Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (Switch) is a faithful port of an already outstanding RPG. Barring small graphical artifacts, an oversized text box, and multiple loading screens, KOTOR is an easy recommendation for Switch owners that RPGs should strive to emulate: Your character's stats matter, your character's actions have consequences, and the worlds you visit are lively. Even more: If this port doesn't make you excited for the upcoming KOTOR remaster, I don't know what will. If you're not the biggest Star Wars fan, I can assure you that you just might be after playing this game. If you're currently a Star Wars fan and have yet to play this game...what are you doing? Drop what you're doing and pick up KOTOR.
In late September, I was just as surprised as you when it was officially announced that Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) was being remade for PS5 and that it a Switch port was being released to tide us over. As one who had never played the original (on XBOX, PC, iPhone, or Android), I was cautiously optimistic about what was in store. I knew that KOTOR had a cult following, I had a vague understanding as to why, and I was unsure if I would enjoy it given my limited interest in Star Wars. Clearly I’ve missed out on what RPGs should be.
In KOTOR, you play as a nameless character with no alignment. When you begin, you’re presented with the opportunity to spec out a character to your liking. If you’ve played Dungeons and Dragons before, then this stat process should be familiar. If not, then the game gives “recommended options” to streamline the character creation process. Once you awaken on a Republic ship that is about to blow up, you’re given a short but sweet tutorial on basic battle and overworld mechanics, and then you’re let loose to explore the galaxy.
Your actions matter in KOTOR, and they matter early on. As you play and interact with other NPCs, your dialogue- and battle options determine the fate of your character. In true Star Wars fashion, you guide your character to become a Jedi or a Sith. Like a good goose, my decisions drove me to the light. Unlike other RPGs that give you the illusion of choice and/or choice in the form of a decision that won’t make a difference until the end game (I’m looking at you, Outer Worlds), your decisions impact how NPCs immediately respond to you. Even more, equipping outfits can and will change what NPCs say and do around you, adding a level of depth that is often absent in other RPGs.
The battle system is less action-y and more tabletop-y. Your attacks are determined by what seems to be a D20 dice roll, and your character might miss quite a bit at first (depending on how you specced them out). I was taken aback with the battle system at first, but once I began to level up my character (with the game’s recommendations, of course), many of the elements began to naturally click. Rather than throw the entire battle system at the player at the beginning, KOTOR slowly incorporates battle elements to keep you hooked and “in control” of your character.
Aspyr has not made too many changes to this port of KOTOR, which was originally released 18 years ago. At first glance, the gameplay and graphics look and feel quite dated. After crash landing on Taris, I was concerned with how seemingly lifeless the city felt. But, as I began interacting with NPCs and exploring every nook and cranny, I was surprised by how much unique content was packed into the worlds of KOTOR. Contemporary RPGs that boast of “gigantic worlds” are often those filled with empty space with the occasional tidbit of lore or developer Easter egg. KOTOR‘s worlds are far from that. While the worlds of KOTOR might be “smaller” in comparison to the likes of Skyrim, Fallout, The Witcher, and GTAV, exploring every single nook and cranny is worthwhile. I’ve read that other players have added almost 40 hours to their playthroughs in side quests alone, and I can see how. I can assure you that you won’t want to explore a location once and then rely on fast traveling.
The Switch port itself is home to some interesting design decisions by Aspyr. Most notably: the gigantic text box that fills up almost half the screen. While I am nowhere near a geriatric gamer yet (emphasis on the yet, children), I was surprised that the boxes were so big. I can understand that accessibility is important in an RPG where your decisions matter, but there needs to be an option to reduce the size of the textboxes themselves. I’ll admit that the boxes look far clearer than the boxes on the original. While I am no expert at gauging framerate, the game seemed to run close to 60fps and looked to be high definition, so you’ll be pleased to know that even when you’re on the go, the game will run pretty smoothly. Regardless, this is the Nintendo Switch we’re talking about, so one shouldn’t expect miraculous graphics.
I was also surprised to see loading screens in the Switch port of KOTOR. While the game loads relatively quickly on my original Switch model (~5-10s per loading screen), the time does add up if you’re going through multiple maps quickly. For a game that is old enough to legally vote, it would have been nice for the game to have been more optimized. If you’re saving and reloading often, that time will add up, too. Thankfully, the game autosaves every time you enter a new area, but I would have liked a quicksave/quickload function to have been added in the rare (but totally possible) event where I made the wrong dialogue choice because I was feeling spicy.
I’m going to assume that you’ve yet to purchase KOTOR on the Switch. As of now, it’s primarily sold on the Nintendo store for $15, with the option of a physical edition running you $39.99 (game only) or up to $175(!!!) for a litany of galactic goodies. Should you go the digital route, do know that the game will fill up 12GB of space on your console. The original Nintendo Switch/Switch Lite has about 32GB of storage (OLED version, 64GB). Unless you have an SD card, you’re gonna have to delete some space on your device’s storage to make room for the game. But, seeing as Black Friday is around the corner, perhaps now is the time to get an SD card while they’re on sale! While you’re at it, how about taking a look at our 2021 Gift Guide for those seeking Gift Guidance?
As one who missed out on KOTOR way back when, I’m kicking myself for have waited for so long to play. Having the opportunity to take KOTOR on the go (even though I do work from home) is great for a future where I’ll be flying/traveling on a more regular basis. I can see myself playing through this game several times just so I can see all the impacts of my actions. Maybe for my next playthrough, I’ll become a Sith! Either way, I’m excited for the remake of KOTOR for PS5, and I’m glad I was able to get a taste on the Switch.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (Switch) is a faithful port of an already outstanding RPG. Barring small graphical artifacts, an oversized text box, and multiple loading screens, KOTOR is an easy recommendation for Switch owners that RPGs should strive to emulate: Your character’s stats matter, your character’s actions have consequences, and the worlds you visit are lively. Even more: If this port doesn’t make you excited for the upcoming KOTOR remaster, I don’t know what will. If you’re not the biggest Star Wars fan, I can assure you that you just might be after playing this game. If you’re currently a Star Wars fan and have yet to play this game…what are you doing? Drop what you’re doing and pick up KOTOR.
