Jade Empire Title Screen Animatic (2005, Bioware/2k/Micrsoft/EA) 1080p Animation
13Jade Empire is an action role-playing game developed by BioWare. The game was first published in 2005 by Microsoft Game Studios and was released worldwide for the Xbox. On May 10, 2006, BioWare announced a version for Microsoft Windows, to be published by 2K Games and developed by LTI Gray Matter. Subsequently, it was released in North America on February 26, 2007, as a Special Edition. The Special Edition was also released through the Steam delivery system on February 27, 2007 and was published by the Valve Corporation. Jade Empire was released as an Xbox Original on Microsoft's Xbox 360 on July 21, 2008. TransGaming Technologies announced immediate availability of the Special Edition for Intel-based Macs on August 18, 2008.
Jade Empire follows the style of the Wuxia genre within a mythical setting inspired by Imperial China. The player character, who can be either male or female, progresses through an adventure based on traditional martial arts and can discover and develop new fighting styles: martial arts, weapon styles, magic styles, support styles, or transformation styles. Combat is not turn-based, but is in real time, granting players control over how and when characters dodge or attack.
Much of the game places emphasis on the two major philosophies in the world of the Jade Empire, the Way of the Open Palm and the Way of the Closed Fist. These paths bear a close resemblance to the "Light Path" and "Dark Path" described in the BioWare title Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic; however, a minor character states, "I believe there can be intrigue behind the Way of the Open Palm, and honour behind the Way of the Closed Fist." That is, one who follows the Way of the Open Palm is not necessarily good, and one who follows the Way of the Closed Fist is not necessarily evil.
According to the Way of the Open Palm, the key to maintaining the universe is by being in harmony with nature, one's surroundings, and one's station in life. As an effect of being in nature with one's surroundings, one is expected to actively assist in lessening the chaos in the area, through the assistance of lessening burdens. The Way of the Open Palm dictates that a character should not act outside a specific station and purpose in life. According to the Way of the Closed Fist, on the other hand, the purpose of life is to follow the ways of serving oneself—to face one's challenges head on, challenge one's station in life, and work to become self-reliant. The emphasis of the Way of the Closed Fist is combat, turmoil, and constantly challenging oneself,. Many of those who are evil tend to be considered to follow the Way of the Closed Fist, in that they bring about chaos in the universe.
Context plays a large part in the interpretation of these philosophies. For example, an evil follower of the Open Palm path could enable the suffering of others in order to achieve greater order, and a good follower of the Closed Fist path could encourage self-reliance in others, thus making them happier. For instance, if a follower of the Open Palm came upon a peasant being attacked by a gang of bandits, he would help because it is the right thing to do. Conversely, if a follower of the Closed Fist encountered this situation, he would reason that the peasant must survive on their own merit, or die. However, the Closed Fist student might also help the peasant if he felt that the peasant was too far out of his league for such a battle to be a valid test of his strength.
Despite the philosophical nuances, the actual game play in Jade Empire for the most part casts Open Palm actions as selfless and heroic, and Closed Fist actions as selfish and thuggish. In this interpretation, they are close to the "Paragon/Renegade" morality system employed in BioWare's later Mass Effect. There are also similarities between the two philosophies and the Lawful and Chaotic alignments of the Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set.
Video content produced by Bioware.
Music Composed by Jack Wall for Bioware.