Star Wars: The Old Republic drops a surprise video documentary

It seemed like just another day for the legion of fans rabidly awaiting more information on Star Wars: The Old Republic, or more specifically another Thursday. After all, the site updates with content on such a regular schedule on Fridays that you could set your watch by it, assuming that your watch only measures what day it is. But we were surprised by the tease that the game would be posting an update via its social media sites on Twitter and Facebook. Lo and behold, it's a new developer video on one of the most central activities in the game: combat.

Currently exclusive to Gametrailers, the movie highlights the speed and fluidity of the game's combat animations as well as the overall design philosophy. One of the points the developers choose to point out is that most MMO combat is focused on several players versus a single boss enemy, which feels much less heroic and epic than a lone warrior struggling against unbeatable odds. Mobility, style, and more than a few interesting powers are on display in the six-minute video, which should give Star Wars: The Old Republic fans plenty to look forward to.

[ Thanks to Tziena for the tip! ]

Reader Comments (43)

I have to admit I really, really, really, liked what I saw. Count me in. Really? Really? Yes Glenn...really!

This will NOT be a flop, gamers. If you can spare 1 minute, please look up on all the games that BioWare has released.

*drool* this game can't come soon enough, I really hope there are a lot more MMO elements than single player elements in the game

Can't wait to play this. Like what I see.

Does this mean no raids?

SWEET!

I have been skeptical about TOR up until today. Man, that video blew my mind. It just looks like good old fashioned fun, to be honest. If its half as engaging Input-wise as it is actually looking at it, I have a feeling we are all going to be blown away.

Birk- I totally agree and felt the same.

Can't watch the video (capped) but it sounds like a game thats focusing so hard on community has now dropped (albeit arguably) one of the best community builders in the game; party dungeons and raids?

That's more than a bit worrying, as I can't imagine this being even remotely PvE orientated when you've taken away the main aspect of end game PvE (unless someone wishes to correct me).

I'm all for PvP, but when you are aiming at the stars for subs numbers you would certainly want to cater to the PvE players would you not? I mean, you aren't going to pull good subs numbers in the long term from the WoW fund with an end game focused entirely on PvP.

But as I said, I can't watch the video, but based on the article my lifetime sub is now up in the air.

they just said that everyone hitting one boss mob isnt heroic, didnt say that there was no end game or group dungeons, which they call flash points btw, they are trying to be game changers, so expect at end game massive battles

There's more to PvE than end-game raiding. TOR is a story-based MMO. The KotOR games are all about that, with no end-game raiding. Does that mean they don't have PvE? Nope.

I think you mean debatably. "Arguable" means you can provide a strong basis in favor of your point, while "debatable" means you can provide a strong basis against it.

If that's the case, then you're right. A lot of people have expressed disappointment over the lack of fun factor in raiding. See http://www.massively.com/2010/04/20/ensidias-muqq-talks-progression-fun/

I think Bioware will provide a different mechanism for keeping players engaged once they've completed their class storylines. Personally, I hope they go with some episodic group content, as in STO.

They've already mentioned in other videos that there will be typical party scenarios and they specifically said there will be "raids" at one point also.

Whoa. Looks like they've nailed the combat. But what about the persistency of an MMO universe? Is it all just combat or have they nailed persistency? Such as open-ended sandbox type of universe?

We'll see ...

Considering Bioware is still a year out from release, that's some spectacular footage. I can't think of another MMO where combat looks that fluid.

I think Bioware will provide a different style of endgame than you're used to. Personally, I hope they go with some episodic group content, as in STO.

Sorry for the double post

I did enjoy the video. The combat looks fluid and rather fun. Only concern I have is they again release information that focuses on single player gameplay.

I understand that they feel that multiple players taking on one mob is not heroic (Which I don't necessarily agree with. Raids against a single massive enemy can feel quite epic depending on how the encounter is designed) but they then go on to focus on a single player fighting multiple enemies. Nothing mentioned about group gameplay at all.

It would have been nice if they would have at least made a passing mention concerning group combat and how it would play out. It still seems to me that Bioware would really have just been better of making Kotor 3.

If they only made KOTOR 3 they wouldn't be able to make you pay a monthly fee for it. Just sayin....

I think ultimately they mean to depart from conventional raiding. Whether or not there are raids in the traditional sense, there will certainly be some epic PVP action.

It may just not involve 25 people standing around one guy racing to beat an enrage timer and moving out of red circles on the floor.

I am hoping for a departure from the holy trinity, to be honest. Not that there wont be healing or tanking, per se, but the tradition of Tank on boss, DPS support and deal with adds, raid heals/tank heals is getting a little old.

Perhaps everyone will be able to run around and kill things?

I meant epic PVE action*

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Star Wars: The Old Republic drops a surprise video documentary

Reader Comments (43)

Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 8:43PM Lateris said

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Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 9:24PM Birk said

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Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 10:44PM Birk said

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