MB's Video Game Classics: Jade Empire

Key · 08-26-2018, 10:47 AM

Coincidentally this game was brought up earlier this week. Certainly one of the more underrated games in the style of KOTOR etc. I played through quite a bit of this when I was younger, but I remember almost nothing about it.

Key · 08-28-2018, 12:54 PM

I should go back and play this tho I'm afraid age may get to it.

~~MicShazam~~ · 08-28-2018, 12:59 PM

In my opinion, time is a great judge of quality. If a game "ages poorly", it wasn't all that good to begin with. I'd say the same about any other medium of art.

Ninetales · 08-28-2018, 02:24 PM

^ im no expert but id say video games are probably the most susceptible to aging poorly. graphics and game mechanics evolve fairly quickly so something like jade empire can become "obsolete" in those regards within a few years. that being said...

played this in the last 6 months and it holds up pretty well. wouldn't say its difficult; the fighting can be pretty easy, but its still a lot of fun imo

~~MicShazam~~ · 08-28-2018, 02:43 PM

I find old graphics and controls easy to adjust to. I'd even go so far as to say that art style matters infinitely more than the technical level of the graphics, which means that a game that is ugly now was always ugly.

YorkeDaddy · 08-28-2018, 03:01 PM

The early transition to 3D was pretty rough. Final Fantasy VII was a technical marvel when it released but now it’s just kind of a pain to navigate some of the maps. Still adore the game but I’d consider that an example of something in a game aging poorly while the game is still otherwise fantastic

~~MicShazam~~ · 08-28-2018, 03:06 PM

I always thought early full 3D games looked like a donkey's ass. Quake is one of the exceptions. The enemies are chunky, but overall, the game looks pretty cool and the atmosphere is strong no matter if you play it in 1995 or 2018. Half-Life on the other hand just looks like ass and always did. I don't personally like anything about the game's textures or modelling.

Another example of a game I always thought looked kinda janky would be Super Mario 64, while Dungeon Master II has a lot of visual charm and still does, despite being 300x200, VGA 2D artwork. Juxtaposing some games like that make for good examples of why art comes first.

I remember being puzzled when people fawned over the graphics in Battle Arena Toshinden. It takes a different perspective than mine to get how that game could be anything other than fugly even back when it was brand new, that's for sure.

In the eye of the beholder, etc...

YorkeDaddy · 08-28-2018, 03:25 PM

That's why it's so impressive to me when an older game still looks really good to this day.

This game came out when I was 1 years old and I still find it to be one of the most visually stunning and interesting games ever released. The aesthetics all come together so masterfully, and it of course helps that the God-tier composer David Wise was behind the music which ties everything together perfectly.

Sorry to make this thread about DKC2 and not Jade Empire, it's just the best example of a visually stunning game that's old as ****

~~MicShazam~~ · 08-28-2018, 03:35 PM

Soundtracks are important in games for sure. I doubt it's a coincidence that a lot of my favourite games have good soundtracks.

I did actually play Jade Empire waaaay back when I owned the original Xbox, but I can't really remember anything about it except that I gave up on it in just a couple days.

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08-26-2018, 10:47 AM	#1 (permalink)
Key . Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 13,153	MB's Video Game Classics: Jade Empire Coincidentally this game was brought up earlier this week. Certainly one of the more underrated games in the style of KOTOR etc. I played through quite a bit of this when I was younger, but I remember almost nothing about it.

08-28-2018, 12:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
Key . Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 13,153	I should go back and play this tho I'm afraid age may get to it.

08-28-2018, 12:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
~~MicShazam~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Aalborg Posts: 7,634	In my opinion, time is a great judge of quality. If a game "ages poorly", it wasn't all that good to begin with. I'd say the same about any other medium of art.

08-28-2018, 02:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ninetales Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: livin wild Posts: 2,179	^ im no expert but id say video games are probably the most susceptible to aging poorly. graphics and game mechanics evolve fairly quickly so something like jade empire can become "obsolete" in those regards within a few years. that being said... played this in the last 6 months and it holds up pretty well. wouldn't say its difficult; the fighting can be pretty easy, but its still a lot of fun imo

08-28-2018, 02:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
~~MicShazam~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Aalborg Posts: 7,634	I find old graphics and controls easy to adjust to. I'd even go so far as to say that art style matters infinitely more than the technical level of the graphics, which means that a game that is ugly now was always ugly.

08-28-2018, 03:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
~~MicShazam~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Aalborg Posts: 7,634	I always thought early full 3D games looked like a donkey's ass. Quake is one of the exceptions. The enemies are chunky, but overall, the game looks pretty cool and the atmosphere is strong no matter if you play it in 1995 or 2018. Half-Life on the other hand just looks like ass and always did. I don't personally like anything about the game's textures or modelling. Another example of a game I always thought looked kinda janky would be Super Mario 64, while Dungeon Master II has a lot of visual charm and still does, despite being 300x200, VGA 2D artwork. Juxtaposing some games like that make for good examples of why art comes first. I remember being puzzled when people fawned over the graphics in Battle Arena Toshinden. It takes a different perspective than mine to get how that game could be anything other than fugly even back when it was brand new, that's for sure. In the eye of the beholder, etc...

08-28-2018, 03:35 PM	#9 (permalink)
~~MicShazam~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Aalborg Posts: 7,634	Soundtracks are important in games for sure. I doubt it's a coincidence that a lot of my favourite games have good soundtracks. I did actually play Jade Empire waaaay back when I owned the original Xbox, but I can't really remember anything about it except that I gave up on it in just a couple days.