If the world-building is tepid, the narrative is anything but. What starts as a familiar “Chosen One” quest leads to one of the best plot twists in gaming. Good twists are the ones where you have the clues to figure them out laid before you, but they surprise you anyway. Twists like this are rare and hard to pull off in games. Jade Empire manages it, in what is one of BioWare's finest storytelling moments to date. That it shines despite the filler dialogue and weak voice acting speaks to its strength.

Companion characters, the bread-and-butter of BioWare's modern output, are hit-and-miss. Most talk too much while having very little to say – even the romances feel like a bit of an afterthought. The ones that stand out do so thanks to their quirky personalities. In fact, Jade Empire is at its best when it tries to be funny and tongue-in-cheek. But more than any other BioWare RPG, this story is all about you.

Combat-wise, Jade Empire sees the company abandoning its usual real-time-with-pause combat for a full action-based system. This feels more natural on a console and would serve as a stepping stone to Mass Effect, but the transition wasn't smooth.

When combat starts, the camera zooms out and locks on an enemy. Then, it's a matter of dodging, strafing, blocking and attacking at the right time – alternating quick, power and area attacks to create combos – often against several opponents. Still, your biggest foe will likely be the game's poor camera.

During your journey you'll learn over 30 fighting styles. Some vary in speed and strength; others inflict status afflictions. A few focus on weapons and elemental magic, and there are even styles that transform you into a giant Toad Demon or a Jade Golem. You can equip up to four at one and switch between them during combat – even midway through combos.