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Originally released in April 2005, Jade Empire was developed by BioWare and published by Microsoft Studios for the Xbox. This marked BioWare’s first game set in an original fantasy world, heavily influenced by Eastern lore. It was later released on PC in 2007 with enhanced graphics, and in 2009, a Special Edition added new fighting styles, improved graphics, bug fixes, and better character customization. The game was also ported to iOS in 2011 and Android in 2016, featuring simplified touch controls while preserving the original content.
The Android port of Jade Empire was originally priced at $10 and by 2017 had dropped to around $5 during sales. However, as Android upgraded its operating system from 7.0 Nougat to 9.0 Pie in 2018, Jade Empire became one of the games that became unplayable in the update. The game was unlisted on Android, and for a while, the android version of Jade Empire could only be purchased via the Amazon App. Due to lack of platform support for higher Android versions, the game was also unlisted on Amazon.
Currently, the game is available on iOS for $10. An Android mod exists, allowing people to play it on that platform but users should carefully consider the risk of malware infection before searching for and using it. With that being said, let’s get to reviewing the story, gameplay and overall experience.
Gameplay
The controls in Jade Empire Special Edition are primarily touch or swipe-based, with an easy-to-understand in-game tutorial. Players can switch between a total of 4 styles during real-time battles, tapping the attack button repeatedly to execute combos.What sets Jade Empire apart from other martial arts action games is its dialogue system.
The choices players make impact story progression, and the Karma system (based on good or bad actions) changes not only the narrative but also how companions and NPCs interact with you.Players can choose from three starting classes: Commoner (balanced build), Scholar (magic build), or Martial Artist (focus and strength build).
However, the initial build becomes less significant as you play and unlock new martial, weapon, and transformation skills. Your attribute leveling depends on your personal play style and strategy.
A pro tip: When in doubt, choose the focus build. Focus mode slows time, making it easier to dodge attacks or deliver devastating hits on tough enemies.
Players can unlock numerous styles through various methods: completing scroll sets, receiving styles during gameplay, learning from martial arts masters and scholars, or purchasing them from shops and NPCs in the later stages of the game.
Not all styles are available for you in one playthrough though, some styles can only be unlocked depending on your alignment as well as interaction in-game.
Graphics/Visuals
Setting aside the price, the game’s visuals on mobile show a significant downgrade from the PC version. Fortunately, the small screen size helps mitigate these graphical limitations, and the game still looks impressive. While a few areas reveal the stark differences in visual quality, the overall graphics hold up remarkably well, even in 2024, when most mobile games feature much sleeker visual designs.
Story/Content
Players begin as a student in a martial arts school whose village the Lotus Assassins, a powerful organization under the Emperor, attack. During a confrontation with these assassins alongside a group of pirates, your martial arts master appears and defeats the Assassin. From this point, he reveals your destiny as the last of the Spirit Monks, a group wiped out by the emperor 20 years earlier.
Without revealing further plot details, the story remains compelling, keeping players engaged as they travel toward the empire’s capital and recruit companions. Players may even develop romantic relationships with some companions during their journey.
Jade Empire’s world is richly detailed, with lore-filled scrolls and nuanced NPC interactions showcasing meticulous world-building. While not as expansive as later BioWare titles, its immersive storytelling, particularly its morally gray choices, stands out.
The game’s signature moral system avoids simple good/evil distinctions; the Way of the Closed Fist, for example, challenges players to consider whether withholding help can sometimes foster greater self-reliance. This nuanced approach makes decisions deeply personal and intriguing which adds to the overall experience of the game.
If nothing else, Jade Empire Special Edition on mobile offers exceptional value, easily justifying its modest $10 price point through its engaging storyline, character interactions, and meticulously crafted game world.
Game options
Unfortunately, the game is fixed on low quality settings so there isn’t any way for you to change the graphics into higher quality. The most that you can do is tweak the shadow options, bloom lighting, frame buffer effects and the brightness.
Controls
Jade Empire offers three control schemes: normal, expert, and controller. While controller support provides the best playing experience, the touch controls, although great, have some distinct downsides.
Normal touch control
The game’s touchscreen controls, while generally functional, create a frustrating issue during intense combat. The attack button’s placement sometimes causes accidental targeting of nearby enemies when you’re trying to attack. This happens because tapping an enemy also targets it, and the game misinterprets taps near the attack button as targeting if an enemy is in that area. Essentially, the attack command and the target command overlap, leading to unintended actions during hectic battles.
Expert touch control
The expert touchscreen controls in Jade Empire are usually better than the standard controls, offering a cleaner interface. While this helps with fighting multiple enemies, accidentally tapping an enemy during a combo will still make you target that enemy instead of continuing your attack. Furthermore, special moves (strong attack, knockback, chi attack) use swipe gestures, which might take some getting used to.
Replayability
In Jade Empire, replaying the game unlocks all its story and content. Your choices forge your character’s alignment—either the evil Way of the Closed Fist or the good Way of the Open Palm—affecting available martial arts styles, subquests, and gem enhancements.
Completing the game unlocks Jade Master mode, importing all stats, techniques, transformations, martial skills, and passive skills from your first playthrough into a new, more difficult game. This challenging new game rewards players by unlocking all previously inaccessible content.
Verdict
If you haven’t played Jade Empire, its mobile version in 2024 offers a surprisingly enjoyable RPG experience despite its age. While graphics are simpler than the PC version, the smaller screen mitigates this. The compelling story, rich content, and impactful choices remain its strengths. Touch controls have some flaws (accidental targeting, swipe gestures), but the expert mode improves things. High replayability, thanks to branching narratives and Jade Master mode, adds significant value. Despite some compromises, the captivating story and rewarding gameplay make it a worthwhile purchase.
