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Since discovering Knights of the Old Republic, both me and my boyfriend (who was a previous fan of BioWare's older RPGs) have been wondering about buying Jade Empire (Mass Effect and Dragon Age: Origins are no brainers and we already ordered them), but I've been worried by the label "action-RPG", so I'm wondering:

1. How's Jade Empire story?
2. How predominant is the action part in the game?
3. Can I still tap the space bar and pause the game mid-action?

Thanks!

PS: Tawmis, since your last two advices (Supernatural and KotOR) were so successful, I'm looking forward to hear your opinion too!

AndreaDraco wrote: 1. How's Jade Empire story?
2. How predominant is the action part in the game?
3. Can I still tap the space bar and pause the game mid-action?
PS: Tawmis, since your last two advices (Supernatural and KotOR) were so successful, I'm looking forward to hear your opinion too!

First, My Jade Empire Thread On the Forum!

That should answer how I feel about the game - now the questions -

1. As with all Bioware games, it's awesome! It borrows a lot from Eastern worlds and beliefs (OBVIOUSLY, right?) - and still weaves it's own original take on it - creating a brand new mythos that becomes all too easy to fall in love with!

2. Lots of action. But combat is VERY easy. It's very QUEST FOR GLORY. "Here's something to go do - and fight a few things along the way!" And the different fighting styles you can learn create some amazing diversity! (And just like KOOTOR and MASS EFFECT, you can choose to be light or dark sided with your character - and each one has skills and fighting styles unique to those choices! So playability is there!) I have the collectors edition which had a few new characters as well.

3. Space bar? I assume you're playing it for PC then rather than XBOX? If so, yes, I assume, since on the XBOX you just had to hit the START button to pause the game - even in mid combat.

I don't agree that it's similar to QFG. Jade Empire predominantly relies on fast reflexes and "twitch" skills in order to fight. Granted, it's not an FPS and therefore doesn't demand the same level of dexterity, but fighting is NOT like it was in KoTOR.

In KoTOR, you press the space bar and the action pauses, enabling you to choose your action. In JE, you have to act quickly during the actual fight itself. The control scheme isn't very difficult, but that's not the point. The combat dynamics are different from KoTOR, so if you go in expecting the same style of combat, you'll be sorely disappointed.

You CAN pause the game, but when paused, you can only change your fighting style and swivel the camera back and forth. You CANNOT issue combat commands. Knowing this, you need to fight using YOUR OWN skill in moving about and couple that with whatever powers and abilities your character has at the time. Those powers and abilities can modify combat so that fighting is easier, but this game is very much an action-oriented RPG.

I prefered JE's more action-oriented approach to it. I found KoTOR's style really slowed down the gameplay at times since there were so many delays between attacks and you'd have to watch several pre-scripted animations over and over again depending on how the fight was going. I really liked how Mass Effect handled everything, because in that one, you can choose to play strategically (pausing the game and planning things out with your characters' skills) or just run around shooting everything (which I found to be enjoyably efficient.)

Well what I meant by JADE EMPIRE being like QFG is that it was full of story and quests - but there was indeed a lot of combat to it. Like in QFG, none of the combat was like previous Sierra games, where you put a peanut down to lure the elephant out of the way - and you just sneak by it. No, in QFG you actually fought - and sometimes lost. (I actually found the combat in QFG to be much harder than the combat in Jade Empire). Jade Empire it is not so easy to die. There's only a few fights that I can remember that I would have to redo because they were actually EXTREMELY tough.

But yes, combat in Jade Empire is not like KOTOR, as DP said. But like I said, other than a few fights - your character is usually destined to win because he out skills those who are attacking him.

I thought QFG had much tougher combat than a lot of games. I think that's partly due to the relatively poor control scheme. Half the time combat boiled down to pressing keys randomly on the numpad.

Agree. The control scheme made up for some serious frustration, except in the fifth game, which was extremely easy in this regard.

I've just played the first hour of Jade Empire (I'm about to enter the Spirit Cave) and I took my time to carefully talk to everyone and examine everything (plus, it took me a while to get confident with the control system, because I'm not used to using A and D to slid right and left: I usually employ them to rotate the camera, not to actually move the character in that direction).

Anyway, the game instantly hooked me, and it gave me a much better feeling than KotOR 2. The setting is quite fascinating and the characters (at least so far) detailed and interesting, just as I like them

It only gets better. And it's better than KOTOR2 because JADE EMPIRE was made by BIOWARE, rather than OBSIDIAN.

Bioware = Gods of Gaming.

Ah, Tawmis, I'm starting to really, really, really agree with you.

Right now I'm preparing for the siege of Dirge and the game is absolutely amazing, truly epic in scope and tone, wonderful.

I am glad to turn someone else to the greatness of Bioware.

You will really enjoy JADE EMPIRE when it's all said and done and you reach that end...

And the plus side is - you have quite a few other BIOWARE games waiting to be played by you!

I finished Jade Empire.

I know that I won't forget this game for a very, very, very long time. Possibly ever. Right beside Gabriel Knight, Jade Empire has become my favorite game. Seriously.

The plot is rich and deep and surprising, the background enthralling, the characters fascinating, the setting amazing, the atmosphere wonderful, the writing top-notch. I loved every minute of it.

And there is more. Sorry if the following seems too political or too partisan, but it is extremely important to me. As a gay man, the possibility to develop a deep, meaningful relationship with Sky was something both unexpected and touching. The maturity showed by BioWare in addressing this relationship really moved me and won me completely. I can't stress enough how rare it is to find a gay relationship (not just a fling, but a serious, loving, committed relationship) in games nowadays, or even in films. The fact that they not only implemented it but lavished it with details and breathtaking moments, taking a lot of times in building it, is something I'm really thankful for. Being in a serious, committed relationship myself, I grew used to gay stereotypes in game and got used to never expect anything more than a casual allusion that bears no real resemblance to real-life love. BioWare proved me wrong.

Just so you're aware - the same thing is possible in DRAGON AGE. I'd wager that's perhaps your vested interested in said character?

And the game - just as in Mass Effect - allows women to love a specific woman for each game (Mass Effect and Dragon Age).

They definitely give you options in this game to explore, which really makes it feel like YOU are in control of everything and not just following a set path.

For example, in Mass Effect, I was able to land a relationship with the alien woman three times. Never could land one with the human woman. In Dragon Age, I have a feeling it will be the rogue female, who it is easiest to develop a relationship with (who also happens to be the same character who is open to female main characters). However, the relationship with Morrigan seems pretty difficult since she's pretty stand off'ish.

Glad to hear you enjoyed the game so much, Andrea. I was suprised by how much I liked it as well. The stories are really good and it has that wonderful combination of humour and drama in the characters. Plus, I loved the setting! It was so nice to have such a lush, natural environment for a change. Too often, RPGs have you spending most of your time running around in buildings, towns, caves, and dungeons.

From what I remember reading from the designers on the Bioware forums, I think they have definitely been trying to make romances that appeal to as many players as they can in their more recent games. I know that Silk Fox was available as a romance option for both female character and male characters as well.

Like Tawmis, I've heard a few small things about similar romances in Dragon Age. I didn't read much on them, since I've been trying to avoid spoilers (Bioware forums are bad for that sometimes), but I'm sure there are definitely some options there.