Jade Empire - KOTOR in Ancient China

[StinkyPinky]

Since Jade Empire is the only major release Bioware game I've never played I thought I'd purchase it via steam for 15 dollars.

The gameplay and combat really does feel like KOTOR. I know Bioware sold the rights to KOTOR so they could persue their own intellectual property and i'm just wondering if Jade Empire was the game they had in mind?

Pretty good game. The story is nicely done and anyone that liked KOTOR should enjoy this game. It is a bit dated though, especially in the good/evil side of things. There's a "good" option and a "evil" option and it's all very obvious and signposted.

Anyway, just a heads up for those who may have been put off by the unusual setting. It's worth playing...especially for 15 dollars.

 

[DaveSimmons]

How much does it require fighting-game reflexes?

One thing I like about traditional RPGs is that I don't need to get my adrenaline level up at all -- it's either turn based or pausable "real-time" that's turn-based behind the scenes.

 

[damocles]

How much does it require fighting-game reflexes?

One thing I like about traditional RPGs is that I don't need to get my adrenaline level up at all -- it's either turn based or pausable "real-time" that's turn-based behind the scenes.

The fighting is pretty simple, the game is more about playing through a story and doesnt require any skill really. It is a bit like ME

 

[Cheesetogo]

Given that ME felt a lot like KoToR I'm not too surprised that Jade Empire does as well. Glad to hear that it's decent, I might have to try it. Does it use turn based fighting?

 

[zagood]

Haven't played this game in years...someday I'll finish DA:O and load it up again.

 

[Dorkenstein]

I did a second playthrough of that game two years ago. I tried my darndest to grab and do everything I missed in the first run through, and I still beat it in under 12 hours.

If I remember right, the fighting is pausable real time.

 

[NYHoustonman]

This was actually the first Bioware game I played (not sure how that happened...). Pretty much agree with everything you've said - many people think this is their worst, but it's still worth a play through.

 

[Fingolfin269]

I love Jade Empire.

 

[shortylickens]

Thats funny, cuz I got it a month ago and played it for a whole weekend, and I didnt think it felt anything like KOTOR, despite the fact everyone else said it did.
I thought it felt like Blade of Darkness, and I didnt like that game at all.
Jade Empire was alright, but I got tired quickly and left it. Only got as far as my first transformation power, and I didnt use it much cuz it sucks up energy so fast.

 

[tk149]

I enjoyed Jade Empire, but KOTOR was better.

 

[PhatoseAlpha]

Closed fist isn't evil in the same way dark side in KotOR is. You can occasionally be a douchebag, but it's not really 'rampaging psychopath' like Dark Side KotOR was.

Not very balanced game though. Storm Dragon is close to broken, and Jade Golem is way past broken.

 

[Dorkenstein]

Closed fist isn't evil in the same way dark side in KotOR is. You can occasionally be a douchebag, but it's not really 'rampaging psychopath' like Dark Side KotOR was.

Not very balanced game though. Storm Dragon is close to broken, and Jade Golem is way past broken.

Agreed. In both of my playthroughs I beat the end boss like a petulant child with Jade Golem and almost never got injured at all. Pretty unrealistic for what is supposed to be a huge showdown against a master strategist, especially the way it's built up to that point.

 

[Wardawg1001]

I played it on xbox a long time ago. I actually finished it which is something I rarely do, even with really good games (not a big fan of single player). I don't know why to be honest because I never felt like it was that great as I was playing it and still don't feel like it was that good of a game. Combat was kind of boring and the story was just barely interesting enough to keep me going.

 

[phreaqe]

i picked this game up when steam had it on sale at Christmas and was very happy with it. sure it was not cutting edge graphics, but the story was good and the game play was good. if i had paid 50 for it, i would have been unhappy. but i think i paid 5 or 10 for it and for that money i think it was well worth the play through.

 

[motsm]

I did a second playthrough of that game two years ago. I tried my darndest to grab and do everything I missed in the first run through, and I still beat it in under 12 hours.

If I remember right, the fighting is pausable real time.

You must have still missed or skipped plenty. I am on my first play through, completed Tien's Landing and have only done a few thing's in the Imperial City, and I'm at 20 hours.

Great game so far, typical BioWare structure but perhaps lighter on the RPG elements than some of their titles.

 

[s44]

Jade Golem is the cheat mode for people who can't win the endgame fights otherwise. I never used it.

I did like using Mirabelle, which is pretty cheap in itself. I thought Closed Fist *was* too much like Dark Side (you're literally kicking puppies by the end!) -- it's ME2's Renegade options that come closest to what CF was supposed to be.

 

[martensite]

A timely thread as I was about to start one myself. I just got a (fully legal) free copy of Jade Empire Special Edition, and was wondering whether to even install it. I haven't played any of the bioware games apart from ME1&2.

 

[s44]

It's the first Bioware game with a possible threesome...

 

[Fenixgoon]

A timely thread as I was about to start one myself. I just got a (fully legal) free copy of Jade Empire Special Edition, and was wondering whether to even install it. I haven't played any of the bioware games apart from ME1&2.

its ok. the story is pretty good but the combat is super repetitive, especially if you use the lightning dragon (?) style.. way OP