Well, it's "sort of" an RPG.

Honestly, Jade Empire's worth as a video game varies depending on how you look at the title, and in what context. Compared as an RPG to Bioware's previous offerings in the genre Jade Empire pales, as it seems a lot like if someone took KOTOR, put it in an ancient Chinese setting, and mounted training wheels on it. Viewed in its own light, Jade Empire is fairly average, its biggest flaw being that of a game that feels like too many ideas were simply unfinished. Still, it's hard to not look at a title from a developer such as Bioware in anything other than a critical light, given their track record of award-winning titles.