Star Wars: The Old Republic First Look!

The MMO that will bring the most rehabilitated gamers back to the keyboard.

Almost 3 years after original conception, BioWare and EA finally put Star Wars: The Old Republic to market. With BioWare's experience on the highly acclaimed Knights of the Old Republic players worldwide eagerly awaited their next plunge into the Star Wars universe.

However, days of late haven't been kind to the MMO community, with many developers being forced to make their titles Free to play to compete with the current market giant, Blizzards, World of Warcraft. With almost 7 years of up time and a player base of Millions, Blizzard's regular content patches and expansion releases keep its die hard fans loyal to the cause. However it would appear even the keenest of Azeroths inhabitants are looking to change their colours. In only April 2011, Blizzard was able to boast 11million+ subscribers, 2 million more than its recent holiday TV spots can claim. That many people don't just decide to up and quit playing though, there has clearly been an uprising. A revolt. A rebellion?

The setting: 4000 years prior to George Lucas' original imagining of a galaxy far far away.

The plot: well that's where The old Republic gains its first few light side points, and a large chunk of the online Role Playing community. Of the Eight classes available upon release, each has it's own individual story line that casts the player out into the Universe. This unique take on the often boring grind of quests to get the player to the level cap means each re-roll of secondary or alternate characters offers the player an almost completely different game each time. Of course the sequence of the planets visited will remain the same due to their character level requirements, but then again this tried and tested system of level based areas is vital in most MMO's so as to allow similar levelled players the chance to play together.

Creating a character offers the first of many challenges, firstly, faction. The game revolves around the waring Galactic Republic and Sith Empire. With four classes each, both factions options mirror that of the others. For example the Jedi Knight uses similar mechanics to the Sith Warrior. The Jedi Consular with the Sith Inquisitor, Republic Trooper with the Bounty Hunter and finally the republic's Smuggler with the Imperial Agent. Meaning both sides accommodate the option to play as a melee, caster or ranged dps.

At the time of writing I seem to have scaled the first hurdle and taken the plunge rolling a Twi'lec Smuggler. Keep a keen eye for forthcoming gameplay and player analysis over the coming weeks as I delve deeper into my quest to save the Galactic Republic and ultimately The Galaxy. May the Force be with you!