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KOTOR vs. KOTOR 2

W

way2fast91

Member
Playing L4D a lot currently and want to get back into something with more story like an RPG. I had played KOTOR 2 a couple years ago and loved it. I have heard some say that KOTOR the original was better, should I play that one now? Or will I be disappointed after having already played through KOTOR 2? Were there any huge upgrades to pt2 that I will miss from pt1, like updated gfx engine or char selection? My gaming time is limited now and I don't want to waste time on something I know going in isn't going to satisfy me.
 
KOTOR's storyline is much better, but I thought that the item selection, item mods, and character abilities were better in KOTOR2. I doubt you'd be disappointed by KOTOR if you enjoyed KOTOR2.
 
Both are great, 1 > 2 is arguable, so I will:

KOTOR 1 has a better ending but both are well-written stories.

KOTOR 2 has:
- a better take on the dark side, as hunger for power and/or control instead of desire for pulling wings off flies and petty bullying.
- the influence system. Seeing your minions reach dark side mastery because of your influence is cool.
- more interesting crafting, with 5 parts per lightsaber instead of 2 (hundreds of combinations) and much more variety in upgrading melee and ranged weapons. Repair skill lets you craft the upgrades you want instead of finding a few random parts here and there.

KOTOR 1 is definitely worth playing either before or after playing 2. Both are essential for RPG fans.

Also pick up Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines from Steam.
 
Ok I will definitely give it a whirl based on the feedback here. I really dont like turned based fighting rpg's normally, but in kotor2 it didn't bother me that much, although I hadn't played Jedi Academy yet, so hopefully now it won't bug too much either (although I will always prefer to jump, twirl, and slash in real time with my lightsaber) I signed up on the SWTOR forums, but I tell you what most of the conversations there are a little too "star wars" for me, a little too in-depth for my tastes. I really like the idea of an rpg being played online to intereact with other 'real' people, but why is it that the more I research MMO's the more I am turned off to the idea? Everyone I research has these vast communities that make getting started feel like such a chore. And I hate the idea that most involve grinding and "guilding" to really take advantage of the experience.
 
I've never understood why people bash on 2 so much. Even if the story isn't on par with the first one the functionality is light years ahead. And let's be real, what could possibly top the story of #1? 😉

OP give Jade Empire a shot too.

Dave, I've heard Vampire the Masquerade is great but buggy as hell. Then I heard there were some fan patches that fixed everything. Is all of this incorporated into the Steam version? If so I may give it a whirl.
 
If you remember anything from KOTOR II you'll be able to figure out some of the plot of KOTOR I really quickly, which detracts a little from the story in my opinion. However, KOTOR I is so much better than KOTOR II that this should not stop you from going backwards. Have fun!
 
Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
Dave, I've heard Vampire the Masquerade is great but buggy as hell. Then I heard there were some fan patches that fixed everything. Is all of this incorporated into the Steam version? If so I may give it a whirl.
Click to expand...

The Steam version doesn't include the fan patches, but you can get them and apply them easily enough.

With the Tessera / tessmage "fixes only" patch I think I ran into 1 or 2 bugs in the game, both fixable. The Wesp patch now also offers "fixes only" vs. mod patches.

ArsTecnhica "monster" Bloodlines thread:
http://episteme.arstechnica.co...309975/m/625004136731/
 
Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
I've never understood why people bash on 2 so much. Even if the story isn't on par with the first one the functionality is light years ahead. And let's be real, what could possibly top the story of #1? 😉
Click to expand...

If you played it when it first came out it was so incredibly buggy and pretty much just plain broken that it made the experience as much of a pain in the ass as it was enjoyable when it was working. They didn't just fail to finish the game with a proper ending, they failed to finish it on an acceptably functional level...KOTOR was far more polished in comparison.

I will agree though, KOTOR 2 is a better game at the core as it improves upon many aspects of KOTOR, and if you played it on the PC after patches as well as perhaps even the restoration project, KOTOR 2 really does stand a better fighting chance at better competing with its predecessor.
 
Originally posted by: bobross419
KOTOR's storyline is much better, but I thought that the item selection, item mods, and character abilities were better in KOTOR2. I doubt you'd be disappointed by KOTOR if you enjoyed KOTOR2.
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This.
The story is so damn good you probably wont care about the inferior menu system and fewer force powers.


At least Mass Effect had a good story. If it hadnt been for that I would have been REALLY ticked off.
 
I wanted to play through Kotor 1 again but can't find my discs 🙁. I think people rag on kotor 2 a little bit, sure it could have been a little better, but being a sequel to one of the best games ever made is a hard act to follow (maybe it would have been better if Bioware had actually made it and not Obsidian) OP: Also after playing 1 give Mass Effect a go, it is awesome and the only game that can come close to Kotor 1 (Also play it before Bioware introduce Mass Effect 2 early next yr).
 
but why is it that the more I research MMO's the more I am turned off to the idea? Everyone I research has these vast communities that make getting started feel like such a chore.
Click to expand...

If you knew nothing about PCs, never owned one or really used one and your first ever experience was having a friend show you a site like AT and reading about them you may think that they were very unfriendly towards those without extensive experience. Same sort of thing with MMOs. You have die hards who study every bit of lore and are well versed in it, but they are the fringe minority even amongst very dedicated players. You have people who will take a toon from new to top level in a week, sometimes less, because they need one of that class for something and don't have a decent one available, but again, they are a fringe minority.

And I hate the idea that most involve grinding and "guilding" to really take advantage of the experience.
Click to expand...

Grinding is becoming less and less of a factor recently outside of a few of the 'hardcore' MMOs. SWTOR isnt' supposed to have much of it at all. Guilding, well, as someone who used to think it was a foolish idea, now it's probably the thing that keeps me most interested in playing. At first you are just focused on getting stuff done and having fun doing it, but you end up talking to people, normally quite slowly at first, and before you know it you get to know some people you really can't stand, and a few that you may really enjoy running with. Getting in with a group of people you can relate to and have fun playing with is really what keeps people playing the games as much as they do.

Oh yeah, for your original question- KOTOR I>>>>>KOTOR II. I place gameplay at a significantly higher place then storylines in games, but if the stories were nearly as good and related as much to the core gameplay as KOTOR I'd be willing to change that stance. I really enjoyed KOTOR II as a stand alone game, but it honestly wasn't in the same league as KOTOR I.
 
Originally posted by: bunnyfubbles
Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
I've never understood why people bash on 2 so much. Even if the story isn't on par with the first one the functionality is light years ahead. And let's be real, what could possibly top the story of #1? 😉
Click to expand...

If you played it when it first came out it was so incredibly buggy and pretty much just plain broken that it made the experience as much of a pain in the ass as it was enjoyable when it was working. They didn't just fail to finish the game with a proper ending, they failed to finish it on an acceptably functional level...KOTOR was far more polished in comparison.

I will agree though, KOTOR 2 is a better game at the core as it improves upon many aspects of KOTOR, and if you played it on the PC after patches as well as perhaps even the restoration project, KOTOR 2 really does stand a better fighting chance at better competing with its predecessor.
Click to expand...

Fortunately I didn't have to deal with bug madness they released on the PC version. I played KOTOR 2 on the Xbox... /ducks. 😉
 
Regardless of whether you played it on the Xbox or the PC, KOTOR2 was still clearly sold before the developers properly finished it. I find the ending of an RPG to be rather important. The storyline/ending in KOTOR2 is so bad that I consider the entire game to be a 3/5 rather than the 5/5 I felt KOTOR1 was. It's very similar to how I feel about Fallout 3.
 
Originally posted by: JoshGuru7
Regardless of whether you played it on the Xbox or the PC, KOTOR2 was still clearly sold before the developers properly finished it. I find the ending of an RPG to be rather important. The storyline/ending in KOTOR2 is so bad that I consider the entire game to be a 3/5 rather than the 5/5 I felt KOTOR1 was. It's very similar to how I feel about Fallout 3.
Click to expand...

That's a pretty good point JoshGuru. I felt that way about Fallout 3 and kotorII also.
 
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