Given the popularity of the first Knights of the Old Republic and the speed with which KOTOR II was developed, it’s not a surprise that The Sith Lords uses the same engine, same core gameplay, and even some of the same maps, characters, and sound effects as the original. There are a number of enhancements and tweaks, such as the concept of party influence and an expanded workbench system, but the basic system still revolves around flying to planets, talking to people, and either solving problems or making them worse. Those who disliked the first game’s mechanics, especially the ‘real-time turn-based combat’-- I think I got Dark Side points just for typing that -- will find nothing redeeming in this one. Newcomers who are interested in KOTOR II should play the original first, since The Sith Lords makes so many references to that game’s events and characters. For those who played KOTOR and liked it, the big question is how the sequel measures up. For me, it surpasses the original in some ways, and falls far short in others.