Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republicis highly regarded as one of (if not the) bestStar Warsgames ever made. Many fans of the RPG classic are having a mixed bag of excited and anxious reactions to the rumors of a remake ofKnights of the Old Republic.The original is held in very high esteem in general, so a level of apprehension about any changes to the original is natural. If aKOTORremake is indeed in the works, its developers would do well to take a look at a title that was in a similar position:Final Fantasy 7 Remake.
Final Fantasy 7 Remakehad a lead up that was very similar to the one now about the rumoredKOTORremake. The originalFinal Fantasy 7is held in similar regard toKOTORby many fans. Many were worried that changes to the game’s combat system would betray the spirit of the original game. While it will be impossible to make every fan happy, if therumoredKOTORremakewants to meet the same level of success it could stand to take some notes to howFinal Fantasy 7 Remakehandled the adaptation of the original’s turn-based combat.
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What a KOTOR Remake Could Learn From FF7 Remake
Adapting such a hugely popular and well-regarded title likeKnights of the Old Republicwill be a challenge regardless of what changes are made. Much like the originalFinal Fantasy 7, many veteran fans are likely to feel spurned by any minute changes.
Since it’s likely that aKOTORremake will make serious changes to its combatit would be worthwhile to look to whatFinal Fantasy 7 Remakedid right given its similar circumstances. BringingKOTORinto the modern era of gaming will likely include updating the turn-based combat to a more action-focused affair. While some are likely to be resistant to the change, it doesn’t inherently mean it’s a bad decision. Learning from whereFinal Fantasy 7 Remakesucceeded in adapting older gameplay mechanics would be a good jumping off point.
WhatFinal Fantasy 7 Remakegot right was in how carefully it adapted the formerly turn-based mechanics into an action foundation. Starting with a solid framework for the real-time aspects will be crucial.
InFinal Fantasy 7 Remake, each characters combat felt unique. Tifa’s combo system mixed with her weapon abilities that empowered her normal combo felt distinct even from the most similar character, Cloud. His sword combos and stance switch created a unique feel, and his weapon abilities were more about balancing range and inflicting heavy damage all at once. If aKOTORremake is hoping to improve on the original, while shifting towards real-time action, the base combos between the different characters need to feel unique and satisfying to play in the wayFinal Fantasy 7 Remakesucceeded.
The second, and likely more important, factor will be in how a remake ofKOTORincorporates its RPG elements into the combat. A system similar toFinal Fantasy 7 Remakemight work well forKOTOR.Final Fantasy 7 Remakefaithfully adapted the Materia system from the original that felt very similar. Managing abilities and special skills in aKOTORremake will be just as crucial, and it might be worthwhile to even emulate the wayFinal Fantasy 7 Remakehandled the tactical side of combat.
A system for slowing down time while players make more strategic decisions and issue commands to companions wouldn’t feel out of place in a game set in theStar Warsuniverse. It could feel natural for a Force-sensitive to be able to take a moment to assess a situation before employing unique abilities. Many fans already thinkKOTORcan’t be topped, so walking this tightrope will be crucial. But examining the successes ofFinal Fantasy 7 Remakecould be a great place to start.
AKnights of the Old Republicis rumored to be in development.
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