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The Empire Strikes

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: April 23, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This game had everything. There is much to cover, but I will do what I can.

First of all, a fantastic story with its share of plot twists and surprises you can expect from BioWare. Memorable characters with uses so varied and unique that it really made them matter. Quality voice acting, on par with KOTOR. Gorgeous graphics and larger locations (hence less loading points) than KOTOR had. The best of all was the combat system. It is so in depth and just so fun, yet utterly accessable. There is basically a five minute learning curve. Some games can take hours or days to figure out. Jade Empire gets you quickly immersed into its easy system and doesn't compromise anything while doing it.

The game has definite replay value as well. There are four different character types (balanced, fast, strong, magic) each with extremely different and satisfying combat styles. The character models themselves are nothing short of spectacular. Oh, and not to mention that the game has three different endings.

The most satisfying aspect of all is the type of game and the way it plays out. It is classified as a Roleplaying game, but is far from your typical RPG. The roleplaying aspect is all in the dialogue. Unlike most, there are only three different stats you will maintain (body, spirit, and mind). They work well, and will make a very unique character depending on how you choose to level up. You will also learn many different styles of fighting as opposed to having a ton of inventory. You will find several items that you do not really carry or equip, but immediately become bound to you and enhance your stats. You wear no equipment during the course of the game. The only thing you will "wear" is an amulet which you can place three gems of your choice in. There are multitudes of these throughout your travels.

That is, in my opinion, the best part of the game. It's nice to be able to focus on the combat and environment much more than sorting through items you pick up. There are a few places you can buy a new weapon, but it will be rare. I ended the game using the first weapon I got not even 10 minutes into the game. In KOTOR you could accumulate something like 2,000 items at any given time. In Jade Empire, if you want to count gems as items, since they are, once again, the only thing you "wear", you may have something like 10-15 at any given time. You also have a party member who is a mobile merchant who will buy excess gems off you at any point in the game. You will likely never be carrying more than 5 of these at once. That is a hell of a relief from your typical RPG.

And so, what is Jade Empire? If I had to plunk it in some genre... I would call it an action/adventure/RPG. It soaks up all the good from other games, and sheds all the lousy. To anyone with an Xbox, this is one of the best games you'll ever play. It's the most fun I've ever had with a video game in a long time. I can only see good things for BioWare in the future, what with the coming of Neverwinter Nights 2 and Dragon Age in the next year or two.

Jade Empire is already a heavy contender for 2005 Game of the Year. Don't miss it!

Jade Empire

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: April 24, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Jade Empire is one of the best games to come out this year, and it did just about everything right. I have very few gripes and so on a scale of 1-10 I would give it more of a 9.5. I rate on a couple of categories when deciding the rating of a game, so it's easy to follow the review. So read on if you want my full opinion.

Video:
Firstly, the graphics. The graphics throughout the entire game are very pretty and pleasing to the eye, the Jade Empire is a fun world to look at and the character models are beautiful and not duplicated often. The lighting in the game is more than adequate for a game like this, there are shadows for about every object in the game. The only bad thing I can say is that sometimes when talking the character animations can get a little jerky or awkward sometimes (You might have to wait for a character to turn around or something as such, which is woefully slow sometimes). However, the combat animations look smooth as silk and move exactly how you want them to.

Audio:
The audio in Jade Empire is very impressive as well. The music completely immerses you within the world of the Empire, and it definitely breathes a large component of the combat in Jade Empire, you just feel like whistling some of the tunes that you get when you're ripping out the ribs of an ogre. The sound effects in the game are also done well, the kicks and punches and flips and rolls sound real when you're dancing around an enemy you're right about to bop a good one in the face. And, as in all BioWare games, the voice overs are sublime, and sometimes you could swear you're talking to another person. The only real gripe I have in audio (and it's an extremely small gripe that is mostly just an idea for the developers) is that, you, the main character, doesn't have a voice, you can talk, but I think it would be nice if you would play what you said in a voice.

Gameplay:
Here's a big one, the gameplay. The gameplay in Jade Empire is excellent, the combat system is fluent and it feels smooth. This is one of the bad things, sometimes it gets so smooth that you don't really get the feeling that you hit the guy, like you did damage to him but your foot passed over his face, not hit it. Other than that the gameplay is very amazing. The game has many different styles and methods that allow you to deal with your enemies and the game gives you some time to explore this system, alas, you don't feel like it gives you enough. Also, a somewhat big part of the game is running around and talking to people, I have no problem with it, but some players may be turned off by this dynamic. But overall, the gameplay is satisfying and fun.

Story:
The story is well written and done, telling the story of you starting off at a school, figuring out that you are the last of your people, so on and so on. The story is good, but sometimes I felt like it was just re-hashing KOTOR's story. For instance: A guy named Gao the Greater reminded me of Davik, this guy may have been on purpose but Hapless Han reminded me of Deadeye Duncan, Dawn Star reminded me of a cross between Carth and Bastila, Inquisitor Lim reminded me somewhat of Calo Nord (mostly becuase you fight him and Gao at the same time), and Silk Fox reminded me of Canderous (because she's a jerk). But that's not saying that the story doesn't feel like it isn't its own. The only other bad thing I can say about the story is that there aren't any GOOD plot twists that you wouldn't be able to predict from the very beginning [if everyone disagrees with me then I can just proclaim myself smart :)].

Overall:
Jade Empire is a must buy for any X-Box owner. It has a great (though somewhat same-feeling) story. Great gameplay, graphics, and audio make this a game to love.

1-10 Rating: 9.5

Nearly Flawless

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: May 07, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This is truly one of the greatest games of our time. The only RPGs that have pulled me in the way that this one has before are FF VII, Skies of Arcadia and the Shining Force Series. This is as deep an RPG as you'll find. There is a ton of reading, a lot of cut scenes and in all honesty, huge loading times, but those things are to be expected with a top notch RPG. Lush visuals, fantastic music and sounds, great voice acting and a story that really grows on you. Your decisions have an impact in the outcome. My wife even loves this game and she *hates* almost every game it seems. Definitely buy this. I would recommend the Limited Edition for the added character and style.

In The Fashion of KOTOR

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: May 10, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I believe this game is alot better than the resent KOTOR II. The graphics are pretty decent. However there are flaws to this game but they are very few. I wonder if Bioware had done KOTORII, it would've been alot better. The story to this game seems like a Star Wars rip off but a well done rip off. The graphics are pretty impressive and the gameplay is solid in and real time.

A Martial Odyssey

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: May 12, 2005
Author: Amazon User

After creating the 2003 game of the year, what would you expect from Bioware? Well it's not what I saw coming, passing up the chance to make the sequel to KOTOR they decided to finally make a game that they've imagined for nearly a decade, an RPG in an ancient-China like land with plenty of kung-fu elements.

Jade Empire is not your standard RPG, it's far from it, but with it's improvements on the genre it very well may become the standard. The first noticeable difference in the gameplay is the innovative fighting style allowing you to fight in real time, but it's a change for the better. It's truly new feel is based around the d-pad, setting a different fighting style to each direction so that while in battle it is simple to change between them. This allows for many moves with various twists making it easier to navigate attacks. Bioware was correct in saying that for the player to be a kung-fu master they must feel like one as well, this is what the system of fighting does over a turn-based so common to RPGs.

I will not ruin the story, but it leads for action-packed sequences that will have you on the edge of your seat. You will easily find your self immersed in the story of this world. If you have played "Knight's of the Old Republic" you will know that Bioware's storytelling is top-notch and they only improve with Jade Empire's plot. The scenes have been pondered and perfected, the mythology is in-depth and brings an incredible realism to the world, and the architecture and newly-developed language are the icing on the cake.

On your quest there is plenty of customization available, mini quests to go upon, and lands to explore, all the while your choices having consequences leading you down the path of The Open Palm or The Closed Fist. You also constantly upgrade your character with the experience you gain over time, mastering different ways of fighting.

I have not enjoyed a game this much in a long while, and even if your are not a fan of the RPG genre this game can draw you in. It is an almost certain for RPG of the Year and a definite contender for Game of the Year.

Bioware's attention to detail, the over 320 minor characters have full voice-overs, and superb gameplay earn Jade Empire
A Bliss of 9

Amazing game from one of the best RPG developers.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: June 25, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Jade Empire is a masterpiece. I just finished it a few days ago and I was totally entralled by it. Great story, great fighting system, great twists and turn. The game itself could've been a little longer, was a bit on the short side. But overall this game is amazing. If ya dug Star Wars: KOTOR and KOTOR II, then you will probably like Jade Empire. If you own an Xbox you should have this game.

Jade Empire

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 02, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Action packed with a story that will make the ones that doubt believe! Worth the value and time to play. I highly recomend Jade Empire!

One of the Best

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 05, 2005
Author: Amazon User

When i first saw Jade Empire on the market i was skeptical about buying it. But i did, and i have to say that it is one of the best rpg's i have ever played. The storyline was unbelievable and the characters and fighting was incredible. I am also a big which of the KOTOR games which is probably why i liked this one so much. It was an overall captivating gaming experience.

unbelievable

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 09, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This is the absolute best game i have ever played. Not only is it an RPG but it has a kick ass real time combat system, (no stupid turnbased stuff) amazing graphics and wonderful voice acting that brings each character to life. From the makers of the classic Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire takes place in the world of Oriental Mythology with a plot that twists and turns and will always have you on the edge of your seat. And for all of you parents out there who wont let your kids get M games, trust me there is hardly any blood with the exeption of a few short sequences. Absolutly fine for young adults. Anyway, buy the Limited Edition version of the game to get a new playable character, a new combat style and a special features bonus disk. This game is worth its weight in gold.
IMPORTANT*****
To gain access to the extra playable character and new combat syle you must select the "Monk Zeng Content" on the bonus disk.

Real Fun (Especially If You Like The KOTOR Series)

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: February 22, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I really do recommend Jade Empire, it's an RPG much like Knights of the Old Republic except you play a monk from ancient times and go around helping or hurting others while you try to get revenge for having your school burned down and your master kidnapped.

I believe it is made by the same people who did KOTOR, so they are very similar. Instead of the light and dark side, you have the Way of the Open Hand and the Way of the Closed Fist. Like KOTOR, there is dialogue and options that you can choose from to answer in response. Your actions effect the way you are, do bad things- you're a bad guy and so on. One example being that you meet a woman who is obsessed with a man who is already married, she hires people to beat the man up for being married to another woman who isn't her. You can settle this by either killing them all or helping them to understand each other or take another option. Many options are given to different goals, another great part of the game.

The characters on the game are very interesting, from a King Seesar like spirit that possesses a little girl to a ninja who is out for revenge, the game has many interesting characters that become your allies. The game itself is well done, the game isn't even turn based and is even more smooth than KOTOR. I really do think it's one of the best games of '05 and I highly recommend that everyone who likes RPGs like KOTOR or Fable to get it.

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