A blast from the past

Eric Watkevich / Culpeper Star Exponent
Published: May 24, 2007

Sometimes there are great games that don't get the recognition they deserve. Horrible titles (Mortal Kombat) get heaps of attention and respect while games like Jade Empire get pushed into the background, trashed, and stepped on. The similarities between this and my childhood are too major to ignore, so I decided to give Jade Empire a chance as I only review the most awesome games in existence (Eregon, Meet the Robinsons, etc.)

Jade Empire has been out for a while but is still good enough to get the attention of any dedicated gamer. It was created by the wonderful people (Bioware) who brought you Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, one of the greatest RPGs (role playing games) of all time, not to mention the best Star Wars game out there.

Jade Empire is also a RPG and shares all of the strengths and weaknesses of its kind, excellent story and character development balanced by often weird controls and boring gameplay.

RPGs are not for the causal gamer, you need to be devoted to the game in order to get the full experience and you will always be rewarded. As I said before, character development is a standout quality in this game. You can decide what your person looks like, as well as their gender, skills and moral outlook on life. I like to match my 'avatar' (I know, my computer gaming expert lingo is pretty awesome.) to my personality, so my character is a badass nine-foot tall engine of destruction that nobody messes with, much like me.

In talking to other people in the game, there are speaking cues that let you decide what to say depending on whether you want your character to be good or bad. Example: An old lady wants you to help her to find her cat. You can chose either good; "I'll help you find your cat ma'am, because I'm a pansy", neutral "I'll help if you pay me", or evil "Badass engines of destruction like me eat cats after stomping little gardens of flowers just because I can." How other characters respond towards you depends on your actions and can alter the course of the game. Namely, 'good' or 'bad' endings are the ultimate result of your choices.

The game is very colorful and visually interesting and incorporates complex sub plots that involve the several characters that join your player in the story. The story itself is short but involved and far better then most other games that have come out recently, including an incredible plot twist at the end. This, combined with the talented voice actors throughout, make the experience a very filling one.

I have nothing to complain about, other then the game's relatively short length. However, there are dozens of secrets and sidequests to keep you entertained, making Jade Empire worth the effort to play.

Eric Watkevich is a 17 year old resident of Culpeper.