Throwback Thursday: Jade Empire – BioWare’s Martial Arts Epic (VIDEO)
Let’s throw back to April 14, 2005, when Jade Empire released for the original Xbox. The game gave players the power to become an unstoppable martial arts master with the quest to defend their sprawling kingdom from the deeds of evil. Jade Empire was the first of many of BioWare’s self-created adventures, and it paved the path for many of their RPG titles moving forward.
Background
BioWare had a big hit on their hands with the Star Wars themed Knights of the Old Republic, but rather than follow the trail of fire produced by that game’s popularity, the studio instead chose to go another, more original direction. Premising the rise of a mythic martial arts master, the concept had become a “dream project” of sorts by BioWare co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk. Having the company’s considerable library and reputation at hand, the timing seemed ideal to finally make a project like Jade Empire a reality.
Following previous successes with the Dungeons & Dragons and the Star Wars licences, their next role-playing adventure would be their first wholly original one, making initial world-building a very important aspect of development. As much of the staff were fans of martial arts media, the proposed RPG dug deep into the genre, researching influential action movies such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and classic stories like Journey to the West. BioWare also went as far as to send the design team to China in order to better represent the setting’s ancient lore even more accurately.
Though the game takes ample influence from China’s rich history, Jade Empire wasn’t intended to be a reflection of the real-world setting. This notion is easily surmised by the inclusion of supernatural spirits, demons, and magic within the game, in essence presenting a fantasy world where these myths and legends are real. One of the game’s most impressive elements derived from Asian culture was Tho Fan, an entire language created by linguist expert Wolf Wikeley specifically for the non-English speaking characters of Jade Empire.
Gameplay
Taking place in the titular Jade Empire, the game occurs from the perspective of either a male or female as they travel the land to search for their martial arts master and save the kingdom. Of course, this ultimate quest means plenty of fighting, and players can switch between varied hand-to-hand, magic, and weapon-based combat styles to suit their situation. The main character, called the “Spirit Monk,” is also able to recruit a companion, called a Follower, that can aid in taking down the game’s numerous opponents. Stats are divided into three groups, health, chi (magic power), and focus, the latter of which enables time to slow down for a limited duration.
As story has always been a focus for BioWare games, the concepts of dialogue and morality also make a return in Jade Empire. Most of the player’s actions and even their eventual outcome depend on the choice between the “Open Palm” and “Closed Fist” morality paths. While nether are specifically meant to represent good or evil, the Open Palm way encourages selfless and harmonious behavior, while Closed Fist dictates violent, survival-of-the-fittest ideals. Interactions with NPCs also contribute to how romantic interests will feel toward players, with potential partners either accepting, rejecting, or one particular outcome resulting in a love triangle.
Legacy
Other than a well-received “Special Edition” release for the PC, Jade Empire has not seen a significant follow-up or continuation, as the game didn’t do overly well in initial sales. While thats a bummer for those who’d like to see a sequel, the game’s increased emphasis on morality and world-building were definitely felt in BioWare’s next original franchises, Dragon Age and Mass Effect, and continue to be utilized into the modern day. Oh, and it’s backward compatible on current-gen hardware, so there’s that.
What’s your opinion of Jade Empire? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow Don’t Feed the Gamers on Twitter to be informed of the latest gaming and entertainment news 24 hours a day! Also, be on the lookout for the next Throwback Thursday where we’ll highlight yet another title from gaming past. For entries from previous weeks, check out these next few links below:
Eric Hall2712 Posts
Phone-browsing Wikipedia in one hand and clutching his trusty controller in the other, the legendary Eric Hall spreads his wealth of knowledge as a writer for Don't Feed the Gamers. Be sure to catch his biweekly "Throwback Thursday" segment for a nostalgic look at trivia from the past.
