Remembering Jade Empire - A Retrospective Review 

i just finished the gog version of the special edition for PC. There were ZERO bugs, it ran flawlessly. Don't get the steam version, get the gog version its much better. And there is no DRM.

You earn my respect by knowing this game.

This game is one I have played over a few several hundred times in my 22 years of existence. I played it so much as a kid and I continue to play it to this day. It never gets old for me. Beat it on all difficulty’s for all paths. And played both genders and romanced everyone. Great orchestra and music. The lore is incredible. The twists and story of this game is truly amazing. I wish it got the attention it deserves. I want a Jade Empire 2 DANGIT!

If there were ANY game that needs a remake, it’s this! I loved this game and would love to see it updated.

Paralyzing Palm! That's what just popped in my head as I started watching this lol Such a fantastic game. Played through many times with each character

Still my favourite game. It's a shame that it came out at the tail end of the Xbox lifespan, when everyone knew the Xbox 360 was coming out soon. Jade Empire definitely could have sold tons of units if it was produced as a launch title for Xbox 360

this game was a big part of my childhood, i pretty much remember it from head to toes, beating those giant golems was a pain in the ass. interesting lore and design overall, i gotta say. also i liked your takes and your voice is soothing, great video

I got it about 2 weeks ago. Already finished 2 playthroughs and going for a third. Seriously, this game is like a hidden gem worth a million!

It was so unique, all the styles, characters, story, monsters... it was an acid trip of a game. I loved the mission to challenege the ravenger and the necropolis.

I remember waiting for the sequel that never came. This game was awesome.

I was around 8 when I played this for the first time... I beat it after about 2 weeks of fun play and I actually loved every single second. Camera was the only issue I ever had. This was also the game that helped me find out that nearly every fight I lost throughout lifeand gaming was because of me and that being calm and collected about it was the best way to do better. I loved everything about this and loved the story. This is my most favorite game and I've only beat it twice before my parents divorced and the game was lost when moving... I want to play it again...

great retrospective man, I've been looking to play this and this is all the info I needed!

All that takes me back man me and brother's play the hell out of the game but it do have his flaws but we all loved this game.

This is the retrospective review I needed! This was my very first xbox game and to this day, one of my favourites EVER. Thanks for uploading! Have my like, sir!

You know what I'm most happy about? That there hasn't been a sequel. It's its own perfect story with its own perfect ending no matter how you play it. Think about it. Do you honestly trust modern BioWare to make a worthy follow up to this so many years later? Let it rest in peace. And be remembered fondly for what it was. A very fun time in game development when things were done from enjoyment standpoints rather than profit margins.

same here, jade empire was my introduction to bioware, but i found my copy of the game in a trash bin... best free game i've ever owned :)

You deserve more subs this quality is up there with the best reviewers

This is a great video man, thank you for making this. I miss this game

The Magnificent Bastard is voice by John Cleese btw NOBODY EXPECTS SIR JOHN CLEESE!!!

I still remember the moment in my 3rd playthrough when i figured out how harmonic combos actually worked and had great fun exploding everyone in slow motion with storm dragon and tigers claw. Very few games have inspired such a similar feeling.

Great video as usual. I plan on writing out a review of this game myself for when I finally have the time to start up my own gaming channel. I'll play it again to freshen up my memory of it but some key points/criticisms: -Paralyzing Palm and Storm Dragon are laughably broken and work on most of the enemies in the game and bosses. Including final boss. -Followers absolutely suck in attack mode. Sagacious Zu is a former Lotus Assassin and gets KO'd by peasants on the way to Tien's Landing. The AI is just terrible. As a result, followers are best left in support mode. The only slight exceptions are Black Whirlwind and Chai Ka and Ya Zhen because they have more HP. -The style/upgrade system is somewhat limited. If you invest into a style early in the game, if you get a style later in the game that you want to switch to, it will be under-leveled. And since levels are limited during a playthrough, this means you either spend most of the early game not leveling a style (Which a new player to the game has no reason of doing) or can't use ones later in the game. -There are a ton of disappointing boss fights. The Mother, and pretty much all of the ones at the climax of the game. All underwhelming and lacking in creativity. I only like the fight with Death's Hand. -Kang's Dragonfly miniquest. I would have loved to actually go to linear islands and find the parts he needs. Instead, it's just the flying minigame over and over again. -The lack of exploration. I feel the game was too linear. This is about the balance between the sensibility of story urgency vs a player's desire to explore the world they are in. I would just alter the story a bit so that the first act is more you going off on your own and exploring the Empire before diving in to the main story. Reading all the scrolls and books gives you this mental image that the Jade Empire is *huge* and you barely see any of it. That's such a bummer. One of the things that tilted me the most are the bounty hunter missions. Here I thought I'd go to some cave or countryside area, but nope. Both marks are in the Imperial City. Not only is this lame, but also makes the Imperial Guard look hilariously incompetent. You're in the capital for crying out loud.

I loved this game so much , probably the last time i played it was 3rd or 4th grade elementary , and i just found the GOG version. Well...time for a trip down memory lane :) , great vid!

This was a great game. I remember playing this for hours a day for a week until I finally beat it.

Still have this game. It's about time for another play through.

This deserves way more views and likes omg

Thinking about playing this for the first time in over a decade. I remember I really liked it but I don't remember much else...I went through a period of drinking heavily while gaming around that time.

If they ever do a remaster, i'd buy it in a heartbeat. Love the story

Played this game exactly 2 years ago, on mobile. I was blown away by the style, the writting, the storytelling. It was admittedly my first BioWare game that I completed. Feeling the urge to go through it again, and this review only accelerates my willingness to do so!

Great video! I played the GOG version for my next video, and other than the “camera stuck on the floor” bug and a few frame drops, it ran great. Afaik only the Steam version requires a lot of fiddling for some reason

One of the best games . as I can remember I had the same background as you when I played the game. Martial arts interest, Mortal Kombat, Chinese History etc. It is like the perfect Mortal Kombat action rpg we never had

Dude did you make this video? It should have way more views, Thank you though, this game introduced me to RPGS and is the reason first person shooters no longer appeal to me as much. Kotor and Kotor 2 gets praised alot, esp kreia's betrayal, and in that way jade empire is unfortunately underrated.

8:05 Thank you for just spitting this out! I'm been playing this game on / off since 2007; zooming way out or just turning targeting off was the only solution...

You've done good. Described it perfectly

Great video! You deserve more subs

I actually missed this one when I was younger. Just loaded it onto my modded original xbox looking forward to experiencing this classic myself

The Golem form shortcuts the entire last boss fight.

Shoutout for mentioning the plot twist! I was also caught off guard and remember it fondly!

I have a copy off this somewhere in my closet full of collectibles and odds and ends Ive collected through the years. I love this game! I remember thinking I wouldn't like it but I ended up becoming almost obsessed with it during my original play through. There really is something unexplainable about Jade Empire that just draws you in like very few games can. I hoped for a sequal for 10 years then I gave up lol. I still would love to at least see a remake kinda like they did with Resident Evil 2 recently.

The best ending to any video game I've ever played. Played Way of the Closed Fist and my female character romanced Silk Fox. At the end of the game we killed everyone in our party and ruled the Kingdom. There are different ending too, but this was the best. Such a great game.

I hope someday not this year, not next year..., but some day there will be a sequel. (Which is due to the new bogeyman “china” pretty uncertain)

I played it back then forever! Hell even today theres nothing like this game. The music, the artstyle, the combat! So good!!

Ah another who recognizes FF9s greatness good on you bro

Played it when I was younger and just couldn't fully appreciate it. Now that I'm a little older, I'm having a blast with it

11:00 - The Closed Fist does have it's impact; it can also be about teaching those who want to be stronger, to be strong for that sake. To protect others or themselves. You can actually advocate with both Dawnstar and Silk Fox to debate the point and teach them to be on your path. Either way. I did appreciate the fact they tried to add a shade of grey - if a darker one - and the idea that you were sometimes being altruistic more for the sake of what could be gained that is not monetary (perception of being a noble soul being either just as important, or arguably moreso than actually being one for it's own sake) It does fall flat when you get to the end - I blame time/budget constraints perhaps, since in the lore there is a way they could negate a good chunk of the urgency of the game itself from the beginning: BUT it would make an awesome reward overall for the player as an ending. The celestial bereaucracy is in fact, a hierarchy that will prmote mortals to divine state. The last SM is intrinsic to the balance (which can be argued the reason you don't get stoned lol) so why does the ending devolve with a railroad choice when it doesn't have to? That's where they failed. From a mechanics point I'd also say the arena timed points were dumb, and the focus/chi bars drained way too fast. Other than that, it's still one of my all time top RPG's. * It's kind of disconcerting that I can still see my own comment... I completely forgot I'd watched this already. Mea Culpa.

Those of you who want a Jade Empire social place, I suggest JadeEmpireUniverse on reddit. It was created basically to show EA that the Jade Empire fanbase is still growing strong. We would be grateful to have people like you in there.

No one ever talks about this game but it was so cool and unique.

I hade it this game and I play it so much that I still remember every single chapter of it Good Times

I really loved this game! Definitely one of my favorite games from that era.

Great Review, Thanks!

It took me 9 years to figure out how exactly to master the gameplay to where by the end of the game nothing was a challenge no matter the difficulty. That's a good game.

This game will always and forever be close to my heart.

Coincidentally, I played this game only a few days ago. Still love this game. Kinda wish they made a second one, though.

A shame that we never got more on this beautiful story in the brilliantly crafted universe.

Very good retrospective. Can you do one on Fable next?

Started a new game of this on my xbox. I beat this game years and years ago and remember absolutely loving it. Having a blast revisiting it...but i cant remember how to do the dope slowdown power attack with these tiger claws to literally dice up the enemies! This game and kotor, and the way of the samurai series are the best rpg games

I actually spoke to someone once who said their father was involved when they were working on this game and that they've been begging him ever since to try get a sequel made, unfortunately I doubt there will ever be one but this game is the best game I've ever played in my life. Will always be my favourite.

JADE EMPIRE IS ONE OF THE GREATEST GAMES OF ALL TIME TO ME. I FUCKING GREW UP PLAYING THIS GAME THEY NEED TO REMAKE IT

This was one of my favorite games as a wee lad

I have the steam version. The very first time I tried to play, there were many many problems. But then I discovered mods, and everything was better.

Hey great retrospective, I enjoyed the editing and your voice over. You should of made it longer! Settings and certain quest the stood out to you would of been a great layer. Thumbs up, ill check your channel to see if you have any other videos like this.

Thumbs up this was the greatest game i ever played

I heard about this game so much on G4 as a kid, its time I tracked it down for xbox and played it. Gotta have it in my collection. Original Xbox has so many great titles.

I still have a crush on silk fox to this day! Every time I tried to romance Dawn Star instead I just couldn't. Never gonna forget this game.

Jade Empire was a very good game. I miss the old original Xbox games.

I've replayed this game once these past few years

Ah the fire dragon guy everybody’s favorite character (including mine)

Kotor: Mists of Pandaria :)

loved this game man!!

Looks awesome! Wish there was a modern version

I gotta try this now, i just found out about this game the other day. The mass effect trilogy are my favorite games and I was surprised when I found out this was a bioware game.

You really have to wonder who at this day and age would commit to making a martial arts RPG again, given that we have gated it to either fighting games or action games. Closest thing to Jade Empire was Tenchi no Mon / Key of Heaven on the PSP about a martial artist learning different sword styles and going on an adventure but it only had RPG elements in the sense of level ups and gaining new techniques.

I will try it at Android, have you ever tried it? Is it a good version for mobile?

Still a fantastic game in 2020! So underrated.

17:40 can’t believe you used Heavenly wave alllll the way up to that point

I played this game 2005 when it was released. Never touched it since then. It had such a memorable story and characters I still remember it 15 years later. Just like dragon age and mass effect. I miss the BioWare games and I hate how EA ruined them...

I literally played this game from beginning to end without knowing what I was really doing lol. I still enjoyed it nonetheless.

6:11 CLUNCKINESS So I did not imagined that. That is why I always had played the game on the lowest complication possibilities

Honestly this is one of those games that warrant over hour long deep dives into it... Shame it isn't remembered as much as it should be.

First game that gave me the biggest plot twist ever the story is so amazing

Actually gonna play this for the first time. I've played KotOR, Dragon Age Origins, and Mass Effect so many times that it's not even funny, and Bioware used to be my favorite developer. Yet, I've have never gotten around to this one. Ordered it and can't wait to play a game from old school Bioware that I have yet experience.

I'm playing this game with Nvidia 3d Vision. Good 3d. Having a great time with this game!

The android port actually used to be the best way to play the game, since it had TV output, controller support and mod support, as well as widescreen without scripting bugs. Sadly it's not compatible with android 8.0 or newer and there's little chance of money being spent on a patch to update it, so it's a good option only if you have an old, but not too old android device.

i bought limited edition and strategy guide on release. played the crap out of it but never finished it. so looking forward to playing through it some day lol

just started playing on pc after getting the xbox game pass and this game is such a vibe... i don't really care about the clunky combat or other technical aspects, and I actually think there is no point of judging old games in those categories due to limited technology back in the days. rpg's tend to have universal values such as the story, atmosphere, music, characters, some kind of progression system, and bioware pulled it off perfectly as always. I am writing this knowingly despite spending only a few hours in the game because it's easy to notice the authenticity

I loved this game. Mainly used Thousand Cuts and Dodge rolls

Monk Zeng is my favorite character.

Not trying to be derogatory, I enjoyed your video, thank you

Recently completed the game for the first time. Loved every second. Wish Bioware would make another game in the setting, not a direct sequel as the game had a nice closed ending.

The point of the closed fist is hard mode. You didnt seem to understand that when you choose that way of life you have to deal with the inherent hardship

There's something poetic about the strongest martial artist in the world, who is just a step away from complete godhood getting easily beaten by a gun.

I got the special edition back in 2015 on Origin when it was on the house and I never experienced any bugs. Must be a Steam thing.

The twist in this game reminds me of AC 1's twist.

Long ago in ancient land, Aku the shape shipping master of darkness.... Wait

The combat is clunky in this game, but I still love it. Why? Because it is literally all about mind games with the computer. Essentially, the enemy will counter whatever you do (block regular attacks, interrupt power attacks), but you can use this to your advantage. You can even do preform a "shimmy" similar to fighting games to make an enemy whiff their attack, and then go in for a full combo. It's great.

12:14 At this point, I can clearly see Bioware's handiwork as everything you described about NPC and party member interactions, the morality system, dialogue choices, and action consequences sounds almost identical to Knights of the Old Republic. Even the graphics look the same. At least the combat, clunky though it may be, allows a greater range of mobility than KOR; there you just stood still and either took a beating or gave one out. Edit: Even the ending of the story is just like KOR 1.

You don’t have to give up your followers. There is a closed fist option to bind them to you against their will like death’s hand.

24:29 OMFG I remember this! It annoyed me every time it happened my GOD! xD

These games are the ones that would be great to remake, great stories that were hindered by hardware limitations. A KOTOR remake would sell millions

Ah man. When everything fails, use Jade Golem form. I killed Master Lee like he was a student. The best transformation there is especially if you maxed out the style :D

God I adore this game so much