Title: Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords .............................................. Developer: Obsidian Entertainment .............................................. Publisher: LucasArts Entertainment Company .............................................. Release: December 6th, 2004 .............................................. Xbox Live: Yes .............................................. ESBR: Teen ..............................................

In 2003, Lucas Arts released Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, which turned out to be one of the best selling games of the year, and was also rewarded with the Game of the Year title. It brought a whole new perspective to the world of RPG gaming, being one of the first, if not the first game to mix turn based combat with real time combat. It was definitely a unique game in that it allowed you to acheive your objectives in many different ways, each of which boils down to either good or evil. It offered very interactive environments that changed according to your actions, it offered a very in depth story line, that always had you wanting more, and also made you feel the crunch of story twists and surprises. And with all the variety of weapons, armor, clothing, items, characters, and outcomes, this was one epic game nobody should have missed out on.

Well, to every Star Wars: KOTOR fan's utmost joy, another was announced, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 The Sith Lords, due to release to eager Star Wars fans on December the 9th of 2004, Sure to be a standout from the multitude of games being released for the industry hey-day that is Christmas, Star Wars: KOTOR 2 is sure to be under hundreds of thousands of trees come the big day.

In the last game, the evil way meant ruling the Sith Armada, which in turn meant basically ruling the universe. Or, if you prefer the route of a good jedi, you saved the Galaxy from the Sith, and you are honored as one of the greatest and most courageous Jedis of your time. KOTOR 2 picks up 5 years after the events of the first game; the Old Republic is crushed, crippled, almost annihilated. There is nothing standing in the way of the Sith, nothing, or rather nobody, except one Jedi, maybe the last Jedi. He/she is the one that could and intends to turn the tables, wether the tables are turned toward the peace of the galaxy, or the tables are turned in this Jedi's favor, is yet to be decided.

Star Wars KOTOR 2: The Sith Lords, will, in general, be the same game as the first as far as gameplay, immersion, design and anything along that line goes. However it will be upgraded and added to in many ways.

You will be given a much larger selection of weapons, including light saber crystals, swords, blades, blasters and carbines of all shapes and sizes, as well as many more clothing and armor items to add to your closet. The gameplay and fighting engine have been tweaked and adjusted for an overall slicker, smoother, and prettier gaming experience. This will be great, considering the sometimes choppy fighting engine of the last game had a tendency to mess up occasionally, leaving your character standing like a bump on a log, getting hacked away at. There have also been improvements to the interface, menu, and other non-fighting aspects of the game, for overall convenience. You will also have a whole new array of force powers to play with, with a large range of both good and evil tricks to hide up your sleeve.

KOTOR "1" always kept you at the edge of your sofa, not knowing what would happen next in the twisting plot of your adventure, and the characters always had a jam to get out of, a fierce foe to deal with, or a threat to the universe placing everyone in dire peril. KOTOR 2 promises to be the same, offering a whole new story for you to savor and enjoy. The original game was known for its ability to give you countless ways to accomplish and achieve objectives and missions, deal with pesky enemies, or gain reputation and credits (money). Expect to see more of the same in KOTOR 2.

I, as well as many, many others can't wait to try this game, which promises to be a gem, because of all the fun, drama, puzzles, twists, options, side quests, thrills, adventure, and so many other things that it promises to deliver. I would look for it to replace the original KOTOR as the greatest Star Wars game ever made for the Xbox. This is a must for the holiday season.