13 replies to this topic

[theacefes]

I came across it at the store and figured, "Why not?"

Installed it Tuesday night. Got accustomed to the controls, played a bit last night, and I beat it tonight. It took me about 9 hours total to beat it on the easiest difficulty level, which doesn't quite match up to my 15-16 hours of KOTOR but still...

I wish I had a screenshot to show you guys the save game, but it wouldn't let me take one. I really liked the game and the characters and I ESPECIALLY liked the combat. More RPGs should have a more interactive combat style as opposed to turn based, but that's just my tastes I guess. Still, I wish that the game had been a bit longer. The story didn't feel short; it was complete in my opinion, but it seemed like they really cut short on what could have been a hugely expanded universe that's pretty different from other RPGs.

Anyway, there's my belated review on a game that's only a few years old.

Edited by theacefes, 11 June 2009 - 11:53 PM.

[Solaufein]

Got much further than I. I played an hour or so and called it quits.

[Aeryn]

I really enjoyed the game - and my favorite part was the combat as well. It's been years since I played...tempted to fire it up again...

[Epantiras]

Nine hours!? Now that was fast!
It took me 28 hours (I've just checked the last save file) and I did not do the optional flying machie minigames.

I hope you didn't miss anything!

[theacefes]

Nine hours!? Now that was fast!
It took me 28 hours (I've just checked the last save file) and I did not do the optional flying machie minigames.

I hope you didn't miss anything!

I'm sure I missed a lot, as I barely did any subquests and I played on the easiest mode. but I really did like the main storyline. I wonder why there hasn't been a lot of talk over a sequel.

[Cal Jones]

You should definitely give it another run through with the side quests.
The only thing I really missed was completing the furnace side quests as I am not a twitch gamer and found some of the flying missions too hard.
I too really liked Jade Empire - however, unlike most Bioware games I found that one run through was enough for me. I did it as Open Palm, with a male character, romancing Sky. I tried to go back for another play, got to the Imperial City and then got bored. I don't really like being nasty to people so didn't try the Closed Fist path, and had no interest in romancing the females, so that was that. It's odd considering I have played through BG/BGII, KotOR and Mass Effect multiple times (even without mods) but JE, though beautiful and intriguing, didn't grab me in quite the same way. I would be interested in a sequel, but I don't think it'll happen.

[Eleima]

I think Cal Jones raises a very valid point. When I first played Jade Empire, I played as Wu the Lotus Blossom and romanced Sky, going with Open Palm. I did all the subquests I could find. I thought the story was intriguing, and enjoyed it immensely (and without any spoilers, I'll just say that I hadn't anticipated the little twist when your PC arrives in the Imperial Throne Room the first time around, that was a huge surprise for me).
However, when the second playthrough rolled around, I tried to go with another character, another romance, or Closed Fist path, but the magic was gone. I got bored and gave up within an hour. This is Jade Empire's major flaw, in my opinion: there is virtually no replayability.
Don't get me wrong, it's still a good game. But I've played BG2 a gazillion times, and KotOR a couple of times since I got it last year. Jade Empire, however... I just don't see myself sitting down for another run. I'd rather go play Oblivion another time, or discover something new (I still haven't played Assassin's Creed or NWN 2).

As for a sequel... I'm not so sure there is material for one. (Watch out, here be spoilers!)

Spoiler

Now that the Empire is saved, that the bad guy's dead, the PC can settle down and make little Spirit Monks of his/her own (or not). But then again, maybe my imagination is sluggish today!

[Cal Jones]

Yeah, I think they've tried to make it replayable with the two paths, different fighting styles and three romances (plus different difficulty levels) but for some reason I don't really care to do it again. Like you, I didn't see the twist (and normally I do, heh) so that pleased me a lot.
When I say sequel, I didn't necessarily mean with the same characters - they could easily make another game in the same world, so to speak (especially since they went to the trouble of creating a language for it!) but I'm not sure the demand is there. Space and traditional fantasy are both sexier, in terms of sales, so we'll see more Mass Effect sequels and Dragon Age instead. I'm pretty happy with that, to be honest.

[Epantiras]

I know there have been rumours about JE2 but they're years old now 9_9
A big problem about JE's replayability is that

Spoiler

the real turning point, i.e. what you do with the water dragon's body, is near the end of the game, therefore you don't need to play if from the start again in order to experience the other ending. It's fairly similar to what happened in KotOR 1.

[princesspurpleblob]

Got much further than I. I played an hour or so and called it quits.

Same here :X

[Discordia]

i played a while, what i liked best was this games interpretation of "good" and "evil".

[thisisme99]

Wow, only nine hours? Took me about thirty hours and I enjoyed each and every one of it.

Which leads me to the question: Why do so many people in this thread seem to not like Jade Empire? I liked that it was something different. Not my favourite game, but still interesting. Your take on this?

[Cal Jones]

I guess some people didn't like the combat. I wasn't keen until I got used to it.

[Yovaneth]

I'm totally cack-handed when it comes to keyboard-controlled games so on my first run through I was getting hammered in most combat scenarios. This time round I have a bog-standard Microsoft Lazer 6000 mouse coupled with a Merc Stealth keyboard (would you believe I bought that keyboard just to play Oblivion - !). The mouse has primary attack and secondary attack on the left and right buttons, block on the wheel button, next target on the rightside secondary button and previous target on the leftside secondary button. Result? Trashed enemies almost every time. Much more enjoyable than the constant reload I had last time.