Well for me, if I am rating a game as 5 star, then the definition of a 5 star game is something that *I* loved and will never forget. For me, Jade Empire is the best CRPG I ever played. This stands shoulder to shoulder with KOTOR I, Ultima 4&5, and the Fallouts.
So, what makes this game so great. Firstly, I must admit, I'm not a typical game player, I fall into the 'easy play' group (roughly 10% of the gamer population), and as such I'm not looking for a challenge so much as an experience. Additionally, when I play games, I usually draw my humour from essentially being an evil snot, and no game ever game me as much freedom to do that as this one. The chaos and horror you can inflict on your fellow travellers and the the story world in this game is legendary! This game would have me rolling around on the floor howling with laughter at the evil actions I was doing one second, then feeling nauseous a moment later for having enjoyed them.
I don't know if the criticisms are correct about the story being boring, presumably those players completed the story as a good-two-shoes, but I played the most evil character I have ever seen in any CRPG and the story was superb from my perspective.
As for the combat, I enjoyed it. It was quick, exciting, not too hard, and quite tactical (rock-paper-siscors style). Combat played out not unlike a God Of War style of play with quick switching styles/weapons for different combinations of enemies and taking them on in a certain order etc, but in kung-fu style.
Compared to other CRPGs of the era (Elder Scrolls, Fable, etc) these Bioware 'adventure rpgs' were just heaps more fun (although possibly with less replay value).
I grew up in the 80's, so I have played (and loved) many of the classics that GOG has brought back, and they are the games that come up in discussions with other gamers of the same age, but for me Jade Empire has joined that select group.
