Jade Empire: Xbox Gem or a Typical Struggle Between Good and Evil?
After years in development, BioWare Corp. has released it’s long-awaited title Jade Empire, exclusively for the xBox game system. With previously successful titles like Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter Nights, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, it appears that Edmunton’s BioWare has done it again.
Jade Empire is arguably one of the most gorgeous games out for the Xbox. It’s beauty lies within it’s spectacularly rendered environments, and a deep and developed story, full of wonder, surprises, and sly humor. The tale of Jade Empire takes place in a fictional ancient China, where magic is commonplace. Magic is either spiritual, or supernatural, in nature, and it is frequently combined with martial arts techniques by both scholars and physical powerhouses, alike.
Jade Empire is built on the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic game engine, and in both games you choose an alignment, working toward the advancement of good or evil. In the case of Jade Empire, you choose to follow either the way of the open palm, or the way of the closed fist. Compared to Knights of the Old Republic, the similarities end there. With it’s hero theme, rich game world, and hordes of attacking foes, Jade Empire reminds me of Fable, last christmas season’s popular “good or evil” RPG adventure.
What’s the Story?
As the tale of Jade Empire opens, you live and thrive in the idyllic setting of Two Rivers, the academy and scenic surroundings on the outskirts of the empire where you have trained in the martial arts since childhood. While cultivating the fruits of your Master’s teachings, and applying them to your mind and body, you have become your school’s most prized pupil.
However, there is darkness on the horizon. Before you know it, you are thrown into a quest that sends you throughout the spans of the Jade Empire, and to the heart of the Imperial City, laying waste to demons, deciphering the riddles of mysterious spirits, and meeting colorful characters along your way.
Characters
Jade Empire’s seven playable characters are diverse, and brilliantly rendered, with impressive attenetion paid to lighting and richness of color. My current character Scholar Ling moves gracefully and has a delightfully realistic face. This allows the gamer to have a certain connection with their chosen character. Secondary characters, like common citizens that you encounter along the way are less defined, and they appear several times, in different clothing, as different personalities.
While selecting your playable character, you choose between male and female students with balance, strength, magic, or speed at their disposal. However, you can change the dynamics of your character through points earned. For example, increase the speed of slow character, the magical skills of a strong character, or create a character with balanced abilities overall.
Your chosen character will not change the outcome of the game. That depends on whether you align yourself with the way of the open palm or the way of closed fist.
In Jade Empire, you do not have the option to outfit your character with assorted armor and clothing, which is common in many popular RPGs. It is true that experienced RPGers may enjoy customizing their characters for certain battles and situations, but this absence of customization may appeal to newcomers to the RPG genre. It allows the player to spend more time playing, and less time tweaking their character for each new situation.
Jade Empire has a delightful cast of supporting characters, as well, all varied in their personalities, histories, and in the diverse ways that they aid you in your quest. Their individual stories unfold as you interact with your eclectic traveling companions, and some discoveries are more surprising than others.
Game Design
As I mentioned before, Jade Empire’s design is based on ancient China. Inspiration was drawn from other eastern peoples, such as the Thai, Tibetan, Japanese and Khmer. Elements were gathered from many eastern cultures — their ways of life, legends, costumes, and architecture — to form a diverse world full of rich detail.
Hints of everything from old texts, to movies are found in this game. In an interview with Gamespy.com, Matt Goldman, Jade Empire’s Art Director, mentioned texts like ‘Journey to the West’ by Wu Cheng’en, and ‘Bridge of Birds ‘ by Barry Hughart, and the movies ‘Drunken Master 2’ , and ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, as sources of inspiration.
The game’s soundtrack features an orchestra performing with eastern instruments that transport the player to a fictional world of the past. The attention paid to detail makes for an immersive gaming experience.
The world of Jade Empire is vast, and at times breathtaking, especially for those with an eye for art and game design. You may find yourself stopping in the middle of an enthralling quest to simply gaze around your environment. Although you cannot walk about in first person mode, click the right stick to truly see the world through the eyes of your character. Watch the sun set over the sea, filling the surface of the water with brilliantly blazing hues. Gaze up into cool and misty violet mountains, down into raging waterfalls, and up through the heights of a massive palace in the sky.
To learn more about Jade Empire, visit jade.bioware.com.
