Star Wars: The Old Republic Offers Friendship And Romance

Han had Chewie. Luke had R2-D2. Who will you have by your side as a Companion Character in BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic, and will you be able to sleep with them?

Showing once again that the Star Wars: The Old Republic team has a firm grasp on what makes the Star Wars universe fun, BioWare introduces Companion Characters, sidekicks who travel with you on your adventures in the upcoming massively-multiplayer role-playing game.

The Old Republic will supply your character with a variety of companions throughout his or her career. Droids, aliens, pirates, princesses - each class will have a unique set of companions tagging along, each with different reasons to stick by your side.

As you progress, so will your companions, gaining power and abilities. New tactics and strategies will become available as your bond strengthens.

Your companion character will act much like the non-player characters of BioWare's single player RPG titles, providing commentary, doling out information, and influencing the decisions you make. In turn, the way you treat your companions will affect your relationship with them. Some will become close friends. Some will become enemies. Some will even become lovers.

In effect, BioWare is giving you NPC party members to take with you on your missions, much like they did in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and, more recently, Mass Effect. It's a formula that's served the developer well in single player games, but I'm a bit wary of its application in an MMO.

Just imagine the role-playing complications when your online girlfriend or boyfriend catches you getting busy with your computer-controlled lover. Talk about your emotional engagement.

Relationships aside, aren't other players supposed to be your travelling companions in an MMO title?

Read more about Star Wars: The Old Republic's Companion Characters at the game's official website.

Companions Overview [Star Wars: The Old Republic]