Star Wars: The Old Republic, more than any other game to-date, has one of the best chances to launch the definitive Star Wars experience on any video game console. Developed by renowned RPG-creator Bioware, TOR will need to succeed where Galaxies did not, and must deliver a universe in which each Star Wars fan, be they fans of the Expanded Universe or simply the movies, must enjoy. To this end, 11 playable planets have already been announced: Tython (The original homeworld of the Jedi Order), Korriban (Home of the Sith), Hutta, Ord Mantell, Coruscant, Balmorra, Alderaan, Tatooine, Dromund Kass, Taris and Belsavis.

Categorizing the planets provides a perfect look into what Bioware hopes to achieve. Of these planets, four appeared in the movies (or at least were mentioned in the case of Ord Mantell), recognizable in one form or another to even passing fans. Another three planets appeared or were mentioned in Knights of the Old Republic, Bioware’s first Star Wars game released in 2004. And finally, and of most interest to me personally, Bioware’s taken another four planets straight out of the Expanded Universe. Bioware is taking a page of their KoTOR playbook and I have every expectation that their plan will succeed once again.

KoTOR itself included Tatooine, Korriban, Kashyyyk, Dantooine, Taris, Rakata Prime, the Star Forge and Manaan. The same ratios we see in TOR appear to be at work here with two planets mentioned in the movies, three from deeper Star Wars lore and another four of Bioware’s own creation. I believe there is great design here, as I hope to explain.

Movie Planets

Bioware struck gold with the original Tatooine because they made a single key distinction as to what players desire. Many previous Star Wars games have allowed players to walk across iconic Star Wars worlds, but none had taken what the player knew about a world, and transformed it into something distinct and new, yet familiar. Similarly, Bioware did the same with the Tusken Raiders, giving them a past, a history and a new point of view for all to consider.

I see the same strategies at work with The Old Republic. While Tatooine appears to be similar to what has come before, Bioware has decided to put a landscape to other planets; namely, Alderaan. We know the planet is the home of Princess Leia, just as we know the planet is as beautiful as it is non-violent. Bioware could satisfy every demand simply by showing us what that world looks like, but, instead, they chose to take it one step farther, and show us how the world was 3,000 years ago. The world is certainly still one of the most beautiful in the galaxy, but I’m sure Bioware has hidden new mysteries for us to discover as we learn to play. Nothing can be taken at face-value, because I’m sure TOR will have wonders hidden beneath the surface.

Previous Bioware Planets

As with any art, video games are never truly “done.” They may be shipped to the consumer, but developers can always add more content, deepen the story, change things to make them all the more perfect. Unfortunately and in some ways, fortunately, budgets and the need to release something to the public cut short development times. Sequels often provide developers the ability to change their formula, learn from their mistakes and perfect their games. Iteration lies at the heart of this concept, and most great series of games (be it Metal Gear Solid or Halo).

By including planets such as Taris, Bioware is being given that opportunity; the ability to take a world that they alone shaped and to reimagine it, and recreate the experience for the player. Bioware could simply recreate the planet but once again, they aim to make an experience for the player that supersedes anything that has previously been done.

Expanded Universe Planets

The final set of planets that Bioware has chosen to play with is one that comes solely from the Expanded Universe. Planets like Tython or Belsavis have featured in Star Wars fiction before but often in very different time periods from the one in which the planet was originally found. Planets like Belsavis have been completely new back-stories that provide a whole new experience to any player while still giving that hint of what might come in the future. And while the name may mean nothing to the un-initiated, I have no doubt EU fans will find nuggets of information that may hint to a planets future.

By this time, the formula Bioware follows should be relatively clear: When given almost any planet, Bioware will choose to improve on the experience instead of staying satisfied with what they could do with it as is. It’s something that Bioware seems to be committed to as a company and it’s a trait that has really shined in my eyes over the past few years. And while it may be too early to truly say what exploring these planets may be like, it looks promising to me, and it makes me all the more hopeful that the game will meet every expectation and goal put before it.

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