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. hpate
    Dec 27, 2011
    10
    This is by far the best mmo i have played to date and i have played a lot of them. I does have a few bugs but most new mmos have 10x more. there is some reuse of textures and buildings but wow is a bigger offender of it. and if anyone cares to look you cant judge pvp based on anything other than max level because it will be unbalanced to an extent and graphics are amazing as long as youThis is by far the best mmo i have played to date and i have played a lot of them. I does have a few bugs but most new mmos have 10x more. there is some reuse of textures and buildings but wow is a bigger offender of it. and if anyone cares to look you cant judge pvp based on anything other than max level because it will be unbalanced to an extent and graphics are amazing as long as you dont have a Windows ME grade computer. Also if you take the time to listen to the VO its like watching a movie that you control. I to this date have not had to look at the quest log to find out about single quest. NO MORE QUEST TEXT. And one other thing, the people that thought this was going to be KOTOR 3 apparently didnt look at the genre, apparently, its not just rpg its MMORPG so you will not get the full benefit of the game unless you group up. Also the fact that there are mini instances throughout the game is awesome. not many people enjoyed the first few days of cataclysm because of spawn times. the instances fix that issue, and bioware did it to the best of anyone's ability.… Expand
  2. Matt2696
    Dec 27, 2011
    10
    Don't listen to all of the trolls on this site; TOR is an awesome refinement of the basic MMO structure with a healthy dose of story. All of its features work well and are fun. Crafting especially is a step above similar games. If you have never liked WoW or other similar MMOs, don't expect TOR to change your mind. While it doesn't innovate much, it is the Star Wars game many have beenDon't listen to all of the trolls on this site; TOR is an awesome refinement of the basic MMO structure with a healthy dose of story. All of its features work well and are fun. Crafting especially is a step above similar games. If you have never liked WoW or other similar MMOs, don't expect TOR to change your mind. While it doesn't innovate much, it is the Star Wars game many have been waiting for.… Expand
  3. dingoperson
    Dec 27, 2011
    2
    Whilst the game is passably enjoyable as a one-off casual romp through a Star Wars theme park, any person who has played MMOs before will find severe design flaws. There's really too many to list in full, but includes: 1) PvP rewards are enormous compared to PvE rewards, 2) PvP is seriously unbalanced (battlegrounds frequently have 80% of players as ONE class), 3) Classes that are supposedWhilst the game is passably enjoyable as a one-off casual romp through a Star Wars theme park, any person who has played MMOs before will find severe design flaws. There's really too many to list in full, but includes: 1) PvP rewards are enormous compared to PvE rewards, 2) PvP is seriously unbalanced (battlegrounds frequently have 80% of players as ONE class), 3) Classes that are supposed to be "mirrored" across the faction split are not, 4) There are no level brackets so lv10s get thrown in with lv50s, 5) botting, 6) cheating/exploits, 7) a range of other things, 8) Bioware not commenting on or doing anything to fix these issues. The company is completely unresponsive, simply throw out form messages, and doesn't discuss design decisions.… Expand
  4. SuperGawl
    Dec 27, 2011
    10
    So far I've been loving this game! Great MMO! Not sure why so many people are saying it feels like a single player RPG. It doesn't. Not everything is instanced like a bunch of these people are saying. It is definitely NOT a lobby game. First MMO I have ever played where I'm actually enjoying the story and not just grinding to max level. Didn't want to get this game at first but a friendSo far I've been loving this game! Great MMO! Not sure why so many people are saying it feels like a single player RPG. It doesn't. Not everything is instanced like a bunch of these people are saying. It is definitely NOT a lobby game. First MMO I have ever played where I'm actually enjoying the story and not just grinding to max level. Didn't want to get this game at first but a friend talked me into it, and I'm damn glad he did.… Expand
  5. Manical_Koala
    Dec 27, 2011
    8
    I enjoy the game. It's not the end all of end alls.. or the new MMO that will lead us to the glory land. It's an MMO that focuses around voice acting, crafting and a Star Wars feel. To clear a few things up. The "fanboys" claiming its just a clone of WoW, remember that WoW is just a clone of EverQuest. Yes, this is a holy trinity game. Tank / Healer / DPS. Yes. It features stories,I enjoy the game. It's not the end all of end alls.. or the new MMO that will lead us to the glory land. It's an MMO that focuses around voice acting, crafting and a Star Wars feel. To clear a few things up. The "fanboys" claiming its just a clone of WoW, remember that WoW is just a clone of EverQuest. Yes, this is a holy trinity game. Tank / Healer / DPS. Yes. It features stories, choices and gear grinding. It also has a new crafting system and I find space combat and the voice acting a welcome distraction. All BioWare did was take the time tested and proven formula, and shined it up. Just like WoW did. This is a "better" version of WoW / EQ / etc. If you don't want toolbars, hotkeys, or were hoping it'd be a FPS MMO... I'm not sure what to tell you. You're obviously clueless about what the game is and you're trolling. So, I give it an 8.… Expand
  6. TheManKnownAsX
    Dec 27, 2011
    9
    I notice there seems to be a lot of haters on here making the same cookie-cutter comments about the game. There's a thing called Stockholm Syndrome. My guess is that the haters here are likely suffering from Blizzard/WoW Stockholm Syndrome. They've come to identify with their captors, and the idea of another company coming along and creating something better than the company they'reI notice there seems to be a lot of haters on here making the same cookie-cutter comments about the game. There's a thing called Stockholm Syndrome. My guess is that the haters here are likely suffering from Blizzard/WoW Stockholm Syndrome. They've come to identify with their captors, and the idea of another company coming along and creating something better than the company they're currently attached to is just downright frightening.

    Star Wars Galaxies was run by SOE; the same disaster of a group that handled DCUO and a number of other fail-sauce MMO's. SWG was a solid first shot, but fell apart as soon as they introduced the Jedi without any proper counter-balanced class.

    Now, does this game take a lot of what's right with WoW and do it? Sure it does. Name a single MMO that has come out in the past 7 years that hasn't borrowed from WoW in some form or fashion.

    Then you get the whiners that are complaining about the instancing of zones. Instanced zones means more stable servers, less crashing, less disconnects. As Martha Stewart would say, "It's a good thing!"

    The truth about SWTOR is that this game is wicked good. The graphics on a good video card look fantastic. If you're playing on some crap rig with less than a GTX 4xx then you're missing out. The game is far beyond what WoW is, by a long shot. If you can't find something to like about this game, you're going in with a bias. Period.    … Expand
  7. zeukin
    Dec 27, 2011
    10
    I've been a WoW player for three years , and let me tell you this game is nothing like WoW! Yes, They might have implemented similar elements and game style that originated from WoW but only because they know 95% of the MMO population is on WoW, for me that's a plus cause once I started playing I got adjusted to the game pretty quickly.The rest MMO's that the bad reviews refer to as "I've been a WoW player for three years , and let me tell you this game is nothing like WoW! Yes, They might have implemented similar elements and game style that originated from WoW but only because they know 95% of the MMO population is on WoW, for me that's a plus cause once I started playing I got adjusted to the game pretty quickly.The rest MMO's that the bad reviews refer to as " innovative , different" in comparison to this game are not that great,"different" and " innovative" doesn't mean you will like it and so it has been proven cause nobody really plays guild wars , AION , lineage..Bioware has played smart.So far I'm a level 12 Sith warrior and I'm loving it, really enjoying the game overall and it certainly doesn't deserve a low rating,any user reviewing this game below a 6 is really out their minds .At this moment I'm playing the game on low graphics because my PC is garbage and it still looks amazing , for those who complain about the graphics being should consider updating their video card.really.… Expand
  8. Kauldric
    Dec 27, 2011
    8
    This is a fun game. The class story quests make a huge difference. Bioware does a good job of putting you in the middle of a story that progresses and makes you want to find out what will happen next. I do not feel a sense of quest grinding at all. The game very much feels like Dragon Age or Mass Effect. The idea of having companions whom you can affect plus a Light/Dark meter isThis is a fun game. The class story quests make a huge difference. Bioware does a good job of putting you in the middle of a story that progresses and makes you want to find out what will happen next. I do not feel a sense of quest grinding at all. The game very much feels like Dragon Age or Mass Effect. The idea of having companions whom you can affect plus a Light/Dark meter is brilliant. The phasing is also great and adds to the immersion. The crafting system is great: just sent one of your six companions in a crafting missions while you keep playing! All in all, it has been a very fun experience.

    There are small features that are missing, such as dual spec, that would make the game better, but all-in-all, I would certainly recommend this game.    … Expand
  9. boot20
    Dec 27, 2011
    10
    I just don't get the low scores here. TOR is well done and the story is very interesting. The instancing that people are complaining about are a non-issue as it is easy to group and to move instances. Anyone calling TOR a WoW clone hasn't played the game. TOR has the mechanics of most MMOs on the market, but questing is far more interesting, as there are very few kill X of Y quests,I just don't get the low scores here. TOR is well done and the story is very interesting. The instancing that people are complaining about are a non-issue as it is easy to group and to move instances. Anyone calling TOR a WoW clone hasn't played the game. TOR has the mechanics of most MMOs on the market, but questing is far more interesting, as there are very few kill X of Y quests, and the story is quite engaging. Not only that, but your decisions matter. Your character grows, based on your decisions. The Flashpoints have a story and don't take 6 hours to complete. Each class has their own unique storyline and they really make you care about what you are doing. This is where Bioware shines. The story is excellent and always well done.

    Oh, and grinding isn't needed in this game as quests and side quests offer plenty of XP and rewards.    … Expand
  10. nicktaste
    Dec 27, 2011
    10
    I love it. Awesome story line, Fun game play. Great Audio. I feel this game advances the mmorpg genre and sets the new standard. I am interested to see what new content is added in the next few months.
  11. Kuse
    Dec 27, 2011
    10
    The Negative Reviews you have seen thus far are WoW Players and right now they fear this game more than anything else they can muster, so what they do is run rampant around here giving false reviews to make WoW look like a crowning jewel. Fact of the matter is WoW is a dying breed and its leading the way for Games like SWTOR to come into frame. The game runs and plays fine and I enjoyThe Negative Reviews you have seen thus far are WoW Players and right now they fear this game more than anything else they can muster, so what they do is run rampant around here giving false reviews to make WoW look like a crowning jewel. Fact of the matter is WoW is a dying breed and its leading the way for Games like SWTOR to come into frame. The game runs and plays fine and I enjoy every minute of it.… Expand
  12. LuigiTMW
    Dec 27, 2011
    9
    This game is nearly the experience that all of us were looking for. BioWare fans and Star Wars fan alike all speak in chat about the wonderful things this game has done for them. Good job BioWare. I only give it a 9 because of the sub-par servers and minor bugs.
  13. panderson1988
    Dec 27, 2011
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I'm going to be fair about this game with some things I really enjoyed, and describe some areas in which that could use improvement. First this is a solid and fun game. I've played WoW off and on for the last few years, and the aspects of the MMO I enjoyed such as instances, exploration, and teaming up with other players to complete tasks are here. Personally I enjoyed the art direction of the game as the environments are well done and feel lively. I like how you'll see groups of NPCs talking to each other in the Senate Tower, and it makes it feel more lively than WoW's NPCs just standing there by themselves shrugging their shoulders. But what has kept me interested in the game is the story for your character. The downside is that it takes away that mentality of creating your own story and life, but when it comes to most MMOs, you really just end up feeling like a regular soldier doing simple quests. While those quests are back, but since your class has it's own storyline makes it more interesting and addicting to see where your character ends up in the TOR story. The story adaptation to TOR makes the game feel fresh, and keeps me engage as I feel my character has an impact on my surroundings unlike most other MMOs. The other positives of the game are: the voices are well done, the sound effects are really good, the combat feels mostly smooth, but there are times it may get clunky when you are a tight corridor or lag, and the music is amazing. I'm not just talking about the John Williams music, but their own music is really good. The downsides to the game. So far PVP is limited. I enjoy the 3 maps they provided, but for an MMO there needs to be a little more than that. Especially since there is supposed to be a war going on, and since only one map is a true warzone (Alderann), it is lacking in that area. Hopefully they'll add more PVP options as the game moves along. Second thing that could use improvement is character and outfit textures. I know the engine isn't the most powerful, but I would like to see more detail with the characters armor and faces. If anything, I prefer to see the armor in more detail instead of being a bit blurry. Finally the only other thing that needs improvement is area stability. The bugs in the MMO hasn't been a big deal, but there are times the game lags when there are more than a few players in the area, and there have been some memory leaks on certain planets along with some quests being bugged. Fortunately they haven't been too prevalent, but they need to be patch as soon as possible. In conclusion, this is a fun MMO with possibilities of expanding the game further over time. One word of caution, watch out for the negative and positive reviews on here. First most negative reviews from the 20th are from users on **** Their comments are obvious as they'll say "graphics from (insert year)", it's a single player game, WoW clone, $300 million on advertising and voice acting, and etc... A lot of their comments are narrow-minded, and it shows they haven't played the game, or barely touched it during the beta weekends. Those people hate this game mostly because it's Bioware, and the fact it isn't KOTOR 3. These negative reviews are easy to spot as just about every one of them uses the same rhetoric, and they posted their review on the the first day of release. Seriously, do you think they have had time to make a fair judgement on the game within hours of release, no. That said, watch out for the perfect score reviews as they claim it's the best ever. It's not the best game ever. It's a good game, but there are rooms for improvement, and it does copy parts of the WoW formula.… Expand
  14. WellAardvark
    Dec 27, 2011
    9
    I simply do not understand the bad reviews here?!?!? I am a former WOW and Rift player. SWTOR has everything, and more, that these two MMOs offer. I simply cannot wait to get back online to continue my main's quest story (smuggler). Loving every minute and ca't wait for end-game. Also loving the fact that I don't need to roam the countryside to scavenge.
  15. ztilleto
    Dec 27, 2011
    9
    SWTOR, maybe not the best game ever, but still one of the smoothest games to be launched in the MMO sphere and one of the best balanced class vice. Even though the customization isn't RIFT, there is still good diversity in the different classes and talent trees, but still kept simple in what stats to use. I would say that this is easy the best success of MMO in a long time, giving both theSWTOR, maybe not the best game ever, but still one of the smoothest games to be launched in the MMO sphere and one of the best balanced class vice. Even though the customization isn't RIFT, there is still good diversity in the different classes and talent trees, but still kept simple in what stats to use. I would say that this is easy the best success of MMO in a long time, giving both the casual player the ability to play a singleplayer game with friends or have the MMO style play where you group up with PUG or friends from guilds. Given the long story lines and really nice scripted quests and scenes, this game will last for a singleplayer perspective a long time, and with the added bonus of such as legacy system, this will be giving players many hours of different gameplay to come.… Expand
  16. Jessrond
    Dec 26, 2011
    9
    This game is excellent, and it would be nearly as good as a single-player game than it is as an MMO. The single-player content is more developed, the stories are richer, and the characters seem to have more personality with excellent voice-acting. Yet that is also a bit of a problem, as multiplayer content sometimes seems like an afterthought, with pointless "social points" tacked on toThis game is excellent, and it would be nearly as good as a single-player game than it is as an MMO. The single-player content is more developed, the stories are richer, and the characters seem to have more personality with excellent voice-acting. Yet that is also a bit of a problem, as multiplayer content sometimes seems like an afterthought, with pointless "social points" tacked on to reward players for doing soloable content in groups.

    For social points, you seem to get them for picking the same answers in conversations with NPCs as you turn in a quest. This seems to be interesting, and I suspect that the timing of your clicking on one of the 3 options provided to your characters also influences the number of social points awarded.

    The Jedi and Sith have four "different" class types each, but the catch is that the Jedi and Sith roles seem very similar. The Sith Inquisitor shooting streams of lightning at a monster is just like a Jedi Consular striking them with debris... both are damage over time spells that don't allow the player to cast other things without losing concentration.

    Each class has two sub-classes, and then those subclasses have 3 trees of their own where they can choose talents that interest them. One of my favorite things about SWTOR is that the classes are more unique than in other games, and really can't be compared to WoW, Everquest, and don't seem to be influenced by Tolkien and D&D like most MMOs, at least not as blatantly.

    I haven't done any end-game content as I am level 24 as I write this interview, but so far this game looks promising. It probably won't be the WoW killer, but I think it can appeal to enough people to compete with WoW and not fade into "free to play" status.    … Expand
  17. Crimsonking58
    Dec 26, 2011
    6
    It seems impossible for this game to stand on it's own. Angry hardcore players comparing it to WoW, rabid Bioware fans assuming its absolute perfection, the treatment this game is receiving is simply unfair. On it's own, without any comparisons to WoW or the existing MMO genre, this is pretty much a mediocre Bioware game with multiplayer capabilities. Which, in thee end, isn't too shabby,It seems impossible for this game to stand on it's own. Angry hardcore players comparing it to WoW, rabid Bioware fans assuming its absolute perfection, the treatment this game is receiving is simply unfair. On it's own, without any comparisons to WoW or the existing MMO genre, this is pretty much a mediocre Bioware game with multiplayer capabilities. Which, in thee end, isn't too shabby, but nothing that will go down in gaming history.

    You can easily get to max level in this game without interacting with a single other player, if that's your sort of thing. After dealing with the typical MMO role-shortages (no heals, no tank, no DPS), I gave up on group quests and flashpoints (dungeons) around level 20, and never interacted with anyone until I got to max level. Did it hinder my experience? Not really. However, upon playing the game solo, I couldn't help but think that the game could've been so much better if they had simply made it a single player game and released it as KOTOR 3. I believe that result could've been the best game of the decade so far. The problem that I faced around level 35 was a lack of memorable characters or situations. I thought hard one night of everything that had happened in the game so far, what characters I had met, the situations I had been in, the plot twists, the character development, all standard Bioware fare. I was disappointed to find that I couldn't remember anything spectacular. Memories of all the fantastic scenarios from Mass Effect 2 and KOTOR came back to me then, and all I could feel was disappointment. Thankfully, the plot picks up quite nicely again around level 40, but never gets fully up to speed. As far as a single player experience goes, it feels long and not that spectacular, but much more entertaining and cinematic than a faceless kill-em-all MMO.

    But what separates an MMO from a standard RPG is one thing: The endgame. I have yet to experience operations (raids) or any heroic flashpoints, but from what I can see they seem cinematic yet standard, like the rest of the game. I don't see where people are coming up with the statement that "there is no endgame", for there are 15 heroic flashpoints, 2 operations, an entire PvP planet, a higher replay value than standard MMOs, crafting, and more. There is certainly plenty to do, but an MMO veteran might not get the same rush as a new player would. It certainly brings back feelings of Burning Crusade WoW if I have to compare it to anything else.

    In conclusion, I believe Bioware has created their most mediocre single player experience to date. But given Bioware's standard of quality, that doesn't mean it's bad. The hours of voice acting and thousands of quests to complete will either bore or immerse you, depending on your Star Wars enjoyment and previous MMO experience. For new players trying to decide between this or WoW, I would go with this, for it will feel much more like the plot-driven games that many are used to as opposed to a faceless trek through 85 levels that WoW feels like nowadays. For veterans, I would steer clear for now. If plot doesn't interest you, and you've already gone through the raiding motions in other MMOs, this will just feel like an elongated single player game with nothing at the end. For now, a 6 for slightly above average. If the end game proves to be as engaging as Burning Crusade was, and Bioware manages to keep content flowing nicely with patches on a regular basis, I'll bump it up to an 8 or a 9. Here's to hoping.    … Expand
  18. Mixersan
    Dec 26, 2011
    1
    This game's an absolute failure in every aspect. It looks like it was developed 5-10 years ago in terms of graphics. The character models and animations are awkward looking, the landscapes are VERY bland and the particle effects, particularly blaster bolts and lightsabers, look like they're drawn in crayon. As far as gameplay is concerned, it's no better. It's almost a complete cloneThis game's an absolute failure in every aspect. It looks like it was developed 5-10 years ago in terms of graphics. The character models and animations are awkward looking, the landscapes are VERY bland and the particle effects, particularly blaster bolts and lightsabers, look like they're drawn in crayon. As far as gameplay is concerned, it's no better. It's almost a complete clone of every other MMO out there, which isn't a terrible thing in and of itself, but the class skills and abilities are uninteresting and you don't actually feel like you're doing much when you're fighting. The funniest part about it, however, is that there ISN'T AN AUTOATTACK. As a trooper, I actually had to press a button EVERY TIME i wanted my guy to shoot at something.....wtf?

    Finally, and probably the worst part of the game, are the features which BioWare touted as their differentiating advantages over the competitors. First, you get "companions", which were apparently supposed to be NPC's who join you for your storyline and talk to you, grow with you etc as you progress. I was THINKING it would be a lot like KoToR or Mass Effect or something, but it really wasn't. They might as well just be 'pets' for all that they add to the game. They're nothing like 'companions' in any other good RPG I've played, and they're definetly a lot like a 'pet' from WoW or any other game. I suppose that they talk to you now and then, which is different, but the dialogue is so ho-hum and the stories that Bioware has thrown together for each of the character classes are freaking lame. Bioware, as far as I'm concerned, hasn't written a decent story since ME1. After the pathetic stories they put together for DA:O, ME2 and DA2, I'd assumed that maybe the good writers from KoToR and ME1 were working on ToR. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like it. I'd avoid this game. Patches won't fix it. It's an ugly, boring, uninspired effort and adds absolutely nothing new or interesting to the genre.    … Expand
  19. zaekeon
    Dec 26, 2011
    0
    Basically the game is wow with voiceovers and WAY WAY less features...it's sad that a game like RIFT came out with more features/customization than this blockbuster that has been hyped forever did...the even sadder part is all of the stuff people complain about now, are things they had been complaining about in beta for almost 2 years....the future of this game really scares me. It's goodBasically the game is wow with voiceovers and WAY WAY less features...it's sad that a game like RIFT came out with more features/customization than this blockbuster that has been hyped forever did...the even sadder part is all of the stuff people complain about now, are things they had been complaining about in beta for almost 2 years....the future of this game really scares me. It's good for 1 play through for a KoTR type experience, but after that, it's pretty dull....don't even get me started on how stupid advanced classes are (locking you out of 50% of your class, why do i want to play the same damn character again, with the same exact story, sharing a lot of the same exact skills and even a whole talent tree...yet you want to say it's a totally different class....yeah right, more like they already getting started on Rehasing like wow did.)… Expand
  20. Captainapoc
    Dec 26, 2011
    10
    People from other MMOs should feel right at home in this game, It rely on many trusted mechanics so that people dont have re invent the wheel. It has some great aspects in the game like Space combat, crafting and the fully voiced cutscenes that set it apart from other MMOs on the Market, The main storylines are great for propelling you through the leveling process and companions are aPeople from other MMOs should feel right at home in this game, It rely on many trusted mechanics so that people dont have re invent the wheel. It has some great aspects in the game like Space combat, crafting and the fully voiced cutscenes that set it apart from other MMOs on the Market, The main storylines are great for propelling you through the leveling process and companions are a great addition to the game. When you want a change of pace from the single player aspects then theres group quests to do as well as flashpoints which can be changling and require teamwork. This game has just realeased but i can tell it can only go up from here, with more patches and additions this could turn out to be something really special.… Expand
  21. Xuanlong
    Dec 26, 2011
    0
    I can not express how disappointed I am with this game. Normally I like Bioware and their games, I will admit that I wasn't all that upset with DA 2. This however, is a completely different animal, and I wonder who is to blame for this momentous failure. So what is wrong with this game? For starters, its stiff. By that I mean it is no different that any other MMO on the market. When oneI can not express how disappointed I am with this game. Normally I like Bioware and their games, I will admit that I wasn't all that upset with DA 2. This however, is a completely different animal, and I wonder who is to blame for this momentous failure. So what is wrong with this game? For starters, its stiff. By that I mean it is no different that any other MMO on the market. When one mentions star wars, images of epic dynamic flowing duels between Jedi and Sith, images of smooth Han Solo-esq smugglers getting by with wit and charm while quietly taking their blaster out its holster to take out the check-point guards just in case they decide to take a closer look at his cargo, or of massive naval battles between inconceivably large fleets of ships. This game is sadly none of these. Now I understand that this is a MMO and as such it is limited, I can live with such limits. But the game limits its self in just being what every other MMO on the market is, Kill x many of y mob, or gather so many of these items, etc. Nothing that hasn't been done for the past 6+ years.
    Now Bioware did try to do something different with their almost iconic morality system, which would have been something new and engaging if your decisions meant anything.
    The UI is terrible, rigid and uninspired. The user can't move anything, is unaware of what mob is attacking what beyond what is attacking them, and the Pet UI (and yes that is all the companions really are) is beyond atrocious, I cannot count the number of times mine have dropped an AoE on a group of CCed mobs. Speaking of groups of mobs, pretty much everything attacks you groups and are either really weak and die within two attacks or really powerful and the player will barely make it out.
    Furthermore, the combat mechanics are stated earlier are stiff, the same old recycled hotbar stand still and spam your key combat.
    Healing is slow, and awkward, the lack of any sort of macros really brings this home. How hard is it to enable simple mouse over macros?
    Space combat plays like a Star Fox mini game, though not a bad thing if you enjoyed the Star Fox series.
    The crafting system has much that needs to be improved, The characters aren't even the once doing the crafting its the companions, which would be a plus for them as it does make them somewhat useful if it wasn't for the fact that it takes about a minute for each item that one wishes to craft.
    Character customization isn't even there, preset faces, to be mixed with preset bodies, hair, etc.
    Race choices are pretty much human and human with different skin color and choice of horns. Now there are those who say that its early in the game's life, or that I am a "hater" or "troll".
    This game has been in development for almost 4 years with a rumored cost over $135 million. I know Bioware can put out better product than this. I know they can have engaging dynamic combat look at "Jade Empire" they can have tactical combat, DA:origins proved this. It even had decent AI if one knew how to tell the machine what to do.
    In short this is not a next gen mmo, and will never be a next gen mmo. Bioware wasted a lot of time and money to make this, what they should have done instead is make KotOR 3 and gave it a mutiplayer, multistory option. Maybe something PSO like from way back on the Dreamcast, or even Diablo 2, with the different classes but add in the seperate stories that you could share with your friends if you so wished.
    That would have been a much better game. A single player game with 8 story lines that I could play with my friends online.    … Expand
  22. shingoukieh
    Dec 26, 2011
    8
    This game is what you would expect it to be. It is a standard mmorpg with a twist...Star Wars!! Now in all fairness this game is very different from World of Warcraft. Yes it has the skill tree like WoW, for the most part similar quests, and also classes but what it does different is combat..The combat in SWTOR is very fast paced..it is similar to titles such as DCUO and COH. So in thisThis game is what you would expect it to be. It is a standard mmorpg with a twist...Star Wars!! Now in all fairness this game is very different from World of Warcraft. Yes it has the skill tree like WoW, for the most part similar quests, and also classes but what it does different is combat..The combat in SWTOR is very fast paced..it is similar to titles such as DCUO and COH. So in this game you will be swinging ur light saber away in fast thrilling combat sequences. The game story is very impressive! It is particularly impressive when you are in a group doing a story. All of your group members get a chance to speak and sometimes its funny to see what your team mates say. The game is very immerse and you feel like you feel connected to the starwars universe. The only negative thing i can think of so far is the side quests....some of them are just boring to do..the main quests are fun and has good plot to it but the side ones make me want to skip the talking. Im not the furthest in the game but what i can do is recommend this to any starwars or mmorpg player looking for the next big mmorpg....I have to warn you the game starts off a lil slow...but once you leave the starting area it gets alot more fun!!!… Expand
  23. crnppscls
    Dec 26, 2011
    4
    I've never paid £39.99 for a pc game so this was a first for me. Also i've never played wow (but plenty others) i did have really high hopes for the game but was a bit meh in beta.
    The voice acting i like, plus there are some soul searching decisions you have to make especially if you play a dark side char. It isn't awful by any means, but there are just a lot better mmo's out    I've never paid £39.99 for a pc game so this was a first for me. Also i've never played wow (but plenty others) i did have really high hopes for the game but was a bit meh in beta.
    The voice acting i like, plus there are some soul searching decisions you have to make especially if you play a dark side char. It isn't awful by any means, but there are just a lot better mmo's out there, i am just so disappointed in this release. The questing is normal and generic to any other game, 'epic space battles': non existent, character customisation is a joke, it is not a pretty game either, the bland textures used seem to distract you from any exploration of your new world + the heavy instancing where you can't progress because of barriers.
    Seriously, i think people have become so sick of these generic mmo's (most of which you can play for free) and relied on bioware being their last bastion of pc greatness to deliver something groundbreaking. Well they didn't. If you're a diehard lover of sw lore, you will love it (probably) but for the price of the game and the sub, a lot of people won't bother basically because there is better out there.
    And another thing lol, i spent months telling my console owning friends that this title will be the pinnacle of pc greatness and they all wished the game was available on console. Now i have to say it's uninstalled but you lot just wait for gw2 and then we'll see .    … Expand
  24. RampantAndroid
    Dec 26, 2011
    4
    Zones are instanced, gameplay is otherwise identical to WoW, pretty much. The game pretty much bores me to tears. I gave it chance because it was Bioware, but after Dragon Age 2 and now SWTOR, I honestly wish Bioware would go under so I remember them in a somewhat positive light.
  25. rakista
    Dec 26, 2011
    4
    Besides the voice acting there is nothing to distinguish this game from any of the other WOW clones. The engine alone is just dreadful with delays beyond the global cooldown on skills making PVP an exercise in anger management at times. The PVE areas because of the extreme instancing are dead. Some planets have less than 10 people on 20 square miles of virtual space. Space combat is aBesides the voice acting there is nothing to distinguish this game from any of the other WOW clones. The engine alone is just dreadful with delays beyond the global cooldown on skills making PVP an exercise in anger management at times. The PVE areas because of the extreme instancing are dead. Some planets have less than 10 people on 20 square miles of virtual space. Space combat is a mini game rail shooter, need I say more?… Expand
  26. spankusmaximus
    Dec 26, 2011
    0
    I was really hoping that this game would live up to the hype but alas it has fallen far short, which is not to say that mmo's do not have a rough birth - i beta tested and then played WoW from vanilla to cata and the first 2 years were the most outrageous including server instability, 3 hr bg waits and 1-2 hr queues just to log, only to have the server crash. But it's been 7 years sinceI was really hoping that this game would live up to the hype but alas it has fallen far short, which is not to say that mmo's do not have a rough birth - i beta tested and then played WoW from vanilla to cata and the first 2 years were the most outrageous including server instability, 3 hr bg waits and 1-2 hr queues just to log, only to have the server crash. But it's been 7 years since WoW hit and anyone paying attention, as Blizzard had obviously been doing to everquest in creating WoW, could make a quick cheat sheet of things to work on that would make an outstanding mmo. Let's begin there. 1. Use the star wars universe. Great idea. I do not know a single person that wouldn't enjoy running around as a han-type, luke-type or vader-type running quests and bgs, killing things w/ a blaster or a lightsaber. not to mention using the star wars universe as a backdrop must have been a relief for bioware knowing that there is no way possible to **** up the star wars anymore than lucas has already.

    2. Take all logical controls and make them exceedingly clunky. I don't know what bioware was thinking but controlling your character is like trying to drive and do your taxes. Super fubar.

    3. Make certain that only nvidia hardware works correctly w/ the game. I built a friend a rig, using my old whs parts, which included a 3 year old nvidia 220, 3 gigs of ram and a duo core and swtor runs like glass on his machine. While i have a ~6 mo old core i7 w/ 8 gigs of ram and a 6880 and certain parts of the game look like a slide show. I still get ~120 fps in WoW on high settings. So chalk that up to a "rough birth" but it would be nice for bioware to at least acknowledge these issues and let people who are paying $ to play their game, that they are working on resolving the fps issues. So far, no dice.

    Thus far, this mmo has gotten 1 out of 3 things right - the backdrop and quest lines. following that it has utterly screwed the pooch. People will tell you that all the cut scenes are voice acted and blah blah blah - you don't play an mmo so that you can get a single player game out of it., so the fact that the cut scenes are voice acted by the second coming of Alec Guinness makes not a lick of difference. Avoid this mmo at all costs, or at least until they release the first few patches. I have no doubt that George Lucas had his hand in this, as this game is nothing more than the return of jar jar.    … Expand
  27. Amadus
    Dec 26, 2011
    10
    So my previous review shows the score as 0, though when writing it, is shows 10. My primary review is a 10, since I can't edit or correct it, I will just addendum here.
  28. op8
    Dec 26, 2011
    9
    My advice to anyone wasting there time reading these user reviews is to look away now and not to bother.
    its become such a joke now i think they should scrap user reviews or drastically change requirements to somthing like IMDB has.
    as far as this game goes, i think its a great bit of fun.It is what it is, and if you like mmo's and star wars you'll be happy. Even if you dont particular    My advice to anyone wasting there time reading these user reviews is to look away now and not to bother.
    its become such a joke now i think they should scrap user reviews or drastically change requirements to somthing like IMDB has.

    as far as this game goes, i think its a great bit of fun.It is what it is, and if you like mmo's and star wars you'll be happy. Even if you dont particular care for mmo's, you can just as easily enjoy TOR as a single player experience if it so pleases you.    … Expand
  29. TheangryOne
    Dec 26, 2011
    5
    Well, after more than a year of waiting and all the hype Bioware put behind it, here it is, WOW:TOR. This game has truly become a shining example of Bioware's stagnation and ineptitude. To summarize: This game takes all the classic mistakes all gaming companies love to make and thrusts them into one giant $15/mo flop. The most obvious shortcoming is that gameplay is literally the EXACTWell, after more than a year of waiting and all the hype Bioware put behind it, here it is, WOW:TOR. This game has truly become a shining example of Bioware's stagnation and ineptitude. To summarize: This game takes all the classic mistakes all gaming companies love to make and thrusts them into one giant $15/mo flop. The most obvious shortcoming is that gameplay is literally the EXACT same thing as WOW was; it even has the same problems (extreme lack of customization, massive grindfest, limited character creation, specialization issues, bad endgame). Considering how much was spent on this game, there is absolutely no excuse for this kind of laziness; it's 2011, Bioware. WAKE THE F*** UP! Next, is the stories which Bioware was basing all their success on. These stories are hit-and-miss, as are the companions (Some are epic, some just fall flat.). I've been saying for years that Bioware shows extreme favoritism in their character and story design, and if this doesnt prove it, nothing does. The only true saving grace here is that, despite everyone's whining about the voice acting, I actually thought it was pretty good. Still, would it've killed Bioware to make a few selectable voices for your character? They spent 300 million (yes, million) dollars on this. However, all of these things can be ignored, since it is a reliable system, even if it is outdated. I'll probably get alot of flak for that but it's the truth. I won't bother talking about the graphics for the same reason; ultimately, they make little difference in an MMO as long as they work. The one thing, however, that cannot be overlooked, and the one thing that kills this game (and killed WOW) is the monthly subscription. Not cool, Bioware, not cool. There are plenty of free MMOs out there that can more than match this, so close your wallets and open your eyes. Learn from SWG, learn from GW. You are not the powerhouse you once were, and Warhammer 40k's lore more than beats Star Wars'. Learn.… Expand
  30. Notluke
    Dec 26, 2011
    10
    The game is fun. Alot are too busy to write positive reviews cause they are enjoying the game, hell it's killing me to write this cause I would rather be playing.

    If you notice alot of the complaints on here are minor issues, minor complaints about small details that don't even matter. Overall the game is FUN. The game is designed to be savored and enjoyed, not rushed through. Of    The game is fun. Alot are too busy to write positive reviews cause they are enjoying the game, hell it's killing me to write this cause I would rather be playing.

    If you notice alot of the complaints on here are minor issues, minor complaints about small details that don't even matter. Overall the game is FUN.

    The game is designed to be savored and enjoyed, not rushed through. Of course you will have problems finding groups if you have rushed forward through PUG groups and gotten to a point to where your gear completely sucks. You have to take time to farm rep, lightside/darkside points and commendations if you want to be abe to compete later on.

    It's designed where backtracking and building your character up is absolutely essential and quite enjoyable. It's old school RPG gameplay mixed with an MMO environment that gradually builds as your character does.

    Take time and enjoy the game, don't rush it, make the most of all the content, in the end it pays off ALOT. Most MMO's don't payoff until you get into big groups, Star Wars TOR pays off constantly and is enjoyable for every type of gamer.

    It's a melding of casual and hardcore structure that until this point all other MMO's have failed to combine. It's isn't super easy and at the same time isn't extremely difficult, teamwork and strategy can make just as much difference as stats and gear.

    The balance is strong with this one.    … Expand
  31. Wackywoo
    Dec 26, 2011
    3
    Very disappointed. I wanted to like this game, but sadly this is not the MMO I was looking for. In design school I always wondered why there was a "risk taken" component on project evaluation sheets. Can't a design be good without taking risk? Maybe.. but more than likely it will be unimpressive. BioWare took no risks. They played it safe all around. The result is unimpressive. LookVery disappointed. I wanted to like this game, but sadly this is not the MMO I was looking for. In design school I always wondered why there was a "risk taken" component on project evaluation sheets. Can't a design be good without taking risk? Maybe.. but more than likely it will be unimpressive. BioWare took no risks. They played it safe all around. The result is unimpressive. Look no further than the uninspired character creation. It has lazy written all over it, with all races being practically human. Hair options are multiplied by adding option A to option B and calling it option C. In game, mobs simply stand still, waiting for you to come and kill them. This, combined with uninteractive environments, leaves the game feeling lifeless. What is perhaps more concerning are the absurd critic reviews. Mediocrity should not be praised. The reviews themselves list many shortcomings, however they give the game a near perfect score. Makes me wonder if they have shared interest in the game's financial success.… Expand
  32. Kordt
    Dec 26, 2011
    1
    Posting just in case someone has yet to buy the game but is thinking about it. Maybe my thoughts will help them save their money. After 21 levels, 3 flashpoint runs, and about 24 hours of game play time: I've cancelled my account, uninstalled the game and will not be playing it in the future unless BioWare makes some sweeping changes to the game. Here's what I found:

    - (throwing the    Posting just in case someone has yet to buy the game but is thinking about it. Maybe my thoughts will help them save their money. After 21 levels, 3 flashpoint runs, and about 24 hours of game play time: I've cancelled my account, uninstalled the game and will not be playing it in the future unless BioWare makes some sweeping changes to the game. Here's what I found:

    - (throwing the game a positive bone) The main draw of this game is the story. The storyline actually plays out like a single player game, which is quite cool. I felt like I cared about my character, and enjoyed the main story.

    - The spoken dialog, which makes the main story so intriguing wore thin FAST for me everywhere else. What I found is that after the first zone, where I was in awe that every quest giver chatted with me, I wished those same quest givers in subsequent zones would just shut up. "Yeah yeah. Blah blah. I need to go blow up some computer. Blah blah - 3 minutes of nonsense to get the quest"

    - The UI is in one word: awful. Bordering on unusable, actually. There is no combat log. The UI apparently scales according to your resolution. Meaning if you have a good video card and you set the game to a high resolution, the UI is almost unreadable with its teeny tiny font. Want to see what dots you have on you? Too bad. Want to see what dots are on your mob? Tough luck. - GIven how bad the UI was, I figured I'd install a UI mod and enjoy the game that way. Except apparently there are no mods for the game. BioWare hasn't opened up an API for mods as of yet. WHA? You mean to tell me that a game with a UI that I found almost unusable, with no combat log, doesn't allow add ons??? Yes. That's apparently correct. Want to know how much damage you're doing? Dont bother trying to install a damage meter. That doesn't exist. The only way to figure out how much damage you're doing is by two things: how fast the mob dies, and the awesome floating combat text that flies by. Wahoo, etc.

    - The first flashpoint I did (basically a 5 man dungeon) was awesome. It was story driven, and everything felt epic. Then I ran it again the next day. Everything felt: long, repetitive, tedious, boring, and easy. It's the curse of having a game with so much dialog. Stuff takes a LONG time to do. What was essentially a beginner dungeon, with almost no challenge, took an hour for my group. With no deaths. Good times. Good fun.

    - The animations for my character, other than when he was swinging his lightsaber, were quite bad. My character who kinda looked like Darth Maul, looked like a gangly awkward teenager when running, walking, jumping, moving.... basically anything but fighting. And considering that you spend a ton of time walking in this game.... you end up staring at some pretty lame animations frequently.

    - Tried using the AH once. Don't make that mistake. It's unusable. Anyway, I'm not posting my thoughts to rain on the parade of those who find the game enjoyable. But I thought it was worth posting my thoughts in hopes that it might help save someone some money if they were on the fence. Unless you are a Star Wars freak..... I can't imagine this game being fun for you. But hey, to each their own. Some people loved Episode I, the Phantom Menace!    … Expand
  33. UserExperienceS
    Dec 26, 2011
    10
    Trollololol - look at all these red reviews.

    Honestly, I'm an old MMO gamer and I have to say this game is fun. I've been playing MMOs since the turn of the century, UO, EQ, AC, DAoC, AO, AC II, SWG, Eve, EQ II, WoW, CoH / CoV, Conan, STO, Rift... and more. All good games in their own right, all with something new to offer. Bioware capitalized on their strength for this one:    Trollololol - look at all these red reviews.

    Honestly, I'm an old MMO gamer and I have to say this game is fun. I've been playing MMOs since the turn of the century, UO, EQ, AC, DAoC, AO, AC II, SWG, Eve, EQ II, WoW, CoH / CoV, Conan, STO, Rift... and more. All good games in their own right, all with something new to offer.

    Bioware capitalized on their strength for this one: Storytelling. Using that as their base and adding the strengths that made those other titles fun has made this a fun and social experience that gave you a window into a different world for you and your friends to explore.

    Fun and social. In truth, that's the core of what makes a great MMO.    … Expand
  34. Sokolov
    Dec 26, 2011
    0
    Colossal disappointment. Was released unfinished, very buggy, hardly playable, poor FPS on medium-low end PCs. The combat style is atrocious, skills, attacks, moment are all FUBAR, in need of complete overhaul. Its actually annoying and frustrating when your in combat. To top it off, this is like a single player game, its KOTOR 3 Online! It lacks essential MMO qualities to be called anColossal disappointment. Was released unfinished, very buggy, hardly playable, poor FPS on medium-low end PCs. The combat style is atrocious, skills, attacks, moment are all FUBAR, in need of complete overhaul. Its actually annoying and frustrating when your in combat. To top it off, this is like a single player game, its KOTOR 3 Online! It lacks essential MMO qualities to be called an MMO, definitely not worth a monthly fee.… Expand
  35. R_O360
    Dec 26, 2011
    5
    It is no secret at this point that Star Wars: The Old Republic is a traditional MMORPG, much like Everquest and it's astoundingly popular predecessor World of Warcraft. SWTOR plays it safe and literally uses almost the entire basic formula of these traditional MMOs with little too no innovation or inspiration. But I think we all know the question is, does it work? I mean, if it ain'tIt is no secret at this point that Star Wars: The Old Republic is a traditional MMORPG, much like Everquest and it's astoundingly popular predecessor World of Warcraft. SWTOR plays it safe and literally uses almost the entire basic formula of these traditional MMOs with little too no innovation or inspiration. But I think we all know the question is, does it work? I mean, if it ain't broken don't fix it right?

    Nope...sorry, that is very, very wrong. One of the main issues with SWTOR is the fact that it is a game completely based on a gimmick, and that gimmick is "the story driven MMO". I hate to break to all potential players, but it is not a revolutionary shift in the genre.    … Expand
  36. Lyones
    Dec 26, 2011
    0
    Just another WoW clone, in a very bad shape this time!
    This game is the emblem of a deadly year for the MMORPG market, with his heavily instanced gameplay and lack of massively multiplayer contents, it really disappoints every true mmo gamer.
  37. Beltsu
    Dec 26, 2011
    9
    I honnesty don't know what other users expected, giving so low scores to this game. They use such arguments, that to me, they lose all credibility. Personally, I'm enjoying SWTOR very much. Yes, it has "kill x" quests, even those are optional objectives. Yes, it is not that diferent from WoW's gameplay. Yes, the classes are imbalanced. And yes, it's missing some stuff that we took forI honnesty don't know what other users expected, giving so low scores to this game. They use such arguments, that to me, they lose all credibility. Personally, I'm enjoying SWTOR very much. Yes, it has "kill x" quests, even those are optional objectives. Yes, it is not that diferent from WoW's gameplay. Yes, the classes are imbalanced. And yes, it's missing some stuff that we took for granted (like the dungeon finder). But guys, we're talking about an MMO. Tell me one MMO that had all the stuff that you wanted on launch day? I'm killing x number of guys, because I want to kill x number of guys. It's an MMO, a genre which I enjoyed since the first day I started playing WoW. I don't know what all the critics were looking for, really, but to me, they just seem to be trolling a good game, which is having some deserved sucess. What do you want, guys? Let's all just love low cost indie games that no one is going to play for months? Now, the game. Like I told you, yes, it has all those MMOs "must have". But so far, having played the beta and the game, I find it very stable (contrary to some reviews who find it very buggy, of some ppl who must have only played the beta, imo). Besides the graphical glitches, I never had a single dc, and was only stuck once. The combat gameplay is mostly WoW's, with a Star Wars skin. I like it, like millions of players seem to throughout the world. You have the "tank/healer/dps" trinity, but you're not so limited in terms of classes to play if you want to fulfill one of those roles. Not going to talk much about the classes, except that once you reach lvl 10, you chose one "advanced class", that being the one you're "stuck" to for the rest of the game (for instance, if you pick a Jedi Knight, once you reach lvl 10, you must be a Jedi Guardian or a Jedi Sentinel). Each of those advanced classes have 3 talent trees to pick from, like vanilla WoW. Since I consider most of the factions classes to mirror each other's gameplay (like Smugler=Sith Agent, for instance), I do consider the game to have 8 classes/gameplay types to play (the 2 advanced from the 4 original classes). The voice acting IS amazing. One of the best I've seen in years. The quests and flashpoints sometimes have some unpredictable outcome. For instance (not a spoiler), I was really amazed when a "good guy" wanted to sacrifice some of his team to get on with the quest, despite having another way to go. This game really makes you make some choices, and unlike a rpg, you can't "load back" if you regret your decision. There is really a sense of binding to your character, imo. I gave the game a 9 so far. Because of the potencial I see in it, and the fun I'm having so far. The game does deserve to be apreciated for what it is, not to be trolled just because it's a million dollar game that doesn't change the world. It's an MMO. A revolution on that genre. And, having been playing WoW for over 6 years now, I'm loving SWTOR, and I recomend it to any gamer who's not "picky", and with an open mind. If you loved KOTOR, &/or Mass Effect &/or WoW, you're gonna love it.… Expand
  38. Sov
    Dec 26, 2011
    5
    If it wasn't for the IP or developer name attached to it this would have garnered very little attention. It is incredibly stale and formulaic while missing out on many opportunities to do something fresh. In many ways it feels like a lobby with many tacked on mini-games and instances to try and keep you riding the theme park or "break things up" as they say. It really offers nothing to aIf it wasn't for the IP or developer name attached to it this would have garnered very little attention. It is incredibly stale and formulaic while missing out on many opportunities to do something fresh. In many ways it feels like a lobby with many tacked on mini-games and instances to try and keep you riding the theme park or "break things up" as they say. It really offers nothing to a seasoned MMO gamer and while playing you might find yourself asking, "Where did all the money go?"… Expand
  39. hailey
    Dec 26, 2011
    2
    A truly mediocre experience. If you want WoW with a different name, play Rift, as it is an infinitely better constructed game than TOR. This game has the quality of pre launch World of Warcraft with the storytelling of Dragon Age 2.
  40. ArthasCousland
    Dec 26, 2011
    10
    This game is incredible in comparison to any other MMO I've ever played. It takes a formula and enriches it; adds to it until you are given a game that is near perfect. The combat is comparable to other MMOs, but it feels like it requires a lot more strategy to take down a group of enemies or a boss than just spamming keys. Also, it's visually pleasing. I don't care what people say,This game is incredible in comparison to any other MMO I've ever played. It takes a formula and enriches it; adds to it until you are given a game that is near perfect. The combat is comparable to other MMOs, but it feels like it requires a lot more strategy to take down a group of enemies or a boss than just spamming keys. Also, it's visually pleasing. I don't care what people say, but aesthetics truly add to the immersion factor of the combat. I think the best thing I've come across though is the story. Most MMOs put the story secondarily and force you to read paragraphs of text to put your quests into context. The Old Republic is fully voiced and it certainly adds to the belief that you're a character in a living, breathing universe.… Expand
  41. Dominii
    Dec 26, 2011
    7
    In many respects The Old Republic is identical to WoW: its static battle mechanics, the levelling system, uninteresting skill trees, equipment durability, crafting without player customization. In some respects, improved: character alignment, companions, crew skills. Its triumph is the story. Unlike any other MMO, The Old Rebublic, gives players a reason to listen to and follow everyIn many respects The Old Republic is identical to WoW: its static battle mechanics, the levelling system, uninteresting skill trees, equipment durability, crafting without player customization. In some respects, improved: character alignment, companions, crew skills. Its triumph is the story. Unlike any other MMO, The Old Rebublic, gives players a reason to listen to and follow every quest, even the minor quests. The main arcs take you across each world. They branch into other stories, create relationships with NPCs who update you from time to time with their goings on reminding you that had you not done or said something that they'd be in jail, in the dumps, or in a ditch. The dialogue options, albeit a feature familiar to BioWare and its players, force you to choose between being true to yourself, or sucking up for favors. Every choice has the possibility to impact your companions' favor of you and the reward outcome. Suck up and garner favor and fortune. Answer genuinely, and watch all of the other Jedi wave their enhanced sabers at you and your basic training blade. The story is why I play and will continue to play. This game could be great, it could rival WoW in popularity, players, and South Park parodies, but it needs to be the next step in MMOs, and not what WoW should have been when it launched. What could make this game great?

    The battle system is likely too large and too complex in code to receive an overhaul. Instead, we should hope and ask for skills that require thinking and tactics; no one likes every battle following the same sequence, no matter who you're fighting, of 3-5-4-1-2. The crafting system needs to allow real player customization. Not recipes, but the ability to take raw ingredients to make whatever you want, with the stats you want in the colors that you want (granted you meet the level requirements). It could also do with more interactive, though please not mindless WoW gathering, crafting missions where player input during a companion's crew mission affects the outcome, your alignment, their affection, and possibly the availability of quests. "Hey, Dominii, I found the treasure, but it's guarded by a local tribe. Should I destroy the village if they get in my way, or should we abandon this one?"    … Expand
  42. Hybridiction
    Dec 26, 2011
    9
    If you're reading this review your probably scrolling down the list and marking every review you dislike as not helpful, and regardless I'm still going to give this game a positive review so if you feel the need to be a douchebag than go for it. To everybody else, the first thing you need to understand about the negative user reviews is that they are either from those who were in the beta,If you're reading this review your probably scrolling down the list and marking every review you dislike as not helpful, and regardless I'm still going to give this game a positive review so if you feel the need to be a douchebag than go for it. To everybody else, the first thing you need to understand about the negative user reviews is that they are either from those who were in the beta, or those who are fanboys of other MMO's. The complaints about lag, glitches, ugly graphics, crappy textures and a bad UI are from idiots with terrible computers, and while they probably claim otherwise it simply cannot be true because SWTOR meets none of those complaints. This game is one of the best looking MMO's on the market, along with one of the smoothest and has had very little glitches compared to other MMO launches. The optimization could be better, however if you're going to play this game on low settings then don't bother with it as you'll probably end up bashing the visuals like every other retard. When maxed this game is one of the better looking MMO's, it feels high quality from the moment you create your character. There are 8 different classes, 16 in total if you count the specializations and 32 if you count the talent tree's, in other words this game has a lot of character customization options. Throw in a bunch of races and character creation options and you have yourself a very good amount of options to roll with. Whether you like charging into battle head first, or sitting in the back healing, or even using stealth to pick and choose your enemies, this game has something for everybody's play style. In other reviews you've probably heard about the story, and while I personally find it to be very good, I haven't experienced all the story options to really judge the game on that one element, however what I can tell you is that the combat is very fluid, the game has, for the most part great voice acting and there is literally 200+ hours of content per character play-through, this is an MMO though so there's always going to be something for you to do upon reaching level cap. Overall SWTOR is a very good game, and to the people saying "zones are instanced, each server is not one world" and all that BS, why don't you guys actually play the game first before spewing BS? Zones are packed, large with tons of players, the game feels far from dead. In short to the skeptics, don't let the negative user reviews throw you off, actually go buy this game because even if you dislike the monthly fee, in one month you'll spend more time playing this game than any other game outside of maybe Skyrim.… Expand
  43. Cameirus
    Dec 26, 2011
    2
    Disappointing. Very. Servers feel dead due to instancing and planet only chat channels, the storey based focus means you cant play as a group as the amount of people allowed in instanced storey areas is limited. balance is way off with some classes dominating pvp. Lack of MMO features such as group finder. Numerous graphical bugs, random disconnects, and bugged resource nodes, and optionsDisappointing. Very. Servers feel dead due to instancing and planet only chat channels, the storey based focus means you cant play as a group as the amount of people allowed in instanced storey areas is limited. balance is way off with some classes dominating pvp. Lack of MMO features such as group finder. Numerous graphical bugs, random disconnects, and bugged resource nodes, and options menus dont remember settings through loading screens.
    Travel times are high, which feels like a time sink, and yet worlds are very linear, you cant explore at all without hitting an "exhaustion wall". The voice acting is ok, but far too much, you spend alot of time just watching it, or skipping it, and its very repetative using the same phrases over and over and over again, plus the option you choose for dialogue sometime bears no resembalance to what your character actually says.
    Combat feels clunky, and targettting is a nightmare.

    All in all its a mediocre single player RPG, with a very bad and poorly implemented lobby feature. Feels half finished and very dated. Servers feel like a dying mmo not a new one.    … Expand
  44. Messi34311
    Dec 26, 2011
    10
    This is absolutely pathetic...the same people are giving this game 0's and going to EVERY high score review and giving it a thumbs down and every low score review a thumbs up. Must be so sad to have nothing to do in your lives but troll metacritic. Did Bioware kill your cat? Anywho, wonderful MMO with fantastic story telling, big worlds to explore, great graphics, and beautiful Star Wars music.
  45. RicardoOOM
    Dec 26, 2011
    10
    Do NOT believe the people saying this is a lobby game. I can't believe they have the audacity to come here and lie when the truth is well known AND out there. The instancing is a TEMPORARY placement for the massive amount of people playing the game. What would you rather have? 500 people hitting the same exact mobs as you or spread out by 100's? Once people start to spread out Bioware hasDo NOT believe the people saying this is a lobby game. I can't believe they have the audacity to come here and lie when the truth is well known AND out there. The instancing is a TEMPORARY placement for the massive amount of people playing the game. What would you rather have? 500 people hitting the same exact mobs as you or spread out by 100's? Once people start to spread out Bioware has stated the instancing will be removed. They have said this a thousand times and I can guarantee you if they didn't use this as a temporary measure these same cry babies would come here spamming 0's and saying how they can't do anything because the game is so crowded. PS: Timacek I have reported you. You are making multiple accounts and spamming this game with the same review word for word over and over again. Enjoy your ban.… Expand
  46. AdamJensen2011
    Dec 26, 2011
    10
    If you like Bioware and KotoR I honestly don't see how you can't enjoy this. I'm sorry but ever since Bioware dared to release Dragon Age II, an okay game, instead of a great game the trolls have been all over them. Don't listen to these uber low scores this is a joke. How can a game be rated a 0? The fact that it's a game already makes it so that it can't be a 0/. That means it doesn'tIf you like Bioware and KotoR I honestly don't see how you can't enjoy this. I'm sorry but ever since Bioware dared to release Dragon Age II, an okay game, instead of a great game the trolls have been all over them. Don't listen to these uber low scores this is a joke. How can a game be rated a 0? The fact that it's a game already makes it so that it can't be a 0/. That means it doesn't exist. Do yourself a favor and listen to the actual reviews that are coming out and the high metascore the game possesses. Sorry to all the conspiracy theorists but if you think EA is going around bribing every website you are delusional and need to put down the bong.… Expand
  47. TrishMG
    Dec 26, 2011
    10
    Suck a wonderful game! ^.^ It has everything you expect from an MMO ( dungeons, raids, group content, large worlds to explore, crafting, etc.) with a new and exciting twist I think. I'm sure you've heard it a zillion times but wow does story, choices, etc. make a HUGE difference. I always wanted a game that would add this to MMO's so really happy to finally see it. Boyfriend got me theSuck a wonderful game! ^.^ It has everything you expect from an MMO ( dungeons, raids, group content, large worlds to explore, crafting, etc.) with a new and exciting twist I think. I'm sure you've heard it a zillion times but wow does story, choices, etc. make a HUGE difference. I always wanted a game that would add this to MMO's so really happy to finally see it. Boyfriend got me the game today for Christmas and we've been playing it all day! He is being a jerk and going dark side on options so its so funny to see who wins in the dialogue roles. Loving the game. If you love MMO's you should definitely buy it. Even if you aren't a fan of MMO's but love RPG's with a good story you should definitely give it a shot as well.… Expand
  48. NovaSkye
    Dec 25, 2011
    10
    What an amazing game!! Bioware has done it again. They'be brought something so unique and special to the MMO world I don't know how I can go back to any other MMO. There's no way I can go back to reading boring, emotionless, poorly written text telling me to go kill 5 rats. The story and dialogue is soo well done and the group content is the best group content I've played. Soo many laughsWhat an amazing game!! Bioware has done it again. They'be brought something so unique and special to the MMO world I don't know how I can go back to any other MMO. There's no way I can go back to reading boring, emotionless, poorly written text telling me to go kill 5 rats. The story and dialogue is soo well done and the group content is the best group content I've played. Soo many laughs going through multiplayer dialogue with people seeing what they choose and hoping your number scores the highest. Highly recommended!… Expand
  49. kvonbose
    Dec 25, 2011
    0
    Nothing new in this game. The world feels so lifeless, like a soulless amusement park. Quest after boring quest makes you feel like you aren't playing a game, but doing non-stop chores. The maps are huge and empty. There really isn't much to do in this game. PvP is monotonous and feels like it was put in as an afterthought. After playing the launch of Rifts, (a game I no longer play) thisNothing new in this game. The world feels so lifeless, like a soulless amusement park. Quest after boring quest makes you feel like you aren't playing a game, but doing non-stop chores. The maps are huge and empty. There really isn't much to do in this game. PvP is monotonous and feels like it was put in as an afterthought. After playing the launch of Rifts, (a game I no longer play) this game just feels 2nd rate, boring, and it's just hard to care about it.… Expand
  50. Wyldemage
    Dec 25, 2011
    9
    I honestly don't know where all the negativity is coming from. is the game perfect right out of the gate? No, but how often does that happen? I've played MMOs from several designers over the course of the last 10 years, and while TOR doesn't completely rewrite the genre, it surely sets itself above every other game out there. The story lines alone are worth the price of the game.some ofI honestly don't know where all the negativity is coming from. is the game perfect right out of the gate? No, but how often does that happen? I've played MMOs from several designers over the course of the last 10 years, and while TOR doesn't completely rewrite the genre, it surely sets itself above every other game out there. The story lines alone are worth the price of the game.some of the folks complaining about no end game content couldn't have possibly made it to end game when they started slinging mud. The game has incredibly few bugs, the servers are incredibly stable, the group quests are well done(the fact that your decisions, even within a group, [a roll is taken to determine whose response is used], affect the course of the story is unique), the instanced Flashpoints are incredible, even the crew skills(crafting) system is very interesting and refreshingly new. I've not participated in the PvP, and even thought the space combat isn't totally 3D, it is very fun and entertaining. In my view, SW:TOR is a game that will draw me in every day, and hold my attention for months, if not years, to come.… Expand
  51. BXBlodia
    Dec 25, 2011
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. SWTOR is a strange case. Was it a single player RPG, It'd be a very, veery good game. Most class storylines are very good (except for smuggler, jedi knight and sith warrior unfortunately), and the game has good flow and quite a lot of content. However, it's all single-player content, and there is literally no reason to subscribe for longer than the free month at the moment.
    Unfortunately, someone decided to make it into an MMO. Which lead to simplifcation and a huge amount of time sinks. So much for the Next-gen experience here, sadly.
    Another thing I do not understand is why would anyone create an MMO in which one of the factions will suffer an utter defeat, and it's clear from the very start. Every quest line on both Empire and Republic side leads to the inevitable end: Empire loses. Everyone important dies. You cannot even save anyone. Your decisions are meaningless.
    Another issue I have with the game is that SWTOR's Sith are... dumb. There's no other word for it. They are written to be superpowered angsty teens who know NOTHING about ruling an empire. If you look at the (TABOO!) EU stories, comic books and even Palpatine himself, the Sith are cunning (both in new hope era and old republic, so there), and they'd never act like idiots. Which is what SWTOR's Sith turn out to be. Infighting, petty conflicts, impulsiveness. They screw up everything they touch, and apparently all the want is to CAUSE TERROR AND FEAR. You cannot rule an empire that way. Sith have no way to go other than lose here.
    Multiplayer part of the game is horrid. The netcode stutters, animations fail to play (tested on my brand new i7 aswell as my brother's older machine) and there is no class balance. I wouldn't expect class balance so soon after release, but it's strikingly apparent that some developers loved their classes more than others. Instances are boring too, we seriously have seen this kind of gameplay and over what, 7 years? it grew pretty stale. There's no reason to even socialise in this MASSIVE MULTIPLAYER game, because your sidekick can get the job done. At worst he/she/it will die.
    Was SWTOR a single player RPG, it'd be a very solid title, a strong 8/10 (4/10 if smuggler. yes, it is THAT bad). BioWare decided to make it into a MMO though. Therefore, 4/10. Because the single player part receives a 7 overall from me (i just can't forgive the smuggler. sorry), and the multiplayer is a strong 3.    … Expand
  52. androman
    Dec 25, 2011
    10
    Well if you detest Star Wars you may want to stay away from TOR. Otherwise, the game is very smooth, the story line is enticing and while there are still a few minor bugs in the overall I am loving it! I have also been told that the classes are balanced at end game (lvl 50) PvP and since I am at the lower levels (12-16) and there are no brackets, we just have to learn how to play the gameWell if you detest Star Wars you may want to stay away from TOR. Otherwise, the game is very smooth, the story line is enticing and while there are still a few minor bugs in the overall I am loving it! I have also been told that the classes are balanced at end game (lvl 50) PvP and since I am at the lower levels (12-16) and there are no brackets, we just have to learn how to play the game and look forward to end game PvP.… Expand
  53. JR462
    Dec 25, 2011
    10
    Well, from what i have played so far, this game is a different and refreshing take on mmo's in my opinion, having played WOW for 5yrs+. i have several characters in the 20's just so can get a feel for which class id prefer, so i have only scratched the surface. if your a fan of the kotor 1+2, id say you will appreciate this game as much as i do. i've read some peoples complaints about theWell, from what i have played so far, this game is a different and refreshing take on mmo's in my opinion, having played WOW for 5yrs+. i have several characters in the 20's just so can get a feel for which class id prefer, so i have only scratched the surface. if your a fan of the kotor 1+2, id say you will appreciate this game as much as i do. i've read some peoples complaints about the story driven questing and lack of a multiplayer feel. to me it has been a more dynamic gaming experience than any other mmo i've played. but i'm biased towards kotor, and care less about glorified chat-rooms. there is sufficient party based opportunities in the game, flashpoints, heroic quest areas, and later raid instances. you just have to play more than a couple hours to experience them.… Expand
  54. ltx
    Dec 25, 2011
    5
    Large number of MMO mistakes are weighing this game down, however the experience is propped up by mildly interesting chain of class quests like something out of a single player game, a new direction in MMOs previously only poorly implemented in AoC. The Good: Storyline driven class quests with voice acting, lightsabers, personal ships, companions with some personality that can be dressedLarge number of MMO mistakes are weighing this game down, however the experience is propped up by mildly interesting chain of class quests like something out of a single player game, a new direction in MMOs previously only poorly implemented in AoC. The Good: Storyline driven class quests with voice acting, lightsabers, personal ships, companions with some personality that can be dressed up, dialog options, sound. The Bad: boring combat and gameplay, PvP lacks open world combat, depth and balance, no variety in armor and weapons, outdated graphics, monotone environments and dungeons, zoned and instanced world, lack of polish, lack of focus on social and massive multiplayer features.… Expand
  55. Augustus75
    Dec 25, 2011
    4
    I am rooting for any mmorpg that takes immersion seriously, but as of now do not believe story alone can accomplish this. The frequent instancing creates a ghost town feeling. The pasted on, wallpaper backgrounds in each zone do not allow for players to interact with the environment as freely as in many other mmorpgs. To me, each zone feels exactly the same as the last, turning left andI am rooting for any mmorpg that takes immersion seriously, but as of now do not believe story alone can accomplish this. The frequent instancing creates a ghost town feeling. The pasted on, wallpaper backgrounds in each zone do not allow for players to interact with the environment as freely as in many other mmorpgs. To me, each zone feels exactly the same as the last, turning left and right through a tunnel/dungeon environment with different backgrounds. Although the story is fun, and does create the sense of being in a movie, the initial excitement for me wore off mid-level, leaving a real feeling of claustrophobia. Compared to Dragon's Nest and Vindictus this game can be called an mmorpg. But compared to those games already established in the genre SWTOR rates low as an mmorpg specifically due to the lack of an open, persistent world.… Expand
  56. some_guy
    Dec 25, 2011
    0
    This game not only was and is awful, but (if you don't like giving websites your credit card info) requires $120 non-refundable before you even start playing. The multi-player interaction is severely limited and, while fully-voiced quest conversations are a new twist, this is very annoying for people who are not interested in what is being said all the time or who don't have the time toThis game not only was and is awful, but (if you don't like giving websites your credit card info) requires $120 non-refundable before you even start playing. The multi-player interaction is severely limited and, while fully-voiced quest conversations are a new twist, this is very annoying for people who are not interested in what is being said all the time or who don't have the time to sit there and wait for the dialogue to play out. The universe itself is very limited and linear and combat is no better than other MMOs. I will not be surprised at all if the User Score for this game continues to decrease rapidly until the game stops requiring a subscription. After years of development, this is a sad excuse for the newest MMO. Personally, I have requested a full refund from the game's costumer service.… Expand
  57. EJ107
    Dec 25, 2011
    8
    The game is good overall. Not great, as it has only just been released and there are several issues to work out, but it isn't bad. Certainly not as bad as some people are making it out to be. The combat isn't very new or interesting, and the characters creation is downright bad, but the voice acting on quests is very good, and the way quests are handled in general is better than most MMO'sThe game is good overall. Not great, as it has only just been released and there are several issues to work out, but it isn't bad. Certainly not as bad as some people are making it out to be. The combat isn't very new or interesting, and the characters creation is downright bad, but the voice acting on quests is very good, and the way quests are handled in general is better than most MMO's I have played. It is refreshing to see an MMORPG with a decent story and good characters, something that most of these type of games lack. The crafting system, with crew skills, is very well done, and very different from what I have experienced in other games. The companions are also not only very useful in combat but are also good characters, with interesting stories that make it worth talking to them. Overall the game is good. There may be some issues, but that is to be expected from a game like this upon release. I would certainly recommend at least giving it a attempt.… Expand
  58. Shadamehr
    Dec 25, 2011
    8
    As a jaded 5 year WoW player this is a refreshing alternative, especially considering what's in wait for if you stick with the former (Pokemon ... sheeesh !). It has what WoW lacks, in depth storyline. I predict that for the next WoW expansion after MoP it will have that, in depth storyline, companions..... and spaceships.
  59. Maul84
    Dec 25, 2011
    9
    Lots of fun and tons of content with 8 different storylines, will be spending alot of time on this one. I'm not a MMO troll but being a fan of the first games I had to give this a shot. So far I'm really enjoying it.
  60. Jbr74
    Dec 25, 2011
    10
    Awesome game and I am not a big Star Wars fan. Leveling up in WoW is about as much fun as a root canal.. But SWTOR is surprisingly enjoyable. The graphics are incredible at hi res.
  61. Cavissi
    Dec 25, 2011
    3
    A very bland single player game trying to be an MMO. Bioware should have just made Kotor 3 and focused on story and cutscenes, instead you get a worse version of Kotor mixed with a worse version of WoW. The combat is very uninspired, the voice acting is pretty mediocre, and the conversation aspect of getting quests is interesting but the quest themselves are just fetch and kill 30 of thisA very bland single player game trying to be an MMO. Bioware should have just made Kotor 3 and focused on story and cutscenes, instead you get a worse version of Kotor mixed with a worse version of WoW. The combat is very uninspired, the voice acting is pretty mediocre, and the conversation aspect of getting quests is interesting but the quest themselves are just fetch and kill 30 of this quests. If you enjoy the story you will enjoy playing through the game, but as far as an MMO, it is a watered down WoW in every aspect.… Expand
  62. Lolipop
    Dec 25, 2011
    0
    Instancing , **** graphics , biggest waste of money ever. Did I mention companions ? OMG , they have the AI of a retarded duck . EVERYTHING FAILS in this game . THIS IS NOT A MMO , it's a SINGLE PLAYER GAME masked as a MMO .
  63. JoeCool
    Dec 25, 2011
    6
    This game is not an MMO, the hole world is instanced, creating a rather empty feel when you play it. You'll run into other players but not a whole lot. Once too many players enter a zone another instance is created and you'll always have the same feel. While that may be good for immersion, it is blasphemy in MMO country. The game revolves around the story. While that story is often quiteThis game is not an MMO, the hole world is instanced, creating a rather empty feel when you play it. You'll run into other players but not a whole lot. Once too many players enter a zone another instance is created and you'll always have the same feel. While that may be good for immersion, it is blasphemy in MMO country. The game revolves around the story. While that story is often quite good, and as a single player game it would certainly have disappointed a whole lot less. However as an MMO you just have to label it the failure it is. If you're look for a Star Wars game, then this is one. If you're looking for an MMO, let alone a good one, better pass on this one.… Expand
  64. Jeanp
    Dec 25, 2011
    9
    It is a great MMO, Like all of them it has it flaws. But as an MMO Gamer I can tell you it is well made. Graphics and animation are great. Quests are never boring, and you class quest is a well made out story. PVP is fun, I have never PVP'ed so much in an MMO since this game. Crafting is fun and easy to learn. It does require a little bit of streamlining though. Combat is fast and adds aIt is a great MMO, Like all of them it has it flaws. But as an MMO Gamer I can tell you it is well made. Graphics and animation are great. Quests are never boring, and you class quest is a well made out story. PVP is fun, I have never PVP'ed so much in an MMO since this game. Crafting is fun and easy to learn. It does require a little bit of streamlining though. Combat is fast and adds a few new mechanics especially in the healing area. If you are a Star Wars fans go get the game and enjoy it. If you don't like Star Wars you might not like it since it follows the traditional MMO gameplay. In the end I am Enjoying it and can not wait to see what the have in store for the future of the game.… Expand
  65. Grd386
    Dec 25, 2011
    10
    I played WOW and have never created 6 characters and built them up to at least 10th level. WOW was a grind and always felt like it. The SWTOR environment is so much more fun! If you like Star Wars you will enjoy this game.
  66. hearsman
    Dec 25, 2011
    9
    As a gaming veteran, and having played many types of rpg, both single player and MMO, I approached SWTOR with cautious optimism. I am pleased to say that, with some limited caveats, the game is a success.

    The general gameplay mechanics are not revolutionary, but in many cases provide clear evolution of the genre. The big plus in this game for me is that it is largely successful in    As a gaming veteran, and having played many types of rpg, both single player and MMO, I approached SWTOR with cautious optimism. I am pleased to say that, with some limited caveats, the game is a success.

    The general gameplay mechanics are not revolutionary, but in many cases provide clear evolution of the genre. The big plus in this game for me is that it is largely successful in achieving the aim of creating a worthwhile single player experience within an MMO framework. This enables a greater level of connection with the character you have created, with a story being played out that is actively your own. This is a game that encourages you to play with others in the form of "heroic" missions that require 2-4 players to group up in order to tackle them. However, the majority of quests do not require you to team up, and so you do not have to group unless you really want to.

    The PVP is still a little rough around the edges, although I have certainly found it more enjoyable than other MMO's played. An "equalisation" mechanic where everyone's stats are scaled up helps to level the playing field, but eventually the additional skills that higher level characters have will make a difference.

    If you would like to play a game that allows you to create your own story, full of intrigue, then this game will certainly be worth a try. It will not be for everyone, but in my opinion will be enjoyable for both MMO and Star Wars fans!    … Expand
  67. Jingo
    Dec 25, 2011
    4
    This was a big disappointment. Sure, it's great that Bioware has inserted a ton of voice-acting in the otherwise text-based genre, and a bit more story in questlines. But that's it. For the most expensive game in history? It's a real shame. The graphics are so 2002, the environment is utterly lacklustre. But the worst thing was the combat. You just click on your enemy once then select someThis was a big disappointment. Sure, it's great that Bioware has inserted a ton of voice-acting in the otherwise text-based genre, and a bit more story in questlines. But that's it. For the most expensive game in history? It's a real shame. The graphics are so 2002, the environment is utterly lacklustre. But the worst thing was the combat. You just click on your enemy once then select some hotkeys. Ugh. In a world when a cheap game like Mount and Blade gives you the immersion of timing and aiming your sword-swing while galloping past on your horse, why is it that the most expensive game fails so miserably? A bit of innovation, some modern game-play controls and up-to-date graphics would have made SWTOR a real hit for me, but there's no way I'm shelling out subscription money for a game that could have been made when Saddam Hussein was still ruling Iraq.… Expand
  68. Themayor
    Dec 25, 2011
    10
    I, like so many others, am giving this game a 10 to counterbalance the ludicrously low scores that SWTOR has received. First of all you have to consider the source. Bitter fanboys are never the best resource for an authentic review. It's impossible to give a game a 0 no matter how bad it is.That would rank the game alongside the likes of Voltron, Real Steel, and Thor as some of the worstI, like so many others, am giving this game a 10 to counterbalance the ludicrously low scores that SWTOR has received. First of all you have to consider the source. Bitter fanboys are never the best resource for an authentic review. It's impossible to give a game a 0 no matter how bad it is.That would rank the game alongside the likes of Voltron, Real Steel, and Thor as some of the worst games released this year. To say that SWTOR is anything less than 8.5 - 9.0 is an absolute joke! My gaming background is extensive, but primarily console. I bought a gaming rig this year intent to give PC games a fair shake. I've been impressed by some, bored out of my mind by others. Like a pyramid marketing scheme I was roped into playing both WOW and Rift this year. Neither game held my attention for more than a couple of months. SWTOR, on the other hand, is awesome! Not only because it's Star Wars, but also because the game is more engaging than other MMORPG's. Bioware deserves an incredible amount of credit for what they've achieved here. Haters are gonna hate. Don't buy into the WOW fanboy hype machine! I'm about 20 hours deep into this game, and my consoles are collecting dust! This is a must buy!… Expand
  69. sm2049
    Dec 24, 2011
    10
    The game is absolutely exactly what I expected, excelled expectations. The mostly negative reviews I have been reading is the reason why WoW ended up sucking after a few years of whiny players wanting easy buttons. The graphics are nice and pvp is still in the making. I find it challenging and what I wanted instead of some pimple faced kid complaining on the forums and the devleopersThe game is absolutely exactly what I expected, excelled expectations. The mostly negative reviews I have been reading is the reason why WoW ended up sucking after a few years of whiny players wanting easy buttons. The graphics are nice and pvp is still in the making. I find it challenging and what I wanted instead of some pimple faced kid complaining on the forums and the devleopers caving in is not yet done, and hopefully never will be. This has much room to expand and my guild and I just quite WoW a while again and found this breath of fresh air. To the idiots saying this is a sorry attempt at a dumbed down wow clone, please go back to playing with blizzards genitals as WoW is a completely retarded dumbed down version of Everquest.... Ohh no! over easy dumb raids and gladiator is soo hard! Merc Glad btw. Character creation is simple. Gameplay is great, but with updates it only can get better. Unlike wow in which caved into morons.… Expand
  70. runefromoslo
    Dec 24, 2011
    9
    Ignore the negative reviews, as they are almost exclusively written by fanboys of competing MMORPG games. Many of whom have not even actually played the game to any extent. It is also sadly ironic that many of their "reviews" feature comparisons to their MMORPG of choice, and an admission than SWTOR is a newer and superior MMORPG of the same genre, only to then dismiss it as a copy. I canIgnore the negative reviews, as they are almost exclusively written by fanboys of competing MMORPG games. Many of whom have not even actually played the game to any extent. It is also sadly ironic that many of their "reviews" feature comparisons to their MMORPG of choice, and an admission than SWTOR is a newer and superior MMORPG of the same genre, only to then dismiss it as a copy. I can see how someone who doesn't like MMOs or RPGs giving this game a mixed review, but a negative one? Hogwash!

    The Old Republic is the MMORPG that puts the Role Playing Game back in the Massively Multiplayer Online. It's graphics are the best of any on the market today - as MMORPGs have unique challenges, having to tackle huge worlds with limited computing power. Something The Old Republic does beautifully, with it's stylized art direction. Sound Effects and Music are as we have come to expect from BioWare, top of the line.

    As of launch, the gameplay itself, and the interface, is still a tad sluggish at times, and the game also lacks a much needed LFG (looking for group) function - which means you have to find groups manually by flagging yourself or going to the mission hangar. This is really the only drawback I have found to the game so far, as someone who has played MMORPGs since Sierra's The Realm, back in the mid 90s, and a 6 year veteran of WoW, and many others.

    There are 10 million WoW players, 3 million Aion players, and more than a million RIFT players, who do not want you to play this game - and it is reflected in the user score versus the critic score. Accusations that critic scores are bought and paid for are merely a reflection on these users' opinions that theirs is the only one that matters.

    Don't buy into it. Try The Old Republic for yourself. Chances are you won't be disappointed.    … Expand
  71. kozzy420
    Dec 24, 2011
    10
    The best MMO since Ultima Online.
    I have not enjoyed many mmo's over the years but I keep hoping that one can bring as much fun as I had with Ultima Online back in the day. Tried so many and none felt fun enough to play more then a few months.
    The Old Republic does so much right that the few mishaps (Graphics could be better and more custimization in character creation would be nice)    The best MMO since Ultima Online.
    I have not enjoyed many mmo's over the years but I keep hoping that one can bring as much fun as I had with Ultima Online back in the day. Tried so many and none felt fun enough to play more then a few months.

    The Old Republic does so much right that the few mishaps (Graphics could be better and more custimization in character creation would be nice) barely matter at all. The story is fantastic (an mmo with a great story? You serious?), the characters are interesting, the voice acting is some of the best ever, the atmosphere is great, the sound is well done and its got a very high fun factor.

    After Bioware made Dragon Age2 I was worried we might not get another great game from them again, but then comes an amazing game in the Old Republic and pushes Bioware back in the right direction.

    There is so much to this game its crazy, weither you want to play it singleplayer or with friends, its well worth it, don't miss out on this amazing game.

    Even if you are not a mmo fan you have to give this game a go, any rpg fan should play this wonderful, breathtaking game that has brought some much needed life to a genre that has become very boring lately.

    Thank you for an amazing game Bioware!    … Expand
  72. lasagnafeeder
    Dec 24, 2011
    10
    this game's current user score (6.1) is undeserved. This game is more like an 8, but i'm giving it a 10 to balance out the ridiculous trolling and smear campaign that is going on here. When did PC gamers become a bunch of pissy brats who will dedicate more time to finding things wrong with a game then actually playing it? It's sad, it really is. And we wonder why the industry appears to bethis game's current user score (6.1) is undeserved. This game is more like an 8, but i'm giving it a 10 to balance out the ridiculous trolling and smear campaign that is going on here. When did PC gamers become a bunch of pissy brats who will dedicate more time to finding things wrong with a game then actually playing it? It's sad, it really is. And we wonder why the industry appears to be leaving us behind....… Expand
  73. Greever
    Dec 24, 2011
    3
    Despite really wanting to enjoy this game, I find it hard to even just log in and play the beginning levels. Graphics are really poor, combat is tiresome, the classes are uninspired and the quests are just the same old thing as every MMO before it. If this were a MMO from 2000 it would be passable, but for one from 2011 it's shockingly bad.
  74. iamwormbuffet
    Dec 24, 2011
    10
    For people interested in an actual story where you have actual interaction with NPCs instead of just blankly accepting quests without even reading, this is perfect!

    A lot of the kill X quests are actually bonus quests triggered when in the correct place, and you don't need to deliver them to someone. Most of the quests you have life or death choices to do and it is refreshing. The voice    For people interested in an actual story where you have actual interaction with NPCs instead of just blankly accepting quests without even reading, this is perfect!

    A lot of the kill X quests are actually bonus quests triggered when in the correct place, and you don't need to deliver them to someone. Most of the quests you have life or death choices to do and it is refreshing.

    The voice acting is very good, I have 3 different characters and keep hearing different voices everywhere,

    Each character has a different story and while some of them aren't as compelling as the others, I'm always eager to know what my Sith Warrior and Sith Inquisitor will have to do next.

    This is also a great game if you don't like playing with randoms nor want to be involved in a guild. The whole class story is playable by yourself and a lot of the stuff can be done by yourself or with a friend.    … Expand
  75. Welp
    Dec 24, 2011
    10
    Horrible animations, retarded writing, pants on head retarded story line, combat and gameplay similar to your typical MMORPG (where's that innovation Bioware?). Another "successful" space waifu simulator from Bioware. (Why can't I hold all these bought reviews?)
  76. zirart
    Dec 24, 2011
    10
    For me, SWTOR is a great game. It's usless make any comparisson beteween this and other games. It's a great MMO and has some good improvements over later games (the quest system is the best I saw in an mmo) I'm a huge fan of Bioware games, just to the record. But still uses the same old formulas. For me, the most important is: It's a hell of a fun game! I play with some friends and I feelFor me, SWTOR is a great game. It's usless make any comparisson beteween this and other games. It's a great MMO and has some good improvements over later games (the quest system is the best I saw in an mmo) I'm a huge fan of Bioware games, just to the record. But still uses the same old formulas. For me, the most important is: It's a hell of a fun game! I play with some friends and I feel so much fun doing it. I laught so loud in some situations (Im a Sith Warrior) and the parts of the game wehre you need to play in group is very fun. I really don't care if it will be better than WoW or not, I give a sh... for WoW today, played it for 5 years and I'm feeling good in play something new. I'm still with my wow subscription and will pay a visit from time to time. Hail to SWTOR and I hope it live long and give me lots of fun in the years to come.… Expand
  77. ReDDoTNeckbeard
    Dec 24, 2011
    10
    The people that are giving this game negative reviews are most likely not playing the game or expected TOR to be SWG2.0 or extremely brand new. TOR, since day 1, was announced to be building on the already proven MMO formula that seems to be rooted in the direction of EQ/WoW. Its not WoW "in-space", but its a well-made MMO with a GREAT story. If you enjoyed KOTOR, ME/ME2/DA/DA2 - you willThe people that are giving this game negative reviews are most likely not playing the game or expected TOR to be SWG2.0 or extremely brand new. TOR, since day 1, was announced to be building on the already proven MMO formula that seems to be rooted in the direction of EQ/WoW. Its not WoW "in-space", but its a well-made MMO with a GREAT story. If you enjoyed KOTOR, ME/ME2/DA/DA2 - you will love TOR as it allows you to have all what those single player games offered and adds multiplayer aspect to it. I personally love the PvP, love the flashpoints, love the classes. By no means this game is ideal, but out of the MMO launches that I've been in - this is the best MMO at launch and the BEST launch experience I've ever had (and i've played most MMOs in the past 7 years). I recommend this game if you like BioWare games and if you like MMO games. Otherwise wait for trial version!… Expand
  78. gamingsince86
    Dec 24, 2011
    8
    i'm not an mmo expert but i have play a variety of them since PSO to diablo FFXI WoW Rift even FFXIV. now i'm playing SWTOR... if your going into this game expecting it to be so different from anything else, your not going to enjoy it. that being said the standard has been set by multiple past mmo's that have become a must for an mmo to be both playable and fun! SWTOR is a very good game,i'm not an mmo expert but i have play a variety of them since PSO to diablo FFXI WoW Rift even FFXIV. now i'm playing SWTOR... if your going into this game expecting it to be so different from anything else, your not going to enjoy it. that being said the standard has been set by multiple past mmo's that have become a must for an mmo to be both playable and fun! SWTOR is a very good game, no it's not the revolutionary game that it was hyped up to be but it took all the right steps to either become or show the next guys how it's done. I think they focused mostly on the authentic feeling of you bind with and feeling your character becoming stronger within the world. the progression and story line are great in my eyes, the only grinding iv'e noticed was the crafting, wich is all done by your companion (you literally click a button and he does his own thing while you continue doing w/e you were doing) he comes back a couple minutes later with a complete product and ready to be sent again. Character creation isnt extremely deep, you can pick between about 4 body types, but! the facial features and skin features are enough to limit you from seeing a clone of yourself easily. i've hit lvl 19 and havn't seen an exact copy of myself yet. also your dark and light side changes your features a bit too. now alot of mmo players are complaining about the way the world is set up, IT IS NOT 100% OPEN WORLD but thats ok :) was diablo open world? how many people loved it and are going to get diablo III? exactly. its not exactly a rail system tho. you get a main hub/city for each planet then outside of that is a smaller yet generally open world with dungeons that route off of that. you can explore to fine datacons wich give you stat boosts you keep forever. i actually enjoy this set up cause it makes it easy to see what people are doing and actually makes it easy to find a group. now the graphics, i'll start with the downside, there are minimal graphic customization built in to the game, wich limits some players and causes performance issues with others. you do however have the choice of shader, texture, foliage density, character detail and bloom options, my only issue (mine only some have more) is that there were no options for anti aliasing but you can write your own line in the setting file wich is what i did and voila no jaggies :) i'm not gonna go into detail on the WoW SWTOR comparisons and gripes but if your just looking for something fresh, new and polished with lots of potential this is a good pick, if you want something completely different from WoW and Rift, dont hype this game you will be let down.

    PROS: dialog and story keeps your head in the game very colorful all classes feel look and performe differently with alot of over the top flare authentic star wars feel, looks and sounds epic space flight missions flashpoints and heroic missions are a blast crew skills (crafting and savaging) are convenient CONS: space flight is on rails (still fun tho) and i don't think there is space pvp limited open world (if thats what your lookin for) limited graphic setting options character creations isnt very deep im sure im missing alot here guys this being my 1st mmo review but i hope this atleast helps a few of you looking for a decent non bias rating seeing only wow praising and wow bashing. i still have yet to try pvp and probly a bunch of other things but from what ive done so far i myself love it.    … Expand
  79. Serpentu
    Dec 24, 2011
    6
    Good job on screwing up the launch by making it unavailable for half the globe.
    You've essentially diminished the interest of many, many players who would've otherwise gladly given you their money -despite- it being an EA published title.
  80. Nexmanus
    Dec 24, 2011
    3
    The game itself is ok as mmoâ
  81. gaxkang123
    Dec 24, 2011
    10
    A masterpiece. 90% of these low reviews probably have not played the game or played less than 10 hours. Haters gonna hate, play more than 10 hours and youll see the true beauty
  82. Apz
    Dec 24, 2011
    1
    It's a decent game if you still like playing MMORPGs. Sort of angry I let myself get hoodwinked by friends again. As far as I'm concerned, MMORPGs will never be "real" games. And what I mean by real games are games that offer actual content and experiences that aren't just tedious and repetitive.
  83. Avvannosst
    Dec 24, 2011
    0
    It makes absolutely no sense to me that people are calling this game polished. The story is sloppy and poorly written, the graphics are horrible both on a technical and artistic level, suffering from texture pop-in and lighting issues, etc. if this were ANY other game from ANY other company it would be getting slaughtered in reviews. But noooo this is bioware, they can do no wrong. TheIt makes absolutely no sense to me that people are calling this game polished. The story is sloppy and poorly written, the graphics are horrible both on a technical and artistic level, suffering from texture pop-in and lighting issues, etc. if this were ANY other game from ANY other company it would be getting slaughtered in reviews. But noooo this is bioware, they can do no wrong. The game shipped without tons of essential features that an mmo needs, but oh wait, this is basically a single player rpg with an excuse to gouge star wars fans. The hype is not earned. At all.… Expand
  84. Lunarosi
    Dec 24, 2011
    2
    I'll begin with character creation. I was expecting a hefty load of options in the creation of my character such custom face shaping. Also I have to point out that the choice of facial hair is beyond a joke and it also looks so bad, almost like it's super glued onto the model's face. You can either have no beard and moustache and or an ugly thick one -- there is no in between. The sameI'll begin with character creation. I was expecting a hefty load of options in the creation of my character such custom face shaping. Also I have to point out that the choice of facial hair is beyond a joke and it also looks so bad, almost like it's super glued onto the model's face. You can either have no beard and moustache and or an ugly thick one -- there is no in between. The same goes with the bodies, infact there is not one normal looking body for the jedi archetype -- it's either too skinny or too bulky.

    Not including the true cinematics, the gameplay graphics are deceiving. After creating my character I get some true CG cutscenes like you would see in a motion picture (money at this point that would have been better spent) which is great. Then I get to the cutscenes that appear to be the game's graphics engine.

    My character lands into a spaceport with crisp, colourful graphics -- im thinking woah, they really went all out here as well as with the voice acting which is superb. Shortly after being told what I need to do and who to talk to, I am thrown in to a world that looks hideous and completely different than the rich vibrant cutscenes.

    Compared with the mission/NPC cutscenes, everything just looks flatter and less vibrant. I was also informed after walking around the environment just how linear and lifeless everything is, something I wasn't expecting from a game this long in development.

    The envrionments outside the cities are also very linear. I found myself being restricted to certain paths where there was hilly terrain. Why can't I just walk up and around this? Dragon Age had the same issues too. This game has been hyped so bad that alot of KOTOR fans will think it's for them, but after EA/Bioware/LucasArts grabs their money they realise it's just another MMO, nothing special.    … Expand
  85. Corppor
    Dec 24, 2011
    0
    One of the most colossal disappointments in gaming history, but then again it's bioware--I wasn't expecting much. For the amount of money and hype poured into this thing the result is absolutely pathetic. It has all of the innovation and design of an outsourced Chinese mmo but made in north America. All this does differently from wow is a poorly written and poorly presented story.One of the most colossal disappointments in gaming history, but then again it's bioware--I wasn't expecting much. For the amount of money and hype poured into this thing the result is absolutely pathetic. It has all of the innovation and design of an outsourced Chinese mmo but made in north America. All this does differently from wow is a poorly written and poorly presented story. Cutscenes and dialogue wheels actually make me feel less involved with anything going on, not that I care about the story in any capacity. Quite simply this game isn't worth your time any more than a game that you could download for free.… Expand
  86. Bagamer
    Dec 24, 2011
    8
    As a long time player of MMO's i have to say this game has intrigued me more than any of them.While it has not turned the industry up side down it is a good game.The story and voice acting done by Bioware is what makes the game.Otherwise yes it would be WOW or Guildwars its an mmo what did you think it would be? Character creation is a little lacking and pvp needs work but these are allAs a long time player of MMO's i have to say this game has intrigued me more than any of them.While it has not turned the industry up side down it is a good game.The story and voice acting done by Bioware is what makes the game.Otherwise yes it would be WOW or Guildwars its an mmo what did you think it would be? Character creation is a little lacking and pvp needs work but these are all things that are promised to be dealt with.(WOW sucked when it first came out and Guildwars was even worse so give it time)SWTOR doesn't seem like a grind and farm game it keeps you interacting with people and your constantly getting bits of story to help you along.Flash points and heroic quest are a lot of fun, you get a small group together and wreck havoc on a lot of high power enemies.All while being drawn into the story and being pushed by the need to see whats going to happen.Graphics are not awesome but they look good and way better then WOW or Guildwars ever has.To wrap it up here it is the story and voice acting make this game. After putting in five plus years into WOW and 2 on and off in Guildwars its nice to finally have the game give me something to look forward too! Grab it it's good!… Expand
  87. Davil
    Dec 24, 2011
    9
    It's not a WoW Clone. The only things that are similar is the talent and skill system. But really that's been an MMO standard since before WoW anyway. Anyway it's a fun game. Combat feels more organic, you actually care about your character and companions, and it's not a grind fest. On top of that the star fox like space combat missions are a nice diversion. Where it fails is it's lack ofIt's not a WoW Clone. The only things that are similar is the talent and skill system. But really that's been an MMO standard since before WoW anyway. Anyway it's a fun game. Combat feels more organic, you actually care about your character and companions, and it's not a grind fest. On top of that the star fox like space combat missions are a nice diversion. Where it fails is it's lack of explanation and execution of some of the finer game mechanics. Crafting is somewhat confusing and not particularly deep.… Expand
  88. Nevermore47
    Dec 24, 2011
    9
    While not a perfect game by any means, and still getting a few bugs ironed out, the only reason this game has middling user review score is because of the scores of haters that inhabit the video game fandom.

    BioWare has added a solid addition into the MMO market, rich with plot, making it compelling to level up multiple alts just to see all the different story arcs, as well as made a    While not a perfect game by any means, and still getting a few bugs ironed out, the only reason this game has middling user review score is because of the scores of haters that inhabit the video game fandom.

    BioWare has added a solid addition into the MMO market, rich with plot, making it compelling to level up multiple alts just to see all the different story arcs, as well as made a pretty smooth launch. The Star Wars universe feels alive as you progress your way through dialogues where your choices affect your character for the rest of your playing experience, with my Jedi Knight still being plagued by a "misguided" Dark Side decision I made early in the game.

    As I said, though, the game isn't perfect, and I will definitely put some criticism in here that there are some bugs that really should have been worked out in beta. Graphical glitches that make it seem that there's a laser light show going off behind you and certain abilities, like sending off your companion to sell your gray items, only work sporadically. The auction house system's UI is extremely user unfriendly, as well. I'm not one to use a lot of mods in MMO's, as I feel in order to claim yourself as being a good player, you should be able to use the default UI, but if that AH doesn't get improved, as soon as the mod market is open, I'll definitely be getting one for that.

    Definitely worth checking out if you want to try an MMO or absolutely love Star Wars, there's nothing like the thrill of getting your first lightsaber...    … Expand
  89. seuche
    Dec 24, 2011
    0
    this game is just an overhyped wow clone. the whole design is around 7 years old and because of it lacks of delivering a new game experience, which results in a very low longtime motivation. if you plan to play it like a singleplayer game für a month, it can be fun, but other than that its just a dissapointment and no real mmog (whole game is instanced, no persistant game world).
  90. PansyMo
    Dec 24, 2011
    2
    It amuses me to no end how we are not allowed to not enjoy this game. Those giving 10s and complaining about us having different opinions are just trolls is are just wearing their Naboo-tinted glasses, refusing to see anything potentially wrong. These are the same people who think that including a character like Jar Jar Binks in the movies was a much better idea than curing cancer,It amuses me to no end how we are not allowed to not enjoy this game. Those giving 10s and complaining about us having different opinions are just trolls is are just wearing their Naboo-tinted glasses, refusing to see anything potentially wrong. These are the same people who think that including a character like Jar Jar Binks in the movies was a much better idea than curing cancer, simply because he's in the Star Wars movies. That said, I was unimpressed by the game. Everything seemed "samey" to me. The voice acting was alright, and the different story lines are okay, but that's just the thing. Pursuing the different story lines, is, for the most part, an individual endeavor. It gives me the feel of this being a Single-Player game disguised as an MMO. The instances annoy me, though the queues not so much. However, the scattered, unmoving NPCs detract from my overall so-called "immersive" experience. Also, I hated walking through Tatooine to get to a point I needed to be, only to walk through a sand people camp that immediately triggered the "kill 0/20" quests. So far, there's also been no endgame. Really, people, are you that protective of your favorite universe that you refuse to admit that there may be some flaws?… Expand
  91. MaestroBlaBla
    Dec 24, 2011
    3
    LucasArts should scrap this too. SWG was slightly epic. This is tacky and feels more like a $ sink-hole. As far as i know, it is the most expensive mmo to play. Tested CB(thank-god)......WAS VERY UNIMPRESSED
  92. fakthisgametoo
    Dec 24, 2011
    0
    I wont even bring up SWG, The game is so boring why bother. What i will bring up, is how masterfully spun the salesteam did with this giant boring drone of a game. Promises of cooperative play and space battles, or rather, the same 3 foot deep instance with people who will group as a last resort. Space mission = rail. Ride the roller coaster, shoot things in your X Y plane. No steering,I wont even bring up SWG, The game is so boring why bother. What i will bring up, is how masterfully spun the salesteam did with this giant boring drone of a game. Promises of cooperative play and space battles, or rather, the same 3 foot deep instance with people who will group as a last resort. Space mission = rail. Ride the roller coaster, shoot things in your X Y plane. No steering, no control, nothing. Otherwise a carbonite copy of wow from skills to abilities. Mediocre. Mediocre. And more Mediocre. Any person with a rating higher then 5, is just a star wars fanboi.… Expand
  93. Aporis
    Dec 24, 2011
    9
    This is the MMO i have been waiting, very interesting story, very well desinged combat system thank god no longer hitting the air, actually useful companion characters, crew skills and off course Roleplaying.
    Right when i started playing as a Trooper i noticed it doesent have boring starting quests like many other MMO has including World of Warcraft, fully voiced mmo with tons of dialog    This is the MMO i have been waiting, very interesting story, very well desinged combat system thank god no longer hitting the air, actually useful companion characters, crew skills and off course Roleplaying.
    Right when i started playing as a Trooper i noticed it doesent have boring starting quests like many other MMO has including World of Warcraft, fully voiced mmo with tons of dialog thats impressive. No longer the boring little box full of text that no one likes to read after every single quest. every character has its own story and for once i have learned something about the world, something about the different characters. There are so many people with Negative reviews and i know most of you are annnoyed because of the queue times well i don't like them either but we know bioware is currently doing their best for fixing the annoying bugs, Fps issue because of the bad coding , and the server queue's . And some of you guys are just annoyed because of the waiting room system. But you guys should keep yourself positive about the game, most of MMO's had same start as Star Wars The Old Republic had, Including World of Warcraft. Even so that the game has been out for just a few days it has already so much things to do.

    But now to some negative stuff, I personally dont like the space battle system its going to be boring after a while, the ship customization could be a little bit more Advanced and there should be more starships to buy form vendors. Bioware tough mentioned that they are going to change it maybe in the first expansion pack. Then there's these terrible frame's per second problems with most of the players and they are trying to fix the bad coding. Bioware mentioned before the game launch that they are going to make the game os that even players with a bit older computers can play it, currently even some players who have a latest gaming computer that can run Battlefield 3 on Ultra graphics are having terrible framerate issues so there is something to do with the coding rather than the system specs.
    All of these are very small problems cause they are able to be fixed.

    Now to good things in a Nutshell: Voice acting is best i have ever heard, Graphics are stunning even there are alot fps issues. PVP is good, Flashpoints operations and all other Raids are really fun with the story based quests. And i dont even have to mention the great 1,2,3 choises you can make in every quest conversation.

    Giving full 10 points!    … Expand
  94. Nightmareccs
    Dec 24, 2011
    10
    DONT READ BAD REVIEWS!!

    To start I have played WOW from day 1, EQ for many years, SWG for the first year and even UO for 5yrs. THis is by far one of the best launchs I have ever seen of a MMO. I am 40 Plus hours in and this is really well done. Is it perfect? No. Is it far and away then any game at launch? Its beyond any other mmo on day 1 by miles! if you say its not then you have not    DONT READ BAD REVIEWS!!

    To start I have played WOW from day 1, EQ for many years, SWG for the first year and even UO for 5yrs. THis is by far one of the best launchs I have ever seen of a MMO. I am 40 Plus hours in and this is really well done. Is it perfect? No. Is it far and away then any game at launch? Its beyond any other mmo on day 1 by miles! if you say its not then you have not played it. If you say it heavey instanced and WOW is less instanced? THen your an idiot and have not played either. TOR is easy to play with a group or without. THe content is solid and needs some more devolpment but compaired to WOW? It took them almost 6 yrs to get to the point of this game on release. the game play is simular yes but is broken up in ways that wow has not even thought of. IF you like MMO then give this a far try. I bet enyone knocking this has not played it and furthermore is a fanboy of there out of date MMO that never made an impact.    … Expand
  95. johnnyph12
    Dec 23, 2011
    0
    someone is outsourcing their reviews .below is an excerpt from a paid review. from someone names Yassir. . look up this review yourselves, below is just a brief portion. This is really sad. Also, notice how Gamespot.com and IGN.com are still "reviewing" the game even though the beta has been out for some time. this type of practice indicates something foul as well. It is really hardsomeone is outsourcing their reviews .below is an excerpt from a paid review. from someone names Yassir. . look up this review yourselves, below is just a brief portion. This is really sad. Also, notice how Gamespot.com and IGN.com are still "reviewing" the game even though the beta has been out for some time. this type of practice indicates something foul as well. It is really hard to find an honest review. YassirX
    Dec 22, 2011
    10
    IÃ¢â    … Expand
  96. DudasDrakaan
    Dec 23, 2011
    7
    I'll state upfront that this game is not good enough to charge a $15/ month fee. NO game is -- period. If a company needs long term revenue then there are other ways to get that without mandatory fees. Valve has shown this with their store, and then there are the DLCs that Bethesda has used. Both of these methods are annoying, but they do not detract from a game. The fact that you canI'll state upfront that this game is not good enough to charge a $15/ month fee. NO game is -- period. If a company needs long term revenue then there are other ways to get that without mandatory fees. Valve has shown this with their store, and then there are the DLCs that Bethesda has used. Both of these methods are annoying, but they do not detract from a game. The fact that you can lose your account and all data attached to it if you cease paying for it is, by contrast, a live issue for any game. _____ My soap box aside, this is an extremely fun game that -- at least in terms of storyline -- does something that other MMOs do not: allow multiple players to determine the course of a story by taking a vote of what action to take. The lightside/ darkside choices and dialogue should be familiar to KOTOR fans, and TOR has expanded this to the multiplayer. Now, what I have trouble with is the wait times during Instances (that is to say those areas where multiple players go together and determine the course of the story during an event). If a player is lagging behind -- looting and so forth -- then you will have to wait on that person to catch up before you can move on. There is no skipping waiting for that person, and so this can destroy your experience. Bioware could have allowed the player to forgo their part in the story, or just teleport them to their team to cut the annoyance on the press of a button, but no. And I'm not even going to go into teamwork, any online gamer should know matching yourself with random people will make that stitchy. It's just all the sitting, and the waiting, that ruins the experience. This is true for all the minor snatch-and-grab quests that are annoying, even when you are by yourself. How I want the ability to "fast travel" like on Oblivion or Skyrim (and I'm not trolling, but seriously -- why can't a different company use that system to cut down unnecessary travel time). It is not as if they are trying to make Star Wars realistic.... _____ But within these things is the sandbox experience, and the cool, novel features that have yet to be ironed out. When they are the story portion will be vastly improved. The writing itself is still Bioware quality, even though I've found character responses to often be repetitive this is to be expected with a work so massive as this. Combat matches the KOTOR/ WOW style that everyone is talking about, so I'm not going to go into that. I will just say that it stays true to KOTOR enough that I'm not complaining, though the fact that you have to go to a "Trainer" instead of acquring abilities "through the Force," as was explained in the previous KOTOR makes leveling annoying at times and -- in addition -- questions the validity of those previous Star Wars games. Does a Jedi acquire his abilities through practice and from force within, as KOTOR implied? Or does he/she need a master to acquire these abilities, as TOR is now suggesting? I'm not going to force the fact that it makes TOR unnecessarily like WOW in this respect. Finding and paying trainers are a hassle. Nothing that would block a player from getting an "unfair advantage," they are simply an annoyance: why doesn't Bioware make you file an income tax in the game every year while they are at it? Furthermore, it disturbs the lore of Star Wars. Since Dark Forces II there has been both lore that a person gains abilities through experience (which makes sense) but this must first be instigated after learning the basics from a master or other teaching source (also makes sense). Why is TOR suddenly violating this lore? For "game balance?" It just seems like an unnecessary kick in the crotch. _____ In summary, this is a good game but it still has quirks which need to be resolved. If these were resolved, then you're looking at a fantastic game. If Bioware would stop playing the role of King John, like Blizzard, and stop levying a game tax, then you are looking at a 10. Though, really, it would probably be like a 94% due to the graphical glitches and the general look which is outdated. But graphics are forgivable. As are the timing quirks and slow pacing. But a slow game that charges $15/month?... NO. Now if you are rich and have too much time on your hands: this is a game for you.… Expand
  97. Goosebump
    Dec 23, 2011
    7
    *** Pros (in no specific order other than as they come to me): Fantastic voice acting throughout. Decent graphics. Star Wars! Nice twist on professions by letting your companion(s) grind em while you get on with other stuff. Decent stories and class chains. Good travel options (only let down by the ridiculously long fleet recall cd). Various levels of mob difficulty for their*** Pros (in no specific order other than as they come to me): Fantastic voice acting throughout. Decent graphics. Star Wars! Nice twist on professions by letting your companion(s) grind em while you get on with other stuff. Decent stories and class chains. Good travel options (only let down by the ridiculously long fleet recall cd). Various levels of mob difficulty for their respective level. Bioware, Lucasarts are two greats in the industry. Reasonable UI options but can get very cluttered with frames overlapping side action bars and the likes. Your own space ship is cool and some space fights are great fun. Two options to take on how you want to res when you die - this is really good. Everyone can resurrect people out of combat. Nice chat choice roll system when in a group on quests. Dark and Light side is another bit of fun to focus on when levelling. *** Cons: PvP - just don't bother. Dire combat mechanics for melee - WoW is light years ahead in terms of combat fun for a melee class in this regard. Ranged combat seems ok and doesnt feel anywhere as awkward or clunky as melee combat. The deposit scaling with buyout price and auction time is insanely high and totally discourages people posting things on the auction house - especially while levelling where credits are tight. The taint of EA is in the back of players minds that have been stung by their awful support and/or dollar-grabbing previously - I truely wish Bioware would cut all ties with these guys. *** Summary: From my six years of WoW, this is not a WoW killer imho for those interested in it as a potential challenger. It's something that can be played alongside WoW purely for the whole Star Wars thing goin on but I have my doubts about the longevity of the game unless Bioware can keep it interesting - we'll just have to wait and see. The frustrating combat mechanics, bad deposit system on the auction house and after thought PvP are enough to make me cancel my sub when my 30 days are up however. This is not a bash at the game by the way - it's an honest opinion - there's alot to love in the game too as you can see in the pros above and maybe the cons are things that you can live with - if so, great - have a blast! 7/10… Expand
  98. General343
    Dec 23, 2011
    10
    This is my second MMO and all i can say is WOW. Bioware has taken the MO Genre and pushed it to a new level. Although combat is not different (i mean you cant make it any different) the story element is so compelling i cant sleep every night i must know what happen next. The mechanics are incredibly smooth and the interface is nice however it should be customizable but who knows they mightThis is my second MMO and all i can say is WOW. Bioware has taken the MO Genre and pushed it to a new level. Although combat is not different (i mean you cant make it any different) the story element is so compelling i cant sleep every night i must know what happen next. The mechanics are incredibly smooth and the interface is nice however it should be customizable but who knows they might fix it. Too all those people who hate the game well all i can say is you keep assaulting the fact that it is a WoW copy. Well of course it has to be due to the MMO franchise. I love star wars and this feels like another star wars movie. i could play this game for months!! There are some slight issues with certain bugs and mechanics but i give it the benefit of the doubt due to the fact no game is ever perfect at launch (cough cough... Skyrim) however in saying that it is soooo close to perfect. If your a person looking for an exciting MMO either veterans or new MMO players will not be disappointed. If the MMO genre is dying this is a great way to see it out May the Force Be with You… Expand
  99. justjj
    Dec 23, 2011
    10
    A great combination of RPG and MMO, a true MMORPG. The story lines are great, especially for the Empire, The graphics are nice for an MMO, and the voices acting is great. Some small hiccups with minor bugs and the queues are still there, but overall, extremely entertaining. Additional character customization would be nice, but a majority of MMO's are lacking in this area. Anxious to seeA great combination of RPG and MMO, a true MMORPG. The story lines are great, especially for the Empire, The graphics are nice for an MMO, and the voices acting is great. Some small hiccups with minor bugs and the queues are still there, but overall, extremely entertaining. Additional character customization would be nice, but a majority of MMO's are lacking in this area. Anxious to see how the game progresses and new content is added.… Expand
  100. Omnius
    Dec 23, 2011
    3
    I wanted to like this game. I really, really did. But in the end, instead of a true successor to the excellent Knights of the Old Republic series, I got a Star Wars game with medicore graphics, sluggish, repetitive gameplay, and hours upon hours of voice acting delivered by one of the most lukewarm casts of actors I've ever had the displeasure to be trapped in a digital room with.

    To    I wanted to like this game. I really, really did. But in the end, instead of a true successor to the excellent Knights of the Old Republic series, I got a Star Wars game with medicore graphics, sluggish, repetitive gameplay, and hours upon hours of voice acting delivered by one of the most lukewarm casts of actors I've ever had the displeasure to be trapped in a digital room with.

    To say that it is a WoW clone is a bit too derisive, but not all that far from the mark. For a game and IP with such potential, it is immensely disappointing to see a product that has taken absolutely no risks, has little innovation to speak of, and somehow manages to let down expectations at practically every turn. SWTOR brings absolutely nothing to the table that has not been done before, and better, by previous MMOs or single-player RPGs.

    In regards to story and dialogue which have, in the past, been a golden seal of Bioware craftsmanship, SWTOR is the perfect example of how far this previously illustrious developer has fallen. Excessive instancing, badly coimpressed sound files, and flat-out fanfiction-quality writing mar nearly every conversation from sidequest to "epic" class story.

    The worst part of it all, perhaps, is that it falls to the individual users to make these criticisms, while "official" reviewers are buried in threats of boycott from EA and out-and-out bribery for a high score. Not to mention the multiple, and documented, cases of Bioware employees posting their own reviews as supposedly impartial and unaffiliated users on these forums.

    In short, a perfect microcosm of so many of the problems that plague the modern gaming industry. A disappointment for Star Wars fans and MMO players alike, please do yourself a favor and don't be taken in by the hype. Spend your time playing other, better RPGs, and lament the loss of the KotOR 3 that could have been.    … Expand
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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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