The original Xbox, often characterized as the "shooter box," also played a crucial role in popularizing Western role-playing games on consoles, according to IGN executive editor Ryan McCaffrey. While Bethesda's port of The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind in 2002 was an early indicator, it was BioWare's Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic in July 2003 that significantly shifted the landscape.
Released during a historically quiet period for major game launches, Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) became a standout title. McCaffrey, who reviewed the game for Official Xbox Magazine and awarded it a 9.4 out of 10, considers it his personal favorite RPG and one of the greatest games on the Xbox, even arguing it surpassed contemporary RPGs on the PlayStation 2.
The game's enduring appeal lies in its mechanics and narrative. A key triumph was the implementation of Light and Dark Side meters, allowing players to significantly influence their character's alignment through choices and actions. This system offered substantial replayability and provided players with the agency to explore drastically different paths, a feature BioWare would later build upon in its Mass Effect series.
Memorable elements like diverse planets such as Kashyyyk and Tatooine, iconic characters like HK-47, and a renowned plot twist contribute to KOTOR's lasting impact. While its graphics may appear dated by today's standards, the game's core elements remain compelling. KOTOR is currently available for purchase on the Xbox digital store and is playable on modern Xbox consoles via backward compatibility, as well as on other platforms including mobile devices.
McCaffrey notes that KOTOR validated the Xbox as a destination for top-tier RPG development. Before playing it, he was not a significant fan of the genre, but the game converted him into a dedicated follower, particularly of Western RPGs. He asserts that BioWare's achievement with KOTOR, which he deems the best Star Wars video game ever made at the time, was instrumental in this shift.
Despite the announcement of a remake in 2021, McCaffrey expresses skepticism about its ability to match the original's quality, especially given the remake's reported development challenges. Nevertheless, he concludes that Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remains a pivotal title for the Xbox and a testament to the success that can be achieved when intellectual property is entrusted to skilled developers.