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[GashPrex]

Yeah, so we need one of these

soo far with reviews

OXM 9.4

GI 9.5 (GOTM)

IGN 9.9

I could write considerably more on what makes Jade Empire a great game. It is an early leader for RPG of the year, if not overall game of the year. And it ranks among the best Xbox games on the market. This isn't just a great RPG, it is also a brilliant action game that casual gamers can pick up and enjoy.

The real joy of Jade Empire comes from the hundreds of details that couldn't possibly be covered in a review: how a character centers himself after battle, humorous references to pop culture, and the spot-on re-creation of the many fighting styles. The only way to grasp how much effort has been put into this game is to experience it yourself, so stop reading and go pick up the game, an empire awaits.

Another Take from Hilary Goldstein
It's a strange thing to consider, but I believe David Clayman may have underrated Jade Empire at a 9.9. There is no such thing as the perfect game, but there are a few rare gaming experiences that so transcend any failings, they might as well be considered perfect. KOTOR was easy to love, but it had a lot of faults. The genius of that game so outweighed the annoying issues that it remains a classic for just about every RPG fan. Guess what -- Jade's story is better, its combat system superior and its morality system is more complex than KOTOR.

Console Gold 585/600 - 98%

Mark my words, Jade Empire will be standing on the Game of the Year podium for RPG titles, if not overall Game of the Year.

Gamespy 5/5

By combining stunning visuals, an entertaining (and challenging) combat system, and one of the best stories in recent memory, the folks at BioWare have somehow managed to create yet another brilliant game. Best of all, at roughly 20 to 25 hours, it's worth playing more than once, as you can have a drastically different experience the second time out. Some people might be able to argue that there have been better RPGs, but there's no question that this is the best to ever hit the Xbox.

Teamxbox Review 9.7

Despite all the hype of prior Xbox RPGs, Jade Empire is the real deal. The key ingredient is its mesmerizing story that complements the outstanding overall art direction. Even the action-oriented gamer should find plenty to like with the game’s real-time combat system, but will it be enough to draw in the mainstream gamer? Hardcore RPG fans will love the branching plot lines and customizations, but may hunger for some added depth. BioWare strived to make Jade Empire their best game yet. Mission accomplished.

Gamezone Review 9.8

Jade Empire is a fantastic RPG game that not only lives up to its hype, but also far surpasses it by featuring some incredible gameplay, an engrossing storyline, and a huge amount of polish. Jade Empire will stand as the best Xbox RPG, and quite possibly the best RPG to hit this generation of consoles. Play it now.

Gamespot Review 8.4

You'll probably enjoy Jade Empire a great deal if you approach it with reasonable expectations. Namely, you shouldn't expect a game that's hands-down superior to what you may have experienced from BioWare in the past. Instead, you can look forward to a game whose strengths ultimately outweigh its weaknesses by a long shot. In short, if the setting of Jade Empire appeals to you, along with the promise of a good storyline and some open-ended role playing, then you'll be more than satisfied with BioWare's latest game.

1Up Review 8.5

With Jade Empire, you'll either find the neo-China setting welcoming, or of little interest, depending on your tastes. Seeing flyers puttering through the skies and bombing the crap out of your village is probably less dramatic than the developers intended, and none of the characters are nearly as memorable as KOTOR's HK-47. That said, as the series grows (if Bioware indeed plans to continue the Jade Empire lineage), the same sense of emotional investment that comes built-in with anything Star Wars-related will surely flourish in future Empire games. But for the time being, Scholar Ling, Wu the Lotus Blossom and -- we kid you not -- Furious Ming, do not resonate the way KOTOR's proto-Skywalkers do. The game's cinematic moments make for a great highlight reel, but slogging through the game proper is less compelling. Such is the price for competing with your own stellar legacy, but even taken purely on the merits of what's offered here, Jade Empire remains a linear, abbreviated experience that, while ambitious and gorgeous to behold, is not Bioware's finest hour.

EGM Reviews

10

But the graphics and story aren't actually this game's deepest point. It's the combat and character development that will please all comers. When you start the game, your character clearly has a lot of potential, but you're still a chump student with something to prove. Slowly, steadily, and with an astonishing amount of potential for individualization, your character becomes a martial arts master. The intuitive system enables all players to develop unique fighting tactics. As you gain awareness of the complexities of the system, your character obtains additional fighting styles and upgrades existing ones. Both learning curves arc perfectly through the game. On top of that, it's fun simply to watch yourself fight; the combat animations evoke the best martial arts movies.

9.5

Also, just when I thought BioWare couldn't top KOTOR's "holy s***" narrative, I found myself delightfully cursing once again. The story is full of surprises and, even playing as an all-around good guy, I struggled with the plot-altering choices along the way. Jen is right on about Jade's length, too. You can jet through this one fairly quickly, but if you demand 40-plus hours from an RPG, there are plenty of side quests to keep you and obsessive-compulsive types (I'm looking at you, Shoe) satisfyingly busy. And I'll put up with frequent load times for a game this damn pretty—and so should you.

8.5

You have to chat to a lot of people in Jade, so if you got tired of all that talky-talky in KOTOR, it'll get on your nerves really quickly here, especially with all the Confuciusizing thrown in. (This may not be so bad for you, however, as I made sure to play out every single optional subquest available to me.) But once you get to the last third of the game, things really pick up as the story line goes into overdrive and you learn a certain transformation power that really proves bigger is better.

Gamesdomain 10

It's not every day that a genre is reinvented, and it's certainly not every day that a game with this much creative energy crosses our desks. Enthralling and beautiful, Jade Empire melds adrenaline-inducing combat with a compelling RPG structure perfectly. Here's an RPG that anyone can enjoy -- Jade Empire is sheer pleasure.

Gamerankings Jade Empire Page

 

[SantaC]

wtf 585/600 - talk about a weird gradescale :lol

btw, I am going to test this game at my friends house.

 

[fennec fox]

So yeah, I haven't been following this game for about a year. Is it short? Good for casual play? Easier/harder than KOTOR?

 

[Do The Mario]

I was gona make this thread!!!


Any get ready to jizz when you buy the game, it's so fuckin hot right now!!!

 

[GashPrex]

wtf 585/600 - talk about a weird gradescale :lol

it's the highest mark they have ever given, they rate each part on a scale of 1-100 and gameplay on a 1-200 mark. just basically a way to weigh scores

 

[jedimike]

Great job kicking off the official thread GP. Reminds me of the KOTOR days when you were the sole GAF KOTOR pimper.

I'm excited to play this game. I'm glad that it has been receiving great reviews. I know that the Dr.'s at BioWare have been dreaming about this game for ages. It seems weird and almost arrogant for a Western developer to be doing an Eastern themed game, but it looks like they pulled it off and then some. Great timing too. There isn't a lot of competition for it and Xbox is basically at the height of it's consumer awareness. I hope it has KOTOR type of success.

I'll be picking up my LE on Wednesday.

 

[GashPrex]

Great job kicking off the official thread GP. Reminds me of the KOTOR days when you were the sole GAF KOTOR pimper.

Figured it was time again. Those were the good old days of college and nothing else better to do

I hope I can get a LE edition

 

[Bristow]

Really looking forward to renting this one at Blockbuster tomorrow or whenever they put it out. Should be good.

 

[LakeEarth]

No one paid attention to this Q in the other thread, so here it is again.

I'm interested... but I kinda lost interest in KOTOR just before getting off the first planet... kinda makes me worry I'm just gonna get bored of this one. How different is the battle system? Because I wasn't a fan in KOTOR.

 

[GashPrex]

No one paid attention to this Q in the other thread, so here it is again.

I'm interested... but I kinda lost interest in KOTOR just before getting off the first planet... kinda makes me worry I'm just gonna get bored of this one. How different is the battle system? Because I wasn't a fan in KOTOR.

Jade Empire’s combat engine will be the largest departure from previous Bioware titles. The combat engine is more heavily suited to action than the more stop-action KOTOR. Given that you are allowed to choose from several pre-made characters that you can tweak to a degree, your combat experience may be more angled towards magic use, high speed, high power, or a more balanced fighter. You can also learn new styles and power them up through a simple point-allocation system upon level-up so you aren’t stuck with one particular power over another. Some creatures are immune to Thousand-Cuts style, others are resistant to fire – your job is to pay attention and switch up your attacks accordingly. By the end of the game you’ll find that you have become a force to be reckoned with, and as in previous Bioware games you can chose whether you wish to be a force for good or for evil.

The combat sounds great, but I am really excited about the story. Sounds amazing.

 

[DSN2K]

not out till 22nd in UK, give me time to complete Kotor2 first.

 

[LakeEarth]

Okay, sounds great. I'll pick it up once I'm done with Street Fighter 3rd Strike, Resident Evil 4, Metroid Prime Echos, exams, thesis presentations.... it'll be a while.

 

[Tim the Wiz]

Wow. I think at this point Xbox Game of the Year.

As said in the other thread, my pre-order is down and if a LE version makes it here, I'll make sure it's mine.

 

[bitwise]

GI gave it a 9.5 as well, you might want to add to your list

 

[Redbeard]

Finally I got my Phantom Dust rebate code. JE for $30!

 

[PhatSaqs]

In before Gamespot takes a runny shit on the parade

 

[bitwise]

or that "milky" guy and chespace.

 

[SantaC]

In before Gamespot takes a runny shit on the parade

tonight...tonight my friend

 

[Prine]

GOt my pre-order paid, whats the major difference between normal and special edition?

 

[Wario64]

GOt my pre-order paid, whats the major difference between normal and special edition?

Exclusive martial arts style and character I think? Don't exactly remember


Also, game is $36.99 at Fry's if you have one near by!

 

[bishoptl]

Sticky-icky.

I'll give this a go after I complete Chaos Theory - I'd be lying if I said there wasn't some apprehension about Bioware's ability to properly tackle real-time fighting when companies like Namco and Sega have already set the bar so high. That's the problem with mixing multiple genres together.

That said, some of the Bioware devs are my friends and I gotta support the fellow Canucks. We'll see.

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

Any bets on what Gamespot will give Jade Empire in their review? I usually consider anything they give a 9.0 and up a must buy, and an oustanding game. While IGN tends to over inflate their scores, GS tends to downplay them. The truth is usually somewhere between them.

 

[Sysgen]

This thread needs BOX ART!

 

[bitwise]

Any bets on what Gamespot will give Jade Empire in their review? I usually consider anything they give a 9.0 and up a must buy, and an oustanding game. While IGN tends to over inflate their scores, GS tends to downplay them. The truth is usually somewhere between them.

i'll say 9.0.

 

[Wario64]

Any bets on what Gamespot will give Jade Empire in their review? I usually consider anything they give a 9.0 and up a must buy, and an oustanding game. While IGN tends to over inflate their scores, GS tends to downplay them. The truth is usually somewhere between them.

I'm guessing 9.2

 

[PhatSaqs]

A runny shit on parade score of 8.7 - 8.9

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

I was kind of guessing a 9.2 score as well.

Thanks for the box art!

 

[Scott]

GOt my pre-order paid, whats the major difference between normal and special edition?

Foil cover, "Making Of..." feature, the exclusive character "Monk Zeng" (ups the character count to 7), and an extra fighting style. Also, I believe any character can acquire the fighting style, so you don't have to play as Zeng if you don't want to.

 

[VALIS]

When is the Gamespot review due, anyway?

 

[ToyMachine228]

Is there any good online deals for the game? If so, let me know!

 

[Wario64]

When is the Gamespot review due, anyway?

I'm guessing later tonight

Toymachine, $40 (reg.) at outpost.com, $44 for LE. free shipping

 

[ToyMachine228]

Thanks Wario! You're the man!

 

[Wario64]

Actually I lied! $34 and $38 for regular and LE, respectively. Looks like they dropped the prices by a few bucks

 

[Teddman]

Fry's has the LE for $38 starting Wednesday or something?

 

[Wario64]

Fry's has the LE for $38 starting Wednesday or something?

LE and reg edition, yes

$36.99 actually

 

[SantaC]

Let the uproar begin. Gamespot gives Jade Empire 8.4 :lol

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/rpg/jadeempire/index.html

 

[ToyMachine228]

Kasavin strikes again!

Anyways, anyone know what demos are on the Limited Edition version of Jade Empire?

 

[Alex]

I'll nab it at EB tommorow. Despite that the entire first run is LE and thus it won't really matter, what will the differences be between the two versions anyhow?

 

[ToyMachine228]

What the hell is this "insured USPS" thing that Outpost is adding? It's 18 bucks!

 

[thorns]

So Jade Empire < Fable according to kasavin?
For some reason, I find that VERY hard to believe..

 

[Stench]

I'll take a Gamespot review over an IGN review any day. Regardless of what system.

Personally, I think it's great that there's a publication out there that's more on the critical side, because it lets the games that really, REALLY shine get the attention they deserve. Besides, IGN tosses out so many 9.0+ scores that it's lost all of its magic specialness.

Example:

9.5, IGN:
Oh. Heh. Another one. Maybe I'll go and like, rent it, or something.

9.5, Gamespot:
JEEZZZZZWWOOBBAAAHHHHHH THAT GAME IS MINE!!!!!

Anyways, we're all getting it, so I guess it doesn't matter what score it receives.

 

[VictimOfGrief]

Quote of the day from the IGN boards:

"they rated it low just so they can make ign seem like fanboys"

:lol

 

[GhaleonEB]

So Jade Empire < Fable according to kasavin?
For some reason, I find that VERY hard to believe..

Considering the dipshit that Kasavin is, this does NOT surprise. I think he does it just to read the uproar on GAF.

 

[Alex]

It's just one persons opinion, not to say that it's worth any less, but you folks should really take these as seperate entities. Maybe yknow, reading the review would shed some insight?


Logic, GAF, hah. What am I doing?

What the hell is this "insured USPS" thing that Outpost is adding? It's 18 buck

It's EXTORTION! If you don't pay the fee, your package might get lost *wink, wink*. It needs a "protection" fee.

 

[Borys]

Let the uproar begin. Gamespot gives Jade Empire 8.4 :lol

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/rpg/jadeempire/index.html

:lol :lol :lol

Oh man this will be funny. No wait, this was already funny in the locked thread!

bitwise, thorns, CrimsonSkies, Speevy, GhaleonEB and Prine report for duty!!!

 

[Prine]

Any news on Gamespot video review???

im not sweatin over GS score Kasavin is a hard man to please, im sure JE will kick ass.

 

[Solid]

Greg Kasavin©

 

[Borys]

The Executioner (TM)

 

[Sysgen]

If you read the review it's basically, JE is not KOTOR which he scored 9.1.

KOTOR:
Gameplay - 9
Graphics - 7
Sound - 10
Value - 9
Tilt - 10

JE:
Gameplay - 8
Graphics - 8
Sound - 9
Value - 8
Tilt - 9

I am suspicious of the Sound score given the glowing voice over reviews JE is getting. Detective Sysgen is on the case :lol

 

[Scott]

I'll nab it at EB tommorow. Despite that the entire first run is LE and thus it won't really matter, what will the differences be between the two versions anyhow?

It seems both versions are shipping on the first day, actually.

And I posted what was different about the Limited Edition here.