Star Wars: The Old Republic

[Sarmatian]

Massive spoilers in my post, so don't read if you never played KOTOR 1 or 2

Well, in KOTOR 2 you learn from Kreia that Revan never really fell to the dark side. As Revan and Malak chased the Mandalorian Fleet to the furthest reaches of the outer rim they cam across the "True Sith" a collective that was pretty much unexplained by Kreia in KOTOR 2. When Revan came across and discovered the "True Sith", he being the tactical genius that he was realized that the Republic was too fragile and not able to withstand the coming attack by the "True Sith", thus he decided to take his army and his followers and convert them into a massive dark side army, fueled by the Star Forge which he also discovered during his campaigns in the Mandalorian Wars. This he figured would be the only chance for the galazy to survive the new invaders. If he could conquer the galaxy before the true sith invaded, he would be able to repel and destroy the invaders and save the galaxy.

In short, Revan only pretended to be the Dark lord of Sith in order to save the galaxy in the long run. Malak was not nearly as smart or strong willed as Revan was and actually did become consumed by the dark side, turning into the ultra evil villain that he is in KOTOR 1.

Also spoiler for those who haven't played KOTOR 1 and 2

I don't think that's true. Revan didn't pretend he fell to the dark side, so that he could unite the galaxy. He fell to the dark side truly, even though his desire was to do good ultimately. In order to defeat the Mandalorians, he became like them, ruthless, efficient, calculating, despising weakness. He encountered "True Sith" which may as well have been an idea, and thought that in order to protect the galaxy, galaxy must be united under strong leadership. Even though his intention was noble originally, he became corrupted somewhere in the way, like that Nietzche quote, He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster.

The biggest problem I have with changing lore is that "True Sith" suddenly became a political entity, bent on destruction and domination. When playing Kotor 2, I was more under an impression that True Sith were an abstract notion, the realization that the Republic is weak, corrupt, dependent on bureacrats and that when a serious threat appears, republic will perish unless united under strong leadership. Kreia's words that the Republic foolishy believes they have destroyed the Sith because Sith can not be destroyed as it is an idea, a belief, seems to reinforce this position.