The Force is strong with this one.
MMO's are dime a dozen these days, and with many heading down the infamous free-to-play road, eyebrows were raised when Star Wars: The Old Republic planned to stick with the subscription model. Combining the excellent storytelling prowess of BioWare with the rich and invigorating universe that is Star Wars, how does this epic MMO stand its ground against the heavyweights?
What The Old Republic Got Right
Through the roof production - From the opening cinematics, right down to the 100th quest you accept, The Old Republic is simply reaping the benfits of high production values. The music, the voice acting, the environements and the characters all intertwine to create a bigger than life experience. Instead of reading through mountains of quest logs, players feel as if they hold considerable weight to their actions, and something as simple as voice acting really helps to sell the premise. The Old Republic feels like a Hollywood movie, not a typical MMO.
Multiple stories to be told - The Old Republic uses storytelling techniques to really improve the experience of the MMO grind. Every single line of dialogue from every character is voice acted to perfection, and with eight character stories to be told based upon allegiance and class, there are plenty of reasons to level up your various toons. The stories are important - they suck you in and make The Old Republic a memorable experience.
Captures the feeling of Star Wars - The Old Republic plays out as an epic quest in a galaxy full of turmoil. Putting the player at the centre of the confrontation, leaving them to make their own decisions and deal with the rewards or consequences, the player feels they have a considerable impact upon the outcome of the war. George Lucas should take note; the guys at BioWare have captured the feeling of a Star Wars movie perfectly, and in some ways, have provided a level of excellence that could never be matched.
Deep yet accessible - MMO's are often complex and offputting for newcomers, which is where The Old Republic truly shines. Anyone can jump in the deep end, and slowly learn the advanced mechanics with relative ease. That isn't to say that the experience is watered down; experienced MMO gamers will find the companion system to be robust and exciting, along with many skills and crafting options available to learn. The Old Republic strikes the balance between being open, and a niche title perfectly, creating something that is truly for everyone.
What The Old Republic Got Wrong
Repetitive areas - While all MMO's eventaully suffer from a grinding period, the fact that many of the areas in The Old Republic are rehashed, recycled and identical certainly doesn't help. There seems to be a never ending supply of tombs and corridoor areas that require your attention, which is certianly noticeable after extended play sessions with the game. It doesn't ruin the experience, but it certainly seems certain ares a little long in the tooth.
Shallow space combat - Some of the best segments in the Star Wars movies has always been the space combat scenes. While The Old Republic does provide a form of space combat in the game, it's frustrating to see BioWare miss out on a golden opportunity. Rather than PvP or co-op missions, the space combat segments are solo mini-games, which play out as on the rails segments where you can shoot lasers and missiles. Considering previous achievements when it comes to BioWare and Star Wars combat segments, this was a huge let-down.
The Final Verdict
The Force is strong in Star Wars: The Old Republic. By providing a deep and engaging set of stories, fully voice acted and with segments where the player decisions can cause considerable impact, BioWare have crafted a near perfect Star Wars MMO experience. If you're a Star Wars fan, a newcomer to the MMO genre, or even a hardcore veteran, you will find something that will interest you in The Old Republic. With eight stories to explore, and a level cap of 50 there will always be something new to explore. May the Force be with you, always.
By Stephen Heller