 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Star Wars: The Old Republic
- Windows
- Price: $59.95
- Genre: Massively Multi-player Online Game (MMOG)
Common Sense Media says
Play as Jedi or Sith in this story-rich, combat-laden MMO.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Star Wars: The Old Republic is a massively multiplayer online game (MMO) that requires the purchase of the game as well as a $14.95 monthly subscription fee. Players become classic characters from the Star Wars movies and not only quest and kill non-playable characters and monsters, but they can indulge in player-versus-player combat that uses weapons and magic, but no blood is shown. However, blood can be seen in a few other scenes. Players can choose to be a good and noble Jedi or play as a Sith, which means portraying an attitude that is arrogant, bullying, fear-inducing, and cruel. In addition to questing, players can also indulge in space combat and player-versus-player war zones. There is text chat between players that can become uncensored. The system requirements for the game are a bit beefy, so newer machines or older systems that have new components (RAM and video cards) are required to play the game.
What kids can learn
Kids can learn about collaborating and communicating with others as they contribute to a team while exploring the sci-fi world of Star Wars: The Old Republic. This massively multiplayer online game requires kids to use reasoning to accomplish the quest-driven goals. There is a moral element to the game, where kids' decisions lead to consequences and ultimately determine whether players go to the "light" or "dark" side. Players can also create items by crafting and learn about buying and selling for profit. The Old Republic lays out quests and locations for you, which hinders your ability to feel empowered.
Subjects
- Arts
- Hobbies
- Language & Readingreading comprehension, storytelling, text analysis
- Math
- Science
- Social Studiescultural understanding, exploration, power structures
Skills
- Collaborationcooperation, respecting other viewpoints, teamwork
- Communicationasking questions, conveying messages effectively, friendship building
- Creativity
- Emotional Development
- Health & Fitness
- Responsibility & Ethicsfollowing codes of conduct, learning from consequences
- Self-Direction
- Tech Skills
- Thinking & Reasoningdecision-making, problem solving, solving puzzles, strategy
What's it about?
STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC takes place long before the age that formed the basis for the six movies. There are two factions, the peace-loving Jedi and the violent Sith, that are at odds and trying to control the galaxy. The player is cast into this turmoil, while retaining the choice of which side to fight for, or to tread between Light and Dark, equally. Just because a player is Jedi, though, does not mean they cannot be a Dark-Side Jedi, or a Sith can be a Light-Side Sith. The game has many fantastic worlds to explore, quests to undertake, with a different storyline for each of the four classes per faction (the factions being either the Sith or the Jedi.) Players can customize their character's looks and skills, take part in crafting, fight on the worlds or in space, and take on companions as well as join guilds to adventure with other real human players.
Is it any good?
Star Wars: The Old Republic has bucked the story-doesn't-matter trend of MMOs by creating a game where the story matters a lot. This is one of the best, if not the best, story-driven MMO on the market. The graphics are glorious and the game bolsters its appeal with the lore and legend of the Star Wars license. While the space combat is not very good and is more arcade than anything else, the rest of the experience is well done: the crafting is intelligent, the player-versus-player battlefields are balanced for all player levels, and there is a lot to see and do. All in all, this is great fun.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how some games, with ties to other areas of pop culture, can create interest and drive sales for a brand such as Star Wars.
With MMOs, it is easy to get wrapped up in playing for hours without taking breaks and becoming obsessed with gaming. Parents can talk to their children about setting reasonable and responsible time limits for playing games.
A talk can be had about how to differentiate between the violence seen in games and what happens (or should not happen) in the real world.
What kids can learn
Kids can learn about collaborating and communicating with others as they contribute to a team while exploring the sci-fi world of Star Wars: The Old Republic. This massively multiplayer online game requires kids to use reasoning to accomplish the quest-driven goals. There is a moral element to the game, where kids' decisions lead to consequences and ultimately determine whether players go to the "light" or "dark" side. Players can also create items by crafting and learn about buying and selling for profit. The Old Republic lays out quests and locations for you, which hinders your ability to feel empowered.
Subjects
- Arts:
- Hobbies:
- Language & Reading: reading comprehension, storytelling, text analysis
- Math:
- Science:
- Social Studies: cultural understanding, exploration, power structures
Skills
- Collaboration: cooperation, respecting other viewpoints, teamwork
- Communication: asking questions, conveying messages effectively, friendship building
- Creativity:
- Emotional Development:
- Health & Fitness:
- Responsibility & Ethics: following codes of conduct, learning from consequences
- Self-Direction:
- Tech Skills:
- Thinking & Reasoning: decision-making, problem solving, solving puzzles, strategy
How kids will learn
Kids can learn by taking on quests, teaming up with others, and making choices in developing their characters. Choices lead to "light side" or "dark side" points that can then determine if players can use certain weapons or armor. When it comes to the economic side, players can create items, and then put them up for sale to make a profit.
How parents can help
- Talk about how actions have consequences, using news items (television or newspapers) as a foundation for discussion.
- Look for activities to join where your kids participate as a team member, such as Model UN or Odyssey of the Mind.
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
It's like WoW...but better.
Star Wars: The Old Republic (TOR) is an MMO game (Massively Multiplayer Online) that requires a $15 monthly fee to play. This fee may seem like a lot, but it guarantees a few things for the life of your game: 1. Content updates. You will get free content patches from time to time as well as regular system/server maintenance. This is a great deal that will balance the game, fix issues/bugs, and increase the playtime of the game by months-years.
Look at it this way: A kid gets a $60 game every few months or gets a $50+$15/month (about $12 if you pay in 6 month bundles) will equal out if not be much cheaper than those other games, as well as it's on PC which means no new consoles to upgrade to.
The game has some violence, but I highly doubt it's anything more than a 13-year old can handle. Not bloody or gory imo.
Some swearing during cutscenes, nothing more than D*mn and Hell. and they are few and far between.
As far as sexualily, there are conversations in which your character can choose to have sex with an NPC. This is not shown at all. Just hinted at. They walk off screen, fade to black, they come back on screen. Nothing shown. I didn't mark this because it's a decision option and depending on their decision it will or won't happen.
I would say that if your child is playing in a guild with other players and uses a mic/headset to talk over skype/vent/teamspeak they are hearing more bad things than this game offers because you can't censor people.
If you are on the line about this game just get it. It's free for a month, if you approve then good, if not, you at least get 1 month of playtime out of it, which is about what most kids spend playing 1 game these days anyway.
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AGE
It's Great
I love this game. All of the sexual plots are optional. Violence is not a real issue and is a lot less violent than any star wars movie. Its ok for pretty much anyone who has seen Star Wars.
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AGE
important info
The game has almost no blod. Sex is a option. On PvP mode strategy is important. The violence is not very big since your character fights atomaticly. If you have a friend with this game both of you can help each other on quests
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AGE
CHOOSE TO HAVE BABIES
The great thing about this game is that you can choose weather or not to have sex, which is not true to life but very fun in game form. My 8 year old was monitored.
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AGE
Did Michael Lafferty even play this for more than 5 minutes?
The origional reviewer, Michael Lafferty, obviously does not understand the difference between the player's morality and faction (EDIT: He did, sorry about that, but it was hidden in the "more on" section.) It is possible to play as a light-side Sith, and I must say that it is lots of fun to do so. You can also play as a Dark Side Jedi who believes that the ends justify the means. Another thing is that your choices directly affect your story and you do face consequences for your actions. The reviewer also said that even light side characters show no remorse, that is not true. A pure light side character will often try to settle conflicts peacefully, and they will succeed a suprising amount of the time if you play your cards right. When situations still end in violence, you will often find that the same character regrets things could not be solved peacefully. Bioware's unique way of giving players the ultimate choices can be used to teach kids that bad choices have consequences and doing the right thing is rewarding.
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AGE
A Good Game for Mature Preteens
As a teenager (and a lifelong Star Wars fan), Star Wars: the Old Republic caught my eye the day it was announced. The game offers a truly incredible story, which players choose to be a class (profession, for example: bounty hunter, Jedi Knight, Imperial Agent, etc.) and develop a unique character. Along the journey, players will kill countless NPC's and other players . They can kill them just because they attack them, or choose to kill innocents, such as a small boy's father in front of the boy. Although the player can be Jedi or Sith, they can choose to make good decisions in dialogue that will earn them light side points, compared to bad actions, dark side points. Along the journey, players will have an option to romance NPC's, which can lead to kissing and off-screen sex. The player will develop a healthy relationship with them and can learn that there is more beyond having a boyfriend/girlfriend. The game offers an extremely long story, with plot twists and turns, classic Star Wars moments, and character development. Even though it is Star Wars, it can be violent, sexy, and display a bit of mild language. Even thought this the best game I have ever played (my opinion), it is clearly meant for older and more mature fans of Star Wars, compared to The Clone Wars. I think this game is good for any mature 12 year old, but it is ultimately your call. Keep in mind it does have a $15 dollar monthly fee. If you want to learn more information about this amazing experience, Google SWTOR.
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AGE
Da Star Warz
Star wars is pretty cools, specially dem vid gaymes but not good as movie is pretty cool but is clone wars not is. Skyrim. Yup.
MOS ELSY CANTINA. THIS IS THE TALE. Alcohol. DOVAHKIIN
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Kid, 11 years old
March 23, 2012
AGE
Wow? Oh, you mean the that dusty game over there. TOR ftw!
After my parents finally agreeing to make an account on my behalf, i've finally been able to play my most anticipated game ever. Being a massive fan of KOTOR, i've never felt more at gaming home than returning to my fave genre of game crossed with the best star wars game of all time. Certain language is used, but no massive profanity. It's also very infrequent. People might blurt out against ESRB's blood and gore rating, but there's about 3 moves in the game that can cause bleeding for about, 3 seconds. This game is way better than WoW, but it's much larger as well. With a whole galaxy to comprehend, you'd need a lot of memory to get your computer to run this. Now, the sexual parts, it's no big deal. A bit of flirting and you can get ' invited to somebodies quarters ' and then it'll fade to black, so what happens is entirely up to your imagination. Back to the violence, actual ingame combat is better than WoW, but the cutscenes can be quite disturbing, once playing as my sith inquisitor, a cutscene suggested I'd sliced a guys neck and impaled somebody else slowly. The game can involve scenes of torture, death, and betrayal.
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AGE
It's an MMO it isn't designed so you perverts who buy this game can jerk off
Are you guys kidding me. I don't even have the game and I know that it's fine for kids who want to play it granted I wouldn't recommend to get it now wait for it to be free to play. Sex are you kidding me read the box sexual THEMES if you're young you can play it and not get it but if you are say 13 or older you really don't care I mean come on.
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AGE
Wonderful MMO
An MMO based in the Star Wars universe, taking place many, many years before the movies. You can either choose to play on the Republic, or the Sith Empire. The player can choose to play as a Jedi, Sith, a Smuggler, a Bounty Hunter, a Soldier, and a Spy. Every single character that speaks is fully voice acted, and the player can choose different conversation choices, and can choose to play on the Light Side, or Dark Side. The game does include some sexual content with the romancing options, but it fades to black, nothing at all is shown, and sex is never mentioned. The game does deal with some more unsavoury topics, like slavery, greed, and corruption. Being an MMO it does have a monthly subscription fee of $15.
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy, superheroes |
| Platforms: | Windows |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | Massively Multi-player Online Game (MMOG) |
| Developer: | Electronic Arts |
| Release date: | December 20, 2011 |
| Price: | $59.95 |
| ESRB rating: | T for Blood and gore, mild language, sexual themes, violence |
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