Back in 2008 Bioware dropped a bomb by announcing The Old Republic. People were surprised, shocked, even disappointed. Instead of finishing the story of Knights of the Old Republic, Bioware announced it’s first MMORPG in the form of TOR. Skepticism was high as the developers of KotOR who were experts in storytelling decided to follow up the story of KotOR with an MMORPG. However, as more and more information surfaced, more and more people were convinced that TOR may be a worthy successor to KotOR. After E3 2010, we are able to confirm one thing with absolute certainty: TOR is looking damn good.
From what we saw and heard of TOR, we can safely say that it will be a unique experience. Bioware’s main ambition is to create an MMORPG that is different from all the rest, with a heavy focus on story. Bioware has shown that they are very good when it comes to storytelling with games like KotOR, Mass Effect and Dragon Age, and they are hoping to implement their style into the game, offering a solid single-player experience in addition to the multiplayer experience we expect from an MMO world. That’s right, just like in KotOR, players will make their own choices, form their own personalities and alignments, gather their own NPC companions and experience their own story. Players will all get their own starship to serve as their base, similar to KotOR and will visit more worlds than in any Star Wars game before.
This alone is enough to catch the attention of all gamers. I, like many other people, dislike MMORPGs. The grinding, the fact that you can play for ten hours without feeling any accomplishment and not feeling like you are a part of the world is what drives me (and a lot of other RPG fans) away from MMOs. We can’t say for certain yet, but it does look like TOR could bring some much needed innovation into the MMORPG formula. You see with eight classes, all with their individual storylines and with the ability to shape your characters personality as you see fit, it does look like TOR will have what non-MMO gamers are looking for. This is backed up by fully voiced NPCs which add to the immersion. Of course being an MMO, you probably won’t be the messiah of the universe, but you will still feel that you’re actions matter in the conflict between the Republic and the Empire.
However that is not all. We saw a dialogue system similar to that of Mass Effect, which allows you to interact with NPCs how you want, and is a part of how you develop your character’s personality. Thankfully, Bioware knows how to move away from traditional characters and improve them: players will be able to customize their abilites on-the-fly as they see fit, allowing them to fit any role they want and not have to rely on luck finding the right companions. Not only that, but their is some overlap between classes as well. Currently we do not know much, and we can’t confirm the more extreme options (like a smuggler gaining Jedi ablities) but the developers have said that even if you are playing a Sith Warrior who focuses on lightsaber combat, you will still be able to develop powerful force abilities just like a “real” Sith if you want to. This coupled with the fact that you make your own personality (thus being able to create Jedi who are not completely good guys or Sith who don’t find pleasure in unnecessary violence) ensures that players will truly be able to play in a way that they want. Not just by making their character the way they want them to be, but also by allowing the player to play effectively both in groups or just alone as a lone wolf.
So far the combat itself seems to be the least remarkable, however it is still fun and does in fact have new features, such as the cover system which adds some realism to gunfights. Also, the players can mix their equipment how they want, meaning that you can wear light armor on your body and heavy armor on your legs if you so wish, but the developers are keeping an eye out for players who want to be fashionable while playing, and as such each armor type has it’s own set of boots, armor, etc. that fit with each other.
The only thing that we do not know of yet, is whether or not there will be space battles. If Bioware managed to include that effectively, then TOR may be even better, but as it stands now, TOR is already looking to be one of the most promising games of 2011. I definitely recommend keeping an eye out for it as it is released sometime next spring, exclusively for the PC.
