Jade Empire is kind of the unloved middle child of Bioware. Their first original IP, it has elements of earlier licensed games and later original games, as well as its own unique properties.
First: story and setting. Jade Empire's setting and writing may be better deconstructions of fantasy tropes than Dragon Age (which at first come off as more a knockoff of A Song of Ice and Fire), to say nothing of being based on Imperial China than Medieval Europe. It starts as a deconstruction of the Chosen One and Old Master stereotypes and goes from there quite adeptly.
Second, gameplay: the game goes for simplicity the complicated systems of other Bioware games, yet manages a depth that lends a certain elegance to play. An incredibly simple inventory system only adds to this: you really only have one magic item, which you can customize on the fly to meet your needs from moment to moment.
The companion system is also somewhat unique. You're only allowed to bring one with you, which is somewhat of a downer, but given how powerful the support mechanic can be it's obvious why this is. As for the characterization, it ranges from competent to good. There are few destined for fan favorites, but each is very much their own person.
Third, the morality system. An attempt to move away from the light and dark side of Star Wars, Open Palm and Closed Fist are more philosophy, but unlike Mass Effect's Renegade and Paragon these philosophies are only rarely reflected in game. Closed Fist had potential as a sort of Randian mysticism, but too often ended up as being a dick for no reason. Meanwhile, the final boss was arguably an exemplar of the Knight Templar tendencies of Open Palm, but there were no opportunities for the PC to explore it themselves; at worst you come off as a sort of busybody. Halfway between philosophical debate and morality system, it fails at being either.
The game's codex system was a newish feature, and it shows. You get experience for reading books and scrolls, but there isn't an actual codex for you to read them later; you either read them when you find them or lose them forever when the game advances to a point where you can't go back.
Overall, the game is a product of its time, the missing link between Bioware's older and newer games, and it shows—but it's still worth your time, and these days, certainly worth your money ($15 at most).
Great, but not perfect
Jade Empire is kind of the unloved middle child of Bioware. Their first original IP, it has elements of earlier licensed games and later original games, as well as its own unique properties.
First: story and setting. Jade Empire's setting and writing may be better deconstructions of fantasy tropes than Dragon Age (which at first come off as more a knockoff of A Song of Ice and Fire), to say nothing of being based on Imperial China than Medieval Europe. It starts as a deconstruction of the Chosen One and Old Master stereotypes and goes from there quite adeptly.
Second, gameplay: the game goes for simplicity the complicated systems of other Bioware games, yet manages a depth that lends a certain elegance to play. An incredibly simple inventory system only adds to this: you really only have one magic item, which you can customize on the fly to meet your needs from moment to moment.
The companion system is also somewhat unique. You're only allowed to bring one with you, which is somewhat of a downer, but given how powerful the support mechanic can be it's obvious why this is. As for the characterization, it ranges from competent to good. There are few destined for fan favorites, but each is very much their own person.
Third, the morality system. An attempt to move away from the light and dark side of Star Wars, Open Palm and Closed Fist are more philosophy, but unlike Mass Effect's Renegade and Paragon these philosophies are only rarely reflected in game. Closed Fist had potential as a sort of Randian mysticism, but too often ended up as being a dick for no reason. Meanwhile, the final boss was arguably an exemplar of the Knight Templar tendencies of Open Palm, but there were no opportunities for the PC to explore it themselves; at worst you come off as a sort of busybody. Halfway between philosophical debate and morality system, it fails at being either.
The game's codex system was a newish feature, and it shows. You get experience for reading books and scrolls, but there isn't an actual codex for you to read them later; you either read them when you find them or lose them forever when the game advances to a point where you can't go back.
Overall, the game is a product of its time, the missing link between Bioware's older and newer games, and it shows—but it's still worth your time, and these days, certainly worth your money ($15 at most).