Star Wars: The Old Republic

GAME OF THE WEEK:Star Wars: The Old Republic 16 cert, EA, PC ****

Kiss your family goodbye and tell your friends you're otherwise engaged for the next few weeks. Star Wars: The Old Republichas finally gone live. The MMPORG doesn't disappoint. It's thousands of hours of gameplay ahead of you and almost impossible to review, due to the sheer size of the game. But so far The Old Republic, although not perfect, is a decent game.

One of the game’s main selling points is the fairly involved storylines that your character can follow. The game is set thousands of years before Darth Vader came to power, when an uneasy accord exists between the Empire and the Republic, but new tensions erupt, and before you know it, there’s the threat of galactic warfare.

The Old Republicfollows the usual elements you'd expect to see: progression, social interaction, character customisation, a crafting system that hooks you in (and, of course, the monthly subscription to keep playing). You choose your allegiance – Galactic Republic or Sith Empire – and create your character. Within each side, there are some basic classes, which quickly divide further.

While you’re following the main story, there are also side quests. It makes the whole thing feel less linear, less orientated towards the final story goal. The game universe itself has seemingly endless possibilities. The idea is that every decision, every interaction, has a consequence.

It’s hard to see exactly how those choices are shaping your game world while you’re in it. But there are moments when you wonder about the alternative. For example, what would happen if your Jedi experiences a lapse in morality and makes a choice that seems a little more Dark Side? There’s plenty of opportunity to agonise about a decision, a situation that BioWare has considerable experience in creating. Combat can be a little difficult to get to grips with at first, but it becomes manageable.

It won't be to everyone's taste, but newcomers to MMORPG may find it an easier crossover. Overall, The Old Republicis addictive. Once you get started, the chances of anyone seeing you over the following weeks are slim.