Star Wars: The Old Republic - Knights of the Eternal Throne

Storytelling is the bedrock of the SWTOR universe and continues to be presented very well in this expansion to a galaxy far, far away. Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne delivers a rich role-playing adventure to control the galaxy through gorgeous cut scenes and dynamic, thought-provoking quests. As you progress through the chapters with a team of hand-picked allies (Companions) to confront one of the most dangerous families in the galaxy, your decisions have the potential to cause interesting and distressing consequences. As you decide who will live and die and who will eventually rule the galaxy, your every action drives the galaxy closer to the light or dark side of the Force. Returning players will appreciate the additional worlds in the expansion, as they're beautiful to explore and expand on the depth of the Star Wars universe you know and love. Additionally, three modes have been added to chapter and combat missions. The Story mode continues the tradition of wrenching your emotions with each plot-driven moment, while Veteran mode ramps up the story and challenges your use of tactical skills in combat. For the ultimate challenge, you can repeat a chapter or mission on Master level alone or with friends to experience heart-pounding, large-scale battles that will seriously test you. These various challenge levels are great additions to the already numerous ways to play.

For the new players, the expansion adds tons to the storyline, allowing you to develop and grow so much further than before. The number of betrayals, unexpected twists, and opportunities to exert control and to gain personal power are taken to a whole new level. Earlier expansions broadened the universe and told wider stories but didn't really tap into how you directly affected the outcomes of the universe. Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne brings the story back around to you and your choices. Eternal Throne isn't without problems, because the consequences don't feel as severe as they could have been, which takes the edge off an otherwise gripping story. Plus, the Galactic Command system (the end-game mechanic that raises a character's command rank instead of their levels) seems a bit bizarre and definitely a grind. It also shifts the focus away from a character-centric game to an ending plot presentation, which is counter to all previous expansions. Despite these minor issues, Star Wars fans and any sci-fi MMO enthusiasts should launch into hyperspace with Knights of the Eternal Throne.