You can be dark side and actually win, right?

[Itharus]

Just askin'... some games don't actually make it worthwhile to be evil, just good.

[Kheryo]

You will typically get more money from playing dark side, but you might miss opportunities of obtaining good items or experience (quests) if you rough up every NPC you see.

I've taken a grey approach to the thing, and had as many satisfying moments force persuading thugs to suicide in amusing ways as opportunities to help those in truly desperate situations and get rewarded for it.
You can also be nice to NPCs until they reveal what interesting thing there is about them (ie they carry a certain item, they know a certain important npc...) and only then extort it from them (whereas you wouldn't have known what to ask for if you just came up in their face and bashed it in, as some "dark side ecks dee" players do)

Know however that there is a "specialized class" thing happening at level 15 that requires you to commit at least 75% to either side to unlock it. Some events will also only trigger once you're knee deep in either side of the force. A shame if you ask me :^)

[Itharus]

Right on. Just so long as you don't have to play one way or the other. When I did KOTOR1 back in the day I felt like you were rewarded more for playing light side.

[Armored Soul]

Originally posted by Itharus:

Right on. Just so long as you don't have to play one way or the other. When I did KOTOR1 back in the day I felt like you were rewarded more for playing light side.

I found that KOTOR 1 was equally rewarding on dark side, but you did have to invest more in charisma as your NPC allies were generally decent people, so it took a lot to convince them you weren't a ♥♥♥♥ in the 3rd act and join you.

[Itharus]

Yeah that was part of it, everyone was a good guy. Are there good dark side companions in this one?

[Kheryo]

Originally posted by Itharus:

Yeah that was part of it, everyone was a good guy. Are there good dark side companions in this one?

All your companions slowly shift to your alignment as you gain "influence" with them.
I find and like that most companions in this game are very rational and more neutral when compared to KOTOR 1 where good/bad guys were extremely obvious.

The very first companion you encounter is a great exemple of that as she will not condemn "good" nor "bad" actions but rather encourage actions that are beneficial to you and your goals, whether it implies helping or torturing someone.

[Kheryo]

And if by "dark side companions" you meant ones that do encourage unnecessary violence in immoderate amounts, well you are in for a pleasant surprise once you tour the ebon hawk.

[cerberusiv]

Unlike Kotor 1 where one decision set which ending you got regardless of what you did up to that point, this game lets you go dark side and then back to light or vice versa and the ending depends on your alignment at the end. You can even strive to stay neutral alignment (although that means there is one area you will not be able to access). Basically do what you want and see where you end up - more fun than one of those stupid personality questionnaires!

The game is definitely worth playing twice, once light (you can afford to do a bit of dark stuff) and once dark (some light stuff is worth the alignment hit).

As said, your companions (mostly) move to your alignment so it is your choice whether they become shining beacons of virtue or twisted, psychotic murderers. They are a more interesting bunch than the one dimensional cutouts you get stuck with in K1. If you have that kind of sense of humour, HK-47 is priceless in K2 - including what he has to say about Revan's crew in K1.

[Mazékial]

I'm playing a super neutral-yet-Dark-Side-Focused individual and, quite frankly, while the "canon" playthrough IS still Light Side, this game easily has the best Dark Side stuff I've ever seen in any RPG, let alone a Star Wars game.

KOTOR 1 definitely had more good guy companions and definitely pushed for that alignment, but it worked because the, uh, BIG PLOT TWIST basically meant if you play Light Side you feel like you've been used and no decision has truly been yours, but if you play Dark Side you feel like your decisions WERE actually your own and you out-played the, uh, BIG PLOT TWIST.

But KOTOR 2 goes the whole nine yards of really developing both sides even more than the first, and even muddying the moral compass in logical, fantastic ways to really set a great tone for this game.

Good grief the Dark Side-based conversation trees are so meaty and intriguing and I love it.

If you want a slightly-spoilery taste: look through the achievements. There's three in particular that I remember being Dark-Side specific. And you'll know them when you read them.

[Kheryo]

Originally posted by Mazékial:

Good grief the Dark Side-based conversation trees are so meaty and intriguing and I love it.

An example of "meaty, intriguing, deep and well thought out dark side dialogue tree"
(Spoiler : don't look at these unless you've already cleared nar shaddaa)
https://i.imgur.com/q8DqCyq.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/5iahRsx.png
https://i.imgur.com/Q22QlWT.png
It left me in tears. :^)

[Itharus]

Game almost makes me miss the MMO of the same name.

[Holy Fool Sehrael]

Originally posted by Kheryo:

Originally posted by Mazékial:

Good grief the Dark Side-based conversation trees are so meaty and intriguing and I love it.

An example of "meaty, intriguing, deep and well thought out dark side dialogue tree"
(Spoiler : don't look at these unless you've already cleared nar shaddaa)
https://i.imgur.com/q8DqCyq.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/5iahRsx.png
https://i.imgur.com/Q22QlWT.png
It left me in tears. :^)

I am normally absolutely unable to play some psychopath - even if my point of view on the world would allow me to do that - and must be a lightsided ... suckerrr. But... looking at those screens, I have to force myself to actually be an hole of an arse :D Would probably be totally worth it ^^

[Itharus]

I hear you. I usually wind up neutral edging to one side or the other but never crossing over in these kinds of games. Sadly... neutrality never seems to be a path with its own perks. Games always want to polarize you.