10 Video Game Franchises That Never Topped The Original
1. Knights of the Old Republic
Knights of the Old Republic is arguably the best thing to stem from George Lucas' sci-fi saga.
Since this prequel takes place millennia in the past, the game isn't shackled by Star Wars lore, allowing the plot to be explored in ways never seen before. Despite boasting an immense story, a large array of characters, a vast galaxy to explore, KOTOR is surprisingly accessible from the get-go.
And thanks to the stellar writing, focus on character conflicts, and that twist, it's easy to see why Knights of the Old Republic is regarded as the best Star Wars game.
When a sequel was greenlit, nobody was the least bit surprised. However, it was a bad move to release KOTOR II: The Sith Lords one year after the first instalment. This follow-up was so rushed, it's obvious an entire chunk was left on the cutting room floor. The battle system was barely fine-tuned, the story isn't as interesting, and none of the characters are particularly compelling. (Darth Nihilus is deeply underwritten, even by Star Wars standards.)
However, fans were hoping the next entry, The Old Republic, would redeem the franchise, since the MMORPG was the most expensive video game ever made at the time. Considering TOR earned a million subscribers in three days and has spawned eight DLCs over the last decade, there's no question this spin-off has been a consistent success.
As fun as The Old Republic is, it never matches the original in terms of story or character development. As such, there's no doubt the Force is strongest with the first Knights of the Old Republic.