but nowhere near as deep when it comes to group combat, fight dynamics, or even exploration. Gamers looking for deep gameplay should look elsewhere. The game's main selling point is story and VO. Story itself gives only the illusion of choice as there is never lasting consequence (save for aesthetics) to your decisions. This means that there isn't much room for game-play inside of the story, unlike previous Bioware titles. VO quickly becomes annoying after watching an NPC glorify a "kill ten rats"quest via 2 minutes of b-grade acting for the hundredth time. This game is a shallow copy/paste job of WoW but severely lacking in nearly every feature we would expect to see in an MMO released in 2011/2012. The list of missing features is loooooooong (and frankly shocking)... I would normally hold out hope for improvements via patches but many of the game's issues seem impossible to fix due to decisions made early-on in the design process (the heavy instancing, linearity, gear treadmill, etc...)

    Lastly, if the game were not a subscription title I would rank it higher. But as it stands now, it appears folks saw the success of WOW, made a SP game with MP elements, and called it an MMO to hopefully get more cash.    … Expand
  27. GreenVMan
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    *pretends to be shocked* Another popular game out and another smear campaign from trolls in the user section. This bombardment of 0's needs to be dealt with, this is getting ridiculous and abusive. ToR is a wonderful MMO that any Bioware and Star Wars fan is going to love. You can play this as your standard MMO or as a single player game even. JUST because this game has a personal story*pretends to be shocked* Another popular game out and another smear campaign from trolls in the user section. This bombardment of 0's needs to be dealt with, this is getting ridiculous and abusive. ToR is a wonderful MMO that any Bioware and Star Wars fan is going to love. You can play this as your standard MMO or as a single player game even. JUST because this game has a personal story doesn't mean it's a "lobby game" as one user puts it. Tell me...what standard MMO feature is ToR missing that these non lobby games have? Dungeons check, Raids check, PvP check, World PvP check, World PvP objectives check, group quests check. Enough with the trolling already.… Expand
  28. Valorous
    Dec 21, 2011
    9
    Given that reviewing TOR is a fuel for debate between diehard haters and vehement fanboys, I decided to chime in and give my review. But before I give it, I'll just say: for what it is, it's a 9. Here's why: The Old Republic's 6 year development has been fraught with rumors, accusations, defenses, and insults flung from all sides of the room, which included things like there being noGiven that reviewing TOR is a fuel for debate between diehard haters and vehement fanboys, I decided to chime in and give my review. But before I give it, I'll just say: for what it is, it's a 9. Here's why: The Old Republic's 6 year development has been fraught with rumors, accusations, defenses, and insults flung from all sides of the room, which included things like there being no endgame in this game back in 2010, to it being heavily phased like the original Guild Wars. In all honesty, The Old Republic is a solid, well polished, and incredibly fun entry into the MMO market. It's hardly revolutionary mechanically speaking, but the only reason people clamor for revolution is because seven years of World of Warcraft has made them bitter. That said, just because YOU played World of Warcraft for years and are now tired of hotkey MMO's doesn't mean the world is, else FPS's and RTS's would have been dead a decade ago. To begin with the PvE, The Old Republic's is leaps and bounds ahead of the competition both in presentation and in content. Class quests are filled with tremendous setpieces that set the tone for your character's growth and serves as magnificent eye candy for the story being told. World Arcs are just as cinematic, offering strong story from a third party point, and makes the game's planets fun and enjoyable to play through. The final tier of quests, the regular quests, are basic quests with some interesting diversions here and there. Whether it's calling in an air strike to decimate a reisstance base on Balmorra, or collecting tusks and animal hides (much to the chagrin of a disgusted Imperial Official) as a satire on World of Warcraft's primary quest model, the game's quests are all fun, enjoyable, and incredibly immersive since almost all of them are fully voiced (high quality, as well, not the dribble that is RIFT or WoW's voice acting). Flashpoints, The Old Republic's dungeons, are no less cinematic, and fall into two categories themselves: story flashpoints, and world flashpoints. Story flashpoints, such as Black Talon or White Nova, are heavily tied into the game's overall plot of an imminent war. They are tremendous eye candy, and a thrill to play, without much challenge so everyone can do them. World Flashpoints are general flashpoints that are tied to the plot, but much more loosely. There is no V/O in these, only certain potmarks in which you can choose to be evil or good for a certain action (such as decimating a Republic Fleet with missiles while on Cademimu, or diverting them to a lifeless moon instead). They're still well-crafted and good to look at, but are there more for the dungeon and loot purposes and less for the story. Finally, the Operations in The Old Republic are, for one, actual RAIDS (which has lost it's meaning right around the time I rode on a dragon's back), and currently involve raiding an ancient prison housing the galaxy's most powerful villains, and raiding a powerful Hutt's palace. They are hugely cinematic, frantic, and an absolute blast to play. With three difficulties to choose from, there is little to be afraid of. If you want the content, play it on Normal. If you want challenge, play it on Hard. If you want heavy coordination and extreme precision to be a part of your take down, set it on Nightmare Additionally, if you want OPEN WORLD PvE raiding, almost every planet has a challenging world boss to take down and conquer. The game is packed with group content.. If one even just skims through the (Currently) 249 red reviews, and see how many claim there's "little PvE", "no endgame", "it's just a single player game with a monthly fee" or "kill X and collect Y", they're what we call, for lack of a better word, mouthbreathers. Now, on the PvP end, the game has three forms of it: open world PvP, instanced PvP, and, taking a cue from Warhammer, objective-based open world PvP. Warzone PvP is frantic and a blast to play, but is a tad disappointing because you can't choose which map you want to play. However, given that group queueing was patched in remarkably quickly, Bioware's on top of this. Open world PvP is your typical gank-fest. What really shines is Ilum, the objective-based open world PvP planet, which is packed with frenetic PvP glory, as you blast down walkers with heavy rocket launchers, capture enemy fortifications, and try to stem the tide in this never-ending warzone. There is no "safety period" on Ilum, ala Wintergrasp. It's all war all the time, and it's a damn good one to be a part of. In the end, to say this game is a generic WoW clone with nothing new to offer is asanine. It is undisputedly the most polished, smoothest launch today, is brimming with content, and has more on the horizons. Given that 90% of the negative reviews are talking out of their ass, I trust you to use their judgment, but I'm here to say: TOR is fantastic… Expand
  29. giventofly330
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    One of the most fully featured, polished MMO games to ever release. Incredibly smooth launch and just what you would expect from a KotoR game as an MMO. One of the best written games hands down and the combat is sooo incredibly smooth. I particularly love my Smuggler and the awesome cover system they use which changes up your skills and ads a whole new layer of strategic elements. TheOne of the most fully featured, polished MMO games to ever release. Incredibly smooth launch and just what you would expect from a KotoR game as an MMO. One of the best written games hands down and the combat is sooo incredibly smooth. I particularly love my Smuggler and the awesome cover system they use which changes up your skills and ads a whole new layer of strategic elements. The group dialogue is fantastic as well and reminds me of the old paper and pen games where you're just sitting around your buddies. If you are a MMO fan, Bioware fan, or Star Wars fan do yourself a favor and pick this game up.… Expand
  30. jimmy1101
    Dec 21, 2011
    9
    Very exciting MMO with the level of polish and storytelling you expect from Bioware. The voice acting is amaziiinngg. I've been playing a female trooper and Jennifer Hale is incredible as always. You've got every MMO feature you'd expect plus quests that you actually care for since it's not the average "read a few poorly written lines" and accept concept you get from other games. HighlyVery exciting MMO with the level of polish and storytelling you expect from Bioware. The voice acting is amaziiinngg. I've been playing a female trooper and Jennifer Hale is incredible as always. You've got every MMO feature you'd expect plus quests that you actually care for since it's not the average "read a few poorly written lines" and accept concept you get from other games. Highly recommended!… Expand
  31. Przemo
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    I was not sure about this game in early beta but after thelast beta test I liked it. I played wow, rift, aion, STO, and many others. None were as fun as this one and it is in SW universe. It has grown on me. I do not think it is a WOW clone even that the interface is similar. I think it just made it easier to get in to. It has some small problems but it was just released. IT is FUNI was not sure about this game in early beta but after thelast beta test I liked it. I played wow, rift, aion, STO, and many others. None were as fun as this one and it is in SW universe. It has grown on me. I do not think it is a WOW clone even that the interface is similar. I think it just made it easier to get in to. It has some small problems but it was just released. IT is FUN overall and that is what games are about.
    HATERS ARE GOING to HATE    … Expand
  32. Aser
    Dec 21, 2011
    8
    This game is like any other MMO I have played. A lot of it is solo questing, you can group with a close friend from guild or RL. It has a lot of good qualities, and I feel it will get better with time as all MMO generally do. All the negative reviews are going to review that way for every game. It's what they do and will always do. I don't even bother to read them. If people hate this gameThis game is like any other MMO I have played. A lot of it is solo questing, you can group with a close friend from guild or RL. It has a lot of good qualities, and I feel it will get better with time as all MMO generally do. All the negative reviews are going to review that way for every game. It's what they do and will always do. I don't even bother to read them. If people hate this game that much then don't subscribe. I for one will be, and I suspect those that negatively review games, will still pay to play.… Expand
  33. Shaggywookiee
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    This is a fun game. The inclusion of story to an MMO is brilliant. The sense of immersion is awesome. It doesn't take long to completely forget the world around you while playing. There is tons of content in this game. A player would have to try really hard to get bored while playing.
  34. Lazerbrain
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    I created a account here just to write this review because I felt the score was too low.

    Life long star wars fan, past MMO experience 4years in SWG, 4 years in WoW, 4 years in UltimaOnline, done all the other MMO's for brief periods, you name it I'v played it. I absolutely love SWTOR, this is the game I have been waiting for, there are some things that I would love to see added, like    I created a account here just to write this review because I felt the score was too low.

    Life long star wars fan, past MMO experience 4years in SWG, 4 years in WoW, 4 years in UltimaOnline, done all the other MMO's for brief periods, you name it I'v played it.

    I absolutely love SWTOR, this is the game I have been waiting for, there are some things that I would love to see added, like alien races, space pvp, but all can be expansion added later so I'm gonna give this game a 10 cause a meta score of 5.7 has to be addressed.

    It's got great singel player!

    It's got great friendly multiplayer, no large raids just enough for real life friends to be able to have some real fun without going all wow raid nolife.

    It's got balanced and fun PvP. (you will hear people QQ just because they don't know how to play and expect something else instead of learning this games mechanics) (Still I could kill any class with any other class at max skill level and thats balance enough for me.)

    Best game I'v played in a long long time... best Star Wars game since Jedi Academy.

    I would say it's a lot better then KOTOR wich so many people seem to love. This is KOTOR 3,4,5,6,7,8 combined.    … Expand
  35. Erebus890
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    This game is pretty much exactly what I wanted from an MMO. Most MMO's try to either be too similar, or very different from WoW, this one on the other hand is a very nice balance.
  36. Ouin
    Dec 21, 2011
    1
    Ever wanted to play an incomplete version of World of Warcraft, while taking breaks to play Star Fox? That's more or less what this game is. It's very linear, but is advertised as the opposite. I guess that's because you can choose a differant class storyline to play linearly. Sort of like reading a differant book in the same series. Only I enjoy reading books more than playing this game.Ever wanted to play an incomplete version of World of Warcraft, while taking breaks to play Star Fox? That's more or less what this game is. It's very linear, but is advertised as the opposite. I guess that's because you can choose a differant class storyline to play linearly. Sort of like reading a differant book in the same series. Only I enjoy reading books more than playing this game. At least those are interesting.
    If you played Star Wars Galaxies, you were probably disapointed with the updates that "ruined" the game. Well good news is, they won't need to do that here. It's like it was based around those game ruining updates along with a "how could we take this to a new level of what MMO fans don't want" attitude behind it. On the plus side... I don't know, I guess it's got some pretty colours. Good Job Lucas Arts, you got alot of fans to give you alot of money, then instantly regret it. Again.    … Expand
  37. leather_belt
    Dec 21, 2011
    0
    Awful game, the witcher is much better. Awful game, the witcher is much better. Awful game, the witcher is much better. Awful game, the witcher is much better. Awful game, the witcher is much better. Awful game, the witcher is much better. Awful game, the witcher is much better. Awful game, the witcher is much better. Awful game, the witcher is much better. Awful game, the witcher is muchAwful game, the witcher is much better. Awful game, the witcher is much better. Awful game, the witcher is much better. Awful game, the witcher is much better. Awful game, the witcher is much better. Awful game, the witcher is much better. Awful game, the witcher is much better. Awful game, the witcher is much better. Awful game, the witcher is much better. Awful game, the witcher is much better. Awful game, the witcher is much better.… Expand
  38. hentaipanda
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    After playing Wow for a few years, this game was very easy to transition into. Though I did pre-order back in July, and have played 2 or 3 of the betas and am now playing the game, I still see many bugs, however this is completely made up for by it's rich story lines. I find myself enjoying each story line very much. I believe within a year that this game will be completely refined. ItAfter playing Wow for a few years, this game was very easy to transition into. Though I did pre-order back in July, and have played 2 or 3 of the betas and am now playing the game, I still see many bugs, however this is completely made up for by it's rich story lines. I find myself enjoying each story line very much. I believe within a year that this game will be completely refined. It seems like BioWare actually listens to what people say, so all I have to say is have faith, and patience. This game will be great!… Expand
  39. Trsc
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    the best MMO I have played to date. The launch was unbelievably smooth and me and my friends have been enjoying the hell out of it. There are a few small issues with it, but I am sure they will be fixed in the future. Overall easily a 9/10.
  40. popo
    Dec 21, 2011
    1
    There are so many things wrong with this game, I don't even know where to begin. I know many how the user reviews have covered most the the flaws (unlike the obviously paid official reviewers), but I'll try to cover some as well. Character customization: For a game set around you being the hero who saves the galaxy, which in this very concept is already incredibly unsuited for an MMO, itThere are so many things wrong with this game, I don't even know where to begin. I know many how the user reviews have covered most the the flaws (unlike the obviously paid official reviewers), but I'll try to cover some as well. Character customization: For a game set around you being the hero who saves the galaxy, which in this very concept is already incredibly unsuited for an MMO, it does not offer to allow the player to design their characters the way the would like. First off, there are 8 races to choose from, but they are basically all human recolors, by which I mean they all look the same, except for the colour of their skin and occasionally a few extra features like horns or tentacles. This is unacceptable considering that Bioware had one of the most rich lore in terms of aliens to work with. I hope you are ready travel around with everyone looking almost exactly the same. Now on to the character models: there are only 4 and they are the same for each races. On top of that, you must select from premade faces. This is also unacceptable for a game released in 2011, almost 2012. Even low-budget Korean MMOs manage to offer a face maker to allow further customization. I'm not asking of ABP-like customization, but this is ridiculously below the average standard of RPGs these days. Story: This is suppose to be the major selling point of this game. We are supposed to be able to enjoy KotOR 3 to 11, but this turns out to be a deception, if not a straight out lie. First of all, class story-driven quests consist only roughly of 30% of all the quest you will do, the rest are repetitive quest shared between all classes. This means if you want to play multiple classes to enjoy each story line, you will have to replay a great majority of the same quests over and over. And the non-story quest are extremely repetitive in themselves already, since they mostly consist of fetch quests, kill X amount of creatures quest or "go active this control panel" quests. And these quest will not have any impact on the world you are playing in so you will often end up asking yourself "what was the point of that?", it is a very unrewarding experience. And quests of this nature should not be so present in a modern MMO, this is the kind of thing you expect from a game from the early last decade, not a big budget modern game. Now, the actual story isn't very better. The voice acting is pretty mediocre in the sense that its quality is very fluctuating. Some NPCs will have credible voices others will be painfully bad voice acting. In general, this will be average, but the voice acting clearly fails in critical moments where the drama is broken by horrible voice acting. It would have been a nice addition if Bioware had managed to do it right by keep a consistency in the quality of their actors. Now, about the moral choices, it is clear that Bioware is constantly dropping in quality in this area. Compared to their earlier work, this is absolutely unacceptable. The notions of good and evil are extremely childish in this game. For example: there is no room for arrogance or greed in the dark side, when you are bad, it means you are just plain evil and will kill everyone on sight. The writing resulting of your choices is pretty bad and often seems illogical. Not a very enjoyable experience if you intend to role-play, or at very least if you want a game that wont make you cringe at every line of dialogue. Combat: This is probably the weakest part of the game. I heard it's practically like WoW, but I have never played it. I hope you enjoy standing around click the same buttons over and over in the most uninspired manner possible. The gun fight is pretty horrible considering the game does not encourage any usually shooting related strategies. Forget about covering fire, relocation or dodging, this game encourages to stay where you are and unload everything you got on your enemy while he does the same. This often looks ridiculous when you are fighting another gun-wielding class and you just stand in front of each other, blasting yourselves apart until of you dies. Not fun at all. As for saber wielding classes, it's kind of the same flaws: there is no gameplay involving what you would expect from a sword fight. You just go to your enemy and click on him until he dies. This feels nothing like fencing, is extremely unimpressive adn you will get bored of it very quickly. I don't have much characters left and there are plenty of other things to write about. I suggest that you read other negative reviews so you don't get caught buying this game and feeling bad for wasting your money. Don't bother with the people who give 10/10, it seems they are the kind of fanboys that were omnipresent on the official forums. If you dared point a flaws in the beta (which is the whole point of a beta), you could expect a barrage of insults as if you had insulted them personally.… Expand
  41. SgtPatches
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    Simply one of the best MMO's I have ever played now some people have said the game is very much similar to WoW and that they were expecting something different. If this is the case for you then you probably didn't keep up with the games development. The choice to make the game operate simiar to that of WoW was for the tried and tested formula of Tank-Heals-DPS which everyone in the MMOSimply one of the best MMO's I have ever played now some people have said the game is very much similar to WoW and that they were expecting something different. If this is the case for you then you probably didn't keep up with the games development. The choice to make the game operate simiar to that of WoW was for the tried and tested formula of Tank-Heals-DPS which everyone in the MMO world is accustomed to. The character creation doesn't leave much to be desired though some people are upset that X race isn't playable yet but the game just came out I'm sure Bioware is waiting to release many different races and classes. As for what they have given us now it is enough to tide us over until they start adding more content to the game. PVP is fairly similar to WoW in which you have to time your CD's and use your abilities accordingly to achieve victory. The game isn't aiming for realism as some people here have griped about or that it is not new and fresh but it is what the masses wanted. Bioware is trying to reach a wider audience then say GW2 being its graphical demand is far lower and its game mechanics aren't all that different then WoW's. This allows for easy transitioning and makes the game readily available to everyone because honestly not everyone can afford a 1500+ dollar computer just to play video games. As for the small bugs here and there strewn through out the game none of it is game breaking and I would like you to find a game that launched with absolutely no problems, it simply isn't possible every game is going to have a few hiccups upon release and these are things that are usually rectified within a month. To many people expected this game to be something that it clearly wasn't going to be. the game is to appeal to people who enjoyed the mechanics within WoW and then add onto it with great story immersion and development of your character while all at the same time being able to share the experience with your friends. Some peopleare upset they cant play as non-humanoid characters but think about it logically and you'll see that it simply wouldn't be possible from a design point of view. Having to make individual motions and armor for one species which in if it were in combat wouldn't make any sense. Like a flying tentacle monster slapping you and using a blaster...what type of armor would it wear? How many pieces of armor does it have? It has to be the same amount as every other species or they wont be bale to balance the game. So in reality adding non-humanoid species to the game isn't possible. The game is still early on and many things are in fact being planned to be released such as "Match to Chest Piece" option which allowed you to match all your armor to the color of your chest piece. Now onto the issues of instancing some people say it makes the game devoid of life I say it makes game immersion all that much deeper. If you were doing a epic quest for your characters story line do you really want a bunch of people running around you shooting and killing everything 24/7? No you don't you want to be sucked into the game and feel like your there with your small party of friend or just with your companion. The whole game is planned around player immersion allowing you the player to form a bond with your character so that you will care about the choices you make through the game and in the end get so much more out of it. Honestly the added voice acting and deep story make questing far more enjoyable then any other MMORPG's quest grind because it draws you in as you seek to learn and discover more about your characters story. I fidn this to be a fantastic MMORPG that may not be as innovative as say Eve online or GW2 but it has certainly set the bar for story telling, lore and character development. Simply put if you enjoyed KOTOR 1-2, Mass Effect 1-2, Dragon Age 1-2 and have friends that also enjoyed those games I would recommend this game for you. Those of you looking for some new crazy blow your mind game which is going to revolutionize MMORPG's will be disappointed but that's on you. If your going to critique a game then do it on fact also not on assumptions as so many people have done here before.… Expand
  42. CStormdancer
    Dec 21, 2011
    7
    The thing that defines and separates The Old Republic is story. The whole game is wrapped around it both for good and ill. If you like RPG's then you will likely enjoy TOR because at its heart that is what it is. It borrows its format from other Bioware games where your choices shape the game for you at least to a point. The stories in most cases are enjoyable however there are someThe thing that defines and separates The Old Republic is story. The whole game is wrapped around it both for good and ill. If you like RPG's then you will likely enjoy TOR because at its heart that is what it is. It borrows its format from other Bioware games where your choices shape the game for you at least to a point. The stories in most cases are enjoyable however there are some themes on the Imperial side that become trite. Primarily the Empire in many cases comes off as completely incompetent. I believe that this was done in an attempt to make the player feel heroic. The game play follows the successful model of WoW. Some people criticise this but I find it handy. This game doesn't have a steep learning curve because its play style is already familiar. You can jump in and enjoy the story and the game play right away. Sometimes the game play lacks challenge. However I beleive that is because due to the large number of quest on each planet. If you do all the quest on a planet you will out level the next planets quest. Throw in exp for falshpoints, or pvp or space combat and you can make the game very simple. if you out level the game try doing heroics solo and you will find some challenges. The crafting system is very similar to wow but does have a nice wrinkle to it with the ability to reverse engineer items in order to get better schematics. it offers a little more than WoW in crafting but doesn't become burdensome. The companion system has its ups and downs. While companions stories become interesting you constantly have to be concerned with your faction with them. Some of the companions abilites mesh better with certain class choices. Also your morality choices can please or displease your companion. If your making them happy its all gravy. if your not making them happy you sometimes feel a little animosity towards them. The games reliance on story while its biggest strength does have a few issues. It makes the game very linear. You are pushed along a certain path. You can deviate a bit but largely there is one way to go. So there is less freedom in this game during leveling. However this is something most MMO's suffer from. The gear system is very familiar as it borrows greatly from wow. There are a large amount of armors in the game and the modification system allows for players to customize their gear and if they care to put in the time they can maintain a certain look. The system was far more robust in beta but regrettably they have dumbed it down. Still you do have a lot more options to customize your appearance. They are reportedly coming out with a more robust system for altering the color of gear. They have abandoned their "fit to chest" option for this system. It is a little disappointing but if they come through with their promise then it will be worth it. One criticism I have is that the game revolves around story which is a huge draw for roleplayers. Yet many roleplaying tools are sadly missing from the game. You cannot sit in chairs, many emotes do not have animations and such. I am hoping that this will be addressed. All and all I think the game has a lot of [promise. However there are many things still missing. To be fare it is unreasonable to assume that a new game will have all the features of games that have had years to establish themselves. I have give the game a 7 because while I find it enjoyable I think Bioware has a lot of work to do for the game to reach its potential. I am willing to give them that time.… Expand
  43. Vindeb
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    Been fantastic so far. The story makes all the difference. I actually care about the character I'm playing for once. There's no way you can rate this below a 5. Even if you think it is a knock off of WoW it's polished as hell and introduces a dynamic story.
  44. Kardiak
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    I've played many MMO's, like WoW, EQ2, Rift, SWG, and many others as well as Bioware's earlier games like KOTOR, DA and ME. One thing I've found in the MMO world is there's no innovation, it's always just more of the same. And that stagnation not only makes games your playing get boring faster, but makes new games in that genre just seem like more of the same.

    Bioware has broken from the    I've played many MMO's, like WoW, EQ2, Rift, SWG, and many others as well as Bioware's earlier games like KOTOR, DA and ME. One thing I've found in the MMO world is there's no innovation, it's always just more of the same. And that stagnation not only makes games your playing get boring faster, but makes new games in that genre just seem like more of the same.

    Bioware has broken from the redundant norm, and has made something brilliant. They've made a MMO with incredible immersion, depth and the richest story lines of any game I've ever played. It's different & all gamers know trolls can't handle change. For some reason anything different then the same old daily grind creates such a case of nerd rage in trolls their emotions literally explode all over the internet's related forums, like many posts we have seen here.

    If it's to different for you, don't play it. But don't make crap up and lie just to try and make other people hate what your incapable of understanding by creating dozens of accounts to spam your bile so you can pretend others think like you. Just have your say, and move on.    … Expand
  45. Ka-Shem
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    I'm in love with this game... game play is fun as hell... our community is awesome & the story... its made me LOL, its made me go WTF! & its made me stare at the options its given me & have an internal debate about what I should choose. Ever read a book just before going to bed & say to yourself... "ill just get to the end of this chapter & go to bed" & then 4 chapters later your stillI'm in love with this game... game play is fun as hell... our community is awesome & the story... its made me LOL, its made me go WTF! & its made me stare at the options its given me & have an internal debate about what I should choose. Ever read a book just before going to bed & say to yourself... "ill just get to the end of this chapter & go to bed" & then 4 chapters later your still reading because you cant put the book down? TOR = that & more.… Expand
  46. verian9ne
    Dec 21, 2011
    1
    A World of Warcraft clone put into existence on the sole hope that it could rival Blizzard's game by virtually ripping off ninety percent of it. Bioware unashamedly lacks innovation or originality in developing this MMO. A disappointment.
  47. randomo
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    Anyone who doesn't give this game atleast a 9 is crazy. All the 0-4 scores are absolutely ridiculous. This game should put all other mmorps to rest, or atleast take away from them greatly.
  48. jkerley17
    Dec 21, 2011
    9
    I played WoW for 6 years. I've played a lot of MMOs in between as well (AoC, Aion, Rift, STO, etc...). This is the first MMO I have played since WoW that I am actually excited to go home and play. Everyone is entitled to their opinion... but really??!! Of the absolute crap that is out there you guys rate this game less than average (a 5)?!?! I think this game will change MMOs much likeI played WoW for 6 years. I've played a lot of MMOs in between as well (AoC, Aion, Rift, STO, etc...). This is the first MMO I have played since WoW that I am actually excited to go home and play. Everyone is entitled to their opinion... but really??!! Of the absolute crap that is out there you guys rate this game less than average (a 5)?!?! I think this game will change MMOs much like WoW did.

    If you liked WoW but want something a little different with heavy emphasis on story this game is it. Companions are great, group dialog is cool (need more of it), solo story is great. Needs better character creation/options, fully fleshed out space combat/quests, and no queues. The real test will be if BW can continue to dole out content that keeps the end game going for PVE players (same with any other MMO, I don't PVP so I don't know what the state of that is).    … Expand
  49. c20h25n3o
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    This game is awesome!
    It's a fantastic experience. Especially that it allows you to have a very solid single player experience in a MMO game. WoW eat your heart out. It's everything WoW is in a better setting and just a bit better in many ways.
  50. Adyon
    Dec 21, 2011
    9
    It's the voice-acting and story that saves this game! Gameplay, etc is very much like WoW. And truly...I don't care. If you can't come up with a better system, and obviously no one can, as WoW's combat isn't unique to it either. (Yes people liken things to WoW without comparing what they copied) But I could care less if combat isn't revolutionized if the game is fun to play. And soIt's the voice-acting and story that saves this game! Gameplay, etc is very much like WoW. And truly...I don't care. If you can't come up with a better system, and obviously no one can, as WoW's combat isn't unique to it either. (Yes people liken things to WoW without comparing what they copied) But I could care less if combat isn't revolutionized if the game is fun to play. And so far, it is. Don't get me wrong, I have my share of complaints, mostly due to imbalance of characters, server lag, a few glitches, and other few things they have to fine toon. But most MMOs launch with their share of problems. I was expecting this. The life-span of this game will be determined by how they smooth these out. My least liked thing will probably not be fixed, that of so many loading screen between areas, such as the elevators on ships, where I'd like to not feel a disconnect when switching to my ship. But this is actually where I give it a 9. I expected the other stuff. It's hard to launch a MMO without them, as you can test all day, but there's no way to be sure how things will work when you have millions playing at once. And until they do, the story should keep us interested.… Expand
  51. HyperionIV
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    I haven't been able to play this game enough, each class is amazingly fun, the plot lines are addicting and I have to know what else happens next. I was amazed at how well the pvp feels, you can jump right in at level 10 and still make a difference against level 30's and 50's etc. The crafting is somewhat unique for MMO's and while it feels slow its not annoying and I can see how it willI haven't been able to play this game enough, each class is amazingly fun, the plot lines are addicting and I have to know what else happens next. I was amazed at how well the pvp feels, you can jump right in at level 10 and still make a difference against level 30's and 50's etc. The crafting is somewhat unique for MMO's and while it feels slow its not annoying and I can see how it will be down the line will be engaging without feeling like a grind.

    I feel this game is well worth your time and money, very fun and with the entire thing scripted with voice acting it feels like you're really immersed in the game.    … Expand
  52. kingcheese
    Dec 21, 2011
    4
    WoW in space. Not a bad thing exactly since WoW is/was a good MMO, but it's 2011 and I was expecting something new. Instead we get the same old stuff but with voice acting. Really awkward voice acting.
  53. yllekofta
    Dec 21, 2011
    1
    I really cant understand what Bioware were thinking when they created this abomination.
    A WoW clone in Star wars skin?
    The game is extremely linear, confined, restricted and uninspriring. This is not an MMO, its a singleplayer game in a multiplayer enviroment. Once you start a class, there are 8 in total, of which 4 are jedi-based (!), youre stuck with it. You cant go back, change    I really cant understand what Bioware were thinking when they created this abomination.
    A WoW clone in Star wars skin?

    The game is extremely linear, confined, restricted and uninspriring.
    This is not an MMO, its a singleplayer game in a multiplayer enviroment.

    Once you start a class, there are 8 in total, of which 4 are jedi-based (!), youre stuck with it.
    You cant go back, change profession, OR change faction.
    Characters are boring cartoon styled figures, with few options for customization.

    Gameplay is extremely linear, you are told a story, rather than letting you create your own.
    Movement is also resticted but visible or invisible boundaries. If you go to Tatooine, you might think you can roam freely on that large desert planet? Nope, walk outside the marked path and you die.
    Exploration is not a part of this game.

    Space, another blunder. You get a nice ship, but you cant pilot it or customize it.
    Spacecombat, if you can call it that, looks like something from an iPhone app.

    The stories are mediocre, and doesnt suck you into the mystery and magic of being a jedi.
    Graphics, that suck the life out of any graphics adapter, is just...dull.

    I was really looking forward to this game and pre-ordered it in july....but im very dissapointed.    … Expand
  54. Kiroshi
    Dec 21, 2011
    9
    I have beta tested this game, and others. Been a fan of the Star Wars genre since the mid 80's. This game captures the essence of the franchise and gives each class a different and unique story with brilliant voice acting. The looks for everyone are unique as levels progress and they can choose different outfits/armors that really fit their particular 'flavor' more without sacrificing theI have beta tested this game, and others. Been a fan of the Star Wars genre since the mid 80's. This game captures the essence of the franchise and gives each class a different and unique story with brilliant voice acting. The looks for everyone are unique as levels progress and they can choose different outfits/armors that really fit their particular 'flavor' more without sacrificing the protection and buffs. My only complaint is the rail-driven space combat, but if you liked the Star Fox games, you'll like this. the actual MMO is compelling. Ignore the ranting of everyone saying it's a WoW-clone, yes you use a keyboard and mouse to move and there are quests, but every MMO has the characteristics they say is WoW-only, and they were there before that game. My recommendation... give the game a try, join us with the Dark Side. We have cookies.… Expand
  55. Stogz
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    Best launch of any MMO in history!!! Unlike WOW and so many others, there was no server crashing on release day.

    This game is in keeping with Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) made by the same publisher. If you liked Mass Effect 1 and 2 plus looking forward to ME3 or if you enjoyed the KOTOR games, then you'll enjoy this game. Despite what people what say, this is a full fledge    Best launch of any MMO in history!!! Unlike WOW and so many others, there was no server crashing on release day.

    This game is in keeping with Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) made by the same publisher. If you liked Mass Effect 1 and 2 plus looking forward to ME3 or if you enjoyed the KOTOR games, then you'll enjoy this game. Despite what people what say, this is a full fledge MMO. Unlike the negative reviewers that NEVER PLAYED THE GAME, or if they did just for a short time, I was a Closed Beta Tester and I've been playing the game for more than 6 months. During Beta, I ran several character up into the 30s and 40s. As veteran MMO player, I've played EQ, WOW, Warhammer, plus many more. This game is solid and worth playing. Yes it is potentially an WOW killer. This game should do to WOW what it did to EQ.

    Here is some basic info on the game and review of some mechanics.

    Servers -- This is a true MMO. (The idiot MagusGrandios, below, stating the each zone is instanced is false.) Generally, there is only one area which is what you will experience 90% of the time. There is a possibility of "server sharding" which is similar to WOW-phasing. This only happens when there is a huge number of people in one area. During beta stress weekends, this only happened in the newbie zones (first two planets) and I never saw it anywhere else. The sharding is to lower lag. For example, instead of seeing all 200 people in a zone, you'll only physically see 100 but you can still hear and talk to everyone. Otherwise, this is much like any other MMO. Travel is what you would expect. You get your first speeder at level 25, second upgrade around level 40. Until then you can "sprint", quick travel (a teleport, which everyone has access to), or use a taxi to fly from one area to another. Plus you get your ship around level 18 that allows you to fly between planets and participate in space combat.

    Classes - There are 4 basic or archtype classes for the first 10 levels, then you break out into one of two Advanced Class or AC. 8 total classes. Each class has 3 trees. One tree is always DPS and the other PVP/Utility. The third tree is considered the "advanced class defining" tree. (In WOW terms, the Shadow-Priest is a DPS tree that makes the priest like a mage, but it is the healing tree that defines the class.) There are 3 tanks, 3 healers, and 2 dedicated DPS advanced classes, albeit all 8 classes can DPS in thier DPS tree. The classes are relatively balanced.

    Companion -- One very cool feature is that EVERYONE is a pet class. Companions have thier own skills and ability bars that you can customize to your needs. Over the game you will get around 5 character (6 if you count your ship droid). Each companion represents a archtype of melee tank, melee dps, ranged tank, ranged dps, and healer. You get a new companion about every 5-8 levels starting at level 8. You can only use one companion in combat at a time. The other companions can be sent on non combat activities which can range from crafting (armsmech, armstech, cybertech, etc.) to missions (investigation, diplomacy, etc.) to component gathering (salvaging, bioanalysis, slicing, etc.)

    PVE & Grouping -- This game utilizes a basic 4 man grouping system. If you have less than 4 players, then companions can fill the wholes. Thus two players can each have a companion and make a four man group. There is basic content that is 1 or 2 person oriented. Plus there are 2 man Heroics, 4 man Heroics, and Flashpoints. End game raiding requires 16 man groups. The game features all of the looting features you've come to expect from an MMO.

    PVP & Battlegrounds -- The game features world PVP on PVP servers plus Battlegrounds on all severs. The Battlegrounds rely upon scenarios. If you've played Warhammer, then must of this will be familiar. Warhammer was one of the best PVP oriented MMOs, and this is the same developer.

    Crafting -- Crafting is different than most games. You are not the crafter but it is a skill set shared by your whole crew. Thus making a set of armor takes time. You go on missions while you leave your companions at the ship making armor. Companions can also be sent on gathering missions to get you the items you need. Companions can also go on missions which can receive rewards such as materials or schematics that are useful in crafting. Very smooth system. I currently have an Armstech/Scalvaging/Investigations character with the skills in the 170-200 range.

    Guild System -- The guild pre-launch program was flawless. For pre-existing guilds, they were organized pre-release and automatically added to their guild at launch. There are a few incoming features, such as guild bank, that is supposed to be included in the first patch.    … Expand
  56. Khurg
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    Excellent game ! engaging, good features, excellent immersion. Some good innovation here and elimination of grinding. Class stories are very well done. 10/10 in my book
  57. ChaseR
    Dec 21, 2011
    1
    Not a mmo , this game is a single player game with a multi player add on. It is missing simple things like customisation, housing, expertise systems etc... What happens is everyone ends up at lvl 50 with the same abilities and the same clothes, and this is after everyone has played the identical story. The game will never reach high and retain high subscriptions ,
  58. IronLily
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    TOR = Kotor 3 Multiplayer Edition and it's wonderful for it. It has the usual trappings of MMOs, crafting, PvP instances, entire battle grounds, etc.
    It does not deviate far from the distilled western MMO formula. But what it does is make this formula extremely enjoyable to play.
    The voice acted cut scenes replacing the standard paragraphs of npc quest dialogue, and Mass Effect style    TOR = Kotor 3 Multiplayer Edition and it's wonderful for it. It has the usual trappings of MMOs, crafting, PvP instances, entire battle grounds, etc.
    It does not deviate far from the distilled western MMO formula. But what it does is make this formula extremely enjoyable to play.

    The voice acted cut scenes replacing the standard paragraphs of npc quest dialogue, and Mass Effect style conversations serve to not only break up the flow of the game, giving the player a brief break before jumping back into the action, it serves to make you truly attached to your character. There are decisions to make, and no matter the angle of your character, some will be very hard.
    It's not just good/bad choices, it's getting the job done but with different consequences.

    Playing a Bounty Hunter to lvl 26 so far, I love my character. Every fight I feel like a complete bada**. I don't have a cycle of skills I used in the same order every fight, rather it feels like I have a tool kit that I can choose from based on the situation and what I feel like doing. Nothing compares to running up and rocket punching a giant boss in the nose and then bombing the hell out of his buddies.

    TOR isn't for everyone. If you're looking to speed through to the end of the game, this may not be for you. What it is, is an extremely enjoyable journey through the Star Wars universe that can be shared with your friends.    … Expand
  59. Khas
    Dec 21, 2011
    9
    After having played a variety of MMO's since Everquest II, I have to say that Bioware has indeed achieved something unique. The Old Republic gives the immersion of a single player game, while allowing more traditional social options, such as PVP and grouping for PVE content. Currently, the social options are pretty limited, the biggest issue being no guild banks. Emotes typically found inAfter having played a variety of MMO's since Everquest II, I have to say that Bioware has indeed achieved something unique. The Old Republic gives the immersion of a single player game, while allowing more traditional social options, such as PVP and grouping for PVE content. Currently, the social options are pretty limited, the biggest issue being no guild banks. Emotes typically found in most MMO's are sadly lacking here, and the lack of armor customization found even in free-to-play MMO's is surprising, though they promise this in a future update. The combat system is fairly fluid and easy to learn, though there are sometimes too many options. There is no auto-attack feature, so it feels very interactive. The launch was smoother than any game I've ever seen or been a part of. Even during the evening hours of launch day, there was no wait time to get on most servers, and this was not apparently from lack of players. I highly recommend SWTOR to anyone looking for a good MMO experience. There are a few rough edges, but a surprisingly small amount considering the state most games ship these days.… Expand
  60. RPGeeky
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    I am absolutely enthralled by this game. I love how story-driven it is, and how at several points during a quest chain, you have to make moral decisions and judgement calls that affect your own character's story progression. On a technical side, I think that the game play is very intuitive (I am an enthusiastic but not exactly pro gamer, having mostly played World of Warcraft, Dragon Age,I am absolutely enthralled by this game. I love how story-driven it is, and how at several points during a quest chain, you have to make moral decisions and judgement calls that affect your own character's story progression. On a technical side, I think that the game play is very intuitive (I am an enthusiastic but not exactly pro gamer, having mostly played World of Warcraft, Dragon Age, Skyrim, Mass Effect, Champions of Norrath and Baldur's Gate, along with some zombie shooters and racing games). I love that the "gathering" quests are completed automatically when you are done with the objective: no need to run back to the quest giver all the time to hand him over 10 pelts or something. I love that you can run with the map open (it fades out, but it is still superimposed over the game, so you can see where you are going). There are a ton of other details like that, little things that make this game a joy to play.

    On the MMO aspect, I suppose your experience will vary depending on what server you choose, but as for myself, on an RPPVP server, I have to say: I find the people friendly and helpful. I ran across some public RP already, and there was a huge wpvp event on our server just yesterday, on launch day. You can definitely play alone and truly enjoy yourself, but I find that having a guild is a nice bonus (if only to ask newbie questions).

    I would definitely recommend this game as a first experience to anyone who has ever wanted to try out MMORPGs: it is quite easy to get the hang of, the stories are rich and interesting, and there is so much to discover that you will really enjoy yourself. If you never played an MMO before, look at the user forums for your server, read up on various guilds, and apply to one that interests you. Playing with like-minded and helpful people will enhance your experience.

    As for a rating, I am giving this a 10, because I can't think of anything that I would like to change, so far. PVE, PVP, RP (and story content): I like it all! :)    … Expand
  61. riot_gun
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    I'm being completely honest when I say this is the best game I have ever played. Nothing else has ever sucked me in so completely. The bond with your character that BioWare fosters with their in depth story lines is entirely unique in the MMO world. Some people will draw parallels to other successful MMOs while forgetting that WoW copied most of the features it had at launch and most ofI'm being completely honest when I say this is the best game I have ever played. Nothing else has ever sucked me in so completely. The bond with your character that BioWare fosters with their in depth story lines is entirely unique in the MMO world. Some people will draw parallels to other successful MMOs while forgetting that WoW copied most of the features it had at launch and most of the features it has now. Either way, TOR is far and away more engaging than anything I've played before it. If you like BioWare games, you'll love this one.… Expand
  62. Sanguinous
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    The amount of negativity I see is staggering and honestly very unsettling. Many of the reviews are not only unfair, they seem written by people who have either never played a MMORPG before or actively find reasons to complain and give low scores.

    A lot of people come off a previous Star Wars game, Star Wars Galaxies which was a totally different monster - it was a "sandbox game" which    The amount of negativity I see is staggering and honestly very unsettling. Many of the reviews are not only unfair, they seem written by people who have either never played a MMORPG before or actively find reasons to complain and give low scores.

    A lot of people come off a previous Star Wars game, Star Wars Galaxies which was a totally different monster - it was a "sandbox game" which for those who don't know the terminology means a game that you can make your own. You could build a virtual city and live in it. Make a store and sell things. The worlds were huge and empty and built for players to create their *own* community. TOR is not a "sandbox game" - However it is the next evolution of the the online Star Wars genre. TOR takes the best aspects of several MMORPGs and combines them to create a totally new yet familiar beast. For example, some people are complaining at the lack of options during character creation. This game has a ton more choices then another successful game, World of Warcraft. That game has one body choice. TOR has 4. Then you get to the face and have a vast number of choices to craft your avatars face.

    Tor is like a corvette with a custom engine. They researched many of the things that "worked" in multiple MMORPG's, tweaked it, and improved upon it!

    The most amazing aspect of the game is the storytelling - not only is it all voiced (which is mind boggling), every storyline is well written and makes my experience in TOR one of the best I've had online. You have the potential to play through EIGHT different storylines (4 Sith Empire and 4 Republic) and you can also play a male or female character (with its own voice).

    The game adds something I have not seen before in any game - Flashpoints! Flashpoints are missions that are performed in a group and offer conversation choices that each player has a chance to chose. Once chosen, virtual dice are thrown and whoever gets the highest roll is the response the game uses! It makes for some very exciting and fun roleplaying (even if you aren't a roleplayer!) where the attitude of the party (and sometimes the story) changes as you make your way through the Flashpoint. At one point we had a choice to kill an important character or allow that character to live! Hope you roll high!

    Anyway, this game is amazing and the launch was one of the smoothest launches I have seen for an MMORPG in years. The developers promise tons of updates and with the money they are making with the successful launch of TOR and I believe they will deliver.

    Finally, despite the negative online responses here, there is a VAST majority who are having a blast with TOR and are currently playing the game as opposed to the very vocal minority that has found a soapbox to stand on and complain.    … Expand
  63. Chezwick838
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    This game is great. The combat system is fun and the story driven game play is entertaining. This game is what I have been waiting for.

    Great job Bioware.
  64. RammiXp
    Dec 21, 2011
    9
    I'm a level 40 and I can't understand some of the reviews on this site but each to there own. This game in my mind is fantastic. The story is so impressive, the combat is so much fun to watch even after 40 levels as well as engaging. I feel engrossed in the world and love playing warzones and can't wait to see what Ilum has in store. Are there things I would like to see in game like a moreI'm a level 40 and I can't understand some of the reviews on this site but each to there own. This game in my mind is fantastic. The story is so impressive, the combat is so much fun to watch even after 40 levels as well as engaging. I feel engrossed in the world and love playing warzones and can't wait to see what Ilum has in store. Are there things I would like to see in game like a more PVP focused Space system, Guild Functionality and much more character customization, YES. However Bioware have clearly stated they are working on this right now and some of those things will be coming very soon. They need to deliver but the game is 3 days old and it has a ton of content out of the gate.

    For an MMO launch its been exceptional beyond some queue issues which are common at every MMO launch as people rush to the same servers that are over populated rather than spread out as well as a small issue on one planet causing a memory leak. there has been hardly any systemic issues if any that i have seen.

    I can't wait for this game to evolve and what the future brings.    … Expand
  65. Cabrien
    Dec 21, 2011
    9
    SW: TOR is a very formidable adventure/theme park MMORPG, with a lot of polish and a great sense of atmosphere. If you enjoy games like Lord of the Rings Online, World of Warcraft, or Rift, and you love Star Wars, then TOR is a no-brainer. Bioware has taken elements of their best-selling single-player games and brought them into the MMORPG landscape, with great success. Gone are theSW: TOR is a very formidable adventure/theme park MMORPG, with a lot of polish and a great sense of atmosphere. If you enjoy games like Lord of the Rings Online, World of Warcraft, or Rift, and you love Star Wars, then TOR is a no-brainer. Bioware has taken elements of their best-selling single-player games and brought them into the MMORPG landscape, with great success. Gone are the days of reading walls of text, and now there are interactive discussions that help shape your character and tell a complete story, on par with most singleplayer games. There hasn't been a benchmark in the industry like this since the WoW juggernaut and if the smooth Early Access Launch is any indication, Bioware is going to be a top MMORPG developer for years to come.… Expand
  66. Koninbeor
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    This is an excellent game. The storyline as you're questing is as good as any singe player RPG I've ever played, certainly a deeper plot than any of the Elder Scrolls games. The worlds and characters are unique and vibrant, truly immersing you in the Star Wars universe. When you play this game, you will feel like you are part of Star Wars.

    While there are only four character classes for    This is an excellent game. The storyline as you're questing is as good as any singe player RPG I've ever played, certainly a deeper plot than any of the Elder Scrolls games. The worlds and characters are unique and vibrant, truly immersing you in the Star Wars universe. When you play this game, you will feel like you are part of Star Wars.

    While there are only four character classes for each faction, the "ability trees" available give you a much greater difference than WoW. Going from one tree to the next completely changes how you play the class, giving you a different experience with each configuration that you try.

    Character creation isn't quite as deep as some games out there. That said, it is much deeper than the game that everyone is comparing it to, WoW. One must also bear in mind that the more you allow customization of characters, the more cutbacks you need to make elsewhere. 4 body types and up to 32 different faces, hairstyles, etc is much more than most games on the market. It's just not quite City of Heroes worthy.

    The controls are very responsive in this game and the animations are truly fluid. Combat has a faster pace than the original trilogy. Blaster battles seem epic and lightsaber combat is as good as the Jedi Knight series.

    While this game does have a couple of bugs, mostly with stairs, I have never once played an MMO that did not have a couple of kinks in the beginning. I dropped the cash for the Collector's Edition and I couldn't be happier with my purchase. I've been waiting on this game for several years now and it has exceeded my expectations. In response to instances, it cuts back on server lag and makes leveling easier. If you're in "Kaas City 1" and your friend is in "Kaas City 2" then it literally takes less than 10 seconds for one person to switch to the other. Maybe the other reviewers would like to see so much traffic that the quest givers are no longer visible.    … Expand
  67. mobius22r
    Dec 21, 2011
    0
    Bioware is the best at storytelling, and this is no exception. The Old Republic looks and feels like Star Wars, and is, while not unique in the MMO genre, very good. It has elements from many popular games, and the development team is working hard to improve things every day. The graphics are so much better than many MMO's on the market today. It's hard to make something everyone canBioware is the best at storytelling, and this is no exception. The Old Republic looks and feels like Star Wars, and is, while not unique in the MMO genre, very good. It has elements from many popular games, and the development team is working hard to improve things every day. The graphics are so much better than many MMO's on the market today. It's hard to make something everyone can play, but BioWare accomplished it. I think the timeline they picked is perfect. It's a good compliment to KotOR and doesn't step on K1's toes, nor does it interfere with the movies' timelines. I look forward to the future and can't wait to see what comes next!… Expand
  68. MercuryQR
    Dec 21, 2011
    8
    TOR has proven to be an enjoyable game. Regardless of the quips of it being a single-player game played alongside other players, it is still an MMORPG. With more emphasis on the RPG aspect of the gaming industry, I find it to be a fantastic change from the general grindfests that many MMOs feel is necessary in a profitable business model. Yes, it draws on many common features of the bigTOR has proven to be an enjoyable game. Regardless of the quips of it being a single-player game played alongside other players, it is still an MMORPG. With more emphasis on the RPG aspect of the gaming industry, I find it to be a fantastic change from the general grindfests that many MMOs feel is necessary in a profitable business model. Yes, it draws on many common features of the big name MMOs but it still has enough difference to make it a distinctive and enjoyable. People need to remember that at no point did BioWare declare SWTOR to be the WoW-killer. It seems to me that good number of people have one set idea of what an MMO should be like and no company may ever deviate from that perception.

    However, I will agree that it is not the perfect game. Primarily, the dearth of inter-faction contact in the world on most planets is disappointing. The options for character design could be a bit beefier but they do offer enough to create a near-unique appearance.    … Expand
  69. sennajin
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    Easily the best MMO since WoW. It takes the tried and true formula that dates all the way back to EQ and DAOC, that was refined by WoW and other games, mixes in a couple of new features from MMOs like Rift (AOE looting, anyone?), meshes all of that into BioWares trademark single player dialogue, tacks on Star Wars, and equals amazing. The game has a few kinks yet to work out, but theEasily the best MMO since WoW. It takes the tried and true formula that dates all the way back to EQ and DAOC, that was refined by WoW and other games, mixes in a couple of new features from MMOs like Rift (AOE looting, anyone?), meshes all of that into BioWares trademark single player dialogue, tacks on Star Wars, and equals amazing. The game has a few kinks yet to work out, but the issues I have with it are pretty minor.

    If you're looking for SWG2, don't bother, because this isn't it. If you where expecting SWG2, you have apparently been hiding under a rock for the past several years, as BioWare made it clear that this wasn't going to be SWG2. The worlds are all incredibly immersive and beautifully crafted. The stories, both world and class, are very well written. The PVP is fantastic, especially when you work as a team and get things done (pass the ball!). RPing comes easy, not only because so many people are familiar with Star Wars, but because the game lends itself to it. For me, this is the perfect theme park MMO.    … Expand
  70. civildude892
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    Absolutely phenomenal MMO. I've played launches for pretty much every major subscription MMO since 2004 and this has by far been the best. Game-play and story are amazing and the game is pretty much bug free and the servers are running flawlessly.
  71. WWWYYZERDD
    Dec 21, 2011
    8
    I am having a blast with this game! This is the first MMO where I actually feel like I'm playing a character instead of just an assembly of numbers. The dialog and story choices really add a lot to the game in that aspect. I love that they have no auto attack as that will remove a lot of balance issues between pvp and pve. The companions and crafting system are really nice. It's great toI am having a blast with this game! This is the first MMO where I actually feel like I'm playing a character instead of just an assembly of numbers. The dialog and story choices really add a lot to the game in that aspect. I love that they have no auto attack as that will remove a lot of balance issues between pvp and pve. The companions and crafting system are really nice. It's great to be able to level your crafts while you are running around doing other things. The space combat, while it could have been more, is a fun mini game that is a nice break between questing.

    All that said, there are some issues, and it is not a game for everyone. Anyone who wants to just grind through to endgame as quickly as possible will probably not enjoy the game and will see the cutscenes as an annoyance rather than a benefit. The race and character customization options could be better. (Cyborgs as a race? Come on.) Because every zone is instanced, even a full server can feel empty at times. The UI should be more customizable and some way to analyze your performace (a meter or at least a combat log) would be nice.

    Overall I am enjoying the game immensely and expect most of my gripes to be taken care of relatively shortly.    … Expand
  72. RumDood
    Dec 21, 2011
    9
    Incredibly fun with engaging story that drives you to play additional characters, the game also include mechanics that make it actually enjoyable to play as a casual player rather than someone who plays several hours a day on a rigid schedule. Playing in groups is a great dynamic, and the social options for conversations make the groups even more engaging. There is a distinct lack ofIncredibly fun with engaging story that drives you to play additional characters, the game also include mechanics that make it actually enjoyable to play as a casual player rather than someone who plays several hours a day on a rigid schedule. Playing in groups is a great dynamic, and the social options for conversations make the groups even more engaging. There is a distinct lack of sandboxing, but considering that before the NGE the chief complaint among SWG players was the lack of content, it takes a conscious effort to not understand why BioWare chose to go the complete opposite direction. This game is ALL content. Storylines and conversations are fun and the voice acting is fantastic.

    As someone who never enjoyed WOW or EVE or AOC, this game has me completely addicted.    … Expand
  73. Triggerhappy
    Dec 21, 2011
    8
    An old-school mmo rpg with largely unappealing graphics, many traditional features and several great twists that create a genuinely new experience. The role-playing storyline allows for a solid level of immersion; the accent has clearly been on the levelling aspect rather than a rush to endgame raiding. For mmo newcomers it may be a bit rough; for veteran mmo grinders and achievers it willAn old-school mmo rpg with largely unappealing graphics, many traditional features and several great twists that create a genuinely new experience. The role-playing storyline allows for a solid level of immersion; the accent has clearly been on the levelling aspect rather than a rush to endgame raiding. For mmo newcomers it may be a bit rough; for veteran mmo grinders and achievers it will be mind-numbingly easy; for someone who´s had a few short brushes with the genre like me, it is thoroughly enjoyable.

    For people who were expecting this to replace wow, this will be a sore disappointment; there is not even a fraction of the endgame content that Wow has to offer, and there certainly is nothing of the reputation farming, honor points farming, achievement hunting, Arena muscle-flexing etc. This game will never become an "e-sport" and for a large majority of wow fan base who need "competition" it won´t deliver. Yet it is worth the money; I expect to comfortably play it for three to four months, enjoy a few storylines, revel in the grouped instances with group conversation choices (awesome!) and, well, sign off.

    It´s a game for a few months, well worth the money in my opinion. It´s not a wow replacement at all.

    On a side note, when comparing to Wow, consider how much Blizzard is earning every month for its 10 mio+ subscriptions: three months worth of Wow subscriptions would fully cover the SWTOR development costs. The gap between Wow and TOR is huge, and this game will NEVER come even close to that budget. Bioware are still essentially a basement developer squad compared to the behemoth that is Blizzard. Modify your expectations accordingly.    … Expand
  74. Allya
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    I posted the Top Ten Reasons That Star Wars: The Old Republic is My WoW Killer in a Cracked-style article that can be found here:

    http://awritersrecluse.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=s&action=display&thread=4097
  75. Bates
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    It's funny how critics are praising this game and sore WoW faithfuls are mocking it because they fear the power of the Dark Side. This game is not a WoW clone. It's an entirely different entity in itself. Naturally it has aspects of WoW but EVERY MMO will. The fact is: WoW fans are scared that their reign at the top of the MMO world may soon be coming to an end.

    How can WoW compete    It's funny how critics are praising this game and sore WoW faithfuls are mocking it because they fear the power of the Dark Side. This game is not a WoW clone. It's an entirely different entity in itself. Naturally it has aspects of WoW but EVERY MMO will. The fact is: WoW fans are scared that their reign at the top of the MMO world may soon be coming to an end.

    How can WoW compete with the vast lore and rich story telling that can only come from the Star Wars Universe? How can it compete with Space missions and space battles, planet hopping, brave and cunning Jedi Masters, ruthless and powerful Sith Lords, and quirky droid companions? How can it compete with a fanbase that has existed for over 30 years! It can't, so naturally, the WoW faithful are scared. Their is a new player in town and these gamers have to get over it and accept that they had a run like no other game in history, but it is time to pass the torch. Better game play, graphics, an epic soundtrack, and great mechanics.    … Expand
  76. Blackferne
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    Star Wars the Old Republic brings a polish and refinement we expect from a Star Wars product. I've been playing from day one of early access and the game has been living up to my expectations. I find myself caring about quest objectives unlike in other games. I find the class stories to be interesting and well written. Most of the minor wants I have (like guild banks) are things theyStar Wars the Old Republic brings a polish and refinement we expect from a Star Wars product. I've been playing from day one of early access and the game has been living up to my expectations. I find myself caring about quest objectives unlike in other games. I find the class stories to be interesting and well written. Most of the minor wants I have (like guild banks) are things they promise to address down the road. It is an ambitious game, and for me it has been well worth the money spent. I look forward to seeing it evolve. I would recommend this game to anyone who wants a fun star wars game.… Expand
  77. HET35
    Dec 21, 2011
    0
    this should have been a SP game,i loved kotor 2 and this should have been 3

    and loll they expect me to pay every month to play?! NO THANKS to quoye somene I am not enjoying this game at all as a fan of KotOR 1 and 2. The animations are stiff, the voice acting is mediocre at best, and the combat is nothing original. Having the zones instanced makes it feel empty and devoid of life. And    this should have been a SP game,i loved kotor 2 and this should have been 3


    and loll they expect me to pay every month to play?! NO THANKS

    to quoye somene I am not enjoying this game at all as a fan of KotOR 1 and 2. The animations are stiff, the voice acting is mediocre at best, and the combat is nothing original. Having the zones instanced makes it feel empty and devoid of life. And when you do actually see groups of people the game is so horribly optimized the game will completely crap itself.    … Expand
  78. Konungsmathur
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    I've been playing this game for about a week now. The things I like most is grouping with other people. There is something called Heroics scattered around the world, where you group with another person and I find these really fun. There is also a longer grouping subgame called Flashpoints. I have only done one of them so far called the Black Talon and I thought it was really done one, andI've been playing this game for about a week now. The things I like most is grouping with other people. There is something called Heroics scattered around the world, where you group with another person and I find these really fun. There is also a longer grouping subgame called Flashpoints. I have only done one of them so far called the Black Talon and I thought it was really done one, and it is fun how the story changes slightly by choosing different options during the cut scenes.

    I would definitely recommend this game, well worth the price.    … Expand
  79. SpaceNinja
    Dec 21, 2011
    2
    I regret buying this game. This game brings nothing new to mmorpg genre and considering its a p2p game i had to give it a negative score. Its just another WOW clone. Maybe its a little bit better then wow but wow is 8 years old game for god sake. And yeah no real space combat .
  80. prisonerAp127
    Dec 21, 2011
    1
    TOR is a pleasant game to play, it's homey, it tastes of fireplace and cookies. But that's the only good thing about it. It's an effortless game, no challenges, nothing new, nothing remotely interesting or compelling to do. And it's exactly like WoW, so guilty of plagiarism like every other MMO, and this genre is the only one when plagiarism is actually not frowned upon and condemned bothTOR is a pleasant game to play, it's homey, it tastes of fireplace and cookies. But that's the only good thing about it. It's an effortless game, no challenges, nothing new, nothing remotely interesting or compelling to do. And it's exactly like WoW, so guilty of plagiarism like every other MMO, and this genre is the only one when plagiarism is actually not frowned upon and condemned both as lack of creativity and giving in to false and misjudged market reasons. How can anyone like to play a game he has already played for 6 years? And no, i don't believe the same thing can be said for any genre like FPS or whatever. I think most FPS are unique, Deus Ex is different from Serious Sam.… Expand
  81. drakinor
    Dec 21, 2011
    9
    While the game does include some minor issues expected of any MMO during its infancy, many of those expected are minor or completely absent. The story, from what I have seen, is excellently written, the sound is very well done, and the graphics (while an issue of some debate) are beautiful. The game can run even on lower end machines (I run an AMD dual core 3Ghz with 4Gb RAM and SapphireWhile the game does include some minor issues expected of any MMO during its infancy, many of those expected are minor or completely absent. The story, from what I have seen, is excellently written, the sound is very well done, and the graphics (while an issue of some debate) are beautiful. The game can run even on lower end machines (I run an AMD dual core 3Ghz with 4Gb RAM and Sapphire Radeon HD 4650 512Mb low profile) And even on my settings if shadows are turned off, I can run the game on high settings. While the game is very similar to many MMOs with features like hotbars, quests, instanced dungeons and PvP, and also has a way of making these features feel new and fresh. The voice overs making the quests feel meaning full rather than yet another pointless slaughter of some creature. NPCs feel more alive than other MMO's as they have a personality and story, and PvP matches, while currently limited, have interesting twists like "Huttball" with an announcer that makes comments about the match. The character customization is somewhat lacking compared to some newer MMO's but is superior to its major competitor, World of Warcraft. Unless you are absolutely set on having very immense customization options to alter every last freckle on your characters face, this should not bother you. Phasing is heavily used, but in my personal opinion, it is used well. Unlike World of Warcraft that require lockstep questing in order to maintain phase with friends, The Old Republic will have multiple identical instances of a zone to prevent excessive overcrowding (although sometimes quest areas are still busy) Your characters story quests are also instanced so that you are not waiting in line for ever other character of your class to complete it. The Old Republic seems to have found a good balance between maintaining a high population, area crowding, and quest completion ability by players. Flashpoints (or dungeons) are very entertaining with entire stories that can play out in multiple ways depending on how the group chooses to go about it. Whenever there is a conversation each party member gets to chose a response and whoever wins the roll says their choice. Some of these lead to different outcomes but your choice is the only one that affects dark or light side points. So you do not have to worry about being the only guy with a heart who doesnt want to flush innocent people into space and losing alignment for it.

    Items are highly customizable stat wise allowing you to level your items up with modifications. So you can use the same armor for a long time if its high quality by adding new modifications to it. The weapon customization also affects the color of your blaster bolts or lightsaber blade. If you use a yellow color crystal your bolts or blade is also yellow, and there are various colors to chose from. All in all this is an extremely well done MMO that many will love. The one thing that may turn some people away is the fact that the journey to endgame is designed to be just as fun and important as endgame so you are really cheating yourself if you rush past it. If you want to hit endgame ASAP and could care less about story and the RPG aspects then this may not be your game. If you want to play and MMORPG that actually is an RPG and not a shadow of that title, or are interested in the Star Wars Universe, you will be very pleased with this.    … Expand
  82. Zhiroc
    Dec 21, 2011
    9
    From the beginning, it was clear to me that all of BW's hype was directed towards one goal: producing an MMO that would be more like Knights of the Old Republic in gameplay and style than the traditional MMO. In that, I think they have come closer than any other MMOG. If you like the single-player RPG, you'll appreciate SW:TOR. The questing is actually more like Mass Effect, with fullFrom the beginning, it was clear to me that all of BW's hype was directed towards one goal: producing an MMO that would be more like Knights of the Old Republic in gameplay and style than the traditional MMO. In that, I think they have come closer than any other MMOG. If you like the single-player RPG, you'll appreciate SW:TOR. The questing is actually more like Mass Effect, with full voiceover and a somewhat limited 2-3 response system. I find I miss the more extended conversations you could have in KotOR, and even ME (using the "left side" of the dialog wheel that could give you more info rather than make character decisions on the right).

    So, if you are looking for the "traditional MMOG experience"--focused on raiding, endgame, and PvP, you might find it lacking. It has those, but it certainly isn't a distinguishing element of the game. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a KotOR/ME kind of game, you will likely find it engaging.

    So far, I find the questing fun and engaging, with some character's stories a bit better than the others (have only played two main classes so far). There are 4 main classes in each faction (Republic/Empire), with unique stories for all. However, the side quests are shared among all classes.

    So far, I've noted the lack of what feels like "grinding" (I've gone into the early 20s with one character), and I've seen very little need to "farm" mobs (though I did a little at times to get that little extra XP to level). If this keeps up (and I was told it does pretty much up through the 40s), this is in itself unique in MMOGs--having fun while leveling? Incredible :)

    And a final note for the hardcore gamer: I am seeing a lot of subtle complexity in the ability system that one needs to master to maximize your character. It's not conducive to having a strict rotation, and you are constantly having to manage your resource pool and activate abilities based on the special effects that sometimes get triggered from other abilities. So here's a place for you to show off your l33t performance :)    … Expand
  83. Sula
    Dec 21, 2011
    4
    Polished game BUT very limited gameplay, WoW-like clone with VO slapped over and more instancing.
    End-game is about running instances over and over and not much aside of that.
    Insane amount of money spent on Voice Over and cutscenes shows with this game lacking in other departments. Though if you like a game to concentrate on nothing else than on grinding instances and battlegrounds once    Polished game BUT very limited gameplay, WoW-like clone with VO slapped over and more instancing.
    End-game is about running instances over and over and not much aside of that.
    Insane amount of money spent on Voice Over and cutscenes shows with this game lacking in other departments.

    Though if you like a game to concentrate on nothing else than on grinding instances and battlegrounds once you finish questing, then you'll find good game here.

    If you want more diverse experience and more mmorpg, social and "world-like" feeling avoid it.    … Expand
  84. Thorbrand
    Dec 21, 2011
    0
    First off I will start with SWTOR is a single player RPG with online content!

    Now given that the single player story line is poor, very poor. Any single player RPG player will not like it. VA needs to go, only story quests should have the movie scenes. I hate the time wasted talking to some random NPC just to get some stupid side quest no one cares about. Might as well go back to EQ    First off I will start with SWTOR is a single player RPG with online content!

    Now given that the single player story line is poor, very poor. Any single player RPG player will not like it.

    VA needs to go, only story quests should have the movie scenes. I hate the time wasted talking to some random NPC just to get some stupid side quest no one cares about. Might as well go back to EQ questing if you want to waste my XP time this much.

    Gameplay is simple. Game is designed for casuals all the way. Graphics suck! Plain and simple, they are out of date.

    They still have all the broken issues from months ago that they can't fix or don't intend to fix. Most issue get removed from the game to resolve them. Without a working patch this game isn't going to make it past the first 30days. If you don't know what I am talking about read the forums. Thousands of people can't patch the game and this is been an issue since Aug beta.

    I only play because I can play with my friends and I sure don't take the game seriously in anyway.

    This is the game that made me decide to never buy another BW game. This is a complete and total corporate scam to make money for it's execs.    … Expand
  85. valentre
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    I think this game is brilliant. It has some bugs and some fixes are needed, but overall, it is polished and will get even better with time. The problem with a free critic site is that ActBlizz can pay people to come post here. A lot of the reviews should be taken with a grain of salt. Go try the game yourself - it's worth the story and journey it conveys!

    People clamor for innovation,    I think this game is brilliant. It has some bugs and some fixes are needed, but overall, it is polished and will get even better with time. The problem with a free critic site is that ActBlizz can pay people to come post here. A lot of the reviews should be taken with a grain of salt. Go try the game yourself - it's worth the story and journey it conveys!

    People clamor for innovation, as they expected Bioware to re-invent the wheel. They never once said that is what they were trying for. A lot of people had unrealistic expectations. If you want to have a fun game where Star Wars thrives, this is the game for you.    … Expand
  86. efx
    Dec 21, 2011
    3
    Copy WoW, skin it with SW, add some boring voice overs and we have TOR. Got bored after few days in beta. Guess it will loose most of subs after first free month and join big graveyard of failed mmos in a year.
  87. Shadowakito
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    Without exception, the old republic is the most impressive MMO i have ever played. With an intense story line unique to each class containing both the feel of the star wars universe and the experience which makes each Bioware game a masterpiece, TOR takes you to places no other MMO could ever hope to take you. Breaking away from the bland, unexciting and monotonus grind fest experienceWithout exception, the old republic is the most impressive MMO i have ever played. With an intense story line unique to each class containing both the feel of the star wars universe and the experience which makes each Bioware game a masterpiece, TOR takes you to places no other MMO could ever hope to take you. Breaking away from the bland, unexciting and monotonus grind fest experience games like world of warcraft replicate over and over again, the old republic actually has depth, story line, and a sound track which really just adds to the appreciation one SHOULD feel when playing an MMO. With very little issues during launch, and 5 x the amount of early subscribers at launch date than WoW, the old republic is well on its way to becoming one of the best MMO's you will ever play. This is truely an MMO as it should be, crew interactions with your partner characters give the game personality which many who have played KOTOR will be familiar with, exciting space battles and a vast map of planets to explore give this game an intense open world feel. Don't listen to the world of warcraft nay sayers, if you're a fan of star wars or even if you're just looking for a decent MMO for a change, pick this game up and you won't regret it.… Expand
  88. sliqcore
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    I haven't seen end-game yet but from what I have played I'm in love. I have plenty of experience in MMO's as a Disabled Vet I have spent the better part of everyday of the last ten years in one universe or another online. You find any revolutionary gameplay but you also don't see cheap and broken gimmicks unproven in the world of MMO's which can be fun but as with Rift and Warhammer theyI haven't seen end-game yet but from what I have played I'm in love. I have plenty of experience in MMO's as a Disabled Vet I have spent the better part of everyday of the last ten years in one universe or another online. You find any revolutionary gameplay but you also don't see cheap and broken gimmicks unproven in the world of MMO's which can be fun but as with Rift and Warhammer they tend to fall on their face before long. TOR is the first of a huge list of MMO's in which I am looking forward to not just playing every class on both factions but every mastery of every class of both factions. If you enjoy MMO's but are tired of clicking through quest details and randomly running off looking for the highlighted or bullet portions of the objective with no motivation or information what so ever about the reason for your task than TOR will wake you up. Interesting stories unfold with each character that evolve through your leveling with a Mass Effect style dialogue system and excellent narrative performed with spectacular voice acting. Within each faction you still have the option to be "bad" or "good" with dark/light side points that offer unique rewards and character options through your story. Not only is there a story but there is a Universe. Each area dominated leads you off to a new planet and you travel in your own starship with your own entourage who level with you and who's gear customization identical to your own which you can buy, craft or earn through mission rewards. They actually handle all of your crafting and gathering skills should you want to forgo the plethora of nodes you pass on your travels. There are space battles that are a ton of fun and reminiscent of Black Prophecy on rails with rewards in XP for your character and ship upgrades as your ship, like your own gear and that of your followers is just as varied. A Universe opens up right in front of you begging to be explored and each planet offers new landscapes and enemies with large base complexes and hidden artifacts that add attributes to your characters. Along the way or from a central space station all the basics are found; bank, crafting instructors, skill trainers, vendors, quest stations and PvP mission stations. There are also instanced mission areas for groups of 4 all over the place that are heavily scripted stories where everyone participates in the conversations. They are miniature movies played with friends that offer high quality rewards, what else on earth could I possibly ask for now? Nothing, for my appetite is sated at least for a few years to come. There are problems and areas that could use improvement for a jumping off point this MMO has more to offer on day one than many that have been in play for years. Think of what could come from this template which already has so much to offer and you truly begin to see what an awesome MMO we have with TOR. Naysayers beware, the future only holds more for TOR.… Expand
  89. Deadalious
    Dec 21, 2011
    1
    Shouldn't be marketed as an MMORPG, feels mostly like a single player story driven game. The elements which make this an RPG feel very thin, the graphics are outdated and bland, the combat is repetitive and does nothing new to reinvigorate the same mechanics games have clung too for years.
  90. Alaskan_Pollock
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    I've played this game since August in BETA and was blown away at first. While the graphics are stylized, they can be breathtaking, just looking out over a city I had just visited on top of a cliff, well it can be staggering, the music, well that's fantastic too. You really have 8 single player story lines here as all the different classes have individual class stories, but really thereI've played this game since August in BETA and was blown away at first. While the graphics are stylized, they can be breathtaking, just looking out over a city I had just visited on top of a cliff, well it can be staggering, the music, well that's fantastic too. You really have 8 single player story lines here as all the different classes have individual class stories, but really there are 2 totally different games; Empire and Republic.

    It's standard MMO game play, coming from SWG the interface is nice and easy. The fighting, well you seem to be executing the moves in real-time, unless you look too deep into the system, so it's tight and fun. The quests are on another level to anything I've played before, yes it's all standard kill things, collect things etc.. but it's done in a meaningful way. The story grips, you as the voice acting and animation of the storylines is fantastic. There are lots of twists to the plot and it plays like an interactive movie, really beyond any other game I've played.

    I started Beta as a Sith Warrior, I didn't care to play this at live, so not spoiling the experience, well I quickly started enjoying being an evil so and so. After a while you unlock your companion (and get five more along the way). They are suited to what your character needs most, a healer, a tank or dps. They really are great in combat and have been written with fantastic dialogue. My first companion was Vette, very similar to Mission from KOTOR in many ways ;) You can have a lot of fun with Vette if you're evil but it came to a point where I didn't want to disapoint her, she changed my playstyle. Each companion earns affection by the choices you make and have their own stories, quests etc.. it's all very well done but what did you expect from Bioware. If you're in to a bit of Bioware romance, you can romance your companions and several NPC's. In particular the Jedi and Sith Warriors go around the galaxy getting more action than Kirk!

    Is it an MMO? Well there are plenty of people to meet if you want to, you can also just play by yourself and group up for the heroics and flashpoints. Really suits my casual, dip into to MMO but still have freedom to do my own thing.

    I always said I would tire of playing when the story lines ran out, well five months on I'm playing Sith Warrior for the second time and still having a blast. You can play the game so many different ways and while your actions don't have vast consequences if you look very deeply, they do seem to. You can play several quest by fihgting or you can negotiate your way out of many a fight if you want to.
    bugs, well I haven't seen too many since August.. it's very polished, yes they are there but nothing that will get in your way.

    If you love Bioware and Kotor, give it a try. I guarantee you will enjoy no matter what your playstyle is. You may not be into the MMO thing but you can play it as a single player game for a month and take it from there.

    There really isn't anything more fun than fighting a mob on top of a cliff or bridge somewhere like Alderaan. You're running low on health and suddenly the cooldown on your force choke or force push comes back in to play... pick the baddie up by the throat with force choke, then force push him over the bridge to his death....    … Expand
  91. redsuns
    Dec 21, 2011
    0
    Amazing great game. Anyone who think otherwise are just ignorant. They call every series of Call of Duty, Battlefield, Halo and watever the game of the year even though it is always better graphics and new storyline and holding a gun shooting at enemies. But a mmo that uses standard genre mechanics get slammed to the ground. Fools.
  92. ShinKagato
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    Its hard to say what makes this game so incredible, is the the stylised clone wars graphics, the orchastrated music or the fantastic narritive? I think its a combination of all of this and more. The game itself dosent feel like an mmo, from the very beginning if feels like you are playing your very own rpg based in the star wars universe and there just happens to be other people runningIts hard to say what makes this game so incredible, is the the stylised clone wars graphics, the orchastrated music or the fantastic narritive? I think its a combination of all of this and more. The game itself dosent feel like an mmo, from the very beginning if feels like you are playing your very own rpg based in the star wars universe and there just happens to be other people running around in the same world. It feels very much like the original KOTOR games right down to the companion quests and the combat. The standard bioware dialogue tree is there and it allows you to make decisions that will not only effect your alligent between dark and light, it also effects how your crew look at you and both are not always tied together. For instance, its possible to be a Sith making dark side choices but loose the respect of your crew because of it. This makes playing the game a unique balancing act, as a Bounty Hunter i feel no pressure to lean one way or the other and i make choices that i feel are appropriate to the situation, on the other hand a friend of mine is struggling to always make dark side choices as a sith because he feels he should, but they are not always things he agrees with.

    A lot has been said about the graphics of the game, some love them and some hate them, the styleised approach is a wise one considering the type of game it is. Keeping the look away from realism stops them from dating as quickly as Galaxies did and allows the facial animation to shine through. The bold and colourfull environments do a great job of reflecting the Star Wars lore and never once do you feel that you are looking at something that could look better in a different engine.

    The controls are standard mmo and that is perhaps the one thing about the game that isnt unique, you use your mouse to control point of view, ASWD control directions and the number keys are your attacks. The actual combat however looks great, as a bounty hunter you can engage your jetpack and fly Bob-Fett style above your foes raining rockets and blaster fire on them. As a Sith you can fire lightning from you finger tips and watch your enemies squirm in pain, the game feels authentically Star Wars.

    Overall if you are a fan of Bioware titles, enjoy playing mmos or even just have a love for Star Wars this is the game for you. The strong story telling and excellent voice acting will keep you occupied when your friends are not around, and the execellent Flashpoint events (where everyone can have a dialogue option) will reward you for playing with others. I have no problem rating this one with a 10, its easily the best MMO out there today and is amoungst the best rpgs.    … Expand
  93. Abbybells
    Dec 21, 2011
    0
    Unfortunately I feel like I've been robbed. This game offers very little that you can't get from other mmos, even free games. I'm sure all the review sites will say its really polished but it's not. Bugs and glitches everywhere. I'm sure review sites will just say the story is good without any good reasons as to why. The writing is poor, some of the worst I've seen in any artisticUnfortunately I feel like I've been robbed. This game offers very little that you can't get from other mmos, even free games. I'm sure all the review sites will say its really polished but it's not. Bugs and glitches everywhere. I'm sure review sites will just say the story is good without any good reasons as to why. The writing is poor, some of the worst I've seen in any artistic medium, and the illusion of choice offends my intelligence. For the amount of money spent on this game I can only describe this product as shameful, and I feel ashamed to have wasted my money on this.… Expand
  94. Codester
    Dec 21, 2011
    8
    Single-player friendly with interesting story lines. Typical MMO (WoW) style combat. Some bugs and performance issues typical of an initial launch. Story driven group content. Companion system. Haven't done the PVP, as that isn't my thing.
  95. TheGhostAgent
    Dec 21, 2011
    8
    There is still a lot of work that can be done to turn this game from an 8 into a 10. Unfortunately like all MMOs, they are currently being plagued by the initial rush or a release and just because they're "BioWare", does not make them immune. If you can overlook the "drama" on the forums and naysayers, and really get into the game, you can appreciate how they've tried to put the RPG backThere is still a lot of work that can be done to turn this game from an 8 into a 10. Unfortunately like all MMOs, they are currently being plagued by the initial rush or a release and just because they're "BioWare", does not make them immune. If you can overlook the "drama" on the forums and naysayers, and really get into the game, you can appreciate how they've tried to put the RPG back into MMORPG. MMOs nowadays are stuck on a gerbil wheel of grind, grind, raid, grind, grind, raid, etc. Worse, some lack any coherent story or consistency, completely taking out the immersion factor. This is a game for RPGers, not someone that wants to blast off 1-50 in 1 day and blow through content on day 2. They are able to weave choices into your quests/instances that determines the outcome/reward at the end. They even tie up your quest and story lines with follow up in game mail messages, helping you feel that you've accomplished something and an additional reward. And people need to realize their customer service is being bomarded daily and yet, they're still able to deliver. For example, the Taris bug. Myself and many other players experienced it, reported it, and was fixed and patched in 2-3 days. The community manger responds promptly to twitter questions and the forums without speaking down to their players. Where can you get this kind of response time and level of civility and service? Sure as hell not from WoW, and I loved Blizz and WoW. Unfortunately, their hubris got the better of them, shunned the community, and almost all of their communication as of late reeks of arrogance. SWTOR still has a long way to go to become a top dog MMO, but I have confidence in them so long as they:
    A) Do not turn their backs on creating intricate story and lore
    B) Do not shun the community and let pride get to their heads
    C) Continue the level of communication with the community in the going future
    D) Provide more customization
    E) Provide robust end game content and not half-assed like some other MMO...    … Expand
  96. d4kk0n
    Dec 21, 2011
    0
    I waited years for this game and what comes out of it is a cheap imitation of WoW with lightsabers. Probably the biggest disappointment in video game history, how can a company spend 300M$ on a game that turns out like this? After a series of outstanding games coming out in the last few days ( skyrim, batman, uncharted 3, etc) there is no point in wasting your money on this. And on top ofI waited years for this game and what comes out of it is a cheap imitation of WoW with lightsabers. Probably the biggest disappointment in video game history, how can a company spend 300M$ on a game that turns out like this? After a series of outstanding games coming out in the last few days ( skyrim, batman, uncharted 3, etc) there is no point in wasting your money on this. And on top of that, you still have to pay each month. Absolutely ridiculous.… Expand
  97. SwitBiskit
    Dec 21, 2011
    9
    If you are trying to decide whether to buy the game from these reviews, I feel sorry for you. There is so much misinformation on this site with people 'reviewing' games they've never played. I played WoW for 5 years, Aion for 6 months. If you are a fan of the genre you will love SWTOR, plain and simple. It is well worth the initial purchase just to play the storylines (I recommend imperialIf you are trying to decide whether to buy the game from these reviews, I feel sorry for you. There is so much misinformation on this site with people 'reviewing' games they've never played. I played WoW for 5 years, Aion for 6 months. If you are a fan of the genre you will love SWTOR, plain and simple. It is well worth the initial purchase just to play the storylines (I recommend imperial agent).

    From my experiences up to level 30 on two characters, I'm giving this game a solid 9. It'd be 9.5 if it were possible on metacritic.    … Expand
  98. schnetf
    Dec 21, 2011
    10
    Bioware did an amazing job creating TOR. The story drags you into the world (based on the experience of trooper and agent) and you just have to go on to know how the the world evolves. Being a huge fan of Mass Effect I think the implementation of the dialogue system very good. Spoken dialogues throughout the whole game! And the thing that amazes me most is the absence of any boring monsterBioware did an amazing job creating TOR. The story drags you into the world (based on the experience of trooper and agent) and you just have to go on to know how the the world evolves. Being a huge fan of Mass Effect I think the implementation of the dialogue system very good. Spoken dialogues throughout the whole game! And the thing that amazes me most is the absence of any boring monster grinding. Apart from some weaknesses in the character creation progress this game is absolutely top.… Expand
  99. requiamer
    Dec 21, 2011
    5
    Medium quality game. The Bioware touch is nice, but not to the point they could avoid a better work on the gameplay. The polish is nice, but only because usually mmo are buggy mess, some people praise the polish of this game, but i found it pretty medium. Finally i never felt as playing a star war game, but as playing a mmo with a star war skin, this alone deserve a negative review, butMedium quality game. The Bioware touch is nice, but not to the point they could avoid a better work on the gameplay. The polish is nice, but only because usually mmo are buggy mess, some people praise the polish of this game, but i found it pretty medium. Finally i never felt as playing a star war game, but as playing a mmo with a star war skin, this alone deserve a negative review, but i'll keep my rating at 5.… Expand
  100. mikal768
    Dec 21, 2011
    9
    A very good MMORPG in my opinion. Storyline's are excellent and bring a nice change.
    Character creation options are sometimes lacking, and it seems that leveling might be a tad fast for my experience, keeping this from a perfect score, but beyond that very good indeed.
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Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Best PC Game of 2011
8
#8 Most Discussed PC Game of 2011
9
#9 Most Shared PC Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 73 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 68 out of 73
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 73
  3. Negative: 0 out of 73
  1. RPGamer
    Apr 23, 2012
    80
    LucasArts generally exercised greater quality control of Star Wars games than most licensed properties receive, though that didn't necessarily translate into titles that were actually good. I've played a few other Star Wars games in the past, and while the SNES platformers were pretty good, this one is even better. Knights of the Old Republic may just be the best game in the franchise, and succeeds at being a top-tier RPG even if one has no interest in Star Wars. BioWare did the license proud.
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  2. GameCritics
    Mar 31, 2012
    70
    I wound up bailing out on Star Wars: The Old Republic well before hitting the level cap, but not before digging into it more so than any other MMO I've played. Even if it is an unhappy marriage between two wildly different game types, the fact that it kept me hooked for so long at least counts for something.
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  3. NZGamer
    Mar 5, 2012
    83
    A good game. It pays excellent homage to the film series (even though it's set before the movies), and is a really solid MMO.
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