Four thousand years before
the rise of the Galactic
Empire, the Republic verges
on collapse. DARTH MALAK,
last surviving apprentice of
the Dark Lord Revan, has
unleashed an invincible
Sith armada upon an
unsuspecting galaxy.
Crushing all resistance,
Malak's war of conquest
has left the Jedi Order
scattered and vulnerable
as countless Knights fall in
battle, and many more
swear allegiance to the new
Sith Master.
In the skies above the Outer
Rim world of Taris, a Jedi
battle fleet engages the
forces of Darth Malak in a
desperate effort to halt the
Sith's galactic domination…
Knights of the Old Republic is an epic adventure in the Star Wars universe. Over the course of the game you will experience many worlds and meet many people, and your behavior towards them will affect the course of the game. Except for the opening and closing stages of the storyline you can travel freely between the planets and visit them in any order you choose.
Conversation is a central mechanic. Many quest decisions and outcomes are chosen through dialog rather than actions, and you will be given these choices wthroughout the game. Your choices affect your alignment; good choices give Light Side Points, while evil choices give Dark Side Points. Because many Force powers gain bonuses from the strength of your alignment it is in your best interest to choose an alignment and fill it as soon as you can.
While there are some exceptions, choices that are kind, selfless, or honorable will earn you Light Side Points, while choices that are selfish, aggressive, or illegal will earn you Dark Side Points. For many decisions your party members will praise or condemn you depending on their own alignment, and the strength of their comments is a good way of judging how many alignment points the decision has earned you.