Poll: Jade Empire?

[commasplice]

With all this talk of Mass Effect 2, I figured I should check it out. Sadly, I haven't played the first game yet, either, so I have to get that first. Considering, however, that my area is largely blanketed in snow for the time being, I figured I'd play another BioWare game until the roads clear up a bit.

That brings me to Jade Empire. I got the Limited Edition around the time the game came out, finished it pretty quickly and haven't really given it much more thought until now. I found the game to be interesting and fun to a certain extent, but more or less forgettable because it paled in comparison to KotOR. I guess what I'm saying is that I thought it was a good concept for a game and that the execution wasn't terrible, but it certainly wasn't as polished as it could have been. Ironically, its shortcomings are exactly why I'm choosing to play it over. I haven't touched it in so long that I've forgotten almost everything about it. I was wondering, though, what does everyone else think about the game?

 

[Hiphophippo]

This is a poll I can get behind! I'm honored to be the first vote.

 

[commasplice]

This is a poll I can get behind! I'm honored to be the first vote.

Haha, glad to have your opinion counted, sir.

 

[Sassafrass]

I enjoyed my play-through of it.
It seemed to hook me in kept me going back to it over and over 'til I finished it and most games rarely do that for me. But since then, I haven't touched it. So I'd say it was pretty good.

 

[Hiphophippo]

Wait, noooo. When I voted there was only the "It was great option!" It seems to me that is the only option needed.

 

[RooftopAssassin]

I loved it. It was funny and the combat was nice. If anyone hasn't played it and likes RPGs, I recommend it.

 

[Void(null)]

Impulse [http://www.impulsedriven.com/]
Steam [http://store.steampowered.com/]
Good Old Games [http://www.gog.com/en/frontpage/]

Snow shall never get between you and your games again!

As for Jade Empire, I thought the combat system was overhyped, it became very bland very quickly, but the story was good and the world setting was interesting.

Watching the progression of Baldurs Gate > NWN > KotOR > Mass Effect > DA:O > Mass Effect 2, you really get to see the evolution and refinement of their format.

 

[YuheJi]

I wasn't a great fan of the combat, at least not at certain parts (it got repetitive) but the setting was definitely a welcome change of pace. Very interesting world Bioware was able to create. I hope they can explore it again.

 

[commasplice]

http://www.impulsedriven.com/
http://store.steampowered.com/
http://www.gog.com/en/frontpage/

Snow shall never get between you and your games again!

Thanks for that, but, well, I was hoping to find 360 copies for the games. My computer's graphics card is outdated and I need to upgrade my ram and yadda, yadda. 'Sides, my Xbox is starting to gather dust...

 

[Void(null)]

Not quite the same, but for Console have you tried Gamefly? [http://www.gamefly.com/]

Its like Netflix, but for Video Games.

 

[commasplice]

I've considered it, but if my past Netflix subscriptions are any indication, I'll end up paying $16 a month so that I can forget to return games I beat months ago. Still, I appreciate the suggestions!

Back on topic: The more I play Jade Empire, the more I realize that my biggest problem with the game isn't so much the combat itself, but the lack of character customization. What I mean is that you really have no bearing on how your character looks aside from the first few people and even after that, you can't change clothes or anything. I think the "styles" thing was interesting in concept, but I'd really rather have had a system set up more like KotOR (or a pen-and-paper RPG) where I can increase my skill with certain categories of weapons, but pick the exact weapon in each group that I'd like to use. The whole thing just feels oversimplified. Maybe to appeal to less hardcore gamers? I certainly agree with YuheJi that the Jade Empire is an interesting setting. I'd certainly buy a sequel if they made one.

 

[aPod]

I thought the game was fun. Thats about all a game needs to be great in my books.

Although the game was pretty broken, if you took the paralyzing style it was cruise controll from there on out. I dont know why... i have this bad habit of finding the easiest most effecient way to beat games and sometimes it can put a damper on the experience.

Overall i had fun.

 

[Agayek]

I enjoyed my play-through of it.
It seemed to hook me in kept me going back to it over and over 'til I finished it and most games rarely do that for me. But since then, I haven't touched it. So I'd say it was pretty good.

This. I played it through and was interested enough to go all the way, but I haven't thought about it again since. Just one of those things I guess.

 

[reg42]

I played it for a bit, but it got moved to the in favour of other games, I may go back to it one day though.

 

[Baralak]

Great game, loved every minute of it!

 

[Jenova65]

It is a wonderful game, I have two copies (just because) and have played it many times. I like pretty much all of except the silly flying (space invader style) sections.

 

[Brad Shepard]

heres my question, where owr jade empire 2?!

 

[Rusty Bucket]

I love it. It's the only game I've beaten more than twice. Even if the comba was simple and ridiculously easy, it was still loads of fun. Great story as well.

 

[Sonofadiddly]

Jade Empire was my first experience with the optional romance, and I was quite surprised when I found I could flirt with my companions. Managed to bag the handsome theif guy without even using the internet. I found that aspect of the game to be immensely enjoyable.

The rest of the game was pretty awesome, too. The combat could be pretty frustrating at times. Damn ghosts would always get me. Still played it a couple times. It's high up on my favorite Xbox game list.

 

[Looking For Alaska]

A game with fantastic and memorable plot and characters but mediocre/snore-inducing combat and action.

Just like every other Bioware game.