Knights of the Old Republic has some of the best character development and storytelling in all of Star Wars, and other characters in the series deserve that same treatment. It's been a long time since the franchise received a proper RPG like KOTOR, and it’s past time that a new one is made. There is a ton of potential in making a game with the best elements of Knights of the Old Republic, but featuring a different character taking the lead. Legends is full of Jedi just waiting to be brought into the new Star Wars canon with a fresh take.
One of the defining features of Knights of the Old Republic was its morality system. Players could choose to pursue the light side of the force and become a true Jedi or fall to the dark side and embrace Revan’s former glory as one of Star Wars’ most powerful Sith Lords. Revan was well suited to this mechanic since they were a new character, but they aren’t the only character who can hold the weight of a Star Wars game with choice and consequence. The same effect can be achieved even with pre-existing characters.
Kyle Katarn’s Debut In Star Wars Canon Should Be In A Video Game
Kyle Katarn would make a perfect protagonist for a new Star Wars RPG in the style of Knights of the Old Republic. He has the roguish charm of characters like Han Solo and the wisdom of Jedi like Luke Skywalker. This range of characterization is well-suited to RPGs, allowing players to have a say in what persona Katarn would assume. In Legends, he was active during the Age of Rebellion and New Republic eras. That can be maintained in a new game since it provides a solid timeframe where he can contribute to the story in more minor, character-driven ways, like Cal Kestis in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
Katarn is even well-suited to the morality system Knights of the Old Republic is famous for. Throughout his journeys in Star Wars Legends, Kyle Katarn was a paragon of the light side and a servant of the dark side. In this regard, the moral complexity of Revan exists similarly within Katarn and could be explored in a game where the player can decide Katarn’s path in the force on his adventures. It’s only a matter of time before Kyle Katarn joins Star Wars canon, and doing so in a game would mirror his initial introduction in Star Wars: Dark Forces in Legends.
Mara Jade Deserves Her Own Star Wars Game
Mara Jade has a rich story in Legends, but a new Star Wars RPG with her in the lead can offer a fresh take on the character. Despite being one of the most beloved characters in Legends, her role is often reduced to being Luke’s wife. Her marriage to Luke is only a tiny part of her larger character arc, however and her storied past includes being a servant of the Empire and later a Jedi. So, similar to Revan and Katarn, Mara Jade has touched both sides of the force, which sets her up as a great potential Star Wars RPG protagonist and opens the opportunity to reboot the character with a focus aside from Luke.
Mara Jade is one of the best characters in the franchise, and it’s a shame she hasn’t yet joined the new Star Wars canon. Star Wars Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith has already proven that she thrives as a playable character, so it would be great if she continued that legacy in her own Star Wars RPG, like Knights of the Old Republic.
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