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KOTOR2: The Incompletion Controversy
By Craig Dixon

In 2003, Knights of the Old Republic was released to enthralled fans and critics alike. An engrossing story that rivaled that of the movies, impressive, addictive gameplay, and interesting, deep characters helped to make Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic into the 2003 game of the year. Fast forward to December 2004, and the sequel to the 2003 game of the year is already on the shelves, and flying off of them just as quickly. It seemed like a very short time to develop an epic successor to KOTOR. "How can anyone make a game worthy of the KOTOR title under such a deadline?" was the question being asked by fans and professional game critics alike, the task just didn't seem possible. It was indeed too good to be true.

In December 2004, game reviewers at sites such as IGN and Gamespot, brought a sigh of relief to fans of the series around the world when they reported that the game indeed managed to fill the shoes of its older sibling, despite the fact it was developed by Obsidian this time around instead of Bioware. Not only was it given high marks by numerous reviewers, more recently it was awarded "Game of The Year" by RPG Vault and "RPG of the Year" by RPGDot, in addition to similar awards by other groups. Upon initial release the game sales were quite pleasing for LucasArts...of course that was the intention of the December deadline after all. Booming sales, great ratings, awards...the game must be incredible, right? Not quite. Many gamers have since changed their view on the game upon completion.

Upon reaching the later events of KOTOR2, it becomes clearly evident that the game has suffered greatly from its short time in development. It's been uttered on forums around the internet but no major site has been willing to admit it or say it...LucasArts rushed this game onto shelves for holiday sales before it was ready to be released. The latter part of the game is clearly missing cut scenes, certain subplots and many elements of the main plot are left unresolved, gaping plot holes emerge that are never explained, supporting characters of the player character's party completely disappear from the game, never to appear again, with NO explanation as to where they are (evidence of these issues can be found by clicking on the hyperlinks that are provided at the bottom of the page). Bugs have ruined entire files, many gamers have reported constant crashes, having to restart the game entirely, quests that cannot be completed due to bugs, and a generally poor frame rate. The final cut scene, what some people have called a "cliff hanger" is lacking in even the slightest bit of resolve to be considered a cliff hanger.

Let's take a look at "The Empire Strikes Back", which some people have inaccurately compared the game to. "Empire" was a true cliff hanger, it was an example of masterful story telling, and though it was a cliff hanger even it had some resolve, enough to let you comprehend the story. Luke is rescued from his certain doom and is given a new robotic hand, Leia and Luke look out from aboard a Rebel ship into the galaxy knowing they face more challenges. I won't give away any "spoilers" (if it's possible for this non-ending to have any) but the ending would be comparable to ending "Empire" at the moment when Han is frozen. Complete games, books, movies, or any form of medium that is telling a story simply do not end in such a manner! It's preposterous!

In the past few weeks, problems that have arisen as a result of the game's incomplete state have become more and more evident. Numerous audio clips containing lines of cut dialogue have been found within folders on the game discs, events from the games original script that were cut (such as a more fleshed out ending) have also emerged.

One of the strongest pieces of evidence to support the accusations of the game's incompletion is a sub-plot involving G0T0 and Bao-Dur's remote droid. A conflict arises between the two in a video sequence that was left in game and yet a resolution is never shown on-screen.

According to the development team themselves in a recent interview with RPG Vault "...we had this incredible design for a planet of droids. We actually did the first pass on art and built the character models for the location. But we had to look at the schedule and make a big cut after E3. We cut the entire planet. " Not surprisingly, it was a planet you were to visit late in the game‘s progression. What was the reason for cutting it? Time constraints. This comment reveals just how damaging this deadline that LucasArts gave to Obsidian was to the development of a complete game with a fleshed-out story.

Upon finishing the game it becomes apparent that visiting the cut planet was important not only for sub-quests involving HK-47 (subquests that cannot be completed in the released version), but it becomes obvious that the events that were supposed to transpire were central to explaining other events on Malachor V. It was central to explaining the resolution between G0T0 and the remote droid. More importantly, it was a key to explaining the final cut scene which currently makes little to no sense, it gives absolutely no explanation of what has happened to the characters or what is going to happen next...and then...the credits roll.

A growing number of fans are upset, angry, and concerned. A petition has been posted at PetionOnline.com demanding that LucasArts and Obsidian take the time and effort needed to re-insert these vital elements back into the game, address other technical bugs, and frame rate issues that plague the game. It is perplexing that the critics have rated the game so highly, one has to wonder how many of them actually completed the game before reviewing it, regardless, their opinions are being increasingly countered by paying customers who are learning that the game is not quite as spectacular as "professional" gaming reviewers have been claiming.

Numerous events, found in the original script can be found in this thread.

Some of the audio tracks cut from the game have leaked onto the internet, they can be found at the Obsidianent Forums.

If you would like to sign the petition, it can be found at PetitionOnline.

This is an important petition to those who feel KOTOR2 was severely damaged by pressure from its deadline. Beyond the purpose of having KOTOR2's story told in its original intended manner, it will send a message to LucasArts that fans feel it is unacceptable to sacrifice the quality of such a potentially fantastic series in order for quicker profit. This petition is for the sake of preserving the value of story telling in the Star Wars universe. To many, the stories Star Wars provides us with are the reason we hold it dear.

We are all aware LucasArts is a business before anything else, but this petition will also send them another message, they will lose fans if they continue their trends of rushing developers and in turn, lose money. Their Christmas deadline was not financially sound in the long-run. A number of people who bought KOTOR2 on launch day without waiting to hear the opinions of others will not be doing so with KOTOR3. I know I won't be. Many people have even claimed to be done supporting LucasArts altogether. If they want our support as customers they need to be willing to release complete products as we are paying full prices.

For additional reading on the issue:
Christopher Buecheler, a member of Gamespy's staff, has expressed his own thoughts on the game, and has expressed his own dissatisfaction with the game's current state of incompletion. He goes against the trend of industry writers who hold the game in high regard. He shares evidence proving that KOTOR2's quality has suffered due to deadline cutting. That editorial can be found at The Resident Cynic: A Rush and A Push.

Craig Dixon
March 4th, 2005

Ryoga wrote:I'm not at all surprised about the 'professional reviewers not even completing the game' angle. Really, game mags are shit and have been for many, many years....sometimes they don't even bother playing the games at all (Megaman X and his pal Rush...). So, the fact that they could give KOTOR2 high marks in spite of its flaws doesn't surprise me at all.

Vympel wrote:I haven't killed Kavar or found Vash yet...

Steven Snyder wrote:

Vympel wrote:I haven't killed Kavar or found Vash yet...

From reading those threads on Obsidian, Vash was 'cut' from the game, which explains her abrupt death.

Darth Fanboy wrote:

Steven Snyder wrote:

Vympel wrote:I haven't killed Kavar or found Vash yet...

From reading those threads on Obsidian, Vash was 'cut' from the game, which explains her abrupt death.

I was disappointed, one fewer Jedi to butcher. Sion was disppointingly easy.

Challenging Kreia <Takes place no matter what. Lines involving Mira may not be present, if Mira isn't in the party. Interesting that Bao-Dur may be a Jedi, but he isn't present in any of this. From the note included with the dialogue the party has before they approach Kreia, the party's discussion of planning an attack shouldn't occur. I still include it, because I like it. I had to guess on who said most of it, but it seems about right. Takes place right as the Exile enters the Academy.>

{[Gameplay Programmer: DO NOT SCRIPT THIS. Kreia is sitting in the middle of the Trayus Core, meditating.]}

Mira: {Quietly}I say we fire a rocket at her right now, and blow her screaming, burning body into the heart of this planet.

Atton: It wouldn't work- if there were other distractions, maybe, if she wasn't telepathic, maybe. If you want to kill her like that, you need something else to occupy her attention, otherwise you might just wound her. And then we'd all be in trouble.

Disciple/Handmaiden: This battle will not be decided by weapons.

Visas: You are wrong. Manipulation is Kreia's strength, not battle. We have a chance... we just have to figure out how to make use of it. Let us see what transpires... and plan our attack.{[Gameplay Programmer: Pauses, looks around, realizes that Atton is gone.]}{[Gameplay Programmer: Fight between Atton and Kreia, short, quick, brutal.]}

<Kreia sits back down, if the above occurs. If so, Atton doesn't give his line, nor does she speak to him at the end.>

Mira: {With weapon at the ready}We've come a long way, Kreia... don't bother getting up.

Kreia: {Indulgent, doesn't move}Ah, the huntress. To come alone... you are braver than I thought.

Disciple/Handmaiden: She is not alone. We stand with her. And with her, stand all the Jedi.{Strides in, behind other Jedi, lightsaber raised}

Atton: And now I come in, saying something suitably heroic.

Kreia: {Mild contempt, doesn't even bother getting up}Children with lightsabers... {smiles contemptuously, beat}but not Jedi, I think.

Kreia: {[Gameplay Programmer: Kreia gets up.]}Come close, let me look upon you and see what the exile's teaching has forged.

Kreia: {[Gameplay Programmer: Looks across the "heroes," camera pans across them - just do a series of close ups if we have no animated camera]}An assassin, a slayer of her own kin, a blinded slave... and a fool.{Indulgent}Which of you wishes to try yourselves against me? As you can see, I am unarmed.

Kreia: <turns to Handmaiden, if Exile is male> You, perhaps? Come, child, where you walk, it is not far from battle, slaughter, and the blood of your sisters.

Kreia: <turns to Disciple, if Exile is female> Come, boy, face me now - do not make this one of the many battles you have run from.

{[Disciple/Handmaiden attacks, Kreia barely moves, deftly avoiding every blow, then gets bored, and grabs the Handmaiden/Disciple by the throat, or in a Force Crush.]}

<if Exile male, to Handmaiden> Think. Think before you throw away your life for him. Think of everything you will lose by dying.Your lusts unfulfilled. A dance, unfinished. A love, requited. Think before you give it up so quickly.

<if Exile female, to Disciple> Think. Think before you throw away your life for her. Think of everything you will lose by dying. A love, requited. A hope of another life, beyond the shadow of the Jedi. {Beat before last sentence}Think before you give it up so quickly.

<presumably the Disciple/Handmaiden collapses at this point>

Kreia: {[Gameplay Programmer: Kreia turns to Visas.]}And you, blind one, you have hungered to strike me down ever since you saw the bond the exile and I share.

Visas: Can you feel the Force running through me, even past the veil, past your bloodied eyes? You know you cannot win. The Force runs strong within you, Traya, but in the howling of a storm, it is difficult to hear the whisper of the blade. You have forever been the blind one. You were given a gift few are ever given, and yet you let your gift of sight warp you, tw-

Kreia: {[Calm, like a surgeon, Kreia does Force Crush, lifting Visas up.]}You think your existence under your Lord was torture, Miraluka? I will make you see.{[Pause as Visas lies, collapsed.]}

Kreia: {Turns to Mira} And you. You were stronger than I thought - to spare the beast that wished to kill you. I felt it, faintly, even here on Malachor. Come, huntress. You have tracked me so far and killed many beasts to be here. Come, huntress. You have tracked me so far. Cast away your past for this moment. <Presumably, Kreia disables Mira somehow, probably Force Crush>

Kreia: <turns to Atton> And now... at last, the fool. You only delay the inevitable. You have been difficult to sense before... but not now. You can cloak your mind only for so long. It is only a matter of coaxing the right thought to the surface. Your desire to protect the Jedi... and the hope that will kill the guilt inside you.

Kreia: <if Exile is male> He will fall before me, you know. And when I am done with him, I will watch as he murders you with the Force.

Kreia: <if Exile is female> It is only a matter of coaxing the right thought to the surface. Your desire to protect the Jedi... and the hope that she truly cares about you...She will fall before me, you know. And when I am done with her, she will view you with all the contempt I do for a murderer such as you.

<Atton collapses in despair, or Kreia disables him with Force Crush.>

Kreia: <to Sion?> And that is the last of them. Take them. They are strong in the Force... and they will have their uses. I will remain here and await the one who comes.

47: Command: You will talk.
50: Defiant Statement: There is nothing you can do to me. Do your worst.
{Being electrocuted}Agonized Exclamation: Ah, my photoreceptors! My photoreceptors!
47: Statement: I shall up the charge to your circuits next time. Now answer the question.
50: {Just electrocuted, a little weak}Posturing Statement: I will never talk.
47: Statement: Then I will have to settle for your screams.
Atton: {Watching HK torture the droid, shaking his head, disturbed}That is one sick droid.
{The HK-50 unit screams in a most comical way}
47: Statement: My prisoner has revealed something of interest. Allow me to share it with you.
Statement: The facility that is creating these cruder, unsophisticated versions of me is located on Telos. I propose we go there and turn it into a smoldering crater.

Crom wrote:So I have to ask, what happened to everyone at the end of the game? Were they all defeated by Traya, and then imprisoned until the Exile defeated her? Where was Bao-Dur? What happened to G0-T0?

Bao-Dur is dead. There isn't enough left in the game's files to tell how it happened, just that he sacrificed himself for some reason or another sometime between the Ravager and arriving on Malachor and left Remote with a final set of instructions (reactivating the Mass Shadow Generator).

SpacedTeddyBear wrote:Well there's really nothing to indicate that Bao-Dur's dead. In the end where Kreia tells you of the fate of your compantions, if that part is in continuation of all the stuff that got cut, than Bao-Dur may still be alive. Maybe he's the one which brought the Ebon Hawk back from the deep. Of course that's assuming that is in continuation of what was cut.