Jade Empire is saddled with so much expectation it's a wonder it hasn't come with a disclaimer sticker saying: "Warning: May Not Change Your Life". After all, it's the first 'original' title to come from Bioware, the makers of such iconic games as Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. It has to be mind-bogglingly good, doesn't it?
Thankfully, BioWare has delivered a game that can stand proudly with its predecessors. Set in a land much like ancient China, Jade Empire is sure to have even casual fans of Asian action films and Chinese mythology drool in glee. It may not be the groundbreaking title some have hoped for, but it does enough to make it stand out amongst the pack and warrant it a hearty Editors' Choice from the gang here at CNET.com.au.
Jade Empire is an action-RPG that's heavily slanted towards the action side of things. In fact, most hardcore RPG fans will probably find little to satisfy their stats-building, attribute-tweaking urges, as Jade Empire ditches most of the complexity in favour of accessibility. This accessibility is apparent from the very first screens of the game when you're asked to build your character. For a normal RPG, this would usually be a time consuming process where players research what the different attributes are before deciding which ones they'd like to specialise in. Jade Empire streamlines all this by only having three character attributes, as well as presenting players with six preset characters to choose from.
RPG-light
Forget about attributes like strength, constitution and luck - Jade Empire distills it all into Body, Spirit and Mind. Body affects your health, spirit your Chi level (this game's magic meter), while Mind affects your focus (your ability to wield weapons and enter the Force Speed-like Focus Mode). The six preset characters all have differing levels of these three attributes, making some more suited for combat while others for magic. Players can tweak these attributes to their liking at the beginning, but unfortunately no individualisation of character models are allowed (you have to choose from one of the six presets).
This simplicity is carried through to the game's inventory system, which is so pared down it's hardly there at all. There's no health or magic potions to be found here -- regaining lost health, chi or focus is done through handily located shrines throughout the game world, or through power-ups dropped by fallen foes. There's no multitude of different armour or weapons to choose from either. When it comes to weapons, there are only a few different ones to find throughout the game, and they get automatically swapped in for any lesser weapons you may be carrying. The only item that requires management is your character's Dragon Amulet, which can be fitted out with different crystals that affect character attributes. RPG-trainspotters used to dealing with every minutia of their characters will definitely be left wanting.
While the role playing aspects are light on, the action side of the equation receives much greater attention, and is both readily accessible and complex at the same time. Unlike the turn-based KOTOR, Jade Empire gives you complete control of your character during combat, meaning it's all up to your skill whether you survive to the next battle. Basic combat is fairly straightforward - A is for quick attacks, X for a slow charging power attack (which leaves you open for any enemy strikes), and B is to block. Holding down B and pushing on the left joystick also makes your character evade attacks by diving from side to side or over an enemy's head. Pressing Y enters Focus mode, where time slows down to allow you to better attack an enemy.
My kung fu is better than yours
So far so simple, but Jade Empire ratchets up the complexity with the addition of dozens of combat styles that can be acquired throughout the game. Styles can either be hand-to-hand martial attacks, weapon wielding (which drain your Focus), demon-transformation or support ones (both of which drain Chi). Players can switch styles instantaneously during battle - you can start by pelting your enemy with the magic style Dire Flame, go in close and switch to the support style Heavenly Wave to slow them down, before finishing them off with the Golden Star weapon style. All of this happens responsively and smoothly, making combat a breeze. Styles can also be improved as the game progresses. Each time a character levels up, points are given which players can spend upgrading their styles to deal more damage, consume less Chi or Focus, and more.
Jade Empire's combat system is so well executed that most players will in no time master its intricacies, dodging and vaulting over enemies while switching styles on the fly. If anything, the combat in the game is a little too easy. On the normal difficulty mode, most fights will devolve into a similar pattern of attack, dodge and repeat, with mastery of two or three different styles all that's really needed to get through the game. Most players will probably experiment with all the other styles just to see the cool attack animations involved, but will most likely soon ditch them in favour of their tried and true styles.
Not that you'll be on your own throughout the game - Jade Empire allows you to travel with one other companion, which you can choose from the list of followers you'll encounter on your journeys. Each companion has different strengths and weaknesses, and each can be set to either help you out in attack or sit back during battles and provide support. This support can range from giving you healing, refilling your Chi bar, throwing out bottles of wine for your Drunken Master style, and more.
Good or evil? It's up to you
While action buffs and RPG enthusiasts may find Jade Empire's approach somewhat simplistic, where the game really hits it for a six is with its amazing storytelling. Jade Empire tells a compelling and involving narrative, wrapping it around a cohesive game world that seems alive with its own history and mythology. Fans of Hong Kong martial arts films and Chinese literature will find plenty of reference points in Jade Empire - from recent hits like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon to characters seemingly taken directly from the old Chinese novel Outlaws of the Marsh (like the axe-wielding Black Whirlwind), Jade Empire has it all. The plot itself, an epic quest which sees your character trying to restore balance to the world, has plenty of twists and turns, as well as loads of intriguing characters crossing your path.
Like the KOTOR games before it, Jade Empire presents players with a system of morality that affects the plot of the game. Instead of Light/Dark sides, Jade Empire has the Open Palm and Closed Fist paths - Open Palm for 'good' or kind actions, Closed Fist for 'evil'. Almost all conversations and plots in the game will have options for either good or evil, with what a player chooses affecting that conversation or plot's outcome. Like KOTOR, mastering one of the paths will open up styles, abilities and plots exclusive to that particular path, so it pays to pick one and focus on it throughout the game.
To its credit, Jade Empire has infused almost all situations with many shades of 'grey', and also consistently comes up with compelling arguments for both good and evil outcomes. This one will definitely have you pausing and thinking, weighing up the pros and cons of situations instead of instantly knowing what the 'right' solution is. And your decisions have the ability to reverberate throughout the entire game - there are three very different endings to find, depending on which path you decide to take. With so much variety in plot depending on your decisions, more playthroughs are almost mandatory for Jade Empire.
And to top it all off, Jade Empire looks fantastic. The fantasy world created for the game features plenty of detail, with some of the environments players must traverse looking absolutely fantastic. This quality continues onto the game's character models - attacks are smooth and animated fluidly, making you feel like you're watching a real kung fu movie at times. All of the game's characters also feature excellent facial characteristics and movements. Sound too is well handled, with the music and sound effects fitting in well with the game world. The game, however, falls down with its long load times. It's not too noticeable when travelling from large area to large area, but when it occurs when moving inside and outside a building it can be quite frustrating.
Break it down into its action and RPG pieces and Jade Empire is not overly impressive. Those looking for a serious RPG will find it's fairly light-on, while those craving action will discover that while the combat system has some depth, it's not particularly challenging. But put it together and add a compelling story set in a cohesive fantasy world and you're on a winner.
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15/03/2006, 09:54 AM
great game
this is a very great game.
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