The Old Republic: All I Want is the Cutscenes
Posted on 13th Jun 2011 at 07:29 by Clive Webster with 24 comments
The latest trailer for Star Wars: The Old Republic has been released and it’s freaking awesome. This follows previous cut-scene and video releases that have been similarly impressive, engaging and enjoyable. However, with the game looking a bit duff, I’m wondering if Electronic Arts, Bioware and LucasArts could be persuaded into releasing a cut-scene-only version? I’d happily pay to watch a short film made from them.
If you’re not sure what I’m on about, have a look at the Star Wars: The Old Republic intro cinematic (watch it in fullscreen mode) above, then the other trailers (not the gameplay videos) and come back.
See what I mean? They’re much more reminiscent of the original trilogy than the rubbish prequel films. There’s a focus on people that you readily recognise and empathise with overcoming obstacles; the classic setup for injecting drama and interest into a scene or story. Furthermore, there’s absolutely no mention of trade disputes, midi-sodding-chlorians or annoying lizard-rabbits.
In fact, some of the intros' cinematic characters are really close to those of Episodes IV to VI. There’s a dependable droid that happily receives rushed instructions, and it’s on a ship with dingy, circular corridors and laser-cannon pods. Then there’s the pilot of this ship – he’s instantly introduced as a likeable yet roguish smuggler, and his attire hardly suggests otherwise. He even seems to steal Han’s dialogue: his is the fastest ship in the fleet, even though it might not look like much. All we need is a co-pilot with a shaving phobia and we’re done.
But who cares if Bioware is borrowing heavily from the source material to produce something this fun? Arguably, the mistake that George Lucas made with his prequels was refusing to follow his own conventions. We wanted a bit more of the same please, not some confused reinterpretation of the Universe we’d spent the last however many years discussing in detail.
So when the ‘trader’ ship blasts through the Imperial turbo laser, rushes through its guts, and then hits its hyperdrive, we’re cheering on the crew. When the Jedi master Force-pulls the second lightsaber to him, we’re given a moment to consider the great duel that’s about to ensue.
Even the cutting and pacing between the personal fight between Jedi and Sith and the action on the not-Millenium Falcon is so reminiscent of The Empire Strikes Back that it can’t fail to make Star Wars fans happy. The trailer even conveys emotion brilliantly – Malcus exudes rage as he stalks towards the Jedi master and bats away his defence, while you can read the thoughts of his Padawan perfectly well after his death.
So please, can we just have the cinematics to watch, and leave the MMO to WoW deserters? Please?
If you’re not sure what I’m on about, have a look at the Star Wars: The Old Republic intro cinematic (watch it in fullscreen mode) above, then the other trailers (not the gameplay videos) and come back.
See what I mean? They’re much more reminiscent of the original trilogy than the rubbish prequel films. There’s a focus on people that you readily recognise and empathise with overcoming obstacles; the classic setup for injecting drama and interest into a scene or story. Furthermore, there’s absolutely no mention of trade disputes, midi-sodding-chlorians or annoying lizard-rabbits.
In fact, some of the intros' cinematic characters are really close to those of Episodes IV to VI. There’s a dependable droid that happily receives rushed instructions, and it’s on a ship with dingy, circular corridors and laser-cannon pods. Then there’s the pilot of this ship – he’s instantly introduced as a likeable yet roguish smuggler, and his attire hardly suggests otherwise. He even seems to steal Han’s dialogue: his is the fastest ship in the fleet, even though it might not look like much. All we need is a co-pilot with a shaving phobia and we’re done.
But who cares if Bioware is borrowing heavily from the source material to produce something this fun? Arguably, the mistake that George Lucas made with his prequels was refusing to follow his own conventions. We wanted a bit more of the same please, not some confused reinterpretation of the Universe we’d spent the last however many years discussing in detail.
So when the ‘trader’ ship blasts through the Imperial turbo laser, rushes through its guts, and then hits its hyperdrive, we’re cheering on the crew. When the Jedi master Force-pulls the second lightsaber to him, we’re given a moment to consider the great duel that’s about to ensue.
Even the cutting and pacing between the personal fight between Jedi and Sith and the action on the not-Millenium Falcon is so reminiscent of The Empire Strikes Back that it can’t fail to make Star Wars fans happy. The trailer even conveys emotion brilliantly – Malcus exudes rage as he stalks towards the Jedi master and bats away his defence, while you can read the thoughts of his Padawan perfectly well after his death.
So please, can we just have the cinematics to watch, and leave the MMO to WoW deserters? Please?
24 Comments
Discuss in the forums ReplyNo.
You will have Lucas droppings and you will be happy for it.
As mentioned in another thread, I was in contact with them a few years ago, and to call their services expensive would be the understatement of the century. But, as you can tell, worth every penny.
I do find it a little disappointing that there's such a disparity between the game and the trailer however it's not the first time i've seen something in a cutscene and been like "Hey, I can't do that in game!" (although in this case you actually can, it just doesn't look as nice as its portrayed).
+ You're slightly off the mark with the cutscene comment i believe Clive (unless you know something i don't ? :D), the previous trailers are exactly that, simply trailers and not cutscenes within the game. The "Return" Cinematic itself is the opening movie that players will see when first loading up the game. I believe all other cutscenes in the game are rendered using the ingame engine.
funny thing though, if you try and point that out on the SW forums or simple comments under clips, TOR's fanboys will turn Sith on you...
Also, I'm sure you mean "When the Sith lord Force-pulls the second lightsaber to him", not "...Jedi master...".
All in all the trailer is pretty but like the others made by Blur Studios, is a bit shallow.
I assumed he meant when Satele threw her SaberStaff to her Master.
All things considered though I think Bioware don't need to have a good game to present their stories. I mean if you deconstruct the Mass Effect games, they do not offer much in terms of game-play. Linear 3rd person cover shooter, plus minigames. Yet Mass Effect 2 is the greatest game ever. Why? Story.
So, all things considered, don't write off Bioware. But don't presume genius either. The suspense is killing me.
I don't want more of the same old Star Wars. I want something that puts the existing canon to good use without just ripping off the old stuff, while at the same time not being absolutely ****ing terrible.
I'm sorry but in no way would i ever call KoTOR a bad RPG, if by broken mechanics you meant based on the well established DnD 3.0 system then you're missing something. No, dialogue wasn't the best but it was better than most of the stuff out there and the story was somewhat cliché but had an interesting twist and delivered what was expected of the IP. The fact that it's lauded as one of the best RPGs let alone Star Wars game ever created puts you in a very small minority of people.
And whereas you see rip off of various things, i see homages and numerous references to the different era (where the Jedi are prevalent and the Sith aren't simply "a group of two").
What exactly would be your definition of the same old Star Wars? No Jedi? No Lightsabers? Nothing that makes the Star Wars universe what it is?
SAAAAAAWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!!!!!
Shame i feel the game will be lacking. I know i will be shot by a salvo of laser fire but i wish they could have made an absolutely Whoresome KOTOR III.
And yes, DnD rules are annoying and complicated, but they work well.:D
I don't think anyone necessarily wanted a Star Wars MMO (especially after how bad Galaxies failed).
However most people put their faith in Bioware and IMO they've done it justice.
I think that it's got a nice balance of MMO features (Raids, Flashpoints etc.) but with the traditional Bioware twist of Storytelling and character development on a personal level.
The only thing i'm worried about is that it might alienate members on more extreme sides of the scale (i.e. those who don't want anything to do with MMOs at all, and those who don't care about Story/Bioware style RPGs).
...again it makes the actual gameplay seem like a huge letdown
Blur are also responsible for the cinematics from several other games, including Batman: Arkham City, Force Unleashed II and others. Check them out here:
http://vz3.blur.com/work
Incredible stuff, goes without saying that they're extremely talented.
Wonder if they've been commissioned to make full length movie , it's a case of if not , why not?
They really show what game artists can one day aspire to, if we ever see the back of crappy console ports.
The cinematics they keep releasing are fantastic and they really need to make a fim.
Not for the kids but for us
In fact the Assassin's Creed: Revelations (who won the Gametrailers award) is even in the lead on Gamespot's Trailer of E3 as well.
Silly silly fans :P.