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Set in an ancient, mystical land that seamlessly combines elements and mythologies from several Asian cultures, Jade Empire tells the story of a young martial arts student who is thrust into action when an unknown danger threatens to tear the Empire apart.
One of the best things about the game is the fact that you won't have to spend the majority of your time swapping out armor, weapons, or items. There isn't much in the way of inventory in Jade Empire , and it's refreshing to be able to focus solely on the gameplay, rather than ensuring you're wearing the right boots or carrying the best sword for the task at hand.
However, if playing dress up is your thing, you'll be happy to know that there is a system in place for collecting gems that can boost certain attributes when equipped. While having the right gems in your amulet can certainly help a bit, it's a quick and easy process, and you'll be back to kicking ass and taking names before you know it.
If that sounds a lot like the plots of a million schlocky kung-fu movies, it's probably because the team watched, read, and studied just about any type of inspiration they could get their hands on, from classic books like "Journey the West" to some truly god-awful films, including the hilariously bad "Shaolin Dolemite." If you're a fan of Eastern cinema or literature, there's no doubt that you'll recognize plenty of genre staples, as well as some direct nods to specific influences.
Like any good RPG, the game allows you to create your own character, as you choose from either three male or three female templates. Each of the templates has a different type of emphasis: you can be a lightning-fast puncher, a powerful brawler, a magic user, or a combination of all three. Unfortunately, you can't change your character's physical appearance, which is actually fine since all of the characters look and move like total badasses.
You'll also have the chance to set your starting attributes in three core categories: body, mind, and spirit. Body translates to your maximum level of health, Mind is an indication of your total magic (or Chi) power, and Spirit is aligned with your focus.
Role-playing games (RPGs), as popular as they are amongst the hardcore gaming crowd, still are somewhat of a niche genre. Many folks simply don't have the desire to read through pages of on-screen text, explore huge environments, or meticulously shape their player character through what can be a somewhat daunting selection of skills, weapons, and items.
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