The originalStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republicis coming to Switch at the perfect time, giving fans a chance to replay it (or play it for the first time) before the PS5 remake comes out. Often considered one of the bestStar Warsgames of all time,Knights of the Old Republicgarnered huge critical acclaim when it was first released. The story and themes explored in the game received particular praise. While it has already been ported to numerous different devices, the announcement of the remake gives plenty of reason to replay now. A Switch version of the game has all the benefits of any Switch game, which is the ease of being able to choose to play on the go or on a TV.
Unlike the remake, the originalKnights of the Old Republicwas created by BioWare and features early versions of BioWare’s patented brand of choice-based play. The remake is being made by Asypr, who did port the game to android previously. Even for those without interest in theStar Warsuniverse,Knights of the Old Republicwas hailed as an all-around great game, and it informsBioWare’s modus operandi in future games likeMass Effect.As such, it’s a game worth playing, and the Switch version offers a perfectly apt means of doing so right as the hype for this game resurges.
RELATED:More Star Wars Games That Should Get Remakes Like KOTOR
The Gameplay and Plot
As mentioned,Knights of the Old Republicfeatures some choice-based play, but theinnovation and complexity of this mechanic are still considered impressivetoday. The game tracks minor dialogue choices as well as major plot decisions in order to calculate whether the character aligns with the light side or the dark side of the force. The combat is round-based and uses a d20 system to calculate success and attack, and beyond this, the game has all the hallmarks of a great RPG you would expect.
The plot takes place roughly 4000 years beforeStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.As such, it features a whole cast of new characters, as well as multiple familiar locations like Tatooine. Players can also expect more information about the Mandalorian society, which has more recently received renewed interest following the huge success ofThe MandalorianTV series. The characters and plot are well-written, and are a large part of the reason the game remains so well-loved.
The Remake
An essential piece of information to know is that the remake ofKnights of the Old Republicis being built from the ground up, and while Aspyr very much wants to honor the original game, it’s unclear what (if any) changes will be made to the story in the remake. Considering the amount of buzz theFinal Fantasy 7remake generated after deviating from the original game’s narrative, it would make sense for Aspyr to follow suit. Aspyr is aiming to recreate the experience of the original game, so having experienced the first game will alter perceptions of the remake.
In the most basic sense, to fully appreciate the nuances of the remake, playing the originalKnights of the Old Republicis essential. But more than that, it’s definitely worthwhile to play such an influential game, andKOTORis certainly an important part of gaming history. Thankfully, the upcoming Switch version makes this easy and accessible, and the other ports of the game are still available to play, too. As the hype grows and grows for the remake, this is definitely the time to either revisit the original game or get to experience it for the very first time.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republicreleases for Switch on June 07, 2025.
MORE:Knights of the Old Republic Remake Goes Full Circle with PlayStation and Xbox
