Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic - Old But Gold

Video Games have been a household staple since the introduction of family consoles. These games shaped the hearts and minds of kids across the world. Games that would one day affect the direction that video games would evolve in. So in a way, because of games like pong, virtual reality exists.

One example of a precursor game is Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. While it isn’t the oldest Role Playing Game it was instrumental to further titles in the genre. It was before most games implemented a carrying capacity; so you were able to carry everything that you found across the galaxy in your back pocket. When I ran through the game I would horde everything that I ran across just in case I needed it.

It was also a huge leap forward with story interactivity.Not only were there totally unique dialogue options between the characters but the interactions of the protagonist and the story; at any moment you could flip from the light side to the dark side and cataclysmically affect the world around you.

The game itself created a near cult following of Star Wars; different forms of media were derived from the world that this game created. At least 7 books were written, and take place in the era of galactic history created with this game. The game had a sequel, KotOR: 2 The Sith Lords, and even caused the creation of an MMO which I am very familiar with, SWtOR.

KotOR affected the entire timeline of the Star Wars franchise, and has affected it as recently as the early 2010s, which is when most of the books were written. It was even recognized as “Canon” (basically meaning that it was accepted as official material by the owner, the creator, and the fanbase.) until Disney decided that the only thing that was canon was what was taking place on the silver screen and what their Lucasfilm Story Group had a direct hand in.

KotOR had an important role in the gaming industry; and it impacted far more than it’s own niche fanbase. It’s because of KotOR that we have a once popular MMORPG, a book franchise, an extension to a world renowned franchise, and memories that will last the test of time.