Jeuxvideo's hands-on with SWTOR! *SPOILER ALERT*

Keep in mind this was translated from French, so there may be some inconsistencies. Enjoy:

Gradually but surely, BioWare continues to unveil details of one of its most ambitious projects, Star Wars: The Old Republic. And this time, the studio based in Canada has not done things by half since the game session lasted nearly six hours. The opportunity to discover two new classes of this highly anticipated MMORPG, the Jedi Consular, and Jedi Knight, but also to try out our lightsabers during a forum at least four rhythm. Let us say right away, we want more already!

Before getting into the thick of things, remember that the history of Star Wars: The Old Republic takes place more than 3500 years before the advent of the ruthless Darth Vader at a time when tensions between the Republic and the Empire reached new highs. In this context the least confrontational, you will have the daunting task of engaging your destiny alongside one of two camps. No doubt then that the eyes of a number of you will illuminate the idea of playing as a Jedi. Well, that's what BioWare has enabled us to make us leave what is more carte blanche as to the direction for our party. Overall, these few hours on the game allowed us to overcome our avatars in the first ten levels that correspond roughly to the learning phase of the Jedi. And this, we chose to play as a Jedi Knight or a Jedi Consular.

The adventure begins on the planet wild Tython, a highly symbolic place where the Jedi Council has decided to settle into a new generation of fighters. Although there is initially a mere apprentice, the various tasks to perform does not prove difficult. Any intelligence BioWare was to script carefully each quests without ever becoming pompous it. Result, the player feels very soon involved in the story and it avoids the monotony of the first hours of play suffered most MMOs. Better still, the game asks the player to quickly make important choices in dialogue. If they are not as rich as those of Mass Effect, they resume the system of multiple responses. Depending on the questions asked or what you would say to someone, then the adventure will find it changed. There is little doubt that the future of the galaxy does not depend on each of our actions but the process and the existence of certain quests will be challenged. Like all BioWare productions, The Old Republic goes even further than that by offering outright moral choices. As to the actions and choices made during the dialogues, his avatar may creep dangerously dark side of force. Because the border between good and evil is fine and being a Jedi does not guarantee a golden destiny.

Let us return to our missions. The first two were to get rid of unhappy prisoners Padawans wooden cages and take a look at some holographic systems failed. Along the way, you obviously come across the first enemies. Again, BioWare has meant to stimulate the player from the start. Although with a relatively small force, your avatar will face opponents far more charismatic than the usual snakes or rats crossed in MMOs. The first opportunity to test the powers at your disposal and get out your sword, but not laser-forged metal with more rudimentary. After a few bad slain and robbed their corpses, you're ready to learn new techniques. Your class teacher is there for. At each level passed, a new skill or improve on those you already own, they disengage. And it is by spending a little money you can benefit on the battlefield.

To differentiate the two classes of Jedi, just observe their fighting technique. The Knights remain highly effective hand-to-body and possess adequate strength and power to these dogfights. Despite his saber, the Jedi Consular is far more vulnerable to its offensive front. It is well endowed with skills that can be triggered remotely. Examples include telekinesis that allows him to throw stones at his enemies. Enough to keep them away from him before finishing with a good saber well placed. Very quickly, the combinations of attacks become obvious. To get rid of several enemies at once, the Jedi Consular could use such a kind of shock affecting all of his opponents. Once the latter ground, it was enough to launch projectiles from a distance before completing the toughest hand-to-body. It all seemed very natural from the first hour of game BioWare has also chosen to give powers to the player immediately powerful and visually rewarding.

The impression of power generated by his avatar is in fact what immediately jumps to the face. Graphically, the game is doing quite well indeed. The lighting effects and animations accompanying the blows of the Jedi give thanks to their power. Special mention to one of Knight's attack which allows him to make a leap of fifteen feet with air to spin the key to plant his sword into the body of his enemy. Exhilarating! Environments were also treated and packed with small details. As for modeling a little smooth characters, cartoon way, it will generate debate, sure, but it remains unconvincing. In fact, the only worry about an unstable framerate a bit, some crash bugs and textures not always very clear but nothing too alarming since the version in our hands was far from final. The sound aspect is also crucial. The epic music accentuate the intensity of the action perfectly and highlight the character of Homeric scenes. As for the sounds they make more credible the universe created by BioWare.

While some still doubted, Star Wars: The Old Republic is a vivid demonstration of the skill of the studio created in 1995 by Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk. A simple glance at the interface allows to realize how BioWare has digested and integrated the best of the competition by adding his personal touch. If the action bar at the bottom of the screen with experience, comes to-use gauge life and strength for the power, remains today a classic MMORPG, operation of the map is much more original. The little trick very well thought out is that if we begin to move your character while the card is opened, it becomes transparent. It is then possible to reach the desired point in having both eyes on the plan and the action itself. That will make life easier for many players asked to spend many hours on different planets in the galaxy. As in any MMO, you'll be forced to effect huge travel distances throughout the adventure. We also regret the excessive number of round trips charged to talk to the NPC to receive the reward of his quest and be issued a new goal.

Shortly before closing this long game session, BioWare has also kindly left wandering in a proceeding in groups of four players. Because if Star Wars: The Old Republic will be a priori traveled almost entirely alone, the possibility also exists to be accompanied, of course. In just a few clicks, here we are in combat, flying a Jedi Consular helped this time by a Jedi Knight and a smuggler. If the goal remained just as it was in progress inside a huge vessel by eliminating all enemies, this short time to several allowed us to learn more about how the groups. During phases of dialogue for example, each player must choose an answer and it is chance that determines which of them will be chosen. What cause a few arguments between players who wish to give the search a different direction. The various powers in the fighting seemed much, much complement each other. The Smuggler, cover behind the decorative elements aligned off opponents in the company of Jedi Consular Jedi Knight while he was in charge of finishing the job in hand-to-hand. Unlike some competitors, BioWare hoped that the bodies do not spread too much over time. By half past one, this first special area was then closed, with the key, some nice prizes to equip their avatar. And it is with regret that we had to stop there, our game session, it will now wait several months before discovering the thousands of other secrets that BioWare remains a caretaker applied.