Star Wars: The Old Republic offers players the chance to play as eight different classes, each with its own unique questline - though which is the best is a matter of debate. Playing through these storylines allows the player to explore the galaxy from that particular character's point of view. However, not all questlines are equal, and some are much better than others.
When beginning their adventures, SWTOR players either the Republic or Empire, then begin at level one, although there is an option to buy an Outlander Character Token from the Cartel Market. This allows a player to begin at level 60 or 65 and begin SWTOR by diving straight into the expansion Knights of the Fallen Empire. Doing this will mean missing out on certain questlines, including the class quests, Rise of the Hutt Cartel, and Shadow of Revan.
There are four starting planets, with two classes assigned to each. Both Jedi classes start on Tython, a world steeped in ancient Jedi history. Both Sith begin their adventure on Korriban, ing the Sith Academy. The Imperial Agent s the Bounty Hunter on Hutta, working in the shady underworld of the Hutt Cartels. On Ord Mantell, a Republic planet in the Star Wars galaxy experiencing some trouble as a civil war rages, the Smuggler and Trooper begin their journey.
SWTOR's Smuggler Questline Feels Like Mismatched Puzzle Pieces
The Smuggler storyline gets off to a good start with a thief stealing the player's ship and a plot involving an underworld boss, but it takes an odd detour into treasure hunting, loosely connected to the prologue by the same thief who stole the ship. A bounty from the crime boss is the only thing left to deal with after the thief and treasure plot is resolved in chapter one.
Rogun the Butcher serves as the antagonist for chapter two, but he's not interesting enough to actually be threatening. Chapter two shoehorns the Smuggler into the Republic by having them save a Senator, and the whole thing feels very forced, especially if a player is choosing Star Wars dark side options. Chapter three continues to use the increasingly ineffectual Rogan to push the player into the role of underworld boss via a bizarre twist involving Rogun and an Imperial Grand iral.
The Smuggler storyline is a mess and the weakest one in SWTOR. From companions who chastise the player for, well, being a smuggler and doing anything criminal to the muddled plot, it's a slog for anyone who picks this class. It's a pity since the Smuggler's mechanics are fun, making them the best choice for spending that Outlander token.
Jedi Consular Questline Is The Most Boring In SWTOR
The Jedi Consular storyline starts with an interesting plot involving a plague afflicting several of the most talented and influential Masters in the Jedi Order’s Star Wars history, including the player's former master Yuon Par. However, once that is dealt with, the story quickly moves on to a separate plot involving potential rebellion and spies. Some worlds are unhappy and have lost faith in the Republic, and the Consular must travel around and win the trust of the of the Rift Alliance.
Through diplomatic work, it is revealed that spies known as the Children of the Emperor have infiltrated the Republic and Jedi Order. The third chapter focuses on the Consular working with allies and stopping the Children. After finding the Children's leader, the First Son, the matter is over with little impact or fanfare.
The Jedi Consular is a plodding storyline where each chapter feels oddly disconnected from the others. Although the plot feels like a typical Star Wars story, in chapters two and three, the pacing isn't great, and there is no real sense of urgency or danger. Jedi Consulars were the diplomats of the Jedi and are in SWTOR to add another Jedi class to match the two Sith; however, they are a rather sedate option for an MMO.
SWTOR's Jedi Knight Suffers As A Poor Revan Replacement
The Jedi Knight is what most people probably think of when they think about Jedi. After dealing with a plot on Tython, the Jedi Knight is quickly thrust into a plot line involving a Sith Lord, Darth Angral, and his theft of multiple top-secret Republic superweapons, which he intends to use against the Republic. In the best Star Wars video game tradition, the Jedi Knight must then race around, finding and stopping the weapons. After defeating Angral, the Jedi Knight s a plot to find and capture the Sith Emperor, an episode that devolves into dark side influence and evil plots, with the Jedi Knight racing to stop the Emperor.
The storyline for the Jedi Knight is better thought out than the Consular story, but still lacks any sense of urgency until the final chapter. There are obvious links to Knights of the Old Republic, and the entire third chapter is clearly a continuation of what should have been Revan's journey in Star Wars. However, this whole class story feels as though the Jedi Knight was conceived as the main character for SWTOR, making it feel strange.
The Sith Warrior Questline In SWTOR Is Fine But Not The Best The Empire Has
After graduating from the Sith Academy, the Sith Warrior finds themselves the apprentice of the manipulative Darth Baras, who wastes no time sending the player out into the galaxy to root out the threat to his vast spy network. The trail leads the warrior to a Jedi and his Padawan, Jaesa Willsaam, who is captured and taken as an apprentice by the player. In chapter two, Baras continues to use the player to further his own goals and provoke war with the Republic, but things don't go well for Baras when the player is appointed as the Emperor's Wrath, cementing their Sith legacy and Star Wars dark side connection.
The Sith Warrior storyline is a little thin in places, but it is still a lot of fun. It ties in nicely with the Jedi Knight questline without falling into the traps of that class story. While not the best in SWTOR, it is by no means the worst, sitting comfortably in the average category.
Lots Of Mandalorian Lore In SWTOR's Bounty Hunter Questline
The Bounty Hunter's questline is one of the most cohesive in SWTOR. The prologue and chapter one focus on the Great Hunt, a Mandalorian tradition and legendary competition that pits the galaxy's greatest bounty hunters against each other. The hunt is genuinely enjoyable, and the player's victory feels earned.
Chapter two follows nicely with the Bounty Hunter added to an exclusive group of fellow Grand Hunt winners. However, the price of fame is high, and the player is soon declared public enemy number one by the Republic. The Bounty Hunter must use Star Wars' criminal underworld alongside a Sith Lord to clear their name in chapter three.
The Bounty Hunter's questline is great for fans of The Mandalorian as there is a ton of lore surrounding them throughout the questline via the Great Hunt and the player's companion Torian Cadera. The chapters flow together nicely, making the entire questline feel like one story rather than separate pieces of a puzzle like some other class questlines. The Bounty Hunter storyline shows a unique outside perspective of the Republic and Empire, and the only criticism is that the class itself feels oddly lumped in with the Empire.
The Trooper Is The Best Republic Questline In SWTOR
The Trooper begins as the newest addition to Havoc Squad, the Republic's best Special Forces team, similar to the Star Wars: Clone Wars' ARC troopers. Things quickly escalate as the entire squad, aside from the player, defects to the Empire. It's up to the Trooper to track down these traitors and bring them to justice.
Chapter two opens with a new mission to find and destroy an Imperial superweapon. After its destruction, the Empire steps up its attacks on the Republic's core worlds, and it's up to Havoc Squad to stop the leader of the campaign General Rakton. Chapters two and three flow together wonderfully as Havoc tears around the galaxy, taking down Imperial forces.
The Trooper storyline is a lot of fun. Although it sounds simple, it adds a lot of depth to the Republic faction showing a different side to the Republic/Empire War rather than yet another Star Wars Jedi story. This is by far the best Republic storyline, and if played through, making dark side choices can get very intense as the player follows orders without question.
Sith Inquisitor Questline Shows Complex Sith Politics In SWTOR
As a former slave, the player is thrust into the harsh world of the Sith and must prove themselves to find a Master. Darth Zash eventually takes the player as her apprentice and gives them the task of gathering ancient artifacts of Tulak Hord. Without giving too much away, things don't go to plan, and soon the Inquisitor must rely on everything they have learned to survive. Chapters two and three see the player locked in a feud with a member of the Dark Council. To stay alive, the Sith Inquisitor must gather allies and strength to beat the powerful Star Wars Sith Lord at their own game. The ending to the questline is satisfying and feels earned as the player becomes one of the most powerful Sith.
The Sith Inquisitor's story can be summed up in one word: betrayal. Over and over, the player will be betrayed by those they thought they could trust, and it offers a great look at just how messed up the politics of the Sith really are. The Sith Inquisitor storyline is packed full of lore about Sith and the Forces itself. From slave to Darth the Sith Inquisitor is one of the best storylines in the game.
The Twists And Turns Of The Imperial Agent Questline Make It Easily The Best In SWTOR
After coming to the attention of Darth Jadus, the Imperial Agent must attempt to do their duty to the Empire while navigating the ridiculously dark world of the Star Wars Sith. After revealing a terrorist network's links to the Empire, the player is assigned to infiltrate the Republic's Strategic Information Service (SIS). This mission will lead to one of the best twists in the game and the reason why the Imperial Agent is the best class questline in SWTOR.
The player must piece together clues to not only stop a galaxy-wide disaster but only save their own mind. It is almost impossible to discuss this storyline without giving away major spoilers, which would be a shame as the twists and reveals are what make this questline so engaging. The Imperial Agents questline is superbly written and could easily stand alone as a solo game.
SWTOR acts as an extension of KOTOR's story, furthering the world Bioware created. Each SWTOR class story is told in three chapters, and some of these fit together better than others. While some feel fully fleshed out and thought through, others feel as though the writers ran out of time and tacked together what they could. This is a shame as the class questlines make SWTOR stand out as an MMO rather than the simpler quests in other similar games. Star Wars: The Old Republic still gets mixed reviews, but every Star Wars game fan should give it a try, if only for the lore and creative twists of the Imperial Agent and Sith Inquisitor's quests.
