How good is this game?

[40000Aggro]

I bought this game several years ago but had it on my wishlist for longer as I had seen it mentioned years and years ago as one of the top rpgs in regards to writing. Unfortunately I've never gotten around to playing it, and will sometimes look at it and wonder why I don't play it, and often feel like I lack the motivation to want to do so. I have for years wanted to play the older iconic games, specifically rpgs, as I want to know how they've impressed on newer games and their design.

For people who have played this game before, what is it that you enjoyed about this game? Would you say you enjoyed the story, the writing, and the characters? Has it aged well? It isn't offensive, is it?

[chasegoodman]

It's a great game from the golden age of Bioware. It's a great world, a morality system that is a marked improvement over the boy scout/serial killer morality of KOTOR. There's quite a few enjoyable companions and NPCs. Story is about a similar level to KOTOR. Combat I think has aged better than KOTOR, but I highly recommend the mod "Jade Empire in Style." Only downsides I can really think about is you can end up backtracking quite a bit. Best thing I can say about it is I wish we got a sequel, but it's probably a good thing we didn't.

[40000Aggro]

Originally posted by chasegoodman:

It's a great game from the golden age of Bioware. It's a great world, a morality system that is a marked improvement over the boy scout/serial killer morality of KOTOR. There's quite a few enjoyable companions and NPCs. Story is about a similar level to KOTOR. Combat I think has aged better than KOTOR, but I highly recommend the mod "Jade Empire in Style." Only downsides I can really think about is you can end up backtracking quite a bit. Best thing I can say about it is I wish we got a sequel, but it's probably a good thing we didn't.

Yes, the longer a franchise runs on the more likely it becomes watered down,

I have heard of KOTOR as well for the same reason but never got around to playing it. For now I'm not buying new games, so
I atleast own Jade Empire. I had forgotten it was made by Bioware.

Sounds good from what you've said so far. I don't know anything about KOTOR so I have no idea if your comparison is good or not, other than having seen it on top RPG lists as well. Your explanation does make it's strengths in comparison to other games more clear, so maybe I will make the time to play it. I hadn't heard much about it gameplay wise. All I recall is that it revolves around Chinese culture, although how accurate it is that way I'm unsure of.

I might check out mods after I've experienced the base game. I find mods are for improving the experience not for completely changing it. A games merit comes from it's own efforts and sometimes mods confuse that if you get them too soon.

[Xianxia]

very good up there with the original Dragon Age/Origins.

[Migromul]

It's realy good.

To the alignment-system:
Bioware-games used to have an alignment system. (or still have that)
In Jade-Empire that's called "open palm" (good, selfless decisions) or "closed fist" (selfish, aggressiv decisions.) However, there is a philosophy behind that, in comparison to KOTOR, for example. (I won't spoilt that at the moment.)
The game tries to explain, WHY you take a decision. So it's kind of deeper than other bioware-games.


If you play withouth the recommended mod, you need to make some realy bad decissions, to get several things, if you play a closed fist character. if you want to be sure to get the closed fist-things, you should always choose the worst option. Like selling NPCS as slaves (instead to let them fight for freedom) or killing a probaly good guy
The mod smoothes that out a bit.