The recent PlayStation Showcase had a lot of exciting announcements for fans looking forward to the future of the PS5, but few could have expected how the show would begin. After a message fromSony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan, viewers were treated to one of the biggest gaming announcements of this year, the reveal ofStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Remake. The game had been a minor rumor in theStar Warscommunity for some time, but anticipation had built up significantly over the past few months thanks to information from industry insiders. Now it’s official, andStar Warsfans can finally rejoice.
While the reveal trailer forKnights of the Old Republic Remakemay have been brief, developer Aspyr was able to give some more information on what to expect. The most crucial bit of information, and something that many fans had been questioning since rumors began, was that theKOTOR Remakewould be built from the ground up. This is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot in the video game industry, but it has special importance in the case ofKOTOR. While the original game is of legendary status, remakingKOTORon a fundamental level is realistically the only option to help the game succeed in today’s industry.
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KOTOR’s Original Gameplay Is From A Different Time
There’s no denying how much of an impact the originalKnights of the Old Republichas had on the RPG genre. It proved to be a landmark title for BioWare and paved the way for future RPG icons like theMass Effectseries. That being said,KOTOR’s combat systems are severely outdated compared to modern RPGs. It worked similarly to how tabletop RPGs use different traits to affect combat, and while it worked twenty years ago, it likely wouldn’t get the same reception today. TheKOTOR Remake’s lightsaber combatdoesn’t have much other choice than to change, or else it would risk alienating many current RPG players.
The Evolution Of Star Wars Games Since KOTOR
WhileKnights of the Old Republiclaid the foundation for today’sStar Warsgames, the franchise’s gaming scene has changed dramatically sinceKOTOR. Titles likeThe Force UnleashedandJedi: Fallen Orderhave done exciting things withStar Wars, especially when it comes to their narrative presentation. It would be for the best ifKOTOR Remakedidn’t change much about its iconic story, but there are so many more cinematic opportunities for storytelling. TheKOTOR Remakereveal trailer demonstrated as much with its epic reveal of Revan, and the same can be done for the whole game to elevate it from the original.
The Precedent Set By Final Fantasy 7 Remake
When looking for examples of whyKnights of the Old RepublicRemakeneeds to be built from the ground up, the best game to look at would beFinal Fantasy 7 Remake. Square Enix’s magnum opus was remade in grand fashion compared to its source material, with a reworked combat system and enhanced exploration mechanics. It broughtFinal Fantasy 7into the modern age of gaming, and it was a decision that paid off spectacularly.KOTORis in an almost identical position toFF7, and there’s likely to be many comparisons leading up toKOTOR Remake’s release. If the game fails to innovate in the ways thatFF7 Remakedid, it could leave many fans wanting for a more ambitious title that reinvigorates theKOTORformula.
TheKnights of the Old Republic Remakehas been a long time coming for manyStar Warsfans, soit’s going to be crucial that Aspyr gets it right. This is going to be a big project for Aspyr after a series of classicStar Warsremasters, so the developer is sure to have a lot of eyes on it for the foreseeable future. Although the game is still regarded as a legendary RPG, it’s in need of a major renovation for today’s generation. The game has no projected release window as of right now, so fans will just have to keep their eyes peeled for any updates on theKOTOR Remakein the future.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Remakeis currently in development.
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