Jade Empire
Preview
Never played it? Try it on the PC
by Jebus
previewed on PC
Old titles ported to PC
It seems that it has been quite a trend recently. Jade Empire is one of several Xbox RPGs to be ported over to the PC, and BioWare have even done it before with KoToR. Two years after its Xbox debut, BioWare are hoping to extend their franchise to PC gamers. Similarly to Fable: The Lost Chapters, BioWare have included some new content (as well as the content originally included on the Limited Edition version on the Xbox), to grant their late decision to port some credibility.
Some of the back story
For those who have either never heard of Jade Empire, it was a console based RPG (originally pegged for the PC) which incorporates a real-time martial arts based fighting system. Alongside a solid storyline, diverse characters and character development, Jade Empire managed to turn a rather overdone genre in a new light, breathing an air of freshness into BioWare's game. The trademark "Good-Evil or In-between" axis was again used in Jade Empire, as with KoToR, dubbed "Open Palm" and "Closed Fist". Over the course of the game, different scripted events, reactions, move sets and items were available to the player, depending on their decisions throughout the game.
Enhancements for PC
For this conversion to the PC, BioWare have added plenty of new features to keep old fans happy and for those who missed out two years ago something to get their teeth into.
As one would expect after a two-year hiatus the graphics have been given a tinkering, to take advantage of the platform swap. Over 300 textures have been remodelled, and the resolution has been increased to 1600x1200. Though the characters have not been remodelled themselves, the attention paid to the graphics engine is set to assure players of constant frame rates and smooth game play, especially during moments citing dozens of on-screen enemies or more - a procedure more suited to the PC.
The AI has also been brought under the knife, as it were. Now more prone to taking evasive actions, by taking cover, ducking, or blocking, the transition to PC should promise more of a challenge from the enemies. The sheer quantity is also supposed to increase, following the opportunity the PC presents to BioWare to increase how much can go on at once on-screen. Along with the AI itself, BioWare has included a new difficulty level. Dubbed 'Jade Master', this new setting will challenge even the most hardened Jade Empire buff - you can even import the character's you've put so much time and effort into, and use them in this new, more challenging environment. The control system has also been adapted to suit PC gamers, though not entirely. For those who dislike it, the staple keyboard and mouse system is still available.
The added content itself appears merely superficial. There is a new type of sword, a new character: Monk Zeng (who, admittedly, was available on the Limited Edition version of Jade Empire), and two new fighting styles and a new power. The two fighting styles, Iron Palm (using heavy palm thrusts - a style rather heavily laced with offensive techniques) and Swift Viper (very fast attacks, which seem to poison your opponents - a move set tied very closely to the "Closed Fist" path), offer something new, even for those who have played the original inside out. The new power is a transformation into a "rhino demon" form, adding to the other shapes still present from the Xbox version.
Is it worth it?
Apart from these changes, the rest of the game remains perfectly intact, which depending on your outlook, can be a good or bad thing. On the one hand fans of the game, or those who don't own an Xbox who wish to play it, have the option of playing this new, polished version. However, some would have hoped that BioWare would have spent more time on their up and coming title, than in trying to get some extra profit by bringing an old game out and giving it a quick dusting over.
All in all, if you've never played Jade Empire and feel like you have missed out, this is the perfect opportunity to try it on the PC. For those who already have, it is simply a case of judging if you think the replay value, despite the additional trinkets, is worth the price tag.
