When it comes to science fiction RPGs, any RPG fan worth their salt will usually recall these two masterpiece franchises: Mass Effect and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Both were made or popularized by Bioware, one of the biggest developers in the said genre back then and Mass Effect was♏ the studio's attempt at breaking free from George Lucas' intellectual propeܫrty and making something of its own.
As such, comparisons are inevitable between these two great sci-fi trendsetters of the RPG genre. Both of them also have their own list of similarities, enough to make them competitors for the favor of Bioware's RPG fans. So, which one of them is Bioware's sci-fi 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:magnum opus? That's what we're here to find ou𒅌t as we measure them up against each oth♍er.
10 WHY MASS EFFECT: MORE UNIꦿQUE
As mentioned before, Mass Effect is Bioware at its most original in sci-fi and they made a resounding success whose legacy in gaming will likely continue on for decades. They made their own uniqueꦓ world from scratch and it paid off.
Mass Effect easily distinguishes itself from the cookie-cutter black-and-white stories of the Star Wars franchise. Moreover, it introduced a more memorable and central protagonist in the form of Commander Shepard who is easily customizable but still iconic at the same time thanks to 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:the voice acting.
9 WHY KOTOR: IT'S STAR ♐WARS!
Some people still prefer 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Star Wars, however, as it's more recognizable and has its own established universe that spans decades of refinement. Hence, it certainly has more fans, and the fact that there weren't many successful Star Wars RPGs before 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:KOTOR came along also added to the magic and hype.
Star Wars with its pop-culture flair and cabal of laser-sword-wielding space monks and their eternal battle with their emo counterparts are always a welcome story in gaming. It can get a little too formulaic or even predictable at times but it's always got its own cultural charm that Mass Effect can't match.
8 𓄧 🌱 WHY MASS EFFECT: MORE MATURE
Now, since Mass Effect is free from the shackles of Star Wars' sterile rating system, it had more freedom to explore adult and mature subject matters. Death, war, and torture⛄ are portrayed more boldly or vividly.
Even the more sensual aspects such as intergalactic interspecies... 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:um, intercourse got touched by Bioware with the direction they took. As a result, Mass Effect's fans tend to be more mature or even worldly, it's like comparing The Lord of the Rings to Game of Thrones.
7 🥂 WHY KOTOR: BETTER L🍬ORE
While Bioware did an admirable effort in crafting their own sci-fi universe with its own version of doom-bringers and namesake story elements, Star Wars' lore is just richer. Bioware notably had trouble tying some loose ends by the third game with Mass Effect's lore.
KOTOR and even its sequel, by comparison, were solid narrative experiences. KOTOR II even went as far as to explore the darker and less popular aspects of the Star Wars mythos such as walking horrors like Darth Nihilus. Meanwhile, Darth Revan's introduction in 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:KOTOR proved quite the splash for the whole Star Wars franchise.
6 WHY MASS EFFECT: MORE DYNAMIC GAMEPLAY ♑
Here's where KOTOR's age is starting to show up. Apart from the heavily outdated graphics, its gameplay is also not up to par with today's standards. Both KOTOR games have a no🅰w clunky real-time pau🅠sable combat that's more applicable to top-down RPGs.
Mass Effect had something similar but had better focus on gunplay and Mass Effect 2 overhauled the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:whole combat system and blew everything else Bioware had done before out of the water. It's hard to come back to KOTOR's combat after playing Mass Effect 2.
5 WHY KOTOR: DEEPER RPG ELEMENT🧸S
Ever since Mass Effect changed its combat in the second game, it started to feel less of an RPG and more of an action shooter. Many of the character's actions then depended more on the players shooting and twitch reaction skills rather than the character's stats or skills🍸.
That's where KOTOR's strengths come in, especially for hardcore RPG fans. It has a more intricate RPG system that gives more control over character development and stat or skill allocation. In its attempt to make the game more casual friendly, Mass Effect adopted a more stripped-down RPG system.
4 ♔ WHY MASS EFFECT: IT'S HARD SCI-FI
Here's where it gets divisive for fans of the genre: what actually counts as sci-fi. For anyone who has played games in both franchises, Mass Effect definitely is more faithful to the sci-fi conventions than KOTOR ever will be.
It has its own sci-fi rules and doesn't concern itself with mystical things that shape destiny or the events of the universe. In fact, Mass Effect is actually closer to Star Trek than Star Wars even in the world-building aspect. That's why it feels more sci-fi compared to KOTOR.
3 WHY KOTOR: IT'S MORE FANTASYꦆ IN SPACE
Still, as mentioned earlier, Star Wars has is its own chaꦛrm within its mythos. Mystical factors and lore elements like the Force or even the Jedi and the Sith lend the game their own flavor that serves as a respite from sci-fi🤪's usual cold and logical setting or premise.
In hindsight, KOTOR even feels more like a Dungeons and Dragons game when stripped of its Star Wars veneer. This has its own appeal for꧂ RPG fans especially those who prefer traditio🧸nal RPGs which have stemmed from Dungeons and Dragons.
2 💧 WHY MASS EFFECT: MORE IMPACTFUL DECISIONS
Mass Effect has had three main connected games all of which have decisions that matter. Every decision, consequence, or mistᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚake that the players made or incurred in the previous game can carry over to the next, making their stories feel more personal.
Hence, the decisions are more impactful in Mass Effect; they not only affect the ending but also some of the significant narrative proceedings of the next games. KOTOR just doesn't have this level of RPG continuity since both games might as🥀 well be set in their own💧 separate universes.
1 WHY KOTO🌳R: BETTER ENDING𓄧S
Even if Mass Effect had b🧸etter decision continuity and treated its playe🐎rs for playing the sequels, that doesn't mean that the conclusion is satisfactory. Even now, there are players who remain disappointed at the third game's ending and certainly not warm to the fourth game.
KOTOR's stories are tight and more cohesive with endings that are arguably more rewarding for the amount of effort the players put into the game. One thing is for sure KOTOR games' endings won't make players lose a good night's sleep by leaving them clueless, unlike what Mass Effect 3 did.