Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 is an iconic RPG, and the player's freedom to make important choices is one of its most praised features. Players have a lot of freedom in Knights of the Old Republic 2, to design unique characters with interesting builds; visit various planets in any order; and embrace the Light Side, the Dark Side, or follow a neutral path.
Throughout the game, the player will make many decisions that shape their character's morality and the fate of surrounding characters. Whether it's the simple decision to refuse payment after rescuing someone, to topple an entire government, or to murder people in a cartoonishly evil fashion, the game is riddled with choices. The consequences of embracing the Dark Side or being an altruistic follower of the Light Side are both explored in surprising ways over the course of the story. Spoilers ahead for Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2.
The Fate of Party Members In Knights of the Old Republic 2 Is Up To The Player
While a key element in most party-based RPGs is interacting with companions, Knights of the Old Republic 2's party members can be drastically impacted by the player's choices. By earning enough influence with certain party members, the player can train them to become Force users. This can be taken a step further if the player is Dark Side aligned, as party members will become corrupted in appearance and take on the pale, mottled appearance of the Sith. The power of the Jedi exile's influence is made apparent when characters like the handmaiden Brianna swap out their white robes for black ones.
Late in the game, the player also has an opportunity for some more permanent adjustments to their party. During the confrontation with Sith Lord Darth Nihilus, players may choose the Dark Side option to side with the Sith, killing Visas as a means of proving their loyalty. Visas can also be sacrificed as a means to weaken Nihilus, a method that would be approved by the master manipulator Kreia. In a similar vein, diabolical players may choose to kill all of their imprisoned party members on Malachor 5 rather than free them from their imprisonment. Few games give the player the opportunity to wipe out nearly their entire entourage with one button press.
Some Choices In Knights of the Old Republic 2 Change Entire Worlds
On several planets, the player must take sides in a broader conflict. Among the first of these is the fate of the planet Telos. Telos, like Taris in Knights of The Old Republic, was devastated by the Sith in an earlier war, so the Republic is using Telos as a testbed for a method of restoring ruined planets with the help of Ithorians. Competing with the peaceful, naturalist Ithorians is Czerka Corporation, a ruthless organization intent on exploiting the restoration efforts. It's likely the restoration will fail if the player opts for the Dark Side choice with Czerka, since they have little interest in actually restoring the world and are mostly there for plunder. The testbed would prove a failure, and countless worlds destroyed by the Sith would likely never see life again.
Later on, the player will be faced with a civil war on the planet Onderon, a Republic world. General Vaklu, backed by the Sith, is initiating a coup against Queen Talia, who has allied Onderon with the Republic. The player will have the choice to help the Sith and Vaklu in their plot to separate Onderon from the Republic, or to defend Queen Talia and preserve the alliance. While there is some nuance regarding independence and the merit of monarchies, the game presents these as clear Dark and Light Side choices. Onderon's unique wildlife makes it one of a few worlds capable of seeding life on other planets such as Telos, so the outcome of this conflict decides the future of Onderon's people as well as other worlds.
The Player's Story Can Have Different Outcomes In Knights of the Old Republic 2
The player's character is known as the Jedi Exile, cut off from the Force and on a mission to find the last remaining Jedi Masters. What the player does after that, however, is up to them. As they locate Jedi Masters, the player is faced with two options: They can leave the Jedi in peace after conversing about the reasons for their exile and the Sith threat, or murder them on the spot. These choices define the nature of the player's character, whether they are forgiving, indifferent, or vengeful. Since the Jedi will eventually be killed by Kreia regardless, deciding their fates is ultimately a means of establishing the character's motives.
Like many RPGs, Knights of the Old Republic 2 features multiple endings depending on the player's choices and alignment. If the player chooses the Light Side options on Malachor 5, Darth Sion will finally release his anger and allow himself to die peacefully. The bond with Kreia is broken and her Sith are defeated, with the player character escaping the ultimate destruction of Malachor 5 and heading off into the Unknown Regions to find Revan.
Taking the Dark Side path, however, sees the player usurping the position held by Darth Sion, Nihilus, and Traya to become the next Sith Lord. Leaving behind their loyal followers to train the next generation of Sith, the player leaves Malachor 5 intact and heads off to find the true Sith in the Unkown Regions. Canonically the player character is a Light Side-aligned female named Meetra Surik, and the impact of these decisions will be visited 300 years later during Star Wars: The Old Republic. However, in-game the choice is ultimately up to each player.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 is available on Mobile and PC, with a Switch port in development.