If you liked KOTOR, you should be pumped as hell for Mass Effect.

KOTOR is one of the few RPGs I've finished, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I'd put it in my 'bests' as well. I never felt particularly inclined to play KOTOR2 though. Lack of Bioware lost my interest.

KOTOR is more similar to Oblivion than Final Fantasy. Besides the fact that they come from different areas of the world, FF is one of the exemplary games that guide you down a pre-set path while KOTOR/Oblivion are examples of outstanding games that allow you to shape the story in different ways.

HK-47 became one of my favourite characters from any entertainment medium.