Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republicis one of the most acclaimed and iconic video game series to come out ofStar Wars. In fact, callingKnights of the Old Republiciconic may very well be a bit of an understatement. Both games in the duology were on the cutting edge of RPG gameplay andStar Warsstorytelling, and have remained beloved for these reasons since their release.
Neither game was without its flaws, and aKotORremakehas often been fronted as a way to polish the series' rough edges. Alternatively, many fans feel that the series has still never received the satisfying conclusion it deserves, and this issue wouldn’t be addressed by a remake or remaster of any kind. Some members of the community have suggested a potentialKotORthreequel as an alternative solution, but that may not be the best path forward for the series either.
Knights of the Old Republic was Lightning in a Bottle
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republictakes place around 4,000 yearsbeforeThe Phantom Menace, which makes it one of the earliest periods inStar Warshistory ever explored.Knights of the Old Republicwas left without the baggage of existingStar Warsstories, and crafted a wholly unique narrative that remains unchallenged to this day within the franchise as a whole. Developers spared no expense with gameplay either, and designed aD&D-inspired system that was equal parts immersive and mechanically rich.
After its predecessor received such universal acclaim,Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lordswas left with enormous shoes to fill. Despite being developed by an entirely different studio only a year after the release of the original,KotOR 2did the impossibleby standing shoulder to shoulder withKnights of the Old Republicboth critically and commercially. The sequel took what can only be described as an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach, but still managed to feel as bold and fresh as the first game.
The Sith Lordsleft off on a cliffhanger which has still never really been followed-up on.Star Wars: The Old Republicis technically the latest installment in the series, but features a mostly original story. On top of this,The Old Republicis an ongoing MMORPG, meaning its gameplay system is a completely different experience fromKnights of the Old Republic.SWTORhas plenty of fans, but it doesn’t amount to a full continuation by any means. However, perhaps breaking from old traditions is exactly whatStar Warsneeds right now.
Star Wars Has Vast Potential for a New Story Beyond Knights of the Old Republic
If there’s any franchise that has become infamous for being too quick to retread old ground,it’sStar Wars. While the announcement of aKotORthreequel would make huge headlines, the following development cycle would likely be met with cautious optimism at best. Lightning does occasionally strike the same place twice, but it’s never a great idea to bet on it coming back a third time.
The Sith Lords Makes Its Own Argument Against a Sequel
Ironically, one could argue that the more than twenty years sinceThe Sith Lordshave done more harm than good to the argument for a threequel. Trying to conclude its story would inevitably involve elements that some old fans have forgotten, and that new fans never had the chance to learn in the first place. More importantly, returning to the well withKnights of the Old Republicwould directly oppose what made the series special in the first place.
Knights of the Old Republicbrought players to a place they had never been before, and had a brand-new gameplay system to boot. ManyStar Warsfans have grown tired of seeing the same handful of characters, and that almost makesKotOR’s utter detachment from theSkywalker Sagasound even more appealing. On the other hand, directly bringing back old characters and old narratives could risk falling into the same trap as other once-beloved cameo fests that can be found throughout the franchise.
Knights of the Old Republic Still Has a Future
FollowingKotOR’s legacy does not mean continuing its story. On the contrary, it would be more inspired to create abrand-newStar WarsRPGthat revivesKotOR’s “d20 System” of gameplay, but leaves its characters in the past in favor of an original narrative. AKnights of the Old Republicthreequel runs the risk of widespread disappointment, while a spiritual successor could truly revive everything the series stood for.
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords
WHERE TO PLAY
In this standalone sequel to the award-winning RPG STAR WARS: Knights of the Old Republic, the Sith Lords have hunted the Jedi to the edge of extinction and are on the verge of crushing the Old Republic.With the Jedi Order in ruin, the Republic’s only hope is a lone Jedi in exile struggling to reconnect with the Force. Lead a diverse crew of unique allies, make difficult choices with far-reaching consequences, and decide your destiny. Will you follow the light side and save the Galaxy, or succumb to the dark side and bring it all dowExperience the follow-up to the acclaimed original RPG STAR WARS™: Knights of the Old Republic™ in this epic story set in the darkest days of the Old Republic.
