buffed.de's hands-on with SWTOR *SPOILER ALERT*

Keep in mind this was translated from German, so there could potentially be some inconsistencies. Enjoy:

We had the opportunity to play Star Wars: The Old Republic and will tell you all about the quests in the Jedi starting area, crafting and PvP. Tython has a temperate climate: Lush meadows, green forests and scenic, rugged mountain ranges. The Jedi Knight and Jedi Consular begin their adventures in this idyllic setting. Upon your arrival on the planet, you are given your first mission by your master to rescue the padawans in the Jedi training grounds which are being attacked by nasty creatures. What could be better than to entrust a completely unproven Padawan with this task? Anyhow, confidently we face this first challenge. While we run around to rescue distressed padawans, we also complete one of our side quests which objective stated 'to kill 10 creatures'.

Over the next 4 hours, we were always doing very similar missions. However, the conclusion of your Jedi training which ends with the creation of your own lightsaber, is very cool and exciting. Before that it's very monotonous: Defeat these enemies, collect those things, deliver a package, rescue some more people and talk to that guy. There is nothing you haven't already seen dozens of times and consequently you get excited, if you are able to escort somebody as part of a mission. Grinding in any way for experience is unnecessary as you gain significant experience through your missions.

But where do we change the game world through our actions and decisions we make? 'Phasing' as seen in World of Warcraft is not to be found, although this technology is perfect for starting zones in which you travel mostly alone anyway. Why can't we use blaster turrets or shoot down mobs of creatures from the sky? Or drop bombs? Or set traps? If you want to go from A to B, you must run. Only once you have discovered a new base with a flight point, you are able to take the speeder bike. You want to ride one of these speeder bikes through the forest like in Return of the Jedi? Unfortunately, this is not possible. The speeder bikes are set on fixed rails between two locations.

Bioware continues to use a 'comic-like' graphic style throughout the game as seen in Dragon Age 2. In particular, the special effects in fight scenes are fantastic: As a Jedi Consular, we use the force to throw rocks at our enemies, use Force Push to incapacitate all our enemies in melee range or lifting a single creature into the air where it is defenseless against any ranged weapon. Jedi Knights on the other hand use their Force Jump ability to attack, deal very damaging blows to their enemies or incapacitate their opponents with a Force Push. It was only after some time when we started thinking about new, and even more spectacular maneuvers to use which were still unusable due to our low level, but were already in the action bar.

In Star Wars: The Old Republic, there are no significant waiting time between fights. If you have low health and are almost drained of force points at the end of a battle, a short meditation will replenish you within a few seconds and you are ready to go again. Conversations with NPCs who give you new mission, can be used as short breaks.

Many tasks are very monotonous, however, your conversations with your NPCs before and after your missions are great. Unlike in other MMORPGs you don't ignore these brilliant conversations, but you enjoy the excellent voice overs. In addition, it's beneficial to follow the conversation closely as you often have to give your opinion on the subject or you have to make a decision as to how you want to solve a certain task.

Do you destroy this potion which those nasty creatures use to get into a killing frenzy or do you bring it to a biochemist who will use it to make an army of super soldiers? Do you let the Jedi teach a Force-sensitive savages the Jedi ways, ignore him or even kill him? Do you aide a poor village by giving them your looted items or do you keep them for yourself? Are you always honest and upright or are you lying and cheating , when it would be advantageous for you? Depending on your behavior or the decision you make, you collect either light side or dark side points. Many dark side points won't turn a Jedi into a Sith, but there will definitely be many evil Jedi. No other current MMO offers such great opportunities to actively roleplay in an MMO environment as Star Wars: The Old Republic.

By the way, the crafting system in Star Wars: The Old Republic is slightly different than the other MMOs you are used to. Your character is not required to use the work bench in order to make new weapons, armor or other items. A real hero has no time for such things! However, it's different for your crew: While your adventuring through the game, you are able to utilize your other companions to do some work for you. It's not yet known, how many companions you will have, but the only other thing that we do know is, that up to 5 companions can craft on the work bench at any time. The following three crew skills are available: gathering materials, manufacturing items and complete missions. You are able to specialize your companions in a certain skill. You don't even have to be on board your star ship to order your companions around. Just use a comm.

Hint: Your crew continues to work for you even when you are offline.