Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lords Story Analysis

If you’re in the mood for some reminiscing with a touch of nostalgia, you’ll probably enjoy this IGN article that examines the story and characters of Obsidian’s sequel to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and proclaims it (arguably) the best Star Wars story ever told. Personally, I tend to agree, so here are a few sample paragraphs and you take it from there:

KOTOR II explores the Force in ways the film franchise has never done

Regardless of whether you choose to play the Exile as a light or dark side character, Kreia is your mentor throughout the bulk of the game. She has a very unique and un-Jedi like view of the galaxy, and the player quickly learns that she despises the Force. Kreia views the Force as a conscious entity with a will to control the destiny of living beings, and that as an entity, it is consciously cruel. She uses it only as a means to an end:

“I use it as I would use a poison, and in the hopes of understanding it, I will learn the way to kill it.”

Perceiving the Force as a malevolent entity is something that has never been explored within the canon franchise, and it is an incredibly compelling view of one of the key elements of the Star Wars Universe – far more compelling than the “midichlorian” explanation of the Force in the prequel trilogy. Kreia is a character who, rather than wanting to harness the power of the Force like the Jedi and Sith of the films, wants instead to destroy it. She truly loathes it.

During the game, it becomes apparent that Kreia is perhaps the greyest character ever to wield a lightsaber. She’s been a disciple of both the light and dark side, and has been both a Jedi Master and the Sith Lord Darth Traya.

As the Exile gets to know her better, and snippets of her complex backstory are revealed, it’s clear that Kreia is acutely aware of both the flaws and virtues of the Jedi and the Sith. She’s a Sith Lord, yes – but unlike Palpatine or Snoke, she is not one who is straight-up evil, or one who seeks power for power’s sake. She uses the dark side as a means to an end. And it’s that complex relationship with the Force that allows her to present the Exile with knowledge and wisdom that is surprisingly nuanced, but also something that could not be learned by a typical Jedi Master or Sith Lord.