With the messy launch of Anthem, BioWare's reputation as a maker of thoughtful, character relationship-driven RPGs took a notable hit; to restore their esteem among long-time fans, BioWare could do a lot worse worse than to make a full-fledged sequel to Jade Empire, their 2005 eastern fantasy RPG. Jade Empire's vividly colorful setting and high-flying martial arts action made it a beloved cult-classic many BioWare fans would like to see more of, and best of all, the hard-earned lessons BioWare devs learned while deg Anthem's flight-based open-world gameplay could easily be applied to a Jade Empire sequel, letting players take on the role of enlightened mystics and flying swordmasters fighting to save their land.
As the first BioWare RPG with an original setting, Jade Empire stood out as a non-western fantasy RPG inspired by the mythology, classical literature, and fantasy novels of Chinese culture, with a dash of steampunk technology thrown into the mix. In an thriving empire harried by a tyrannical regime and drowning in restless spirits, a martial arts pupil in the town of Two Rivers must awaken to their destiny as the last of the Spirit Monks and restore balance to the world, mastering dozens of fighting styles along the way.
Jade Empire was filled with novel gameplay features that tinkered with the formulas of earlier BioWare games and went on to inspire parts of the Star Wars: KoToR I. Many Bioware fans have fond memories of playing Jade Empire, and a BioWare-helmed sequel would generate lots of excitement for the following reasons:
Jade Empire 2 Could Fix and Improve Jade Empire's Limitations
Jade Empire was not without its flaws. The Open Hand/Closed Fist karma paths were supposed to represent nuanced philosophical ideals, but too frequently devolved into simplistic "baby-kissing/baby-kicking" moral dilemmas. The Galaga-style shoot'em'up mini-games were extraneous, while party were barely useful during fights.
Through a Jade Empire sequel, BioWare could draw on years of advances in game design to create a more polished, open-world experience that better embodies the tropes of Chinese fantasy and the "Wuxia" genre: martial artists running up walls and leaping between treetops, learning special techniques from eccentric masters, training their own pupils, and all the while fighting for justice, true love, and the welfare of their country.
Jade Empire's Themes Are More Relevant Than Ever
Jade Empire is a game with strong themes of environmentalism, spirituality, and how to weather chaotic times of change. In this current age, beset by environmental damage, pandemics, and political discord, a Amazon and Netflix have since brought translated Chinese book and films to larger audiences worldwide, giving more westerners a taste for eastern-style fantasy and historical drama. At the same time, closer commercial/culture ties between East Asian and Western cultures would let BioWare reach out to audiences already familiar with the tropes and conceits of Jade Empire.
Ultimately, a successful Jade Empire sequel would need the following elements to be successful: strong core gameplay which focuses on the power and freedom of being a mythical martial artist, polished, colorful level designs, and, most importantly, a premise that shuns stereotypes and honors the complex multicultural legacy of China's long history. Plus, a few steam-powered Dragonfly Airships for good measure.