[Intrepid Homoludens]

There were a lot of people who were so enamored with KotOR that they actually played through the game twice, just so they could see what was different about the light and dark paths. However, there really weren't a lot of differences, aside from a few plot twists and the ending. Jade Empire, on the other hand, offers gamers a number of reasons to complete the game more than once. For instance, there are a few missions that can only be undertaken by those aligned to one philosophy or the other. Several styles are alignment specific, as well, and there are others that you simply won't really get to use the first time around. Finally, there are the three endings (good, evil, and neutral), each one wildly different from the others. This game is ripe for replaying, and this is coming from someone who rarely plays the same title more than once. Plus, there is a vertical scrolling flying game, similar to Galaga, that never gets old and can be accessed from the title menu.

By combining stunning visuals, an entertaining (and challenging) combat system, and one of the best stories in recent memory, the folks at BioWare have somehow managed to create yet another brilliant game. Best of all, at roughly 20 to 25 hours, it's worth playing more than once, as you can have a drastically different experience the second time out. Some people might be able to argue that there have been better RPGs, but there's no question that this is the best to ever hit the Xbox.

Gamespy review