Character Select: HK-47 (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic)

The earliest comrades to join the amnesiac protagonist’s party in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic fit the typical Star Wars formula – Bastila is a skilled young Jedi, Carth is slick with pistols and skeptical of certain galactic factions (though whiny and far less enjoyable company than the likes of one Han Solo), T3-M4 is a whistling astromech droid, and Zaalbar is… a Wookie. The party members that joined the adventures across the stars past the game’s halfway point struck me as having more creative personalities, overall, and offering further insight into the ever-expanding Star Wars universe. Of particular note was HK-47, an assassin droid who was positively gleeful to aim his rifle at any organic being he was instructed to.

“Translation: He requires proof of good faith. We must make a contribution to his people that shows we are not a threat. Shall I blast him now, master?”

HK-47’s behavior of constantly prefacing each statement with situation-appropriate terms including ‘query’, ‘statement’, ‘observation’, and ‘advisement’ formed an endearing trait, as well as a curious complement to his twisted comedic personality. HK-47 was devoutly loyal to his comrades, even if he did insist on referring to all of his human and alien travelling companions as ‘meatbags’. He performed well as a ranged heavy hitter, blaster rifles being his specialty. Once HK-47 was counted among the misfit crew of the Ebon Hawk, I never swapped him out of my party.

“Explanation: It’s just that… you have all these squishy parts, master. And all that water! How the constant sloshing doesn’t drive you mad, I have no idea…”