Star Wars KOTOR - Most influential Single Player rpg of last gen?

I was reading up on a potential Kotor sequel and wondered what it would be like if we had a similar experience this generation.

Now let's talk about influence. I'm not saying KOTOR was the first game to pull off decision making story progression, what I'm saying is that it was the first game to do it flawlessly. Reading up on comments on youtube, almost everybody agrees the story was so good that you wish you could erase your memory to play it again. That's how immersive it was.

I also played other great rpgs from last generation, such as Final Fantasy X. Even that was amazing but it didn't influence anything. It still had elements that made other FFs great but did not really influence the same way. Fable was supposed to be the first game to reinforce this concept yet KOTOR did it first. Now the iconic Diablo franchise is also following the same footsteps that KOTOR established seven years ago.

I know some folks will say WOW is the most influential rpg of last gen but it's not really the same genre and not really part of the last generation cycle either. PC games have their own cycles. The ironic part is that KOTOR was influenced by WOW, only when they decided to go MMO.

The most influential rpg of last generation was by far World of WarcraftDiviniuz

KoTOR was a fantastic game (though the second one is still better), but WoW beats the pants off of it in terms of influence.

KoTOR was a fantastic game (though the second one is still better), but WoW beats the pants off of it in terms of influence.

DarkLink77

If you say so.. I personally thought the second was crap.. Of meaningless characters, absurd plot line (Supposedly destroying the Sith in the first one, magically they just REAPPEAR with overwhelming forces a few years later ran by ridiculously powerful sith that none of the Jedi ever sensed).. Filled with bugs, and one of the worse endings (if not the worse) I have ever seen for a rpg..

KoTOR was a fantastic game (though the second one is still better), but WoW beats the pants off of it in terms of influence.

DarkLink77

[QUOTE="Diviniuz"]The most influential rpg of last generation was by far World of WarcraftMaxPower15

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"]

KoTOR was a fantastic game (though the second one is still better), but WoW beats the pants off of it in terms of influence.

sSubZerOo

If you say so.. I personally thought the second was crap.. Of meaningless characters, absurd plot line (Supposedly destroying the Sith in the first one, magically they just REAPPEAR with overwhelming forces a few years later ran by ridiculously powerful sith that none of the Jedi ever sensed).. Filled with bugs, and one of the worse endings (if not the worse) I have ever seen for a rpg..

LOL @ WoW

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"]

KoTOR was a fantastic game (though the second one is still better), but WoW beats the pants off of it in terms of influence.

DarkLink77

If you say so.. I personally thought the second was crap.. Of meaningless characters, absurd plot line (Supposedly destroying the Sith in the first one, magically they just REAPPEAR with overwhelming forces a few years later ran by ridiculously powerful sith that none of the Jedi ever sensed).. Filled with bugs, and one of the worse endings (if not the worse) I have ever seen for a rpg..

Nihlus, was WAY too overpowered for me to even take that game's story seriously. And so was Sion. And you were the only that could kill them due to a plot element. That one thing made me despise Kotor 2 compared to the first one.

And then there's other things, like Darth Traya killing 3 jedi masters with one force move, while they are prepared for combat. Didn't even catch them by surprise.

The problem with Kotor 2, is that all of the main characters are WAY too godly.

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"][QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

If you say so.. I personally thought the second was crap.. Of meaningless characters, absurd plot line (Supposedly destroying the Sith in the first one, magically they just REAPPEAR with overwhelming forces a few years later ran by ridiculously powerful sith that none of the Jedi ever sensed).. Filled with bugs, and one of the worse endings (if not the worse) I have ever seen for a rpg..

Shoaka

Nihlus, was WAY too overpowered for me to even take that game's story seriously. And so was Sion. And you were the only that could kill them due to a plot element. That one thing made me despise Kotor 2 compared to the first one.

And then there's other things, like Darth Traya killing 3 jedi masters with one force move, while they are prepared for combat. Didn't even catch them by surprise.

The problem with Kotor 2, is that all of the main characters are WAY too godly.

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"]

KoTOR was a fantastic game (though the second one is still better), but WoW beats the pants off of it in terms of influence.

sSubZerOo

If you say so.. I personally thought the second was crap.. Of meaningless characters, absurd plot line (Supposedly destroying the Sith in the first one, magically they just REAPPEAR with overwhelming forces a few years later ran by ridiculously powerful sith that none of the Jedi ever sensed).. Filled with bugs, and one of the worse endings (if not the worse) I have ever seen for a rpg..

Now let's talk about influence. I'm not saying KOTOR was the first game to pull off decision making story progression, what I'm saying is that it was the first game to do it flawlessly.

MaxPower15

If you're going to cite the decision making in any last gen game, it has to be Arcanum.

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"]

KoTOR was a fantastic game (though the second one is still better), but WoW beats the pants off of it in terms of influence.

If you say so.. I personally thought the second was crap.. Of meaningless characters, absurd plot line (Supposedly destroying the Sith in the first one, magically they just REAPPEAR with overwhelming forces a few years later ran by ridiculously powerful sith that none of the Jedi ever sensed).. Filled with bugs, and one of the worse endings (if not the worse) I have ever seen for a rpg..

Neverwinter Nights not only predates KOTOR but it also has a much more fleshed out decision/morality system. Not knocking Bioware or KOTOR, love the game, but it really wasn't all that influential for the most part. WoW, which is in the RPG genre, is much more influential.Ibacai

Bioware RPG's regarding gameplay mechanics and chronological order:

Baldur's Gate>:arrow:Neverwinter Nights>:arrow:KOTOR>:arrow:Action RPG's

I know it was one of my favorites from last gen. Even Obsidian's KotOR II was. I have many fond memories of playing them both. Good times indeed.

*facepalm*

I did both at the OP and anyone saying WoW. Firstly, KotOR was influential in a very bad way. Dumbing morality down to "ultimate evil" and "ultimate good" for everyone else to copy, and turning definitive turn-based combat into a more action-oriented styIe. Not that it is bad, but the focus on the action somewhat detracts from the strategy.

And to all the people saying WoW, you would have been right had he asked for just RPG's, not specifying single player.

--

But either way... I think the most influential RPG for me personally last gen was Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines. A true role-playing game in the finest degree.

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"]

KoTOR was a fantastic game (though the second one is still better), but WoW beats the pants off of it in terms of influence.

sSubZerOo

If you say so.. I personally thought the second was crap.. Of meaningless characters, absurd plot line (Supposedly destroying the Sith in the first one, magically they just REAPPEAR with overwhelming forces a few years later ran by ridiculously powerful sith that none of the Jedi ever sensed).. Filled with bugs, and one of the worse endings (if not the worse) I have ever seen for a rpg..

*facepalm*

I did both at the OP and anyone saying WoW. Firstly, KotOR was influential in a very bad way. Dumbing morality down to "ultimate evil" and "ultimate good" for everyone else to copy, and turning definitive turn-based combat into a more action-oriented styIe. Not that it is bad, but the focus on the action somewhat detracts from the strategy.

And to all the people saying WoW, you would have been right had he asked for just RPG's, not specifying single player.

--

But either way... I think the most influential RPG for me personally last gen was Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines. A true role-playing game in the finest degree.

foxhound_fox

*facepalm*

I did both at the OP and anyone saying WoW. Firstly, KotOR was influential in a very bad way. Dumbing morality down to "ultimate evil" and "ultimate good" for everyone else to copy, and turning definitive turn-based combat into a more action-oriented styIe. Not that it is bad, but the focus on the action somewhat detracts from the strategy.

And to all the people saying WoW, you would have been right had he asked for just RPG's, not specifying single player.

--

But either way... I think the most influential RPG for me personally last gen was Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines. A true role-playing game in the finest degree.

foxhound_fox

*facepalm*

I did both at the OP and anyone saying WoW. Firstly, KotOR was influential in a very bad way. Dumbing morality down to "ultimate evil" and "ultimate good" for everyone else to copy, and turning definitive turn-based combat into a more action-oriented styIe. Not that it is bad, but the focus on the action somewhat detracts from the strategy.

And to all the people saying WoW, you would have been right had he asked for just RPG's, not specifying single player.

--

But either way... I think the most influential RPG for me personally last gen was Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines. A true role-playing game in the finest degree.

foxhound_fox

KOTOR and KOTOR2 are better than any RPG this gen by miles.

They weren't influential, but they were very very polished.

And for anyone complaining about KOTOR2 on Xbox, well that's your fault for buying an inferior version. The PC version had a satisfying ending if you patched it.

WoW is an MMORPG, not an straight up WRPG like KOTOR, it's unfair to compare the two.

both were arguably two of the BEST games last gen (vanilla WoW) at least.

I'm not so sure influence is the word that describes KOTOR, it is arguably Bioware's best work though. Probably one of the best games I've ever played, easily.

I was blown away when I played through it the first time, and the ending was so gratifying and unexpected

KOTOR and KOTOR2 are better than any RPG this gen by miles.

They weren't influential, but they were very very polished.

And for anyone complaining about KOTOR2 on Xbox, well that's your fault for buying an inferior version. The PC version had a satisfying ending if you patched it.

hastedly

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"]

KoTOR was a fantastic game (though the second one is still better), but WoW beats the pants off of it in terms of influence.

moose_knuckler

If you say so.. I personally thought the second was crap.. Of meaningless characters, absurd plot line (Supposedly destroying the Sith in the first one, magically they just REAPPEAR with overwhelming forces a few years later ran by ridiculously powerful sith that none of the Jedi ever sensed).. Filled with bugs, and one of the worse endings (if not the worse) I have ever seen for a rpg..

Oh yeah I did.. The main character "magically" disappears and your with amnesia.. How conveint.. Kreia the old hag constantly mused what to do and not to do.. And the last parts of the game was a wtf moment.. Wher ethe ship flys away and it ends..

*facepalm*

I did both at the OP and anyone saying WoW. Firstly, KotOR was influential in a very bad way. Dumbing morality down to "ultimate evil" and "ultimate good" for everyone else to copy, and turning definitive turn-based combat into a more action-oriented styIe. Not that it is bad, but the focus on the action somewhat detracts from the strategy.

And to all the people saying WoW, you would have been right had he asked for just RPG's, not specifying single player.

--

But either way... I think the most influential RPG for me personally last gen was Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines. A true role-playing game in the finest degree.

foxhound_fox

I don't think they are approriate comparisons.. KOTOR was about a war between two sides.. Vampire the Masquerade was about you plopping fourth and choosing what the hell to do for your self because numero uno was really all that mattered in that game.. Love both games.

Neverwinter Nights not only predates KOTOR but it also has a much more fleshed out decision/morality system. Not knocking Bioware or KOTOR, love the game, but it really wasn't all that influential for the most part. WoW, which is in the RPG genre, is much more influential.Ibacai

Kingdom Hearts say no !

Has anyone else noticed that the TC said "SINGLE PLAYER"...I take that to mean RPGs that are not MMOs. I would have to agree though, because after KOTOR came a lot of the games that had moral choices in them. Now it's like every other game has them! :-P

Has anyone else noticed that the TC said "SINGLE PLAYER"...I take that to mean RPGs that are not MMOs. I would have to agree though, because after KOTOR came a lot of the games that had moral choices in them. Now it's like every other game has them! :-P

RobbRipken

I for one think it was absolutely influential. I am not speaking to specific game play mechanics but to the experience as a whole. Game studios have been trying to bridge the gap between videogames and other forms of entertainment, like movies, for quite some time. In this regard KOTOR was HUGELY successful. It certainly wasn't the first game to do this successfully but it certainly was one of the first to really do it flawlessly. In regards to storytelling and the immersive nature of storytelling, it absolutely and without question raised the bar and in so doing became extremely influential. I see KOTOR's influence all over the gaming industry.

I for one think it was absolutely influential. I am not speaking to specific game play mechanics but to the experience as a whole. Game studios have been trying to bridge the gap between videogames and other forms of entertainment, like movies, for quite some time. In this regard KOTOR was HUGELY successful. It certainly wasn't the first game to do this successfully but it certainly was one of the first to really do it flawlessly. In regards to storytelling and the immersive nature of storytelling, it absolutely and without question raised the bar and in so doing became extremely influential. I see KOTOR's influence all over the gaming industry.

OrangeCrushers

There are flaws.

Kotor 2 was terrible.1 was amazing,was it the most influential? No but it definitely has had a major influence for the better on the direction taken on wrpg by developers since ie.The Witcher,Oblivion,Fable 1 and 2,Dragon Age,Jade Empire and Mass Effect series amongst others.faheem_s_i

Yes

I don't see the influene, it was far from first gae with choices and consequences and most of all this element was very weak in KOTOR. Plus to be influential you need to actualy influence other titles. KOTOR didn't aside from BioWare's own titles. Ba

Kotor? Noooooo. The answer is SHENMUE.

FULL. REACTIVE. EYES. ENTERTAINMENT.