Knights Of The Old Republic 2 Is Better Than KOTOR 1 For A Single Reason

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Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 is often considered to have the reputation of being the weaker title in the series, with KOTOR 1 being primarily hailed as the best, but one element puts it above its predecessor. Admittedly, KOTOR 2 does improve upon the first game in several ways by virtue of its nature as a sequel. Yet, many of these improvements are often glossed over and still make it difficult to compete with the fantastic experience of KOTOR 1. However, one particular storytelling aspect of KOTOR 2 helps solidify its strengths over the first game.
Unfortunately, KOTOR 2’s story is remembered less fondly than the first game, partially due to development issues that led to some significant restructuring of the game’s conclusion. As a result, the first Knights of the Old Republic tends to come out on top in the debate to determine which of the KOTOR games is best. However, KOTOR 2’s narrative took risks, bringing it to a level that KOTOR 1 shied away from. One reason, in particular, proves that KOTOR 2 has the first game beat: the illusive, complex character of Kreia.
Kreia Has A Unique Backstory In KOTOR 2

Knights of the Old Republic 2 introduced Kreia, one of the most complex and compelling characters in all of Star Wars. She was an adept Force user who attained the rank of Jedi Master in her time with the Order. Kreia spent much of her time specializing as a historian, studying the Force and the galaxy’s mysteries. She turned to meditation to aid her quest for knowledge, which had the effect of weakening her eyesight. Kreia thought the matter trivial, though, and let go of seeing with her physical eyes and instead embraced sight through the Force.
In some ways, Kreia’s backstory in KOTOR 2 may seem no different from many of the other stories of Jedi Masters. The most significant departure, however, comes from her methods of educating younger Jedi. Kreia taught many Padawans, but her lessons focused on topics more challenging than what other Jedi Masters offered their students. She posed complicated philosophical questions to her students about the nature of the Force and the concept of power. Her peers wrote off her unusual teachings as eccentricities and chided them as Kreia’s conundrums. However, her students took her lessons to heart and formed different perspectives of their relationship with the Force. One of Kreia’s most notable students was none other than Revan.
After Revan defied the Order to fight in the Mandalorian Wars, the Jedi Council was concerned by the massive split and burgeoning Jedi Civil War. Their investigations revealed that many students who left to join Revan had studied under Kreia. Kreia was promptly exiled from the Jedi Order, after which she ventured out to explore the Force and Revan’s path further. This led to her fall to the dark side, taking the mantle of Darth Traya and beginning her own Sith Order. However, this crumbled after her students betrayed her. Afterward, she resumed her identity as Kreia and sought revenge against her Sith Lord students while plotting to enact the darkest plan in Star Wars.
Why Kreia Makes KOTOR 2 The Best In The Series

Throughout Kreia’s years of studying the mysteries of the Force, she had found a truth so dark and dangerous that it rivals every other dark side plot in Star Wars. She discovered that it was possible to eliminate the galaxy’s ability to feel and connect with the Force. This would essentially dispose of all notions of the light and dark sides of the Force and demolish the essence that put the Jedi and Sith in power. By destroying the Force, a new path would be created that merged the two polar opposite ideologies. It’s a horrifying reality to imagine, especially for a galaxy that relies so heavily on the Force’s interconnected nature with every living thing.