Review by: Todd Brakke

Given all the hype, it's a disappointing reality that, with Star Wars: The Old Republic, Bioware designed an utterly generic World of Warcraft knock-off that fails to bring any sort of innovation to a genre that desperately needs fresh gameplay ideas. That is not to say there aren't areas where this game excels, as the unique class-specific character quests and storylines and fully voice-acted characters do aid significantly in making you feel like a unique part of the game's universe (if not a particularly galaxy-altering one), but that doesn't change the fact that, like WoW, it's a constant process of grinding for advancement in an attempt to bleed away every possible hour of life that you can spare. Because of that fact, it's up to Bioware's ability to make use of the Star Wars license to make this game anything more than WoW with laser blasters. Fortunately, that's a challenge that this game not only meets, but succeeds in surprising fashion.

Believe it or not, there was a time when Star Wars was cool (in certain circles) and George Lucas was a hero. Admittedly, this is going way back. We all know what's transpired since that happier, simpler time, many of us turning and running as fast as we could from that far away galaxy, cursing Lucas's name as we did so. But a funny thing can happen when you create something as culturally monolithic as Star Wars. It's an entity beyond even the tightfisted grip of George Lucas and there are creators in this world that understand that universe and what made it such a cherished childhood memory. Some of them work at Bioware because, like Knights of the Old Republic before it, this game proves once again that the company understands what makes Star Wars fun.

This is a game that's about Empire and Republic. Jedi and Sith. Light and dark. Starships that let you travel where you please. Great intergalactic marketplaces. A galaxy filled with aliens of every shape, color, and dialect. The hiss and hum of a light saber striking down Republic scum with complete and utter malice. Oh, and droids too. We mustn't forget the droids. This is a game that wants to explore the meaning of all of it. What makes the Sith what they are? Are they purely about blinding rage or can they harness emotion in more positive ways? Just what does the Republic stand for other than being the yin to the empire's yang? If you have longed for a game to let you explore the meaning of all these factions and personalities, there's a surprising amount of it buried in the least expected corners of The Old Republic.

Having said that, and having earlier invoked the original Knights of the Old Republic, it's important to point out that no matter what Bioware marketing wants you to believe, this game is not Knights of the Old Republic 3 (or 4 or 5 or 12). This is not a carefully honed single-player experience in which you change the fate of a galaxy. This is an MMO and you will spend many, many hours running around, beating the same sorts of creatures over the head and generally grinding your life away, paying a monthly fee for the privilege of doing so.