Un-Jaded About "Empire"

Jade Empire (Xbox; $49.99; Rated M for Blood/Gore/Violence; http://www.bioware.com/)

(Four stars)

Bioware knew how to play their cards right. Already known for making fantastic role playing games, they solidified their place in the annals of gaming with the release of “Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic” which won Game of the Year in 2003.

What does Bioware do with their newfound respect? Nope, not “KOTOR 2.” Instead, they sink all of their resources and talent into a brand new Intellectual Property, developing an entirely original title and improving upon the gameplay they established in the original “KOTOR.”

“Empire” allows players to create and lead a martial arts prodigy through the mystical world of the Jade Empire, a world inspired by myths and legends from ancient China, but developed with its own mythology.

Like “KOTOR,” players will be given branching story paths that allow them to explore the moral alignment of their character. How non-player characters interact with the protagonist will be dependent upon the reputation that precedes them based on their nobility or tyranny.

Unlike “KOTOR’s” turn-based action, “Empire” has real-time combat- allowing the player to control how their character and his (or her) entourage fight. Initially trained only in two martial arts forms, players can learn dozens of fighting styles to include hand-to-hand, melee weapon based, as well as spectacular magical attacks. And as with any RPG worth its weight in experience points, victory enables our hero to level up- honing skills and acquiring new ones.

The story is immersive and well-developed, the environments are beautiful, and though the fighting engine swims at the shallow end of the pool, Xbox owners would do themselves a disservice to not explore this exclusive title which will undoubtedly be in the running for RPG of the year on any system.