From the Manufacturer
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Smug Statement: The Sith Lords is smart, deep, dark, and stands
as the best thing to happen to Star Wars since Timothy Zahn
penned the extraordinary Heir to the Empire trilogy. Much like a
Padawan learning the ways of the Force from a Jedi Master,
Obsidian Entertainment has embraced the teachings of BioWare,
built upon the original formula, and forged a powerful sequel
that will take your breath away faster than Vader ever could.
In the five years that have passed since the fall of Lord Malak,
the Dark Side of the Force has spread across the galaxy like a
disease. Sith Lord attacks have devastated the Old Republic, and
the Jedi guardians are on the verge of extinction. The Republic's
only hope of survival lies within your uncertain hands. Awakening
in a battle-damaged vessel that is spinning uncontrollably
through an asteroid field, you have no recollection of your past,
yet you can feel the Force flowing through your veins. Will you
side with the Republic and battle the Sith scourge? Or will you
fade into darkness and let evil reign?
This compelling introduction pulls you into the plot, keeping
you completely transfixed as you tip the scales between the light
and dark and scour the cosmos for clues that will unearth your
enigmatic past. The tale is paced to perfection and never once
feels like it is making unnecessary detours to lengthen the
experience.
From HK-47's amusing "droid prejudice" banter to Kreia's cryptic
messages, the game is overflowing with fascinating personalities
and some of the most believable characters to ever be brought to
life in a game. Again, pacing is used expertly to develop
relationships with the player. As the plot unfolds, you'll be
forced to decide who to trust, who to keep close, and who to keep
a watchful eye on. When you communicate with your allies, your
choice of words will affect your standing with them. If you have
a high enough influence over them, they may open up to you and
follow your ways (be it light or dark).
The game also dives deeper into Star Wars lore as it utilizes a
much wider selection of alien species, weapons, and gear, as well
as planets that we really haven't seen much of in the movies or
games. Obsidian can also be commended for creating not one, but
two of the most fearsome and awe-inspiring nemeses in the Star
Wars universe. Discovering who these Sith Lords are is another of
the games exciting mysteries.
On the gameplay front, Obsidian stuck to the formula of the
original game, but has built upon it with little additions and
subtle tweaks. Of course, this still means that your supporting
party will blindly run over a clearly visible mine, load times
are just as extensive, some of the loose ends in the plot are not
tied up (what's up with the HK droids?), and slowdown occurs when
too many characters engage in battle. In short it still has its
annoyances, yet the new material more than makes up for them. As
you engage in conversation, you can now tap into your skills to
add a new level of persuasion. For instance, if your character is
knowledgeable to the subject matter, you may be prompted with an
awareness option. Another interesting addition is the ability to
break down items into components that you can turn around and use
to create a wide variety of things.
The missions that you'll undertake are just as varied, and the
consequences to your actions can be just as cataclysmic. A raised
level cap won't stunt your characters growth this time around,
and the variety that stems from the new character interactions
only heightens the reasons to play this game numerous times. Many
of the visuals are a bit underwhelming, but the detail in the
facial modeling is much more defined, and you won't see as many
unintentional identical twins throughout your journey.
It's almost impossible to deny the charms that emerge from this
title's expertly crafted story and unbound freedom. The Sith
Lords is a crowning accomplishment for video games and one of the
finest Star Wars stories ever told.
Concept:
A Star Wars mystery set in the old times that offers up a
fantastic story and role-playing bliss
Graphics:
Better facial models, but the environments are still bland and
slowdown does occur
Sound:
The score fits perfectly into Star Wars canon, and the character
dialogue is some of the best to date
Playability:
The same engine with a few enhancements around the edges.
Influencing characters and making items are done well
Entertainment:
You absolutely have to play it twice to see where the story goes
for light and dark
Replay:
High
Rated: 9.25 out of 10
Editor: Andrew Reiner
Issue: February 2005
2nd Opinion:
The call of The Sith Lords is impossible to resist. Embracing
the dark side, I twisted an apprentice to my corrupt will,
polluted the Force with senseless slaughter, and was told by my
loyal HK unit that I was like "a delightful random cruelty
generator." Even more than its predecessor, The Sith Lords
provides countless rtunities for players to revel in the
aftermath of their own choices. Essentially, anyone who said that
Obsidian couldn't live up to the standards set by BioWare's first
installment should be stuffing their mouths full of Bantha fodder
right about now. Every exemplary aspect of KOTOR has actually
been improved through expanded dialogue options, tons of
alignment-specific variables, and a more engaging story.
Honestly, I want to give this game an even higher score, but I
just can't ignore the multitude of technical problems (like
pathfinding and battle glitches) and certain key plot point
omissions. Regardless, despite the imperfections, The Sith Lords
crushes the feeble windpipes of any other RPG of 2004.
Rated: 9 out of 10
Editor: Joe Juba
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- Multiple Jedi classes to choose from, to start each game with unique Jedi abilities.
- Incredible new Force powers, weapons, locations, characters and classes add to the richness of the game.
- As your character makes choices through the story, you'll choose the Light or Dark sides of The Force.
- Cameo appearances characters in the first game enhance the continuity and story flow.
- Special content will be available for The Sith Lords via Xbox Live.