In 2011, just a year before Disney bought LucasFilm, BioWare released a Star Wars MMORPG set in the future of their famous Knights of the Old Republic series. With its unique worlds and extremely immersive storytelling, Star Wars: The Old Republic has become a wonderful example of an MMORPG done right, with many of the features of the genre that people love, but without simply being more of the same.
With a change to the battle system, you can now freely choose between eight origin stories while creating your character. They are divided into two factions, the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire. There are many things to enjoy in these stories, from quirky gags to engaging plots. With soldiers, agents, smugglers, Jedi and Sith, you have more than enough to experience the legends of the Old Republic.
Updated on May 26, 2023 by Lucas Olah: Unfortunately, we don’t have any new class stories to discuss. The story expansions are generic to all classes, or at least split between Republic and Empire. Regardless, the eight main stories hold up well, making them worth diving deeper into what they’re about, with their individual actions and companions, and re-evaluating their ranking.
8 Smuggler
If you’ve ever wanted to be Han Solo but you’re not Harrison Ford, here’s your chance. An ideal option for those of you who like games where you are a criminal, this one lets you be a criminal with a heart of gold, a ruthless mob boss or somewhere in between.
The first act is probably the best, with a good antagonist to fight against and the introduction of the Smuggler’s best companions, Corso Riggs and Risha. The second and third acts revolve around shady dealings with the Republic and building his own criminal empire, which is a great concept. Still, aside from one or two antagonists, the main villain could have been more enjoyable. Regardless, The Smuggler excels at using more humor than other class stories, being funny and goofy, which gives it a unique charm.
7 A police officer
The Republic Trooper is a great choice for those who want to play with political intrigue and wear some of the coolest armor in the game. Unfortunately, despite the good story, many moments in it are forgettable. Aside from the first arc, the antagonists could have been more interesting.
The fight against the former Havoc Squad is one of the highlights here, moral decisions and a great addition to the story where you can be a good soldier, a soldier who follows all orders no matter how bad they may be, or abuse your power to blackmail people . Still, the final bosses aren’t that fun. Finally, at least some of the companions here are more enjoyable. Jorgan and Dorne are definitely the best, but the eccentric Yunn is also a fun addition, and you’ll love or hate Tanna Vik depending on your character’s disposition.
6 Bounty hunter
The bounty hunter story is a perfect choice for destruction and perfectly illustrates the underworld of the Star Wars universe. Aside from the smuggler, this is the only class that has a more independent story (although you mainly have Imperial connections). It also contains more humor and does the job better.
The companions are some of the best, not only because they are fun characters in their own right, but they play a much more active role in the story. Mako’s presence makes a huge difference in the overall narrative, Torian is compelling and has a good romantic subplot, and even Treek and Gault grow like you over the course of the game. Moral decisions are standard; you can be a professional or take bribes and you have to consider how far you will go with some of your goals. Choices you’d expect from a gun-for-hire story, but that doesn’t diminish their impact.
5 Eat the consulate
While most of the ‘cool fantasy food’ went to the Knight, the Consulate still has a wonderful story to back it up. Rather than striking at the heart of the Empire, the Consulate plays a more supporting role, with the plot revolving around the defense of the Republic and the Jedi Order.
From saving the Order from corruption, re-establishing the alliance between the Republic and some of its worlds, and fighting against the warped children of the Emperor, you’ve got exciting stuff all over the place. Some of the companions are also good, such as your Padawan Nadia, Lt. Iresso, and the Trandonian hunter Qyzen Fess, who luckily is with you for almost the entire journey.
4 Jedi Knight
Fantasy of the Chosen One is here. Being strong with the Force, becoming one of the strongest Jedi, and taking the battle to the Emperor’s doorstep are all within reach. This is by far one of the stories, if not the most epic. Companions also vary from charming to downright amazing characters, and even their special stories can be attractive to the class.
Of all the classes, this is the one that most resembles the main characterthe game and your choices affect the story in a spectacular way. It’s also one of the best stories to start with, as it introduces the player well to the time period and the overall narrative.
3 Sith Inquisitor
With victory, your chains are broken. From former slave to Lord of the Sith, the Inquisitor beautifully depicts how Sith politics and the dark side work, perfect for the series’ mythos. It can also be fascinating for those who like villains, as you have many opportunities to torture others.
Although the beginning is a bit slow (not counting the Prologue, which is arguably the best in the game), the story picks up towards the middle and shows the cruel side of Sith politics where you fight your way to the top of the Sith. hierarchy. The companions are also very compelling and some are the most involved in the plot, which only enhances their characters.
2 Sith Warrior
Become the Wrath itself by combining the arts of the lightsaber with the power of the Dark Side. Pure, raw Force (pun very much intended) awaits you with this class. This story not only shows the full potential of the master-apprentice dynamic, but also how curious a Star Wars story can be with the Imperial protagonist and the Galactic Republic as the antagonists, not to mention that it also introduces the game nicely, making it another perfect first class.
The plot and enemies are stunning, with the best final boss of all eight stories built from the ground up. The choices you can make are very impactful, and most of the best companions in the game come from this class, all of whom have their moments to shine in the story. And just because you use your emotions in battle doesn’t mean you can’t be kind to others, making your Sith a nice person. Or at least as nice a person as he can be while still supporting the oppressive Sith Empire.
1 Imperial agent
It’s funny how a game based on Star Wars, with Force users, bounty hunters and whatnot, has this random class as the best written of them all. Not only does this class show what it’s like to be a ‘normal’ person within the Sith, but it has a magnificent and complex story.
Not all of your companions are memorable – save for love-it-or-hate-it Kaliya – but sneaking around, having hidden identities, and even becoming a double agent are some of the many highlights of this story, which gives you plenty of moral and not-so-ethical choices. And the web of lies runs so deep that you’re in far more danger than you might initially expect. However, all the stories happen at the same time, and if you play the others first, there are some neat details to figure out.