Once I got it to work I found that it was really good. 
 
Its metascore is extremely low for the game's quality (despite IGN's score; which however is also a stretch in the other direction).

I played a fair bit of it back when it came out. I enjoyed it a lot, I wouldnt mind playing it again sometime.

It's good but I had more fun with the KOTOR series.  The fighting system in Jade Empire was too easy because you could just jump behind an enemy.

I favored KotOR as well. I remember Jade Empire being easier but not so much so that it was ruinous for the game. It definately had a sense of style I appreciated. And is was something different if you were craving some KotOR style action.

" It's good but I had more fun with the KOTOR series.  The fighting system in Jade Empire was too easy because you could just jump behind an enemy. "

I loved Jade Empire.  I played on the XBOX and the Special Edition on PC.  Also, it has Eric Idle (of Monty Python) in as the pirate at the end of the tutorial.  So it wins by default.

81 is not a low average by any stretch of the imagination.