Review - Knights of The Old Republic - iOS Version
Jon Evans
KOTOR is one of the very few RPG games I have played through more than once and I was particularly looking forward to the mobile version. I played the original on PC back in 2003 and was excited to be able to play this again on my iPad.

Firstly, it is important to state that I play this with a certain amount of nostalgia. KOTOR is one of my favourite games of all time. If you've never played it before and you're a Star Wars Fan, this is, sadly, the peak of the Star Wars Single player experience. Nothing has compared to it since, not even KOTOR2 and its disappointing ending.
The port from PC is excellent. Graphically it is exactly how it looked on the PC as it did in 2003, which is saying a lot as the original game was ahead of its time. The iPad is an ideal shape to display the game which was rendered in the older 4:3 screen resolution (a resolution which could explain why it hasn’t come to the Vita yet). It also looks great on a retina screen as the colours pop out well, and despite obvious minor aliasing, looks crisp and clear on the screen. The sound is also spot on, with Jeremy Soule’s original score adding atmosphere and depth to the gameplay. It is best played, as with many games, with headphones on. Add to that the many different lines of dialogue (15,000), this becomes a rich experience. On the downside, although there are many different NPCs, the character modelling is reused many, many times and you do get the distinct impression that the Republic was already testing its cloning program 4000 years ahead of the events of Darth Sidious and his Empire. There also seem to be a limited number of voice actors playing all the roles, but this does not spoil the enjoyment too much as gameplay is excellent.
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Speaking of gameplay, as with any RPG, your forge your own path and can take on many side missions as you investigate your environment. Obviously there is a main story arc, with certain missions that must be played, and you soon discover blocked off areas which become unlocked as you finish other missions. Also, due to the nature of this type of game, you do need to be fairly well tooled up to complete certain missions so it is best to come back to them at a later time when you are stronger. You start the game as a non-descript soldier on a Republic spaceship, which resembles the Tantive IV from A New Hope, and much like  A New Hope, is under attack from the forces of Darth Malak, a Dark Lord of the Sith. The game is set 4000 years before the Galactic Empire and Malak has oppressed the Jedi to the point that they form part of a large diaspora of Knights who are hidden around the galaxy licking their wounds, with several going over to the dark side. I won't get too mired in Star Wars Lore, but needless to say you escape from the ship in pods and land on Taris with a Han Solo type sidekick called Carth.
This first part of the game is where you learn how to upgrade your weapons, feats and skills and veterans of Mass Effect will be familiar with Bioware's system of improving your character. This is a pure RPG inventory and skills system with all the mathematical equations that have to be worked out to ensure to have the best combinations in battle. It's not too complicated, however wise choices do have to be made as this can have ramifications later on in the game. Meeting people, killing enemies in combat and going to shops allow you to add objects to your inventory and you can earn more money by selling multiple items. It's an important part of the game and it pays to use it well. Additionally you can earn cash in other ways. 
Within KOTOR is the old Republic's answer to poker, Pazaak. This is, in itself, a deep mini-game. It's highly addictive and could almost be sold on the App Store as a standalone game. You can occasionally buy extra more powerful Pazaak cards which can be used to improve your chances against opponents. It's a great thread running through the game and adds a level of reality and chance into a lot of situations as well as adding credits to your pocket.
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It's important to remember this is an iPad game. With a minimum of 20 hours gameplay and over 70 hours if you try every side mission and quest this is an amazing thing to have on your tablet. For me, it is the first time I've felt like I've had a console experience on my iPad. This is due to the well designed control system. Aspyr Media, who ported this to the iPad have done a great job, but were very much helped by the style of the game. Not being a first person shooter, but in essence a 3D point and click adventure with turned-based combat, means it is perfectly suited to a touch screen. Having played the PC version I would be bold enough to say that this is better than the original. Access to your map, inventory screen, party selection and movement are all immediate and easy to get to, without having to remember which key on a keyboard does what. There is enough screen estate to allow these controls to be persistent without getting in the way of the action. Moving your character is easy, and becomes second nature, without the need for any gimmicky glowing overlay, and there's plenty of contol customization to suit different play styles. It's also great to have the quick-save button on the screen whenever you want to use it (in the 'olden days' this was one of the F buttons).
One criticism is that the game does tax my iPad. The app works on all iPads from the iPad 2 upwards. I'm using an iPad 3, so this may not affect iPad 4 users, but it does get very hot after playing the game for extended periods and it also sucks the battery dry after a couple of hours use. This is a minor gripe, but it may have an impact on users who travel a lot or take their iPads on holiday. Another minor concern is that the character can frequently 'get caught' in indivisible barriers and objects in the game, probably an issue with the original code rather than the port, so you do have to take a wide berth around certain obstacles. This doesn't seem too annoying initially, but later on when you get stronger and have more powers it does seem strange that you have trouble with minor kerbs and steps. Also be advised, it does take up 2.5 GB of storage space on your iPad, so do plan ahead if your device is getting full.
This is an excellent version of the game on the iPad. There is a wealth of gameplay, a thoroughly well written and involving story and a wonderful tribute to the Star Wars canon. It is still the best single player Star Wars game out there and an essential purchase for fans of the genre who have never played it before. And, as I keep saying to myself as I play it, it's on the iPad!

Wrap Up

The Good  - Polished conversion to iOS with a great control system, excellent story and gameplay, great value for time spent in game.

The Bad  - Stretches earlier versions of the iPad, characters can sometimes get caught on in-world objects. Lot of repetition of voice actors.

Score - 4.5/5
Game bought by reviewer
Images reproduced with permission of Aspyr Studios