Jade Empire

[Bond]

After nearly two years in development, BioWare's Jade Empire is done. The dream project from the Canadian developer that fermented for nearly a decade in the brains of the company's founding doctors and finally found a form on the Xbox just hit our offices this past week, and we've started our way on the long road to martial arts mastery and general badassness. Having had the good fortune to see the game evolve from the short demo revealed at 2003's Tokyo Game Show to the final epic we're just getting started with, we've been anxious to find out how all the various aspects of gameplay that we've reported on would come together. Although our review will hit shortly, we thought we'd get in one more look at the game to see how the adventure unfolds.

Our time with the game over the past two years has given us a good idea of what to expect from the early portion as you begin your journey. There is a good chunk of content to be discovered as you get started. Amid the expected tutorial sequences, framed as conversations with various non-player characters, and your basic exploration of the martial arts school where you'll start the game, you'll get a taste of the little touches peppered throughout the game to give the experience some depth. Your discoveries will start out simple enough, such as a crate that's off the beaten path or some basic puzzles to solve in dojos, but they will become more challenging as you progress. Another, more subtle, aspect you probably won't notice at first is the start of the closed-fist and open-palm system, which, for fans of Knights of the Old Republic, is Jade Empire's spin on the light-side and dark-side mechanics seen in the last KOTOR Xbox role-playing game. While the system will play a significant role in Jade Empire, it's initially just some terse responses on the conversation trees you'll get when interacting with the NPCs.

One thing that stands out in this initial segment of the game is the impressive world that has been built for the adventure. Above and beyond the polished visuals and technical prowess on display, we're impressed by the game's art style and the signs of life strewn throughout the locations you'll explore. All the little touches--such as animals calmly milling about, NPCs walking around, or even seemingly mundane details like plant life swaying in the wind--sell you on the fact that you're exploring a new world. These little touches complement the Xbox-centric effects, such as light bloom, and give the proceedings an ethereal quality.

As far as the combat goes, anyone expecting a carbon copy of KOTOR should expect to be left wanting. Jade Empire's fighting mechanics are much more dynamic and option-filled, and they offer you the opportunity to tailor your virtual self to your liking. However, that said, the system isn't so complicated that you'll be lost. At its most basic level, Jade Empire's system is the coolest version of rock-paper-scissors you've ever seen. By this we mean that you'll quickly pick up on what attacks and fighting styles are effective against which enemies, and you'll adapt your combat behavior as needed. But, if you like dying, you can feel free to go ahead and try to use the thousand-cuts style against a golem. For those who aren't up on their golem fun facts, we'll just say that when you think "thousand cuts," you should also think "golems are immune" or "death comes swiftly to those who try to use it on golems." As you learn new skills and combos, you'll be able to refine your alter ego into a wicked butt-kicker. By the end of the game, your fighter will be radically different from what you started with, which certainly gives you a sense of the passage of time and the growing maturity of your fighter.

As good as the visuals and gameplay are looking right now, what anchors Jade is its story. While it's tricky to go into much detail without spoiling the story, we can say that Jade Empire features a rich story that will satisfy players looking to get lost in an adventure that's heavy on surprises. Although the early part of the game that sets up your quest seems fairly routine--it features the expected RPG elements, such as a talented individual with a mysterious background who is destined for potential greatness--Jade Empire isn't really a by-numbers affair. If anything, you should expect to have your head messed with a few times by some of the very cool twists the story will take. The presence of the NPCs and the possibilities they offer as they follow you and interact with you in a number of ways, including romantically, seem to ensure that there will be plenty to keep you busy.

Based on our initial time with Jade Empire, we have to say we're digging what we've seen. The game seems to be a polished and well-done RPG that is poised to be another gem from BioWare for the Xbox. We're curious to see just how far things go with the open-hand and closed-fist paths as well as with the various romantic story arcs.

Source: Gamespot

[Vampyr]

Looks awesome.

One of my most wanted games...too bad I'm saving for a PSP.

[Dyne]

Ooh, maybe my Xbox will get some more use before the end of this generation! =o

I really didn't like KOTOR. I hope Jade Empire fixes the points I didn't like about it.

[MuGen]

the only thing I don't like is it's a Chinese based imperial game developed by Canadians...

Unless they had chinese developers on their team....

[Ginkasa]

Why does it matter? People write stories and stuff all the time about people of different ethnicity and nationality. Its not about whether the creator is Chinese or not, but whether he gets it right or not.

Besides, its fantasy... Its based off different Chinese legends, right? Not actual history?


/me shrugs and walks away

[DarkMaster]

9.9 from IGN.

[Bond]

I'm patiently waiting for the Gamespot review... it should really be up by now.

[DarkMaster]

8.4 from Gamespot. That's quite the difference...

[Ginkasa]

IGN: Overly high scores for the big games (usually)
Gamespot: Overly low scores for any game

Verdict: Jade Empire deserves something around the 9.0 to 9.2 range.

Ish. Maybe.


/me shrugs and walks away

[Solid Snake]

I have been very interested in this game since I played Star Wars: KOTOR, that game was awsome. I think Bioware is starting to turn into one of those game developers that will always put out a quality product. Because I am low on money and wanting like 2 other games right now I will be waiting for the EGM and Game Infomer reviews, I typically agree with GI.

[Bond]

I just got this game. I'll tell you how it is once I've played some more.

[Ginkasa]

I rented it yesterday (and I barely had enough money for that...*tear*). I'm about 7-8 hours into it (just about to leave Tien's Landing), and I have to say I'm really liking it.

Its not really what I expected, though. I was expecting pretty much a more refined KotOR set in China and with real-time combat. Its not, really. There are plenty of similarites, sure, but its a lot more different than I thought it would be.

First, the customibility of your character is pretty much gone. At the beginning of the game you're given a set of character models and preference of gameplay styles. Like, one of them is "Wu the Prodigy" (or something like that) and he has a balanced play style. You are able to change the name, but that's about it in terms of making the character your own.

The stats are taken way done. There are only three areas to put points into (body, mind, and spirit). Its less complicated, but you don't have to the ability to fine-tune your characters to what you want exactly.

While I haven't tried any other characters out besides a "balanced" one, I can't see how something else could be all that different. This is a shame, since the different stats in KotOR could really change how you needed to play to win...

Combat is also completely different, although I knew that already. Its all in real time. While this makes things go faster and gives you more direct control over your character (it feels more like you're actually punching a guy in Jade Empire, as opposed to just giving the order like in KotOR...if that makes sense), its also makes it a bit simplistic. The styles and all seem kind of wasted, too. I haven't really seen a need to switch out of my original martial arts style...

The companion is also completely worthless. The only control you have over it is whether it is attacking or supporting, and that's only for a few of the characters I've gotten so far. Attacking is stupid 'cause they hardly do half as well as you do against the enemies. They don't even do well as a distraction. Supporting is a little more helpful, but the only support move that has really been super helpful is Dawn Star's Chi regenerative thing.

There are also no real items. There are gems you can equip to boost your stats, but no armor or weapons (well, there's weapons, but that's treated as a style). There are no potions or temporary stat bootsers or anything. I personally find it kind of refreshing to not have to worry about restocking on items or buying all the best quipment or whatever...

The missions and dialogue and the good/evil thing are pretty much handled the same. That's the only thing that really connects it to KotOR.

Well... I"m enjoying it. Ummm.... That's all...really...


/me shrugs and walks away

[Dyne]

Wait, it's real-time combat?

I might actually like this then. : D

[Ginkasa]

Yeah. The control scheme:

A is just your basic punches and kicks.
X is the more powerful, but slower, attack. Its unblockable...
Y engages the Focus Mode which pretty much turns everything but your character really slow (and the screen is grey). There's a meter that measure how long you can stay like this.
B is your basic block/dodge.
The White button heals you. This uses Chi..
Black causes you to use Chi when you attack with A or X. This causes them to be more powerful.
The directional pad changes styles.
L and R changes the lock on.
Control stick controls your character...

Just if the control scheme is really important or something....


/me shrugs and walks away