How good is Jade Empire really?

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Archived from groups: alt.games.video.xbox (More info?)

While I have a marginal interest in RPG's, I have yet to find one that is
really that much fun. Riddick was excellent, but that is kind of a
pseudo-RPG. I loved Deus Ex: Invisible War if you consider that an RPG. I
found KOTOR (the first one) to have annoying controls and too much running
back and forth to your chest to store stuff, not to mention the bad
interface of only being able to manipulate one item at a time in your
storage. I am tempted to get KOTOR II only because I love the Star Wars
universe, despite the less than impressive track record games have with that
license. But I hope they fixed the whole object storage idea. I also rented
Fable and grew bored after a short while, even though that got rave reviews.

But Jade Empire seems to get a lot of good reviews, and the movies look
pretty good. I find the concept of RPG's interesting, as long as it isn't
completely drawn out, and there is enough variety and action to keep things
fresh. As high of ratings as it has received from publishers, I am almost
skeptical that many of them aren't in Bioware's back pocket. Many bash
Gamespot for it's 8.4 rating of the game, but the review was well done and
didn't discourage me from wanting to get the game. I'm just more cautious
these days as who knows how much money I've wasted on games that were
supposedly "Excellent" and ended up being mediocre at best.

Thanks for opinions here.
 
Archived from groups: alt.games.video.xbox (More info?)

On Thu, 14 Apr 2005 18:28:34 -0400, "HockeyTownUSA"
<magma@killspam.comcast.net> wrote:

> I am tempted to get KOTOR II only because I love the Star Wars
>universe, despite the less than impressive track record games have with that
>license. But I hope they fixed the whole object storage idea.

Well, I found KOTOR II to be pretty much the same game but with a
better story and unless I missed something, I think the inventory was
handled the same.

I've just started Jade Empire but I'm liking it so far. I like the
combat much better than KOTOR although I've been getting my ass handed
to me quite often. It takes awhile to get used to it. You could alway
rent it but I don't think you would be dissapointed if you picked it
up.

Erik
 
Archived from groups: alt.games.video.xbox (More info?)

i have to agree for the mostpart with your viewpoint, HTUSA...

really enjoyed both riddick and deus ex, kotor was a lot of fun, but
after going through twice, i got rid of it and am not looking for it
again, and fable, well... nice game but shy on the replay value. i
never even bothered with kotor II... looked like more of the same.

jade empire has my interest. but tonight, i held it in my hands and
just couldn't justify spending $50 bucks on a game i may or may not
play more than once... maybe twice.

maybe i'm getting cheap in my age, but to rent it twice would be a lot
cheaper than buying it once and never playing after the first time
through. of course, i haven't played it yet so i can't say what i'm
missing... i'm really looking forward to it.

and for what it's worth, both morrowind and arx fatalis deserve mention
as being two of the most well-made RPGs for the XBox. both games had
great depth and a long, twisted storyline that drew me in and held me
til the end.
 
Archived from groups: alt.games.video.xbox (More info?)

In article <u5vt5116n4chuh6578ecv879nu8gdo1hqi@4ax.com>, GeoTheCat wrote:
>On Thu, 14 Apr 2005 18:28:34 -0400, "HockeyTownUSA"
><magma@killspam.comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> I am tempted to get KOTOR II only because I love the Star Wars
>>universe, despite the less than impressive track record games have with that
>>license. But I hope they fixed the whole object storage idea.
>
>Well, I found KOTOR II to be pretty much the same game but with a
>better story and unless I missed something, I think the inventory was
>handled the same.


They cleaned up a couple of things like the ability to switch
between two sets of weapons (typically ranged and melee).
Overall, it looks and plays much like K1. But the last third of
K2 was a major letdown. The game goes on autopilot, mostly just
slash through waves of enemies, and then leaves half the stuff
unresolved. And it is buggier. I'd give K1 a 9.5, and K2 gets a
10 for the first 2/3 and 5 for the last for a combined 8.3!

If you didn't like K1, you won't like K2.
 
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HockeyTownUSA said

> Riddick was excellent, but that is kind of a
> pseudo-RPG.

It's kinda nothing liek an RPG at all expect for being able to talk to
people 😛

--
The Kitchen Sink
http://bellsouthpwp.net/g/m/gmagnus/
 
Archived from groups: alt.games.video.xbox (More info?)

GeoTheCat wrote:
> On Thu, 14 Apr 2005 18:28:34 -0400, "HockeyTownUSA"
> <magma@killspam.comcast.net> wrote:
>
>
>>I am tempted to get KOTOR II only because I love the Star Wars
>>universe, despite the less than impressive track record games have with that
>>license. But I hope they fixed the whole object storage idea.
>
>
> Well, I found KOTOR II to be pretty much the same game but with a
> better story and unless I missed something, I think the inventory was
> handled the same.
>
> I've just started Jade Empire but I'm liking it so far. I like the
> combat much better than KOTOR although I've been getting my ass handed
> to me quite often. It takes awhile to get used to it. You could alway
> rent it but I don't think you would be dissapointed if you picked it
> up.
>
> Erik
graphics are certainly a step up from KOTOR, I really like the fable
atmosphere.
 
Archived from groups: alt.games.video.xbox (More info?)

"HockeyTownUSA" <magma@killspam.comcast.net> wrote in message
news:x4qdnXfRnq_3c8PfRVn-jw@comcast.com...
> While I have a marginal interest in RPG's, I have yet to find one that is
> really that much fun. Riddick was excellent, but that is kind of a
> pseudo-RPG. I loved Deus Ex: Invisible War if you consider that an RPG. I
> found KOTOR (the first one) to have annoying controls and too much running
> back and forth to your chest to store stuff, not to mention the bad
> interface of only being able to manipulate one item at a time in your
> storage. I am tempted to get KOTOR II only because I love the Star Wars
> universe, despite the less than impressive track record games have with
> that license. But I hope they fixed the whole object storage idea. I also
> rented Fable and grew bored after a short while, even though that got rave
> reviews.
>
> But Jade Empire seems to get a lot of good reviews, and the movies look
> pretty good. I find the concept of RPG's interesting, as long as it isn't
> completely drawn out, and there is enough variety and action to keep
> things fresh. As high of ratings as it has received from publishers, I am
> almost skeptical that many of them aren't in Bioware's back pocket. Many
> bash Gamespot for it's 8.4 rating of the game, but the review was well
> done and didn't discourage me from wanting to get the game. I'm just more
> cautious these days as who knows how much money I've wasted on games that
> were supposedly "Excellent" and ended up being mediocre at best.
>
> Thanks for opinions here.
>
>
>
well, to be honest (and I've only just gotten to chapter two, so take this
for what its worth), I'm not really that impressed yet. the graphics look
good, not great (though the facial textures are outstanding), but the
environments seem claustrophobic...the maps are nowhere near as expansive as
kotor...I mean come on...I've been to two caves already, each of which have
a grand total of two rooms...the town is small, the school is
small...everything seems small...maybe its because I'm supposed to be out in
podunk? who knows, but even the podunk swamp is too small, and you'd think
that a swamp in podunk would be kinda big...the pseudo-language seems like a
gimmick more than anything, and thankfully, has only been used sparingly so
far. it doesn't even sound that good. the fighting is still taking me some
time to get used to...it doesn't seem real-time, a' la Ninja Gaiden, at
all...more like a turn based (kotor) fighter, which is frustrating because
it seems to take too long for your action to queue, and there seem to be
frequent droppings of button presses. the harmonic ass kick thing is kind
of cool though, but its too easy to not hit your dpad perfectly square and
you end up with an unintended style...this can and has been a big pain in
the ass...I've been getting my ass handed to me more than necessary,
especially considering that I have Dawn (the token hot chick party member)
in "support" mode. well...the only things that she's been supporting are
her pendulous breasts apparently, because she keeps watching me get my ass
kicked. I miss the inventory management that kotor had, but other than
that, the interface is pretty much the same...map, party members, stats
(also simplified), goals, etc...no need to armor/weapon up yourself or other
party members...

so far?

meh.
 
Archived from groups: alt.games.video.xbox (More info?)

Khee Mao wrote:
> well, to be honest (and I've only just gotten to chapter two, so take
this
> for what its worth),

That's where I am.

> the maps are nowhere near as expansive as kotor...

They seem about the same size to me

> the town is small, the school is small...everything seems
small...maybe its
> because I'm supposed to be out in podunk?

They are small, but so were the initial levels in KOTOR. I was
dissapointed with the swamp, too. I've heard the Imperial City is
bigger and has more activity.

> it seems to take too long for your action to queue, and there seem to
be
> frequent droppings of button presses. the harmonic ass kick thing is
kind
> of cool though, but its too easy to not hit your dpad perfectly
square and
> you end up with an unintended style...

Is your controller failing? I don't have these problems. Different
styles have different speeds, some are really slow.

> I've been getting my ass handed to me more than necessary,
> especially considering that I have Dawn (the token hot chick party
member)
> in "support" mode. well...the only things that she's been supporting
are
> her pendulous breasts apparently, because she keeps watching me get
my ass
> kicked.

The invisible walls are aggravating. When Dawn is in support mode your
Chi replenishes, which so far is more helpful than having her attack
for 30 seconds and die. Did you choose fire or ice? Dire Flame's area
attack is nice.

> I miss the inventory management that kotor had, but other than
> that, the interface is pretty much the same...map, party members,
stats
> (also simplified), goals, etc...no need to armor/weapon up yourself
or other
> party members...

I miss it too.

> so far?
>
> meh.

I'm getting over the differences and accepting the simplicity the more
I play. I've been staying up too late and I left work early today so
it's doing something right!
 
Archived from groups: alt.games.video.xbox (More info?)

"debaser" <debaserzero@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1113607102.311661.17100@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>
> Khee Mao wrote:
>> well, to be honest (and I've only just gotten to chapter two, so take
> this
>> for what its worth),
>
> That's where I am.
>
>> the maps are nowhere near as expansive as kotor...
>
> They seem about the same size to me
>
>> the town is small, the school is small...everything seems
> small...maybe its
>> because I'm supposed to be out in podunk?
>
> They are small, but so were the initial levels in KOTOR. I was
> dissapointed with the swamp, too. I've heard the Imperial City is
> bigger and has more activity.
>

dude...the first level in Kotor was freaking huge! Tarris? was that what
they called it? it had two or three entire wings of apartments, a droid
shop, a medical supply, an equipment shop, an entire Sith base, a good gang
base, a bad gang base, a mercenary base, a couple of cantinas, an
underground with sewers, etc. vastly larger than the beach, school,
villiage, swamp, and caves so far...

>> it seems to take too long for your action to queue, and there seem to
> be
>> frequent droppings of button presses. the harmonic ass kick thing is
> kind
>> of cool though, but its too easy to not hit your dpad perfectly
> square and
>> you end up with an unintended style...
>
> Is your controller failing? I don't have these problems. Different
> styles have different speeds, some are really slow.
>
I'm pretty sure its not my controller, it seems more like instead of
implementing a real-time fighting system, BioWare instead disguised KOTOR's
turn based system, but doesn't queue your commands, just waits til your turn
is over and then accepts the next input.

I liked Fable's (real time) and KOTOR's (turn based) fighting systems much
better as they were honest in their implementations.

>> I've been getting my ass handed to me more than necessary,
>> especially considering that I have Dawn (the token hot chick party
> member)
>> in "support" mode. well...the only things that she's been supporting
> are
>> her pendulous breasts apparently, because she keeps watching me get
> my ass
>> kicked.
>
> The invisible walls are aggravating. When Dawn is in support mode your
> Chi replenishes, which so far is more helpful than having her attack
> for 30 seconds and die. Did you choose fire or ice? Dire Flame's area
> attack is nice.
>

I don't understand what you mean by invisible wall, but I have set Dawn to
"support" because she goes down faster than a coked up hooker when she's
"fighting", but alas, I still get smoked.

>> so far?
>>
>> meh.
>
> I'm getting over the differences and accepting the simplicity the more
> I play. I've been staying up too late and I left work early today so
> it's doing something right!
>

I don't get it, but lately, I'm having bad luck with games holding my
interest. except Fable, which I loved. Republic Commando disappointed me.
KOTOR2 disappointed me. MechAssault2 disappointed me. Doom3 is
disappointing me, and now Jade Empire is disappointing me. Hopefully it'll
start picking up soon...at least I still have ChaosTheory to fall back to if
all else fails...
 
Archived from groups: alt.games.video.xbox (More info?)

Khee Mao wrote:
> "debaser" <debaserzero@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1113607102.311661.17100@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> >> the town is small, the school is small...everything seems
> > small...maybe its
> >> because I'm supposed to be out in podunk?
> >
> > They are small, but so were the initial levels in KOTOR. I was
> > dissapointed with the swamp, too. I've heard the Imperial City is
> > bigger and has more activity.
> >
>
> dude...the first level in Kotor was freaking huge! Tarris? was that
what
> they called it? it had two or three entire wings of apartments, a
droid
> shop, a medical supply, an equipment shop, an entire Sith base, a
good gang
> base, a bad gang base, a mercenary base, a couple of cantinas, an
> underground with sewers, etc. vastly larger than the beach, school,
> villiage, swamp, and caves so far...

I meant individual maps. I agree, I am waiting for some bigger
locations.

> > Is your controller failing? I don't have these problems. Different
> > styles have different speeds, some are really slow.
> >
> I'm pretty sure its not my controller, it seems more like instead of
> implementing a real-time fighting system, BioWare instead disguised
KOTOR's
> turn based system, but doesn't queue your commands, just waits til
your turn
> is over and then accepts the next input.

I think I see what you mean. I don't find it inhibiting, though.

> I don't understand what you mean by invisible wall, but I have set
Dawn to
> "support" because she goes down faster than a coked up hooker when
she's
> "fighting", but alas, I still get smoked.

I surprised you haven't noticed this, particularly in the scene with
Bei's(?) attackers. When you get into a fight, parts of the area you
fight in
are artificially limited. They said this was so you couldn't drag
enemies into other areas and break the game. Sagacious Zu is a better
fighter. I keep Dawn around for the Chi boost and storyline
considerations. I wonder if there are styles that let you heal and buff
your followers?


> > I'm getting over the differences and accepting the simplicity the
more
> > I play. I've been staying up too late and I left work early today
so
> > it's doing something right!
> >
>
> I don't get it, but lately, I'm having bad luck with games holding my

> interest. except Fable, which I loved. Republic Commando
disappointed me.
> KOTOR2 disappointed me. MechAssault2 disappointed me. Doom3 is
> disappointing me, and now Jade Empire is disappointing me. Hopefully
it'll
> start picking up soon...at least I still have ChaosTheory to fall
back to if
> all else fails...

I had fun with Fable and have been meaning to play it again. Skipped
Republic Commando and MechAssault. I've had KOTOR2 since day one and
still haven't finished, I'm at the very end. I prefered the first one.
Doom 3 was great, I'd buy an expansion pack if it was released on disk,
not download. Phantom Dust is good, too.
 
Archived from groups: alt.games.video.xbox (More info?)

Khee Mao <big_bad_buddha_daddy@yahoo.com> wrote:
>"debaser" <debaserzero@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> They are small, but so were the initial levels in KOTOR. I was
>> dissapointed with the swamp, too. I've heard the Imperial City is
>> bigger and has more activity.
>>
>
>dude...the first level in Kotor was freaking huge! Tarris? was that what
>they called it? it had two or three entire wings of apartments, a droid

Taris was the second level. The partially destroyed spaceship was
the first, and it was quite small.

--
* "Child poverty would be nearly obliterated if every household had one
adult working full time and married parents." -- Rich Lowry, Jan 29 2004.
* 11.4% of married-couple households with 1+ child under 18 and one full-time
year-round worker are under poverty threshold -- US census, 2003.
 
Archived from groups: alt.games.video.xbox (More info?)

Jade Empire is a bore. It was overhyped from the start. It's not as
engrossing as KOTOR. One of the reasons is that Chinese mythology can't
hang with George Lucas. 😉
 
Archived from groups: alt.games.video.xbox (More info?)

"aether" <vercingetorix@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1114654738.181855.252090@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> Jade Empire is a bore. It was overhyped from the start. It's not as
> engrossing as KOTOR. One of the reasons is that Chinese mythology can't
> hang with George Lucas. 😉
>

Am truly sorry that you disliked Jade Empire.

You have the right to display your attitude as I have the right to
totally disagree with your unreasonable dislike biased on little
information, other than you dislike anything oriental

drybones.
 
Archived from groups: alt.games.video.xbox (More info?)

God Magnus wrote:
> HockeyTownUSA said
>
> > Riddick was excellent, but that is kind of a
> > pseudo-RPG.
>
> It's kinda nothing liek an RPG at all expect for being able to talk
to
> people 😛
>


Of course it's an RPG, it's an action RPG. You have character
development without all the hundreds of nuances that classic RPGs have.
It focuses on fighting and story instead of trying to find the holy
grail in land far far away where you need to talk to everyone you meet
and ask they same old questions until you find the holy artifact that
unlocks the...well you get the idea.

I would compare it to Diablo, a game that focuses on the features of
RPGs that appeal to many: fighting and basic character development.
Does that mean it is not an RPG? Come on now..
 
Archived from groups: alt.games.video.xbox (More info?)

I think we have us a classic case of you looking inside the hole of the
black box while I am looking out. Physical implications imply.

I congratulate you for achieving the pinnacle of knowing what you
consider an RPG. It's an asset, together with your above-average
reasoning, that will take you far in this world.

Maybe you will post a topic for us discussing what your favorite RPG is
and why. It is there, that we may meet again, since this place is
already reserved for another discussion.


God Magnus wrote:
> Christian Winter said
>
> > Of course it's an RPG, it's an action RPG. You have character
> > development without all the hundreds of nuances that classic RPGs
have.
>
> Exactly, it doesnt have most of the elements that make a game an RPG.
>
> > I would compare it to Diablo, a game that focuses on the features
of
> > RPGs that appeal to many: fighting and basic character development.
> > Does that mean it is not an RPG? Come on now..
>
> Oh, it got it's got FIGHTING... so few games outside of RPG's have
THAT.
> And your character changes slightly from what he was at the
beginning. He
> starts out as a dangerous criminal, and ends up as a dangerous
criminal
> who can see in the dark.
>
> Let's seee, Halo 2 has combat, and the Arbiter changes significantly
from
> the way he started. It must be an RPG. DOA 2 is an RPG too, then.
It's
> got fighting, and Ein recovers his memory and his life changes at the

> end. Go to GameRankings and look at The Rankings section to see a
list of
> action-RPGs. TWO elements that can be found in tons of other games
makes
> it an RPG? Come on now, put down the pipe. I can't even believe
you're
> serious.
>
> --
> The Kitchen Sink
> http://bellsouthpwp.net/g/m/gmagnus/
 
Archived from groups: alt.games.video.xbox (More info?)

Christian Winter said

> Of course it's an RPG, it's an action RPG. You have character
> development without all the hundreds of nuances that classic RPGs have.

Exactly, it doesnt have most of the elements that make a game an RPG.

> I would compare it to Diablo, a game that focuses on the features of
> RPGs that appeal to many: fighting and basic character development.
> Does that mean it is not an RPG? Come on now..

Oh, it got it's got FIGHTING... so few games outside of RPG's have THAT.
And your character changes slightly from what he was at the beginning. He
starts out as a dangerous criminal, and ends up as a dangerous criminal
who can see in the dark.

Let's seee, Halo 2 has combat, and the Arbiter changes significantly from
the way he started. It must be an RPG. DOA 2 is an RPG too, then. It's
got fighting, and Ein recovers his memory and his life changes at the
end. Go to GameRankings and look at The Rankings section to see a list of
action-RPGs. TWO elements that can be found in tons of other games makes
it an RPG? Come on now, put down the pipe. I can't even believe you're
serious.

--
The Kitchen Sink
http://bellsouthpwp.net/g/m/gmagnus/
 
Archived from groups: alt.games.video.xbox (More info?)

I do agree with that, Andrew. If you sell all your gems to Zin Bu it
gets out of hand, which is disappointing. However, there is a way to at
least order the gems according to what the computer deems best to
worse. It helps but is still not perfect. I still prefer this over the
out of control inventory of KOTOR though. I swear that after a few
hours of gameplay I just didn't even care anymore. Also, with JE the
money you collect is actually worth something, especially buying
character upgrades and new styles. In KOTOR the merchants never had
anything that you were really interested in after a while.


Andrew Ryan Chang wrote:
> Christian Winter <cwinter@gmail.com> wrote:
> >I find Jade Empire a breath of fresh air and kicking people's asses
> >with kung fu is so much fun. I also am glad there is no inventory.
> >KOTORs inventory got so out of hand after a while, I didn't even
open
> >it anymore other than equiping new weapons, etc.
>
> That's down to how the UI of the inventory management screen
> worked out, IMO, not the various equipment/items. JE almost
overwhelmed
> just by its number of gems, and again, the gems inventory screen was
too
> featureless for serious mangement. (This was worse in the stores'
> inventory lists than your own, especially if you tried to sell
everything
> to Zin Bu.)
>
>
> --
> "To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or
that we
> are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only
unpatriotic and
> servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."
> -- Theodore Roosevelt, 1918
 
Archived from groups: alt.games.video.xbox (More info?)

Christian Winter <cwinter@gmail.com> wrote:
>I find Jade Empire a breath of fresh air and kicking people's asses
>with kung fu is so much fun. I also am glad there is no inventory.
>KOTORs inventory got so out of hand after a while, I didn't even open
>it anymore other than equiping new weapons, etc.

That's down to how the UI of the inventory management screen
worked out, IMO, not the various equipment/items. JE almost overwhelmed
just by its number of gems, and again, the gems inventory screen was too
featureless for serious mangement. (This was worse in the stores'
inventory lists than your own, especially if you tried to sell everything
to Zin Bu.)


--
"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we
are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and
servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."
-- Theodore Roosevelt, 1918
 
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