When BioWare announced that it was passing on Knights of the Old Republic 2, a lot of people were shocked. Of course, as soon as they got a sneak peek at Jade Empire, the decision made perfect sense. Combining traditional RPG elements, a plethora of martial arts styles, and a gorgeous rendition of mythical China, BioWare has succeeded in making a game that's as fun as it is deep. Like KotOR, you can create your ultimate character and guide him along the path to vengeance, and Jade Empire offers the same level of interaction with NPCs. A fantastic new fighting engine eschews the turn-based battles in favor of real-time combat, and you can even switch styles mid-fight. With nearly a year left in development, you can be sure that Jade Empire will only be getting better.