Star Wars: The Old Republic - PC

Also known as: Star Wars: The Old Republic: Collector's Edition

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Requires: Mouse, Keyboard
Viewed: 3D Third-person, floating camera Genre:
Adventure: Role Playing
Media: DVD Arcade origin:No
Developer: Bioware Soft. Co.: LucasArts
Publishers: Electronic Arts (GB/GB)
Released: 20 Dec 2011 (GB)
Ratings: PEGI 12+, ESRB Teen 13+ (T)

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Summary

While it seems a little unfair to start comparing most MMOs to the titanic World of Warcraft, if there's one massively multiplayer online game out there that can take on the mighty WoW, it HAS to be Star Wars: The Old Republic. Not only does it come with the Star Wars pedigree, it comes from the company that's arguably the leading games developer in the Western world - BioWare. You may also remember that BioWare is the developer behind Knights of the Old Republic, the critically acclaimed game to which The Old Republic is a sequel of sorts. Basically, this game couldn't be in better hands.

The action takes place 300 years after the events of KOTOR and some 3,500 years before the events of the Star Wars films. A shaky peace has been established between the re-emergent Sith Empire and the Galactic Republic. Popular opinion isn't really with the Jedi, who many blame for the success of the Sith in the 28 year Great Galactic War, so they've relocated to Tython, birthplace of the Jedi Order, so they can regroup and commune with the Force. The Sith, meanwhile, have control of Korriban and have set up a new Sith Academy there.

It's against this uneasy backdrop that players must join either the Galactic Republic or the Sith Empire as new conflicts emerge. While this might seem to be a case of siding with 'good guys' or 'bad guys', though, BioWare hasn't made things quite that straight forward. Faction and morality aren't forced to be aligned, and players might be part of the Republic but have objectives that run counter to its goals. Similarly, they might side with the Sith while pursuing more noble ends.

Players will be able to have a number of non-player companions accompany them through the game. These companions can gather and craft on the player's behalf, so gamers might benefit from having more than one. However, if you choose to focus on less companions expect stronger relationships and even a possible love interest.

It's a brave new galaxy in there. May the Force be with you.