Star Wars: The Old Republic Reviews

Along with a couple of other smaller websites, video game behemoths GameSpot and IGN have finally wrangled up their reviews of BioWare Austin’s Star Wars: The Old Republic.

GameSpot clocks in with an 8.0/10:

The disappointment of space combat, like most of Star Wars: The Old Republic’s minor disappointments, is one of scope and originality, as opposed to its level of refinement. 2011’s Rift proved once and for all that there is no reason a modern MMOG shouldn’t be able to launch in a stable, feature-complete state. The Old Republic follows Rift’s lead: It’s lag free and delivers a smooth playing experience. It isn’t free of the occasional bug or annoyance, however. Galactic market (read: auction house) sort options don’t work as they should. A group of sand people may not behave properly or a quest may not complete as intended. You also can’t customize the interface: Hotbars can’t be moved around and macros aren’t yet supported. But rarely does a technological or mechanical failure interfere with progress. There’s always something to do, and it almost always works as intended. And most importantly, it’s usually fun.

And ultimately, that’s what Star Wars: The Old Republic delivers to make it so compelling: a lot of fun. Don’t come to it seeking the next online revolution. In fact, when you heard that the developers of Mass Effect were making an MMOG, this is the one you probably predicted: a prototypical online game with the standard BioWare trappings layered on top of them. The surprises are few, but The Old Republic is nonetheless an online RPG of uncommon quality. And with a broad, overarching story to guide you through, you might even reach maximum level with a smile on your face, even if you are one to abandon an MMOG before that point. Such is the power of a beloved universe with so many tales still left to tell.

IGN hands out a 9.0/10:

I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that The Old Republic is a stand-out, wonderfully crafted MMO. The story elements deliver on every front, the vocal performances are excellent, and some genuinely clever innovations have been applied to PvP combat. There’s also a massive volume of content to keep you hooked for a long time. But it’s important to keep in mind that The Old Republic doesn’t stray too far from standard MMO mechanics. If the target-attack style of combat and the repetitive quests of other MMOs has thrown you off in the past, then extra consideration needs to be taken. Even then, though, The Old Republic is worth a try. The characterization and settings are superb, regardless of what you think of the genre. BioWare has a lot of room for improvement and expansion, and I’m really excited to see where The Old Republic goes in the next few years. You should be, too.

Total PC Gaming slaps it with a 9/10:

Things really get going once you escape the starter planet and explore the rest of the galaxy though, as well as some familiar Star Wars locations, so it’s absolutely worth sticking with. But it’s a shame there’s some initial chaff to grind through. In the end though, The Old Republic is a triumph. It’s an immersive, life-sapping experience that will swallow up hours like they’re seconds. It’s also unmistakably Star Wars. From the glorious soundtrack to the distinctive aesthetic, it just oozes Lucas.

When you factor in the replayability, successful merging of MMO and single player elements and sheer scale, it’s even more enticing. This is essential for those bitten by the MMO bug, as well as those who’ve spent more than half an hour wondering how Hutts use the toilet.

And Nerd Reactor goes with a solid “A+”:

For those of you new to the whole MMO experience then hop on board to the ground level for a fun filled ride in a universe ruled by blasters and lightsabers. And for the more veteran MMOer the complex storyline with multiple options should be more than enough to keep your eyes glued to your computer screen and have you play through characters over characters. The soundtrack is just audio candy for you and captures the epic feel of the Star Wars franchise. And to a certain other big time MMO game out there all I got to say is (Look out! There’s a new kid in town.). Back at E3 last year during the Star Wars: Old Republic demo BioWare described their four pillars in gaming with the forth being story and now as I run across the galaxy I can you that they were not kidding there. If anything story has to be the biggest impact I’ve felt during my time playing through of the game, pretty much every choice I made effected what happened to my character.

My only complaint so far for this game is the almost daily patches. Which is understandable for a new game such as this, but it just leaves me sitting here for hours on end, clicking the refresh button on the server status site (Yah, I know I have a problem, but I don’t care! This is freakin’ Star Wars!). At least they’re scheduled during the times most people aren’t on (except for me). Star Wars: The Old Republic has been a very enjoyable experience and I look forward to more adventures in that galaxy far far away. Hope to see you online someday!