At any rate, fans of the company's previous efforts may be disappointed to find that Jade Empire is in some ways a step backward. In fact, one area in which BioWare definitely didn't skimp is the lengthy discussion sequences that feature the game's colorful characters. Yet it's hard to imagine such players delving into Jade Empire's unusual world anyway, especially since it's filled with at least as much dialogue as action. Presumably, all this is intended to be attractive to those who normally think role-playing games are too difficult or complicated to get into. It's also surprisingly easy and fairly short by the genre's standards, offering up an adventure that shouldn't last you more than 20 hours on your first play-through. It has the simplest design of any BioWare RPG yet, from the bare-bones character building elements to the action-based combat system. With that said, the game also lacks the ambitious scope of, say, Knights of the Old Republic. Sure enough, Jade Empire features a complex and interesting storyline, a number of great characters, an impressive presentation, and plenty of replay value.Ī quest to uncover the nature of the Empire's hidden treachery is yours to solve, by any means necessary.īy clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's

So fans of BioWare's past work will be in for a familiar experience, which, considering the company's very high standards, is great news. But even though Jade Empire is set in a beautiful and exotic land inspired by the mythology of ancient China-seemingly a far cry from the medieval stylings of Dungeons & Dragons or the science fiction of Star Wars-the game is unmistakably similar to its predecessors. Yet despite having worked on definitive games like these for such a long time, only now has BioWare finally delivered an RPG that takes place in an original setting. Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic are the company's claims to fame, and they've helped to galvanize a style of gaming that emphasizes open-ended storytelling and character development, as well as plenty of entertaining tactical combat.

For years now, BioWare has been a leading developer of role-playing games.

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