Posted by: Benedict
Jade Empire - Special Edition - 08/10/08 08:16 AM
Introduction
This RPG game, developed by Bioware, was released on Xbox as well as on PC. The PC version was sub-titled Special Edition because it included an additional playable character, Monk Zeng. The player can between a group of male and female characters to select one to control as the main character for the game.
Game Features
The game features a virtual world based on Chinese culture. The game world is populated by Asians with authentic sounding names, wearing authentic costumes. Non-player characters appear to have jobs and roles to play and have a few rotated lines of dialogue. Players related to the main plot and side plots have fairly detailed dialogue and characterisation and are voiced by professional voice over actors.
Gameplay
The gamer can choose between a good path and an evil path for the main character. Dialogue and behaviour options allow the whim of the player to make his/her character into a saint, someone in between, or into an utterly despicable scoundrel. Combat in the game showcases and is a great homage to Asian Martial Arts. The main character can block, leap around, punch, use weapons, sweep a group of opponents aside, use magical fire or ice projectiles, or transform into various animal creatures. In the game, the gamer will encounter enemies ranging from thugs, kung fu masters, ghosts and animal-like "demons". Players can switch between martial arts styles by using the numerical keypad button. Combat can be done using left button for attack, right button for strong attack, both buttons for area attack, and space bar for block. There are also special tricks like Focus (F button) similar to slow-mo John Woo style, Chi-attack (E button) using extra "force" in each strike, and Chi-heal using the shift button. Combat is a joy and easy to manage using these buttons. Gamers who are familiar with adventure gaming will enjoy the various options in interacting with main quest and side quest characters. Bioware has incorporated choices into each main quest and side quest so there are often more than one quest outcome, generally a good outcome and an evil outcome depending on the good or evil "path" that you lead your character down. The character has the opportunity to engage with romance with several characters, even the freedom to choose to romance characters of the same sex or two characters or the opposite sex simultaneously. The main character gains experience from quests and combat that enable him or her to gain new martial arts techniques that enhance his or her overall abilities, or gain more power in his martial arts styles.
Story:
The Jade Empire was ruled by an Emperor who was reported to have heavenly powers. When the Empire was beset by a severe drought, he and his subjects confronted the celestial water dragon, and succeeded in bringing water back to a parched land. Your character starts out in a martial arts school in a village, a special pupil of a respected, skilled martial arts master. Disaster befalls your school and your character has to travel the game world to search for his master as well as to discover his or her destiny.
Graphics, visuals:
The game world is beautifully rendered in 3D, and is played in third-person perspective. The game world, especially in the village and in the Imperial City, is well populated by characters. Cutscenes tell the story between key story segments, and are a joy to behold. Graphics quality are not top of the line, but that means that you don't need a top range PC to be able to play this game. Cities, hills, clouds, and underground chambers look nice from afar, but unimpressive up close and are not up to par with that in action games. Water rendering looks fake, regrettably. The characters however, are very nicely rendered and have some facial movements to show their emotions. As a key feature is to be able to choose characters to play, these player characters all look different and striking and interesting, so you won't mind staing at their backs as you control them in third person movement.
Recommendations:
Get this game if you want lots of variety in plot, and freedom to interact with all kinds of characters and the game world, if you like Asian culture, kungfu, or simply because if you feel like beating up annoying game characters. The story is considerably dark towards the final third of the game. Violence is not gory, but can get disturbing in certain parts of the game, although animated blocky character violence is considerably more bearable to most gamers. Greatly recommended for adventure gamers who yearn more interaction and are tired of pretty but empty games.
This RPG game, developed by Bioware, was released on Xbox as well as on PC. The PC version was sub-titled Special Edition because it included an additional playable character, Monk Zeng. The player can between a group of male and female characters to select one to control as the main character for the game.
Game Features
The game features a virtual world based on Chinese culture. The game world is populated by Asians with authentic sounding names, wearing authentic costumes. Non-player characters appear to have jobs and roles to play and have a few rotated lines of dialogue. Players related to the main plot and side plots have fairly detailed dialogue and characterisation and are voiced by professional voice over actors.
Gameplay
The gamer can choose between a good path and an evil path for the main character. Dialogue and behaviour options allow the whim of the player to make his/her character into a saint, someone in between, or into an utterly despicable scoundrel. Combat in the game showcases and is a great homage to Asian Martial Arts. The main character can block, leap around, punch, use weapons, sweep a group of opponents aside, use magical fire or ice projectiles, or transform into various animal creatures. In the game, the gamer will encounter enemies ranging from thugs, kung fu masters, ghosts and animal-like "demons". Players can switch between martial arts styles by using the numerical keypad button. Combat can be done using left button for attack, right button for strong attack, both buttons for area attack, and space bar for block. There are also special tricks like Focus (F button) similar to slow-mo John Woo style, Chi-attack (E button) using extra "force" in each strike, and Chi-heal using the shift button. Combat is a joy and easy to manage using these buttons. Gamers who are familiar with adventure gaming will enjoy the various options in interacting with main quest and side quest characters. Bioware has incorporated choices into each main quest and side quest so there are often more than one quest outcome, generally a good outcome and an evil outcome depending on the good or evil "path" that you lead your character down. The character has the opportunity to engage with romance with several characters, even the freedom to choose to romance characters of the same sex or two characters or the opposite sex simultaneously. The main character gains experience from quests and combat that enable him or her to gain new martial arts techniques that enhance his or her overall abilities, or gain more power in his martial arts styles.
Story:
The Jade Empire was ruled by an Emperor who was reported to have heavenly powers. When the Empire was beset by a severe drought, he and his subjects confronted the celestial water dragon, and succeeded in bringing water back to a parched land. Your character starts out in a martial arts school in a village, a special pupil of a respected, skilled martial arts master. Disaster befalls your school and your character has to travel the game world to search for his master as well as to discover his or her destiny.
Graphics, visuals:
The game world is beautifully rendered in 3D, and is played in third-person perspective. The game world, especially in the village and in the Imperial City, is well populated by characters. Cutscenes tell the story between key story segments, and are a joy to behold. Graphics quality are not top of the line, but that means that you don't need a top range PC to be able to play this game. Cities, hills, clouds, and underground chambers look nice from afar, but unimpressive up close and are not up to par with that in action games. Water rendering looks fake, regrettably. The characters however, are very nicely rendered and have some facial movements to show their emotions. As a key feature is to be able to choose characters to play, these player characters all look different and striking and interesting, so you won't mind staing at their backs as you control them in third person movement.
Recommendations:
Get this game if you want lots of variety in plot, and freedom to interact with all kinds of characters and the game world, if you like Asian culture, kungfu, or simply because if you feel like beating up annoying game characters. The story is considerably dark towards the final third of the game. Violence is not gory, but can get disturbing in certain parts of the game, although animated blocky character violence is considerably more bearable to most gamers. Greatly recommended for adventure gamers who yearn more interaction and are tired of pretty but empty games.
