›

Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

Sign In Register

Quick Links

Star Wars: The Old Republic Review | Knights of the Fallen Empire Boldly Pushes Forward | MMORPG

SBFordSBFord Former Associate EditorMember LegendaryPosts: 33,129
edited October 2015 in News & Features Discussion

imageStar Wars: The Old Republic Review | Knights of the Fallen Empire Boldly Pushes Forward | MMORPG

Is it worth it for BioWare to try and build what seems like an actual singleplayer RPG on top of an MMO foundation? If we treat the first nine chapters of Knights of the Fallen Empire as BioWare’s sales pitch, I’m going to have to say yes.

Read the full story here



¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 


«13

Comments

  • ElvocElvoc Member RarePosts: 549
    The new chapters are great and I enjoyed the fact that you got to make a level 60 character once you subscribed to the expansion. I do see how numbers will probably drop again after the first 30 days of the expansion unless more chapters get released in a timely manner.
  • MargraveMargrave Member RarePosts: 1,371
    So far I'm loving it!
  • SinsaiSinsai Member UncommonPosts: 405
    Aye having a blast too
  • Po_ggPo_gg Member EpicPosts: 5,749
    The good ol' debate ( http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/367/feature/6589/SWTOR-The-Singleplayer-RPG.html ) seems now settled by Bioware themselves :lol:
    It's a shame though that companions were dumbed down into mere tools...
  • elockeelocke Member UncommonPosts: 4,335
    Until this expansion I only hopped in here and there because it was Star Wars and left disappointed. Now, I can't stop playing it, the story hooked me, the new alliance stuff is hooking me and the new leveling changes have hooked me for my alts. Yay! Just in time too as it seems to be the Star Wars time of year what with Battlefront and the movie coming up, oh and enjoying the Rebels cartoon immensely as well.
    http://i.imgur.com/YGBiPjo.gif
  • ArchlyteArchlyte Member RarePosts: 1,405
    Seems like they could release an actual MMORPG and not have a conflict. Hoping this means they are clearing the way for a multi player game.
    MMORPG players are often like Hobbits: They don't like Adventures
  • AlomarAlomar Member RarePosts: 1,299
    edited October 2015
    I realized SWTOR did very little right in terms of an mmo immediately after launch. Yet, the change to focusing on the only thing they did right, the story, has brought me back several times now. After trying this expansion I would never say the game is amazing or anything it's just a decent story nothing else. The only downside I've found so far is the removal of equipment vendors with the token system earned from questing. Absolutely devastated as I don't care enough about the game to craft gear, buy outrageously priced gear on the ah, or upgrade crappy lvl 8 gear all the way to 64. Also companion changes are lame, even a single player rpg done right can have a customizable companion system.
    Haxus Council Member
    21  year MMO veteran 
    PvP Raid Leader 
    Lover of The Witcher & CD Projekt Red
  • LunchmeatdestinyLunchmeatdestiny Member UncommonPosts: 1
    edited October 2015
    First off, I'm through 4 (of 9) chapters and its amazing. If you like star wars OR Bioware RPG's, this is a no-brainer buy. It cost only 15 bucks. You get about 7-8 hours of non-stop, dense, fast-paced content. Compare that to a full length Bioware RPG where you get about 30-40 hours of casual content for 60 bucks. Standing alone without any of the other swtor content developed over the last decade, KoTFE is a mini AAA RPG made by Bioware. It's amazing. But here's my critique after 4 chapters so far, there's been no time to stop and catch my breath and appreciate this new world they created (figuratively and literally). For example, I wish they were able to incorporate Galactic Strongholds into the game in a similar way as the haven fortress in Dragon Age: Inquisition. Part of the emotional gravity of the KOTOR games (and, all Bioware games) was spending time exploring, upgrading, and building relationships with companions. That down time lets you ruminate about the story, your characters, and what you're doing next. That's where you get the level of "gaming immersion" that you don't get watching films. Through the first four chapters that I've completed, that has been lacking. I'm just being rocketed through the amazing story. Does this change?
    Post edited by Lunchmeatdestiny on
  • gwei1984gwei1984 Member UncommonPosts: 413
    Played SWTOR in total for about 16 months on and off. But all this stuff about even more singleplayer and less than ever multiplayer makes me completely uninterested to come back. Why cut down one of the more unique things they had with the companion system? Why push for even more instanced singleplayer content?

    Hodor!

  • kp695304kp695304 Member UncommonPosts: 26
    SWOTR has 2 very serious problems for anyone not subscribed. The credit cap and the forum restrictions. The credit cap essentially makes it impossible to buy legacy unlocks and higher priced items, and usually you will spend as much in escrow transfers as buying the unlock with cartel coins. Then there is the forum restriction.. if you have feedback, a legitimate complaint or you want to interact with the greater community, well you are shit out of luck. There are many other restriction but if you are willing to pay you can at least gain access, however the excessive amount of these feature blocks are far beyond what is standard in almost any other MMO. Unless you are prepared to subscribe to this game a highly recommend avoiding it. Nothing excuses this company treating paying customers like dirt and taking advantage. Yes these restrictions are upfront but what is not upfront is how this game goes so far out of its way to punish and pressure players into subscribing. If you do sub then all those unlocks are essentially worthless.
  • Solar_ProphetSolar_Prophet Member EpicPosts: 1,960
    I've not even gotten to the new content yet, but I'm surprised there was no mention of the bugs. Missing class quests, missing companions, ship items which won't equip, quests which aren't supposed to appear showing up and bugging out, etc. Not tot mention the fact that the engine still absolutely sucks and runs like crap. I am liking the story content though, so I'm holding out until I hit the new stuff before deciding if I should continue to subscribe.

    AN' DERE AIN'T NO SUCH FING AS ENUFF DAKKA, YA GROT! Enuff'z more than ya got an' less than too much an' there ain't no such fing as too much dakka. Say dere is, and me Squiggoff'z eatin' tonight!

    We are born of the blood. Made men by the blood. Undone by the blood. Our eyes are yet to open. FEAR THE OLD BLOOD. 

    #IStandWithVic

  • RhoDawgRhoDawg Member UncommonPosts: 34
    gwei1984 said:
    Played SWTOR in total for about 16 months on and off. But all this stuff about even more singleplayer and less than ever multiplayer makes me completely uninterested to come back. Why cut down one of the more unique things they had with the companion system? Why push for even more instanced singleplayer content?
    I think because as a group based MMO they knew they pretty much failed in that. So they changed their dynamic to more single-player with group options. We all saw it coming because...that's how it was played anyways. I for one am happy with the change...There are other mmo's I play for the grouping experience....I rarely if ever play SWTOR in a group.
  • RhoDawgRhoDawg Member UncommonPosts: 34
    Solar_Prophet said:
    Not tot mention the fact that the engine still absolutely sucks and runs like crap. I am liking the story content though, so I'm holding out until I hit the new stuff before deciding if I should continue to subscribe.
    If you play the new content, I think you will be impressed, they really made it look nice (though performance still isnt that great)
  • GardavsshadeGardavsshade Member UncommonPosts: 907
    Solar_Prophet said:
    I've not even gotten to the new content yet, but I'm surprised there was no mention of the bugs. Missing class quests, missing companions, ship items which won't equip, quests which aren't supposed to appear showing up and bugging out, etc. Not tot mention the fact that the engine still absolutely sucks and runs like crap. I am liking the story content though, so I'm holding out until I hit the new stuff before deciding if I should continue to subscribe.
    If you think SWTOR has got bugs now, let your Subscription lapse and go to Preferred status and THEN play the game. You'll find even more bugs and a few of them are real irritating and put up serious road blocks for leveling. Of course there's no mention of those bugs on the forums because Preferred Players aren't allowed to post on forums or submit bug reports. The board that took over Customer Support at EA is helping provide a way for these Players to report problems at least.
  • Octagon7711Octagon7711 Member LegendaryPosts: 9,004
    I miss the personal story each class had. Some were truly remarkable and made it a must, to play through the good ones just to see what happened to your hero.

    "We all do the best we can based on life experience, point of view, and our ability to believe in ourselves." - Naropa      "We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are."  SR Covey

  • ErillionErillion Member EpicPosts: 10,329
    Octagon7711 said:
    I miss the personal story each class had. Some were truly remarkable and made it a must, to play through the good ones just to see what happened to your hero.
    That is why i love the  x12 XP class mission boost. Great way to try out the other class stories.


    Have fun
  • ThorkuneThorkune Member UncommonPosts: 1,969
    I'm still critical of the fact that it's not more open world. But, I am happy that they made a few changes that impacted my enjoyment of the game. I love the fact that they took away designated companion roles and that you can now use any one that you like. I also like that you don't have to worry about keeping them geared up. I also like that they streamlined stats. All in all, I am enjoying the game for now. But, like someone else stated, the need for new content will be upon us soon.
  • orbitxoorbitxo Member RarePosts: 1,956
    edited October 2015
    this is what i liked abt GW2 first main story= then they went world story n confusing world events= and i jumped ship. not sure how HoT is but...meh glad SWTOR is focusing on personal story-
  • KalebGraysonKalebGrayson Member RarePosts: 430
    I played through the new content in early access and absolutely LOVED the story. Now I am at what appears to be an interlude and I am working on leveling up the members of my Alliance. I am thoroughly enjoying playing through the planetary heroic 2's with my wife. We fly through them and earn a lot of companions gifts and reputation (influence). There were a few bugs, but the patch yesterday seemed to fix the missing companions bug for me at least (yay Xalex is back!). Overall it's a fun and solid expansion in my experience. I would (and have) highly recommended it to the gaming community I am a part of (we've been together playing various games since 2008).
  • Jimmy562Jimmy562 Member UncommonPosts: 1,158
    RhoDawg said:
    gwei1984 said:
    Played SWTOR in total for about 16 months on and off. But all this stuff about even more singleplayer and less than ever multiplayer makes me completely uninterested to come back. Why cut down one of the more unique things they had with the companion system? Why push for even more instanced singleplayer content?
    I think because as a group based MMO they knew they pretty much failed in that. So they changed their dynamic to more single-player with group options. We all saw it coming because...that's how it was played anyways. I for one am happy with the change...There are other mmo's I play for the grouping experience....I rarely if ever play SWTOR in a group.
    To be fair, players in most of the top MMO's rarely group outside of end game activities.
  • severiusseverius Member UncommonPosts: 1,516
    The new xpac is pretty enjoyable as a whole, plus its breathed quite a bit of life into the game. Group finder is responsive and while the game is more arcade-y I don't think that that is necessarily a bad thing for this mmo. Not something I want to see in my single player rpgs but here s'all good.

    http://www.speedtest.net/result/7300033012

    image
  • RockardRockard Member UncommonPosts: 206
    The point is.
    No matter how good the story in SWTOR is,it'll never be as good as the single player
    games of BW.
    It's not that great as an MMO.And as a Single Player RPG it'll always be hindered by the
    fact that it is an MMO.
    Kinda like ESO.
    Or to rephrase.
    SWTOR could be,and IMO should be so much more than just a WoW clone,
    and a simplified version of a single player Bioware RPG,with a cash shop.

  • Homura235Homura235 Member UncommonPosts: 184
    Leveling doesn't feel "earned." And it is VERY linear. Yes, the story is good but then you kill some mobs and then a boss, repeat. Gameplay is facepalm with the companion revamp - I am basically always at full health. Someone said they are "dumbing down" the game in order for a console port, which would explain the changes. It's still Star Wars so I'm gonna play it, but overall I am disappointed.
  • IncomparableIncomparable Member UncommonPosts: 1,138
    I agree with the points made by the OP, and want to reiterate the needed potential of more quest mechanics and enhanced gameplay to be realized for swtor. I do appreciate the lack of side questing, and the focus on more quality story that is short and sweet. Overall a nice reason to come back to swtor for story, but wish they offered more content even if they charged more for it. I guess more chapters are coming soon enough, but I mean other kinds of content but not excluding more quest mechanics.

    “Write bad things that are done to you in sand, but write the good things that happen to you on a piece of marble”

  • Jonnyp2Jonnyp2 Member UncommonPosts: 243
    edited October 2015

    It's a great backup mmo, something you jump back into every 6 month or so and get a ton of value out of for 1-2 month. My one major problem, a problem I believe most people have, is that the gameplay during the story is just too easy. Most of that problem lies in how overpowered the companions currently are, but the content is too easy regardless.

    While I would like something more innovative, it's just not realistic... I'd settle for actually getting punished for failing to interrupt/immune certain abilities or move out of telegraphs, actually use some cc, maybe make defensive cooldowns a requirement to get through certain phases of the fight, etc. I mean I get that they want to enable the most casual players to get through the story, but the absolute worst keyboard turning clicker could finish the expansion without dropping below 95%.

    Still it's the best expansion yet, the story alone makes it worth playing. I like the feel of the game and warzones/arenas are pretty entertaining while the population is large enough to support them.

Sign In or Register to comment.