Star Wars has seen many games, but few are as universally beloved as Knights of the Old Republic. Among the greatest factors in that success are its heroes. Role-playing games hang their hats on character as much as gameplay. Players are meant to invest themselves in the world, its inhabitants, and their unique personalities.
KOTOR accomplished that with its party members. Their enduring esteem comes from not only their usefulness during gameplay but also their strength as characters. Of course, not everyone here is equally deep. The development of this crew of misfits has varying degrees of success.
9 T3-M4
This is the prototypical astromech in every sense. T3 can splice into stuff as well as one would expect, but he's practically useless in combat. He doesn't have much else going for him, either.
The little droid is severely lacking in personality. Compared to the rest of the characters, he comes off as bland and lifeless.
Granted, it's tough to muster character traits from beeps and boops, but R2-D2, BB-8, Chopper, and other droids all managed a wealth of energy and expression (for better or worse). There's no reason that T3 couldn't have done the same.
8 Canderous Ordo
Canderous is a Mandalorian, but not one of the honorable ones fans know nowadays. A veteran of the war between his people and the Republic, he's grown used to killing and carnage. He excels in heavy weaponry, and his implants provide several stat increases, making him an asset in any battle.
Ordo's wartorn history has also given him no filter and no qualms. He doesn't really need any since he's now a merc. While that devil-may-care attitude is amusing, it can come off as one-note after a while.
7 Bastila Shan
Bastila is unique from most Jedi due to her affinity for battle meditation--using the Force to influence one side over the other. This translates to a plethora of useful stat bonuses during combat, but she's not simply a support unit. Rather, she's a reliable warrior in her own right, wielding powerful offensive Force powers and a lightsaber, which has an obvious advantage over all other melee weapons.
Unfortunately, these advantages have gone to her head. Bastila has a holier-than-thou attitude that outshines even the snottiest Jedi Master. She sees the galaxy in black-and-white, which ironically paints her as shortsighted and pigheaded at times. Once the other Jedi characters come along, you'll want to spare yourself the annoyance and swap her out.
6 Zaalbar
This may seem stereotypical given the fact that he's a Wookiee, but Zaalbar is basically the tank of the group. He hits hard and takes a lot of abuse in return. Few things can break through his tough exterior.
Sadly, that also means he's closed off as a character for much of the journey. Whenever players ask him personal questions, he puts up a wall. He's more dynamic once the party reaches his home planet, and it is admittedly satisfying to see him confront his past. However, it would have been more engaging to get hints of development along the way, drawing players in and building his arc to a crescendo.
5 Carth Onasi
At first glance, this rugged rogue seems like a Han Solo knockoff. His prowess with blasters and rudimentary skill in breaking locks only strengthen that impression. What differentiates him is his true face as a world-weary soldier.
Carth has a lot of trust issues due to past betrayals in his military career, and he often deflects heavy exchanges or personal questions with witty comebacks. Breaking down those barriers and convincing him to confide in you is among the most fulfilling character dynamics in the game. Part of that is because he has the most time to breathe. That's the benefit of being the first party member.
4 HK-47
His look and name don't lie. HK-47 is a Jedi hunter droid, and he has the tools to take out the toughest masters. He specializes in destructive AOE attacks like mines and gas, which lightsabers can't deflect. He may not have much short-range capability, but don't worry. His thick armor is surprisingly sturdy against lightsabers and other melee strikes. His uses don't stop here, though.
HK also comes in handy during conversations.
Understanding indistinguishable alien languages, he's indispensable in building relations with hostile races. Would-be diplomats should be cautious, however, as he sees no problem with murder and mayhem. If it's practical in a combat scenario, he'll suggest it, even in the most peaceful negotiation. It's the same kind of dark humor that Star Wars would later use with Proxy in The Force Unleashed and K2-SO in Rogue One, and it mostly works as well here.
3 Mission Vao
Mission grew up as a street kid on a crime-ridden planet. That upbringing has given her a snarky edge, but she retains a certain childlike innocence which makes her an uplifting presence in the direst situations. It's interesting to see her plucky energy give way to maturity as she accompanies the party and learns of those who wronged her. Rather than regress to a jaded curmudgeon, though, she becomes more determined to bring some good back to the galaxy. This gives her an infectious charm unparalleled by the rest of the party.
The downside to that charm is her fragility. Mission is extremely easy to kill, making fights difficult for those who don't know how to use her skill set. She's still worth bringing along due to her expertise in explosives and security systems, which can end most battles before they begin. Just be sure to give her a sniping position out of harm's way.
2 Juhani
Recruited as part of a test for the player, Juhani treads the line between the Dark Side and the Light. That shows in her abilities, as she sports standard Force powers as well as more aggressive moves like shocking and choking. However, her conflict holds more pathos as it pertains to her character.
Much of her journey is about proving her worth as a Jedi after previously giving into darker tendencies. Succumbing to vengeance is all the more tempting when she runs into the people who traumatized her. Following her arc to its conclusion is an emotional tale in itself. Whichever path she takes, it comes down to her choices as well as the player's. That's hard to accomplish with a CPU character.
1 Jolee Bindo
This old hermit is the most interesting member of the troop. Jolee Bindo is an early example of a Gray Jedi: those who don't subscribe to the traditional teachings of the Order yet resist the Dark Side. He's seen plenty of horrific acts and done a few himself. Self-imposed exile has allowed him some perspective on those deeds and to reevaluate what's truly important. He has the nobility of a Jedi while seeing moral and ethical nuance in every scenario, breaking the norm and making him an invaluable mentor figure because of it.
Of course, that experience comes in handy during battle. Bindo is no slouch with a lightsaber, and he possesses various mind tricks to throw his enemies off. He even sports the odd healing technique. In short, few downsides exist in this self-professed coot.
Star Wars: Knight Of The Old Republic was released on July 15, 2003, and is available on PC, Xbox, iOS, Android, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.