Jade Empire

Reviewed by Gary Hartley (August 17, 2006)

The teammate that tags along fails to help matters much; their only use on the battlefield is to draw opposition away from you while they get sliced to ribbons and inflict miserable damage -- even if this appears to be completely contradictory. Take Black Whirlwind, a huge muscle-bound psychopath who lives for mindless violence, a search for the perfect wine and bragging rights. The plot would have you believe that this shaved bear of a man is an unstoppable homicide factory, yet when it is time for his twin axes to be tested, you will often see him being smacked about by even the weakest of foes, leaving you alone to plough through targets unaided.

Reviewed by careless_whisper (May 31, 2005)

I've only played two Bioware games: Jade Empire and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. I'm already convinced that Bioware is a lazy or maybe just complacent group of game designers. Guys, you clearly know what you're doing, and I'm not advocating an EA-style 100 work week, but maybe the next time around you should spend a couple of extra Saturdays in the office polishing your product?

Reviewed by sayainprince (November 06, 2005)

Bioware gained fame with games like Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights. These games deliver a roleplaying experience much different from console style RPGs, such as Final Fantasy. However, games like Jade Empire seemingly create a third pillar of RPGs. Games like Neverwinter Nights on the surface, looked like an open ended action game. However in combat, you quickly realize how it is a very crudely hidden turnbased system. Jade Empire, on the other hand, while holding all the best aspects of a...

Reviewed by skrutop (August 02, 2006)

In the Jade Empire, something strange is afoot. Corruption is winding its way to the highest levels of government, and some begin to wonder why the Emperor hasn’t stepped in and stopped it. Far removed from these troubles, your life as a young fighter is peaceful. You spend each day training under the tutelage of the kind Master Li. While you do have run-ins with some of your fellow students, most of your peers respect and like you. Soon, however, your life takes a drastic change. Pirates raze y...