BioWare spills more beans on SWTOR’s story

BioWare made a lot of promises to fans today regarding the much-debated story arc that players will see in Star Wars: The Old Republic. Fans have been in hot debate since the game’s announcement as to how BioWare will implement the promised monstrous story into a genre that is not really known for having engaging, in-depth plots.

BioWare listed four pillars of gaming, which they have promised to address equally during development: progression, exploration, combat, and story. They admitted that, up til now, most MMOG’s have focused exclusively on the first three pillars (if not almost entirely on that third pillar). However BioWare assured fans that they’re just as interested in the story pillar as they have previously promised and that the story will be as immense as they claimed.

A few of the topics touched on at the SWTOR website were the epic storyline planned for the game, individual and unique story arcs based on player class, and companion non-player character (NPC) companions, as we’ve seen in the other two Knights of the Old Republic games.

BioWare has promised a different experience for each class and that you will become emotionally invested in your character, whether you make them the savior of the galaxy or its destroyer. Choice is touted to be an important factor in the progression of the story, something attempted by many games but achieved by few. The idea that you will have a different experience if you play a Jedi or a soldier is not a new idea, but most games fall flat in this area. If BioWare can appropriately implement such a system it would certainly be one of the first to be successful.

KotOR players will remember such favorite companion characters such as Bastila Shan, Atton Rand, and the fan favorite HK-47 who is rumored to be making a reapperance in Star Wars: The Old Republic. As with its predecessors, SWTOR has promised companion NPC character just as we’ve been used to, and as in Knights of the Old Republic: The Sith Lords these companions will have their own ideas and feelings and may potentially turn on you if your actions and morality are not in line with their own.

BioWare has promised a lot and fans will be staying tuned to see if they make good on those promises. However if all the promises are fulfilled it seems the fans will be in for a top-quality game.

Check out the original news post on the official Star Wars: The Old Republic website.