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Reader Reviews Written 5 Date Written 05/05/05	Rating 10

jade empire plain and simply is a masterpiece. graphically the attention to detail is stunning. the graphic style is something between realism and watercolour painting. very beautiful to look at character faces are very detailed and reflect a highly diverse range of emotional changes and moods, some subtle,some clearly obvious. dialog is superb and almost endless. voice acting is about the best i've heard in any game i've played. dialog also offers several diverse options in determining the direction the game will develop. some fights are won by skilful dialog utilising your character's skill at charm,persuasion and intimidation. the basic structure of the game lies in the player's determination of using either the good path (the way of the open palm) or the evil path (the way of the closed fist) to achieve his objectives the amount of fighting styles availible in this game is staggering some utilising physical skill,magic,supportive styles, weapons skills or transformational styles. its left to the player to decide which combinations of styles are best suited to him the standard health bar of most games is augmented by 2 other bars that govern focus energy and chi or spirit force. these bars are upgradeable by experience points gained during gameplay and the player must decide which of the bars he'll upgrade with the given points. in addition fighting skills are upgradeable to add greater speed,power and duration effects upon the hapless victim/s. fighting skills may be purchased, earned from defeating an enemy or given freely if you're worthy. one of the most fascinating aspects of this game is its subtleties. there are gems which augment or diminish the health/focus/chi bars in ways that are so subtle, yet can determine the way in which a battle or conversation swings. also there are several techniques which tho not visibly moving a bar determine the way in which body, mind and spirit function. there also exist upgradeable skills of charm, persuasion and intimidation. physical force does'nt always win a battle audio is excellent with sounds being clear and diverse whether in the country or city. sound effects are very good as well scrolls and books tell the history and culture of the empire. the makers did their homework on the relationship between body, mind & spirit as well as on the structure of the spirit realms what ultimately exists is a highly interactive world of direct action and subtleties, a world of peasants, soldiers, scholars, martial artists, magic and sorcery,prostitutes, creatures. practically every emotion is accounted for.....fear, jealousy, rage, love, hope etc. casual gamers might cast this aside, saying that they completed the game in a short time. but to the player interested in exploiting the subtle aspects and interested in developing relationships between characters this game has no real limitations on gameplay. in short....get this, it's a work of art.