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…”

Top 5 Star Wars: Rogue Squadron Missions

Star Wars: Rogue Squadron has long been among my favorite video game tie-ins to George Lucas’ films. I loved how bold the original N64 entry was in exploring new worlds and crafting the narrative of Kasan Moor and Moff Seerdon through the eyes of the more well-known Wedge Antilles and Luke Skywalker. I also appreciated how fine-tuned its Gamecube sequels were, as their dogfights still rank among some of the smoothest-playing I’ve encountered in any sci-fi game that emphasizes ship-to-ship combat. The Rogue Squadron games were special, in that they devoted themselves to an aspect of the Star Wars universe that is far too often overshadowed by the mysticism of the Jedi vs. Sith conflict, and made a home-run with it. Even the third game’s insistence on shoe-horning on-foot missions was a minor setback when infiltrations into Imperial bases via a hijacked AT-AT or a preemptive strike on Imperial shipyards were account for. Below are my five very favorite missions across the three Rogue Squadron titles, and why they stood out so much.

#5 – Assault on Kile II: Some might consider my love of the Y-Wing to be odd, and that my insistence on using it in as many missions as possible over the course of the Rogue Squadron series’ run to border on having a death wish. I’m not sure when my obsession with the slow but heavily-armored Y-Wing began, but one of my earliest memories in piloting it come from the N64 mission Assault on Kile II, wherein Rogue Squadron must keep a low profile as they fly low to the ground, navigating a maze of increasingly narrow valleys. It’s a search for Imperial outposts that must be handled with the utmost care, lest the local patrols overwhelm Rogue Squadron. While the Y-Wing can take more of a beating than some of its brethren, its best to avoid combat while chugging through the tight passageways that link the few more open areas, as just one tailing TIE Fighter can shoot you down very quickly.

#4 – Death Star Attack: I will openly admit that I prefer when the Rogue Squadron games branch out into original scenarios as opposed to revisiting familiar battles from the films. However, as cliché a choice as it might be, there is no denying just how perfect a job the second game did in capturing the Rebel’s strike on the first Death Star. The opening cutscene that recreated the X-Wing and Y-Wing squadrons approach, the buildup to the iconic trench run, and then the tight quarters that the fighter pilots must account for as they race toward the exhaust port - all of this is handled in such a fine manner, and few other Star Wars games have since been able to match its quality in their own depictions of the Battle of Yavin. The chaotic laser crossfire depicted in the background, the huge jump from the first game in regards to super smooth textures of the various towers and turrets littering the Death Star’s surface, the multiple portions of the mission, and the sheer scope of its presentation were a magnificent showing for the first mission of this sequel, and hooked my eleven-year-old self in with wide-eyed wonder at what the rest of the game had in store.

#3 – The Search for the Nonnah: One of the earlier missions in the original Rogue Squadron has you searching for a downed transport known as the Nonnah on a wet and murky world. It’s a race against the sparse Imperial forces who are similarly scouring the area for the Nonnah’s crash site, and was among the first missions in the Rogue Squadron series to peel the focus away from combat. Instead, fighting the Imperial’s local deployed walkers and tanks is reserved for the end-mission climax, with everything beforehand a time-sensitive traversing of deep ravines and the occasional run-in with a small rival TIE Fighter squadron.

#2 – The Jade Moon: In what is one of the first major stepping stones in the narrative of the original Rogue Squadron, Kasan Moor accompanies the veteran pilots of the titular X-Wing squadron to the Jade Moon of the Loronar System. It was the first proper test of Moor’s loyalty to the Rebel cause, as she had only recently defected. At the start of the mission, Wedge Antilles voices his concerns about Moor’s trustworthiness, and though Luke wishes to focus on the task at hand, the eerie track that accompanies this assault on an Imperial Supply depot perpetuates an air of suspense and uncertainty - a tune made so apparently popular, that it saw reprises in both sequel games. It is a mission that pits Rogue Squadron against many different enemy types, from TIE Fighter variants, to AT-PT walkers, to rotating missile turrets, and does a great job at encompassing just how the members of Rogue Squadron behave during more high-risk scenarios.

#1 – Battle of Endor: This climactic battle from Return of the Jedi was exciting in the film, but the cuts back to Luke aboard the Death Star and Han, Leia, and Chewbacca on the forest moon sort of distracted from the true scope of the ship-to-ship combat. In Rogue Squadron II, it is fully realized, a nearly chaotic number of ships zipping in and out, this way and that. Your objectives change rather frequently, keeping you on your toes as you attempt to defend the Rebel fleet before pushing the fight back toward the Imperials. Facing down two Star Destroyers is one of the most immersive moments in this trilogy of games, and the slow approach toward them is the perfect buildup to one of the greatest tests of your piloting skills.

Star Wars 1313 E3 interview and gameplay

This new Star Wars game follows a bounty hunter on Courascant, and (as the developers put it) seeks to deliver a dark and gritty Star Wars experience. It seems like an interesting concept, and the game certainly looks grqaphically impressive. I just wish they had gone out of their way to show more gameplay. The action and shooting sequences highlighted here are both brief and sort of generic. However, Star Wars 1313 still has plenty of time to show off. Perhaps it has a few more cards up its sleeve.

25 Days of Villains - #11: Darth Malak

"You cannot hide from what you once were, Revan! Recognize that you were once the Dark Lord — and know that I have taken your place!"

Apprentice to Revan, Malak and his master were renowned heroes of the Republic during the Mandalorian War. During the war, the two uncovered a Star Map on Dantooine, which led to their seeking out all the other Star Maps. Each of which would help them to locate the Star Forge, an ancient relic that served as a factory, self-perpetuating as it drew power from stars and the force to produce droids, ships, and other instruments of conquest. As their search spanned across the galaxy, Malak and Revan were influenced by the dark side of the force, leading them to seek out Sith teachings.

After their victory over the Mandalorians, Revan and Malak left for unknown regions of the galaxy, leading their Republic supporters to believe them dead. A year later, Malak and Revan returned, and finally found the Star Forge. The two then founded a Sith Academy on Korriban, which led to the duo openly revealing themselves as Sith Lords. The two then declared war upon the Republic, initiating the Jedi Civil War.

An initial disagreement between master and apprentice over how policies were being carried out led to a duel. Revan did not kill Malak, though he did cut off his lower jaw with his lightsaber, leading Malak to adopt the metallic face piece and the electronic tone that came along with it. As the years drew on in the conflict, Malak gained ownership of the flagship Leviathan, and promoted former Republic Admiral Saul Karath to be Commander of the entire Sith fleet. After testing Karath's loyalty to him, Malak began devising a way to surpass his master.

His chance came when the Republic sent a specialized team in to capture Revan and Malak. Wishing to destroy both his master and his Jedi foes in one fell swoop, Malak ordered his ship to fire upon Revan's. Believing his master dead, Malak still had one foe that he feared - Bastilla Shan. As Bastilla and a very-much-alive (though missing his memories) Revan set out for their own search for the Star Maps, Malak sent his apprentice Darth Bandon and mercenary Calo Nord to stop her, though both ultimately failed. Eventually, Malak and Karath encountered the Ebon Hawk, bringing Bastilla, Revan, and co. aboard to torture and question. The team quickly escaped, but not before an encounter with Malak made Revan's true identity as a former Sith Lord clear to him. Revan and the others escaped, intent on uncovering the final piece of the puzzle. But Bastilla was now Malak's captive and, after much torture, he managed to sway her to the dark side.

With the Star Forge operating beyond expectations, Malak built his army until Revan arrived to face him. Revan convinced Bastilla to return to the light side, then eventually defeated Malak. In his final moments, Malak reflected upon all of his actions as a Sith Lord, most notably his jealousy of Revan's grand role in the war and his cowardice at not having faced him in duel the first time Malak tried to kill Revan. Malak died not feeling hatred toward Revan, but still accepting the actions that had led him to the dark side as being his own.

Boss theme:

Some of the tracks in Knights of the Old Republic break the traditional Star Wars formula to a significant degree. This track certainly feels like it is in keeping with the atmosphere of the game, but also has a classic Star Wars feel to it, along the lines of "Battle of the Heroes" or "Duel of the Fates".

Star Wars Kinect announced

A new Star Wars title has been announced for the Xbox 360 Kinect. Now, to be quite honest, I think the Kinect is more of a joke than a worthwhile add-on peripheral, but this is the first Kinect title that has piqued my interest to levels of mild interest. The E3 trailer started off by higlighting the most predictable use of the Kinect's motion recognition: weilding a lightsaber and using force powers. But then it went on to show podracing and some space dogfights. All of the footage was pre-rendered, and at this point there's no way of knowing what all will make into the final game. But if the gameplay meshes well with the motion-recognition control scheme, this could pave the way for more full-fledged Kinect releases.

25 Days of Christmas - #12: Star Wars: Rogue Squadron

Over the years, there have been countless Star Wars games. They span across virtually every system, and most of these titles are centered around allowing the player to wield lightsabers and use the force. And while the jedi way is certainly a core aspect of Star Wars, there are many other stories that make up the universe that George Lucas created. One of the most famous groups in the Galactic Civil War is the Rebel Alliance’s ace pilots that make up Rogue Squadron.

Star Wars: Rogue Squadron was released in 1998 for the PC and N64. The N64 game is the version I own, and I must say it is one of the most fluid and intuitive flight games ever released on any system. While Star Wars: X-Wing and Tie Fighter paved the way for space-bound dogfights, Rogue Squadron perfected them. Using different trigger combinations to pull off barrel rolls and arcs made maneuverability easy. Players were given a great deal of freedom in how they wished to deal with enemy fighters and turrets, but were also required to be wary of their secondary ammo supply.

The story follows Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles, the two most prominent members of the squadron, as they carry out various mission set in-between the films of Episodes IV, V, and VI. Other members of the squadron make appearances as well, including Wes Janson, Hobbie Klivian, and Zev Senesca. General Reikan provides briefings of each mission, and will reprimand players if things start to go sour. Each of the respective voice actors did a brilliant job in making these characters come to life. No single character in the game feels bland or one-dimensional.

Early missions have Luke and Wedge doing routine flight patrols and then encountering and subsequently destroying Imperial forces. These early missions are set up as tutorials, and aren’t meant to be anything special. But once Moff Seerdon (the main antagonist of the game) comes into the picture, the story really picks up in pace. Each mission is set on a different planet (with the only exception being two missions taking place on Kessel), and each is unique in design and mission objectives. On Gerard V, players must defend a city as the most skilled TIE Interceptor squadron - led by Kasan Moor - takes on the Rebels. On Chorax, players must navigate foggy canyons in search of the Nonah, a ship that crashed on the planet. On Fest, the Rebels must take down a shield and destroy AT-AT walkers as they attempt to free prisoners.

The soundtrack is classic Star Wars, strongly influenced by the original trilogy. Still, it adds a little flair of its own and sets itself aside as a separate soundtrack. The graphical capabilities of the N64 really shine in this game. The lighting effects are top-notch, and players will notice how the shadows move seamlessly as their X-Wing tilts towards or away from light. Engine exhaust flares up as the boost is activated, and blaster fire spreads outwards slightly as it makes contact with a target.

The variety of ships available to pilot is impressive, and includes not only classics like the X-Wing, Y-Wing, and A-Wing, but includes the V-Wing, a ship that is used more heavily in the post-Imperial years. The Millennium Falcon and a TIE Interceptor are unlockable as players meet certain achievements in missions. The inclusion of a cheat code system allows players to unlock the N-1 Naboo Starfighter, a 1969 Buick Electra, and even a minigame that puts players in control of an AT-ST “chicken” walker. Extra missions could also be unlocked, including the classic battles of Hoth and the Death Star trench run. Other extras include a theater mode in which players can view the various cutscenes in the game, and a music hall wherein players can listen to any given song from the soundtrack.


Star Wars: Rogue Squadron allowed players to step into the cockpit of an X-Wing and take on Imperial forces in an engaging and challenging way. The game covers some key moments for the Rebel Alliance not covered in the films, including the retrieval of Crix Madine on Corellia and the defection of ace pilot Kasan Moor. The game encompasses a large timespan, but still leaves enough material to be covered in two sequel games. Rogue Squadron pushed the capabilities of the N64 to the limit and was a fantastic achievement for parent company Factor 5.

25 Days of Christmas - #14: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Over the past few years, BioWare has had an explosion of successful titles released. While Mass Effect and Dragon Age: Origins may be the two most talked about titles from the company at present, a large part of the company's success can be traced back to their first big licensed game: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. It was one of the more successful games on the Xbox, a system that, aside from Halo, struggled to find big games that would leave their mark. The game’s impressive sales on the Xbox were surprising due to the fact that the title was primarily marketed towards the PC audience. Regardless of which port gamers played, they were in store for a Star Wars game that would change not only the LucasArts franchise, but the RPG genre as a whole.

The thing about Star Wars that separates it from every other licensed series is that most of the games are actually good. Certainly there will be the occasional piece of rubbish that is released, but for the most part LucasArts has a great track record with their published games. Knights of the Old Republic broke away from the traditional Star Wars story, focusing on neither the Galactic Civil War, nor the Clone Wars. Instead, the game took players back thousands of years to the great war between the sith and jedi for control of the old republic systems. Players assume command of a character with no past, and can name him or her whatever they so choose. They can focus attributes and skills into three classes, which can be customized at the player’s discretion as they level up. And although the story mode forces players to complete the jedi trials at one point, players can choose to refrain from using the force and/or their lightsaber if they so choose.

The characters in Knights of the Old Republic are ingeniously designed, and play off one another perfectly. The fact of the matter is that – no matter how hard you might try to be a peacemaker – not every character is going to get along with one another. Canderous will always view himself as one of the greatest warriors the galaxy has ever known, and isn’t afraid to boast about it. Carth has his own inner demons to deal with and is never completely trusting of anyone. Mission lives for adventure, but is more concerned with the well-being of the party than herself. Every one of the characters that joins your party has been scrutinized by the developers down to the tiniest of details. Even assassin droid HK-47 has a personality all his own, offering the player with sadistic humor and advice that is somewhat insulting to their intellect.


The planets are so vastly different from one another that things rarely feel repetitive. The only exception to this would probably be on Taris. It serves as the central hub before the quest for the Star Map begins, and players carry out a large number of tasks there. This requires a fair amount of backtracking which can be monotonous at times, but the payoff for most missions on Taris grants the player with large boosts to their combat skill and overall experience points.

Combat plays out beautifully in Knights of the Old Republic, and is in large part why BioWare’s later games were so successful. When encountering an enemy, the game pauses temporarily, allowing players to assign targets and attacks to each party member. Once everything has been determined, players can un-pause the game and watch their party fight it out. But players can also choose to pause the game again in the midst of battle if they wish for characters to switch targets or attacks.


The variety of weapons available in the game is impressive. Melee weapons range from the milder vibro blades and stun batons to the more powerful lightsabers. Firearms are divided into two groups: dual-wieldable and the larger two-handed guns. Blaster pistols are provided in plentiful amounts early on in the game, but scouring sith weapons caches may occasionally reveal an assassin pistol or two. Rifles are the heaviest weapons one can find on Taris, but Dantooine and Kashyyyk hold plenty of disruptor rifles and crossbows, which are far more accurate and deadly. Most party members have trademark weapons that can be customized with additions such as the hair trigger and energy cell. Lightsabers can be altered in attack focus and blade color by swapping out crystals. Even armor can be upgraded with mesh underlay and reinforcement.


Depending on whether the character chooses the light or dark path, different force powers will be unlocked. Light-side powers tend to focus more on healing and stunning enemies, whereas dark-side powers are centered more around injuring enemies and crippling droids. Every character you interact with, every decision you make in the game determines the outcome of the story. This coupled with a truly creative story makes the experience all the more engaging. Knights of the Old Republic also deserves a round of applause for its inclusion of one of the greatest plot twists ever included in a video game.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is a title that every Star Wars fan should experience. There are some traditional RPG fans who criticize the game for using a real-time combat system. But to me, it wouldn’t make sense to do it any other way. The soundtrack feels new and creative, but the overall vibe is still classic Star Wars. The buildings and spaceships foreshadow those in the films and other Star Wars media. While Knights of the Old Republic definitely deserves recognition as one of the best Star Wars experiences, it also deserves recognition for redefining RPG titles and PC gaming.