imported_beer
Game Owner
 NWN
NWN: SoU
NWN: HotU
Jade Empire:SE
NWN 2
NWN 2: MotB
NWN 2: SoZ
Mass Effect PC
Joined: 30 Jan 2006
From: Texas |
 Posted: Sunday, 04 March 2007 10:50PM |
Oh the game did have a lot of faults- stereotypical characters, american accents, crashing during game play, wierd camera controls (that had the game focussing on my feet while opponents trashed me senseless) etc. I also had to enlist my husband to play 2 fight sequences - and not to mention not being able to save games by customized names- BUT and this is a big but...
The game was the most enjoyable that I have played in a very long time. After being slightly (okay a lot) disappointed with NWN2, I was worried for the CRPG genre per se, until Bioware came up with this sparkly little gem. The story was immersive, the cut scenes beautifully done and the universe breathtaking. The fun factor reduces all of the first paragraph of faults to insignificance for me. (I know there are those of you who may not think the same way)
I have been prouder of Bioware (BG2 for example) but not by much. Thanks Bioware for giving me a week of pure pleasure. My family is going to leave me for the time I spent with this game, but it was almost worth it. Best part- it scores *big* over NWN2 in terms of replayability.
I am off to replay the bugger. Maybe I'll have a more objective, less "OMG it Rocked" review after the second try.Edited By imported_beer on 03/04/07 22:52 |
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Quezcotl
Game Owner
 SW: KotOR Xbox
NWN 2
Joined: 10 Dec 2006
From: Sweden,Stockholm |
Posted: Sunday, 04 March 2007 10:55PM |
I actually think NWN2 was ten times better,but that could be because of the awesome co-op and 55 hour lenghty gameplay in the campaign.
Btw about the american voice acting...
Well when other people have tried to do asian voices they got attacked for being racist.
Yes Ubi soft for ex.
ANd in that Vietcong game.
It's funny how i read that JE got critized for not using asian voice actors,well.
You won't see me attack any game which doesn't have Swedish people giving the voice for Viking people in any games.
Who cares? Seriously 
And yes trying to achive the accent of a language for over 1000 years ago with english,make no sense.
_________________
My XBL GT is "QUEZCOTL".Edited By Quezcotl on 03/04/07 22:56 |
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Chrominium
Game Owner
 NWN
NWN: HotU
Jade Empire:SE
NWN 2
Joined: 07 Oct 2002 |
Posted: Sunday, 04 March 2007 11:36PM |
I love Jade Empire!
I am another one of those people who thinks it is much much better than NWN2. It runs well and have comparative graphical qualities. The art direction is amazing.
The non-asian voices is a bit weird for me because I'm Chinese myself. It's a little strange to see asian looking people speaking perfect english - and some of the wording is a little awkward (the phrase 'Big Person' is a direct translation - but I can't see why they don't just use the word adult if you see what I mean).
Anyway, fantastic job. For some reason I wished NWN2 was developed by Bioware but maybe it is just me. |
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EarX-2
Game Owner
 Jade Empire:SE
Joined: 03 Mar 2007 |
Posted: Sunday, 04 March 2007 11:45PM |
Quote: It's funny how i read that JE got critized for not using asian voice actors,well.
What would be cool though would be to use British voice-actors like the voice-overs for all those 70's kung fu flicks out of Hong Kong. Hilarious stuff and it would fit well I think if directed right. And if the dialogue was written to match, of course.Edited By EarX-2 on 03/04/07 23:46 |
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imported_beer
Game Owner
NWN
NWN: SoU
NWN: HotU
Jade Empire:SE
NWN 2
NWN 2: MotB
NWN 2: SoZ
Mass Effect PC
Joined: 30 Jan 2006
From: Texas |
Posted: Monday, 05 March 2007 12:09AM |
Accents- in the beginning I found it strange that they were speaking in american accents- instead of an accent neutral voice for example- *but* after a while you get so involved with your characters, you don't notice it.
I think a person in another forum topic summed Jade empire in a sentence. That it had *soul*. It was satisfying until the end- NWN2 IMO started off great, peaked in the middle and towards the end became um...silly. Just my opinion - is all. |
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firehawk12
Game Owner
SW: KotOR PC
Jade Empire:SE
Mass Effect
Joined: 10 Jan 2004 |
Posted: Monday, 05 March 2007 12:42AM |
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In terms of the voices, I would have liked if they used real Mandarin for the "old dialect" speakers rather than just that KoTOR-like random gibberish stuff. But, you can't complain I guess. |
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auroris
Game Owner
NWN
NWN: SoU
NWN: HotU
SW: KotOR PC
Jade Empire
Jade Empire:SE
NWN 2
NWN 2: MotB
NWN 2: SoZ
Mass Effect
Mass Effect PC
Joined: 18 Oct 2001
From: Alberta, Canada |
Posted: Monday, 05 March 2007 04:38AM |
Tho Fan was designed by Wolf Wikeley who is a Ph.D at the University of Alberta Linguistics department.
New York Times Story
The voice acting was performed by some very big-name talent. IMDB.com
I was impressed. For a game designed for North American audiences, it went very well.Edited By auroris on 03/05/07 04:40 |
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firehawk12
Game Owner
SW: KotOR PC
Jade Empire:SE
Mass Effect
Joined: 10 Jan 2004 |
Posted: Monday, 05 March 2007 05:06AM |
Interesting article...
I'm not sure how avoiding using a real Asian language would have affected the game though. You already have people speaking in English and you have both translations and transliterations used in the Anglicized versions of Chinese/Asian names and words, so what's the big deal?
I guess it's good that they gave some thought to it and hired a linguist... but I think that having Mandarin wouldn't have been that bad. |
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EarX-2
Game Owner
Jade Empire:SE
Joined: 03 Mar 2007 |
Posted: Monday, 05 March 2007 10:25AM |
Quote: Tho Fan was designed by Wolf Wikeley who is a Ph.D at the University of Alberta Linguistics department.
That's nice but it doesn't sound the least bit like any Sino-Tibetan language I ever heard. Doesn't sound like a language at all, especially not with the same five lines being recycled throughout the game. When you're going to use it like that, why even bother hiring linguists? |
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HH
Game Owner
 NWN
NWN: SoU
NWN: HotU
NWN 2
Joined: 19 Jun 2002 |
Posted: Monday, 05 March 2007 10:59AM |
I found it funny that they mixed different dynasties into one. Not to mention the none chinese elements.
Yeah, would have been nice if they used manderin for Tho Fan. Listening to that made me think I was hearing sim chars. |
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JamieKirby
Game Owner
Jade Empire:SE
Joined: 26 Feb 2007 |
Posted: Monday, 05 March 2007 03:02PM |
Quote: Posted 03/04/07 22:55 (GMT) by Quezcotl I actually think NWN2 was ten times better,but that could be because of the awesome co-op and 55 hour lenghty gameplay in the campaign. Btw about the american voice acting... Well when other people have tried to do asian voices they got attacked for being racist. Yes Ubi soft for ex. ANd in that Vietcong game. It's funny how i read that JE got critized for not using asian voice actors,well. You won't see me attack any game which doesn't have Swedish people giving the voice for Viking people in any games. Who cares? Seriously And yes trying to achive the accent of a language for over 1000 years ago with english,make no sense.
Nah, NWN2 sucked immensely compared to Jade Empire, perhaps cause it wasn't that well optimized, implented or thought up. |
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LdyShayna
Game Owner
 NWN
NWN: SoU
NWN: HotU
SW: KotOR Xbox
SW: KotOR PC
Jade Empire
Jade Empire:SE
NWN 2
NWN 2: MotB
NWN 2: SoZ
Mass Effect PC
Sonic DS
Joined: 18 Oct 2001
From: Colorado |
Posted: Monday, 05 March 2007 03:57PM |
Quote: Posted 03/05/07 00:09 (GMT) by imported_beer
Accents- in the beginning I found it strange that they were speaking in american accents- instead of an accent neutral voice for example- *but* after a while you get so involved with your characters, you don't notice it.
Heh. Keep in mind that for Americans, those ARE accent neutral. I imagine what other people would consider accent neutral, most Americans would consider having an accent.
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"Know how to listen, and you will profit even from those who talk badly." - Plutarch (46 AD - 120 AD) |
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poltava
Game Owner
 NWN
NWN: SoU
NWN: HotU
SW: KotOR PC
Jade Empire:SE
Joined: 24 Jan 2003
From: Cair Paravel, Narnia |
Posted: Thursday, 08 March 2007 04:12AM |
Have had the game only a few days, so am just in the early stages, but am enjoying it greatly. Much better than the disastrous NWN2; runs smoothly, graphics seem to be just as good, the whole thing has a good, solid, well done feel.
The only thing I noticed about the voice acting was that several of the folks spoken with sound like some from KotOR.
All in all, a delightful romp so far. Thanks, BioWare!
_________________
"I have learned that it is better to be devoted to God than to duty. He does a much better job of running my life than I do; so all I need do is be obedient, which is difficult enough." Aribeth de Tylmarande |
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Selene Moonsong
Moderator
Game Owner
 NWN
NWN: SoU
NWN: HotU
Jade Empire:SE
NWN 2
NWN 2: MotB
NWN 2: SoZ
Joined: 12 May 2004
From: I've likely been there... |
Posted: Thursday, 08 March 2007 03:00PM |
Please, people, JE and NWN 2 are two very different games although the game industry may consider them CRPGs.
Personally, I am enjoying both equally well, and this is the first time I have tried a Martial Arts based game that I actually liked.
_________________
'Don't muss the Elf's Hair!'~Selene Moonsong |
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Chrominium
Game Owner
NWN
NWN: HotU
Jade Empire:SE
NWN 2
Joined: 07 Oct 2002 |
Posted: Thursday, 08 March 2007 04:05PM |
Quote: Posted 03/08/07 15:00 (GMT) by Selene Moonsong
Please, people, JE and NWN 2 are two very different games although the game industry may consider them CRPGs.
This is true. However, the comparision isn't completely based on the game type, at least not for me.
NWN is made by Bioware, and it is fantastic piece of software. One of the reason why I really looked forward to both Jade Empire PC and NWN2, and now Dragon Age.
Here's my main problem. Jade Empire PC is a port of the XBox title, yet it runs faster, better, and bug free with comparable graphics to NWN2. NWN2 still crashes, with missing textures, corrupted save games, and freezes. Now we could make excuses why these things happen but currently Jade Empire is playable and NWN2 is not.
Now, it is well known that NWN2 is created by Obsidian and not Bioware. Yet, I feel that NWN2 could have been much better in the hands of Bioware - hence my comparison.
I know I'm being a bit harsh. My dissapointment in NWN2 is magnified by my incredible happiness with JE. |
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