Meh, I’d argue it offered one of the most compelling things for the Star Wars universe and lore. I don’t see how SWTOR did, especially since Revan is a complete joke in that game.
I don’t really care about Revan side story in SWTOR (and I agree that the side story related to him is super crap). All I care are individual storylines of main characters and the main Sith vs. Republic setting. That stuff is for me one of the best Star Wars experienced for far.
Especially I like the the two Sith and the Imperial Agent storylines. It is basically the first time I could properly experience being an Imperial/Sith in a game. I also like that things are not presented in the usual boring “imperials bad, republic good” black-white contrast. Things are much more practical, down-to-earth and grey.
I will give you benefit of the doubt since I’ve heard raving praise for the Imperial Agent storyline.
Still, my curiosity is piqued when you praise SWTOR for giving you grey story material when KOTOR II also does this. It painted both Jedi and Sith in a “they’re just two extremist ideologies.” The game even will show consequence for being a jackass villian or a knight in shining armor hero and tries to encourage you to lean toward a middle ground. KOTOR II even makes you question your supposed guide/teacher throughout the game. Arguably, KOTOR I isn’t as compelling since it was mainly Jedi good, Sith bad, Republic good, Sith Empire bad routine. Doesn’t mean it’s bad by any means, as both titles aimed for different angles and achieved them very well imo.
I don’t have problems with general KOTOR2 setting and I quite enjoyed it. I actually like how the Jedi Council is selfish and on the border of corruption and all other similar aspects on individual planet story level. The storyline was very interesting until things cleared up in the end and left me disappointed. For me it would be better to leave things unexplained and end the game with no conclusion than with a bad one. I guess that may be too “hipster” for general audience.
I never made it to the end of KOTOR2 but I think I know in general what you mean, I felt the same way about Mass Effect 3. Except in that case I also felt like some of the earlier levels and character moments had been slashed and burned too, so I didn’t enjoy what led up to the ending as much as some other people did. After reading what you just wrote I don’t think I will bother with trying to finish KOTOR2 now.
Oh and while I think some parts of the AU are stupid I can’t really get too mad at it’s fans for being vocal, I mean they have spent a lot of money buying the books and other media and when there was money in it for him Lucas said it was cannon and then he turns around the first time he can make money by getting rid of it and says “No, it was stupid and you are stupid for liking it, it’s not cannon.” That has to be a real kick in the teeth. The closest I have come to that is JJ rebooting the Star Trek franchise, but even then at least he set it in an alternate universe and didn’t just say it never happened.
As with anything that is as big as the AU got I am sure there are a lot of stupid ideas in it, but I am also sure there are some really good one, and while I can understand why with so much of it out there any new film makers needed to wipe the slate clean instead of trying to keep track of it all, I can also understand why the fans wouldn’t like it and I will not get mad at them for being upset by this turn of events. Really I couldn’t see any group of fans reacting any other way to having something they loved ignored.
I know some Doctor Who fans who feel the same way about the new adventure novels, I may not agree, but I don’t blame them for after all these years being upset that the version of the story they grew up with will not be appearing onscreen after all. Also once a book or some other production is declared non cannon it is unlikely to get reprinted in the future, so it will become harder to find so that has got to suck for AU fans who are still trying to complete their collection of novels and comics or who just need a replacement copy for one the rabbit chewed on.
Bottom line is that I am glad the AU is not what they are following with these movies, but I can understand why the fans are upset.