[Spiwak]

I wonder if/when Mass Effect will ever come to PC, though.... Certainly Bioware's track record with console games should indicate that it will come to PC...and I will be a happy camper.

[UPtimist]

Originally Posted by Muzzy

There's gonna be a sequel? Awesome news! edit: Apparently it's not really news to me, since I've posted in this thread before

Funny, I just had that same feeling too

(Edit): Umm... Are you actually sure it has been announced? At least officially? 'Cause I've not seen one site say it...

[Kolzig]

http://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?id=3377

[aries323]

The Jade Empire: Special Edition is Jade Empire - The Xbox game, basically for the pc.

However JE:SE has been made for the PC.

As for JE 2, you will still get run around with people saying 'at the moment we have no official plans on a JE 2' or 'at the current, there is no such things as JE 2 in development' or something like that.

However, all major companies say this. Greg & Ray may have said that they want to see a Jade Empire 2, both as wink to their producers, writers and designers and as wink to MS.

[Catbert]

Wait, there's a Jade Empire for the PC?

[Melanie68]

Yup!

[Catbert]

It any good?

[aries323]

Sadly, we don't know yet --- as it sadly hasn't been released yet.

The release date February 27th, I think. If I remember the date correctly, from Bioware's Jade Empire site. If you go to Bioware's site, you can see a cool video trailer for this game, which really make the game look quite good.

According to the X-box players, adn the reviews, Jade Empire for the X-box was pretty good. I'm sure the PC version will be the same...

[Catbert]

Well this one is definitely one I'll be looking for. I can only hope it runs on my computer, though. KOTOR was kind pushing the limits of it.

[Putrid Moldyman]

Jade Empire was Bioware's least inspired game. I thought it was a mess. Hopefully, between Mass Effect and JE2, they can finally prove that they don't need some pre-established IP to make a good game.

[Zack]

I own Jade Empire for the X-Box. From what I've been able to play, I think it's a very good and Intriguing game. If I remember correctly,

Spoiler:

I have just arrived at a city, and the mysterious woman in the ninja outfit who has been following me and my party has revealed herself to be a princess.

However, I can't play it anymore, because it keeps crashing every time I load it up.

That's why I want so badly to play the game on the PC. Plus, the new fighting styles look pretty cool.

[Putrid Moldyman]

Believe it or not, you're not so far off from finishing the game. Ch. 3 is the game's last meaty chapter, and after that, the game devolves into a straightforward action game and that lasts for 3-4 hours at most.

[Catbert]

Way to spoil it.

[Crunchy in milk]

Originally Posted by Putrid Moldyman

Jade Empire was Bioware's least inspired game. I thought it was a mess.

I can certainly see they wanted to go even more epic but what's there is still a great game. Hardly uninspiring. JE is rich with characters and villains right out of chinese classical literature (they're almost cut and pasted from Journey to the west & Outlaws of the marsh). It even has a cheesy kotor/sixth sense plot twist. The main story arc is suitably epic and the crunch decision (a terrible bioware standard) is gutsy this time because the 'bad' decision makes the most logical sense.

Even with the aging engine theres still stunning fist loads of visual splender, both in level details (architecture) and character designs.

Where the game fell short I felt was in the fighting styles. To be fair its bioware's first try at real time combat. They got the looks right but balance of powers was rather awkward which is terrible given the rock-scissors-paper format they used. The game can be far too easy or far too hard without changing the difficulty setting. Just based on the fighting styles you coose to hone.

A great, if a little disjointed (cut material?) story, excellent 'classical' characters, visually rich game with an adequate if a bit wonky combat/training/item system. Theres plenty in JE to enjoy and make the prospects of any sequel exciting.

My PAL version never crashed despite a hefty 150+ hours (~5 play throughs). I would recommend regular save game 'trimming' on the xbox version. Too many saves can slow down the menus and autosaving.

Chapter 3 is hardly the end at all. The story just starts to focus more as you become trapped in yet another bioware sole saviour story. And the fightin dial cranks up to 11. If you participate in the later arena stages in chapter 3 (optional) its good preparation.

[Putrid Moldyman]

Originally Posted by Catbert

Way to spoil it.

C'mon, I certainly didn't give anything plot-specific away. What I said is nothing you won't find in one of the more balanced reviews of the game out there (read: not IGN's six page essay on why Bioware is brilliant masquerading as a review for Jade Empire).

Originally Posted by Crunchy in milk

The main story arc is suitably epic . . .

It certainly tries to be epic --the ingredients are there-- but when the game is so short and so small in scope, it just didn't cut it for me. I guess I feel these games should earn the right to be called epic...

Even with the aging engine theres still stunning fist loads of visual splender, both in level details (architecture) and character designs.

Yes. It was gorgeous.

Where the game fell short I felt was in the fighting styles. To be fair its bioware's first try at real time combat. They got the looks right but balance of powers was rather awkward which is terrible given the rock-scissors-paper format they used. The game can be far too easy or far too hard without changing the difficulty setting. Just based on the fighting styles you coose to hone.

Agreed. Plus it didn't help that the AI was so inept. I can actually claim to have gotten through the game's final two battles with only having been hit once, and that's only because the final boss cheats.

Chapter 3 is hardly the end at all. The story just starts to focus more as you become trapped in yet another bioware sole saviour story. And the fightin dial cranks up to 11. If you participate in the later arena stages in chapter 3 (optional) its good preparation.

Different strokes for different folks. I personally didn't enjoy the game after Ch. 3 one bit. I did, however, enjoy Ch. 2 and John Cleese, to be fair.

[Catbert]

I wasn't talking about you

[Melanie68]

Originally Posted by Catbert

Way to spoil it.

It didn't even dawn on me reading Zack's post that there was a spoiler in there. Sorry I didn't add the tags earlier.

[Putrid Moldyman]

Originally Posted by Catbert

I wasn't talking about you

Heh, oops. My apologies then. Consider yourself spared FROM THE WRATH OF MY ANGST.

[Zack]

Originally Posted by Catbert

I wasn't talking about you

Oh, sorry about that.

I didn't realize that I had accidentally written a spoiler. I was just letting you know that that was the exact place where the game keeps crashing on me every time I try to load it up. I will try to be more careful from now on.

[wilco]

Nice surprise! Just saw Jade Empire will be available on Steam and only 35$ if you pre-purchase. Considering it will probably be released for 50 euros in retail over here, it's a great offer. Who needs boxes and DVDs?

Just did the pre-load, I think it's 8 Gb or something...