Tribute to an Old Masterpiece, Jade Empire

[Setch Dreskar]

As a fair warning the video has intense spoilers, and basically gives a very rough overview of the entire game, you have been warned. I wish I knew how to properly embed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ty63zwzJQY

Now the main reason I made this thread is well, I loved this game even back when I played it on the original Xbox and recently bought it again on Steam, or rather the Special Edition. Well I wonder how many of you have played this game, and what were your thoughts of it, feel free to speak your mind but try and keep it constructive even if you hate and despise the game, explain why.

For me I find the entire setting, mythos and style of the game to be incredible, and I whole heartedly wish they would make a sequel to this!

 

[Kotep]

I loved the setting for Jade Empire, and I felt that it was one of their most promising IPs. It was sad to see that nothing ever really became of it after the first game. I don't quite know if I'd want to see a sequel now...it might be best if it's just remembered for what it was.

Regardless, it was a great game, and I wish there were more like it.

 

[ColeusRattus]

I agree. Jade Empire was great.

 

[viperthejedi]

I agree. Jade Empire was great.

Ditto. Loved this game. Though I love a lot of Bioware games.

 

[latenightapplepie]

I was initially very disappointed with Jade Empire; the replacement of an inventory with the Dragon Amulet really bothered me at first. The fact I couldn't equip armour and weapons in the same way as KoTOR bugged me for the first play-through. But gradually I came to realise that there was still a lot of depth to the game, and I enjoyed the real-time combat heaps.

So yeah, in short, I came around. I still listen to the main theme of the game and it reminds me of how awesome the game was. I saw the opening teaser trailer of sorts on a demo disc and loved it, despite its cliches.

 

[Ultress]

I fucking loved everything about this game: The story,the combat and the characters especially Black Whirlwind and Henpecked Hou. My only problem was the atrocious but i think that was due to me playing it on the 360(actual disc not the XBLA marketplace version.

 

[Bonecrusher]

the game was great with an interesting story.
it is something like an "KOTOR in China", but still it has many unique elements seperating this from other games.

I was planning to play it again, because Jade Empire has a mystic and dreamy world, and I love it.

 

[Megalodon]

Biggest problem with Jade Empire, the John Cleese voiced conquistador.

Not that he was bad in any way, shape or form, but once I met him, I wanted to abandon the whole spirit monk story and have the game follow his escapades.
Epic game though.

 

[TriggerHappyAngel]

Jade Empire is one of my favorite Bioware games, way better then for example Dragon Age.

 

[Hgdrifter]

Loved this game, I still come back to it every once in a while. I think I've played and beaten 10 times since I've bought it for Xbox

 

[Setch Dreskar]

I am actually really pleased that there are alot of fans of this game, I mean I do much the same and listen to the Jade Empire theme while I play others games, I think another reason I love the game so much is that, even with KoTOR, I feel more vested in the world and I am more intrigued by every little aspect of it. I mean there is nothing else quiet like Jade Empire.

I even play 9Dragons which I know alot of people find boring and confusing and such mainly because of Jade Empire, setting and atmosphere can really draw me in if its unique to me.

As for Sir Roderick Ponce von Fontlebottom the Magnificent Bastard, who doesn't love the 'educated' man with the slice of cheddar coat of arms. I love if you pick the mind option which makes him give you the book of war to which your character notes "Although it is impossible to read the language, it has several brilliant pictures and diagrams on how NOT to fight a war."

 

[Danceofmasks]

Jade Empire is a great game.
I even made a few videos of it for youtube.
Here's one

However, I wouldn't call it a masterpiece ..

 

[Anachronism]

"Masterpiece", I think, is a bit far. It's quite short, if only compared to BioWare's other games, and it's extremely linear. Just to be clear, linearity doesn't bother me, but it felt quite artificial here, if that makes sense, like walking through a forest that is, for all intents and purposes, a corridor. The thing that prevents it from achieving the "masterpiece" level that Baldur's Gate II and Dragon Age: Origins are at is the characters: to me, they simply weren't that interesting. That said, it's still a very good game. People might complain that it's too easy, but considering how good the story is, I'm not going to complain about being able to progress through it and find out what happens. The combat is also very fun, if a bit repetitive and simplistic.

To me, the best part of it, by far, was the world. The art design is gorgeous and a welcome change from the Tolkienian fantasy settings most RPGs take place in. There's a lot that could be done with wuxia settings and developers ought to take advantage of that. It's a shame we didn't get to spend more time in the Empire, really. That said, the size of the Empire, or lack thereof, is another aspect of the game that bothered me. There are only four main locations, one of which is visited twice in identical sequences, and the Imperial City felt ridiculously small for the capital of the Empire. Hell, Tien's Landing felt bigger, and that's just a small fishing village.

At the risk of sounding like I dislike the game, let me assure you that I don't; I thoroughly enjoyed it at the time. It's just not the kind of game which will stick with you, like Baldur's Gate II does.

 

[thethingthatlurks]

Loved it! As far as I'm concerned, it was the last truly great game Bioware made. The artstyle (oh gods, give me more of those lovely colors!), the story, the characters, and the combat made this a game I still play every now and then. Just plain fun!

 

[DirtyMagic]

I WANTED to love Jade Empire. I really wanted to.
And in the end I did enjoy it, but it was never the masterpiece for me that I wanted it to be.

Still a good game though.

But you know, NOTHING can top Baldur's Gate 2: shadows Of Amn for me anymore, sorry Bioware!

 

[Cursed Frogurt]

Such a great game. It gives me hope that one of these days Bioware will make a decent shooter since they were able to create a unique, fun, and strategic fighting engine when their previous work was mostly turn-based combat.

It's one of the best WRPGs ever, in my opinion. One of the most important aspects of an RPG is the combat, because, in the end, everything you do results in getting better at surviving encounters, but if those encounters aren't fun in of themselves, there's no point *coughOblivioncough*

 

[Discord]

When threads pop up of favorite XBOX game, Best RPG or best in game soundtrack I Shout praises to Jade Empire. It was a awesome game and I can only dream to what sucess Bioware would have if they made a 2 or a upgraded Reboot. I offen check Bioware forums and they still use the old avatar's from Jade empire for your profile so maybe they have not forgot about the game.

E3 is comeing... And I can Dream ^__^

 

[Skoldpadda]

It's an underrated game. Sure, everyone who's played it loves it. Threads like this show just how popular this great game really is, but in these times of sequel after sequel after sequel, this game never got one. And that's why it's underrated.

I absolutely loved Jade Empire, and am still hoping, likely in vain, for a sequel.

 

[Setch Dreskar]

It has been said its not a masterpiece, and ya I kind of showed my bias right off the bat with the thread name but it is good to see that even those who don't love it to the same extent as I do, still love the game or at the very least enjoyed it. It was definatly a gem, and was so unique.

 

[Scars Unseen]

Love the game, BUT...

I hate that the controls on PC suck so much that I end up having to break out my XBox to enjoy the game.