coolbeans

User Score
9.3

Presentation - 9.0
Gameplay - 9.5
Value - 9.5

If you were aware of Bioware's 2003 GOTY (by majority) RPG, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, then you may have been shocked to see a certain element missing: Bioware's name not being on the front cover.  Yes, seeing that Bioware not having involvment with KOTOR 2 is quite shocking but rest assured the new dev. Obsidian brought KOTOR 2 to a much darker and argueably better story than that of the original.  Although it may felt a bit "rushed" in certain areas, KOTOR 2 is still a great ride with an even more interesting variety than that of the first.

The primary storyline behind KOTOR 2 is about a new main character: The Jedi Exile.  He/She (canonly She), was a Jedi General during the Mandalorian Wars and basically 2nd in command to none other than Revan.  After the Wars were over, your character went back to the Jedi Council to be "sentenced" for why she went with Revan and disobeyed the Jedi Council.  Soon thereafter, his/her connection with the Force is usurped and until soon before the start of KOTOR 2 spends years of his/her life as a drifter. 

The rest of the story revolves around that of the Jedi Order being hunted down by an unknown force bringing it to the brink of extinction.  Amiss all of this known turmoil, your character and party are set out to find any Jedi to expel these "Sith in the dark" before the entire galaxy is plunged into a terrible darkness. 

The story, writing, and manner in which everything is told is really well done and (as you can figure) presented in a much darker tone then that of KOTOR 1.  This is something to be very welcoming though with such deep dialouge that you'll see in this game.  The real gem behind it all is one of your early party members named Kreia whose basically an old witch/has-been Jedi.  While you may remember that certain actions may have been disargeeable with your party member in the first KOTOR, it's never been to a degree in which Kreia has said it.  Her "dark although really grey" arguements have you question each dialouge option that doesn't result in her agreeing with you which helps add an entirely new layer to this great story-driven onion (mind the analogy :P).

 ^ While this scary looking baddie doesn't get much face-time (like Boba Fett or Darth Maul didn't in Star Wars movies), it makes you think that it only adds more to the mystery behind the "badassary".

Another thing that's been done fluently with KOTOR 2 is making the combat more structured then that of the first.  To go a bit into detail (for those who missed KOTOR), KOTOR 2's combat is an active turn-based RPG revolving around you and two other party members (most of the time) fighting in combat, allowing you to take control of any of your party while in combat.  You have a box in the lower left-hand corner of your screen seperating attacks, force powers, grenades, etc. which can let you choose up to 3 attacks in a row to keep the action flowing smoothly to better avoid a bit overbearing combat system. 

While it does have the same structure from the first KOTOR, it's tough to say that it's really recycled.  It feels a bit more streamlined and well executed with better acted out fighting sequences with more variety.  Another interesting feature from KOTOR 2 is now your decisions can affect your squad all around, if you remember your choices changing your facial features from the 1st, your good or bad acts stem to your squad affecting their appearances as well in addition to sometimes different dialouge.

During the game you'll venture to some familiar places from the first (one mentioned in KOTOR, two from it) and see how those planest have been affected since the 5 years you've been gone between the two.  You'll also visit some new places that have a great SW history behind them as well (whether from the movies or expanded universe) along with the quarrels that ensue on those planets.  The one quarrel I have when it comes to side quests, although there's more of them then the first, is the less diversity between them.  Sure you'll have interesting ones but it seems a bit underperformed to that of the first since there's one court-focused and some others based on talking which this one doesn't really have but they're still fun nonetheless.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republc II: The Sith Lords is a really interesting game.  It dives into a much darker sub-text then that of even the Star Wars movies while keeping enough of the funny dialouge to still feel like a genuine Star Wars game.  It's 30+ hour experience is something else that holds a great value to it as well.  Star Wars: KOTOR 2 is a great sequel that warrants your money to take you on another trip to that galaxy far, far away.....

Conclusion:

9.2  KOTOR 2 is a solid sequel that builds and improves upon that of it's predecessor.  Wihle falting in others, it's improvements greatly outshine it's so few of the faults present.

Pro's                                                         Con's

Great story                                          Less varied side-quests (although fun)

Some of the best writing in gaming    Still a bit overcumbersome combat system

Nice improvements to gameplay         A bit of a "rushed" feeling leaving sub-                                                           plot holes

Great cast of characters

Longer game