The Grim Philosophy of KOTOR

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Published 2024-02-19
Star Wars features a rich tapestry on conflict from spiritual and political angles, encompassing the practical and deeply personal motivations of the struggle between good and evil. In 2003, a series of Star Wars RPGs would make a brand new timeline set long before the events of the main movies, and help establish practical wording to describe the nature of the Force. The game makes a clear demarcation between the Light Side and the Dark Side, while acknowledging the spectrum of human experience and the shades of grey that encompass it. This video explains the deeply real philosophical impact of the Knights of the Old Republic series, and the ways in which it extrapolates on the kaleidoscope of societal norms, ethics, and morality.

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All Comments (21)
  • @Phantom6.6.6
    To see a game as knights of the old republic still being talked about and discussed today shows just how amazing these games were
  • "Perhaps you were expecting some surprise, for me to reveal a secret that had eluded you, something that would change your perspective of events, shatter you to your core. There is no great revelation, no great secret. There is only you."
  • @GrimristBaselard
    no other star wars could have line as deep as "To believe in an ideal is to be willing to betray it, it is something no sith or jedi has ever truly learns."
  • I like Atton's comment on how most people in the galaxy doesn't even understand the difference between Jedi and Sith, but are caught up in their conflicts anyway. It does kind of undermind the moral high ground of the Jedi.
  • @MsSilentGaming
    I always liked how Kotor 2 mirrored Lucas's outlook on the jedi, they represent the "good" side, but can still make mistakes born of arrogance or self-righteousnes. Like how they do not join the war against the Mandalorians, but at the moment Revan appears with his "Sith" fleet, the whole order jumps to fight with him.
  • It’s crazy to me how kotor built on the prequels practically as they came out in a way that feature films failed to roughly 10 years later
  • @gilroyscopa
    I was scared this would just be a rehash of "Philosophy of Kreia", but you proofed me wrong. Stellar job (pun intended)!
  • @INER6
    The music in kotor 2 was hauntingly great. It definitely set the tone for the themes in the game.
  • In this day in age I hear talk from people complaining about how we are growing to be illiterate to our media. That we don't truly understand the ins and outs of what we consume. And yet in the vast stars of the internet I see a heart filled deep dive such as this, passionately talking of an amazing story, coming to conclusions and comparing and contrasting what we know of our world with that of the sci-fi fantasy world we all know and love. It brings me joy to listen to and it's an analysis that could make a man cry strangely enough. It's something that brings hope in this vast ocean of nihilism. Well done, and well made my guy.
  • @heeho33
    G talking about good games is exactly what the world needs rn
  • @nevrhasa8525
    Thanks to Chris Avellone and Obsidian team, people are still talks about KOTOR and still remember what actually makes Star Wars great. Its a story about warning people not to be evil just to be evils sake and not to be good just for your own conscience. As Kreia asks time after time; think things through before you help people or sever the connection harshly. As Bindo says you need to learn to be a human being before you have great power and responsibillity.
  • @GalenCrayn
    As a PhD student in philosophy, I can only say: Thank god, a YouTuber that speaks about philosophy who understands it. You are totally right with Nietzsche, and that is rare. Most people think that he was a nihilist, what is wrong. Thanks for that stimulating video.
  • @marklee1194
    KOTOR I was great, but KOTOR II was next level in terms of story, atmosphere and philosophy (especially with Kreia).
  • I love KOTOR for showing art that makes you think there'll be some light vs. dark battle like Atris against Nihilus, yet that literally never happens. The story is a completely adult subversion of the universe, fully realized in so many ways that have never been touched upon since.
  • You know you made a good game(s) when people still talk about said game(s) after twenty years its release.
  • @MudoV17
    KOTOR 1 & 2 are some of my favorite games growing up, thanks for making this video.
  • @alexhudson277
    The whole of this series is meant to show the human element. Kotor is by far the most in depth story telling we've gotten on screen for anything in the series. Closely followed by the Bounty Hunter game from the early 2000's. The issue the films and shows have, on average is that they lacked depth. Clear-cut good and evil work well for a one-off or a kids movie. But, not so much for a universe with decades of comics and books to use for reference. Giving nuance to a story is precisely what the saga needed. And Sion is a very interesting one, he also has a light side counterpart in the same era.
  • Bro just casually dropped one of the best analyses of the ideologies of Star Wars
  • @certain_sloth
    Master/Dr. Anakin Skywalker: "Did someone say dichotomy?!"
  • @peterw2880
    Idk what I did to my algorithm to keep getting served this buffet of KOTOR think pieces, but man what a time to be alive