Lucasfilm’s Star Wars is one of the most influential media franchises on the planet, so it has given gamers some of the most iconic titles in the medium across its vast library. One of the most well-remembered was Knights of the Old Republic from Dragon Age developer BioWare.
Recently, the Epic Games Store Mobile took a huge step to make the game more broadly available, though this will be temporary. Here is a breakdown of why more Warsians should seize this chance to look into Knights of the Old Republic.
Classic Star Wars Game Free
According to Newsweek, the Epic Games store offers two classic Star Wars games free for a limited time. They are the two games of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, also known as KOTOR. They will be free on the EGS Mobile until March 20. While this applies to all Android users, only iOS users in the European Union can access this deal.
Originally released on the Xbox in 2003, the game was successful enough to see ports to PC, mobile, and the Nintendo Switch. This news also comes while Saber Interactive’s remake remains trapped in development hell. Alongside those two games, several other games joined the Epic Games Store, including Shadow Fight 4: Arena, Machinarium, Warface: GO, and many more. Generally, Epic has become a vital tool in preserving older titles.
KOTOR: BioWare’s Gem
For those unaware, Star Wars: KOTOR 1 and 2 remain some of the most acclaimed games from the entire franchise. The story follows a Jedi Padawan crossing the Galaxy to stop the Sith Empire. Apart from its memorable cast, the RPG also introduced one of the most iconic Sith Lords, Darth Revan, a character many fans want back in the canon. While not as successful, its sequel was appreciated for its philosophical themes.
The game is regarded as one of the best in the franchise, alongside Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast and LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga. Additionally, it laid the foundation for many other stories from the Expanded Universe. It was so successful that it spawned a 2011 MMO still running today, The Old Republic.
The game is fondly remembered because it introduced the world to BioWare’s RPGs. Years later, they became famous for their RPG franchises, Dragon Age and Mass Effect. Sadly, after the failure of the latest entries of both series, particularly Veilguard, the developer fell into a recession and now operates with fewer than a hundred employees.
Maintaining the Franchise
Another reason fans should check out Star Wars: KOTOR is that it is a relic of the franchise’s golden age. Before Disney bought the IP, the “Expanded Universe” comprised thousands of years of galactic history with hundreds of books, video games, and comics. However, everything except the films and Clone Wars were deemed non-canon after the purchase.
Nowadays, the franchise has fallen into disrepair in the eyes of many longtime fans. Critics and audiences despised the sequel trilogy, and the Disney Plus shows have declined in quality with shows such as Boba Fett and Kenobi. As for their games, Outlaws was a commercial failure from Ubisoft. While the Old Republic saga remains non-canon, that does not erase the quality of the saga it told.
Conclusion
With this new deal from the Epic Games Store, a new generation of Warsians can now play the legendary RPG Knights of the Old Republic. The game laid the foundation for BioWare’s iconic formula and was one of the best sagas from Star Wars Legends with its many memorable characters.
This game reminds players of their heydays in an age when the main franchise and BioWare have fallen from grace. Hopefully, if the fanbase remains strong enough, Disney will recognize the game’s success and bring it back to the canon.
