Jade Empire Review (no fat)

Game Description

Jade Empire is a fanciful amalgamation of classic Kung Fu with ancient Chinese mythology. The fast paced game features everything from sinister Chinese assassins and amusing sidekicks of the kind often found in late night martial arts movies.

Jade Empire Gameplay

At the outset of a round of play, you can select from a set of six primary characters. As is often the case in games of this nature, each of these characters has different traits from which the gamer can select from depending on his or her personal and gaming tastes.

Jade Empire is complete with very interesting and rather complicated story lines. This, coupled with challenging fight sequences of varying degrees of intensity, make the replay value of this product very high. The story itself is a central part of the game. Unlike some other role playing expeditions, in Jade Empire the player necessarily becomes heavily involved in the plot line. The story, rather than a passing nod between fight sequences, is the key to Jade Empire.

As mentioned, the replay value of Jade Empire is very high. The game has such a variety of different outcomes that most gamers will not only want to replay but will feel compelled to do so.

Jade Empire - Staggered by the Details

The developers of Jade Empire, in addition to fashioning an action packed game, literally have created an Asian-like Kingdom. Included within the entire developmental package is a language fashioned by Jade Empire developers that has been created with the assistance of an actual linguist. If a gamer were so inclined, Jade Empire is filled with innumerable pages of optional reading that provides a history of the Kingdom, its entrancing language

However, on some levels, the effects utilized throughout Jade Empire may seem a bit disappointing to gamers who are familiar with other products released by BioWare -- including Knight of the Old Republic. Having said that, Jade Empire maintains a feel similar to that found in motion pictures such as “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” the special effects laden martial arts extravaganza that was in theaters a few years back.

Unlike most role playing games, the combat sequences in Jade Empire play out in real time. Rather than creating combat sequences that seem something of appendages as is often the case in a role playing game, the developers have made the combat sequences in Jade Empire central to the overall scheme of things.

Jade Empire - Level Up… for nothing

In many ways, especially with respect to leveling up, Jade Empire is a rather simplistic game when contrasted with others in the role playing, combat genre. While you do pick up new ways to fight along your way, there are very few, and quite negligible, perks of leveling up in Jade. To add to things, a dearth of worthwhile stuff to buy, the weight of your wallet seems quite unnecessary.

Perhaps the intent on the part of developers is to present a game to draw in participation from people who might otherwise shy away from role playing games of this nature. However, the game leads you into a state of utter oblivion to its shortcomings…so we might as well not waste time on this.

Okay, you can’t overlook all shortcomings however good you might think a game to be. The worst of Jade Empire turns up with the lag and the loading times. If anything, you might have expected BioWare to have learned from their earlier ventures, however, it seems they are prone to repeating mistakes. While the lag in the game spoils the fight sequences, the prolonged loading times get really annoying when you come to know that they are there to flank all your fights.

Jade Empire Visuals and Graphics

Gamers who are experienced with BioWare products, and the predecessors to Jade Empire, will agree that the visuals and graphics associated with this game are far, far superior to what has come before. The coloration and overall design of the visuals and graphics make Jade Empire very compelling.

The dynamic visuals and graphics used throughout Jade Empire are particularly startling in such areas of the game as the so-called Imperial City. Indeed, due to the use of crisp imagery, you are coerced into feeling as if you have been transported to some mythical land. All in all, the developers deserve high marks for the graphics they have mastered and utilized in the creation of this visually stunning game.

Jade Empire Sound Quality

The quality of the sound associated with Jade Empire is consistently on the mark. One of the more sparkling elements of sound in the game can be found in the superior character voiceovers utilized throughout the game. Rather than skip through voiceovers -- which normally plague games like Jade Empire -- the characterizations are so well done most players enjoy hearing these voiceovers out to completion.

Special sound effects are also well timed, and well presented, making the mythical world of the Jade Empire come to life as you work your way from scene to scene.

Jade Empire 2 cents

It is important to note that prior to the release of Jade Empire, the developer’s most significant project was Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, a game that has been highly acclaimed. If you are a fan of either role playing or combat games, you are very likely to appreciate what Jade Empire has to offer. In many ways, Jade Empire pulls together what is best in both of these gaming genres. Even with its minor problematic blips, Jade Empire is a compelling, entertaining and well designed product.

Jade Empire Price

Jade Empire for Xbox currently retails for $27.99.