Game Review: Enslaved: Odyssey to the West

Developer: Ninja Theory

Publisher: Namco Bandi Games

Genre: Action/Adventure

Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3 (Reviewed on)

Re-imagining classic stories is hardly new in any form of media. The Lion King was loosely based on Hamlet, Too Human was looser still based on Norse mythology (and was rubbish, if you're interested) and if you squint hard enough (or look in the other direction), the Mass Effect trilogy does have a few parts of the story of Jesus mixed in.

2010 game Enslaved’s sub title pretty much screams the story’s inspiration, the ancient Chinese fable Journey to the West with a little bit more ‘west’ thrown in for good measure, what with a chunk of the game based in a ruined New York City with plenty of tattered American flags dotted about. Beyond main character names and the fact they have to stick together, Enslaved has nothing to do with its ‘source material’, especially as it’s set over 150 years in the future after a global war with the world now dominated by mechs (robots) and humanity reduced to scattered remnants who are constantly being hunted (though this future world is at least more colourful then Terminator’s future world). I'm not even certain they're defiantly heading West, they could be going to Florida for all I know.

Throughout the game, you play as Monkey, for whom both voice and motion capture was provided by Andy Serkis (Gollem in Lord of the Rings). Rather appropriately, he is effectively ‘enslaved’ to help Trip (who I refer to as Cleavage, thanks to her overly tight tube top) who was captured by the Mechs and needs Monkey’s help to return home, though he was really just the overly muscular, unfortunate mug Trip/Cleavage happened to find rather than a mischievous god being taught discipline. Throughout their journey, Monkey keeps seeing visions of the past thanks to the head band Trip/Cleavage uses to keep him helping her, many of which look like they were pilfered from Andy Serkis’ holiday photo album and hint to a later revelation.

Gameplay wise, Enslaved is primarily an action game with a slightly simpler fighting system then the likes of Devil May Cry or Darksiders, lacking a combo meter but keeping the light and heavy attacks, dodge rolls and blocks such games sport. As well as that you’ll frequently find yourself clambering up and down the terrain a-la Uncharted or Prince of Persia (if slightly less smoothly and clearly directed as anything you can climb on flashes) as well as shooting sections from stationary turrets, carrying a gun taken from a mech or using your staff to fire energy blasts and skating over water using your energy board ‘The Cloud’.

Chunks of the gameplay hold up well. Basic combat can be fun but your shield and dodge rolls aren’t always responsive and trying to fight ranged and melee enemies at the same time is an exercise in frustration while exploration is held back by a huge number of invisible walls and contextualised jumping which prevent you from deviating from the pre-defined path, not to mention leaving you rolling against walls or refusing to jump down 3 foot because you’re not quite in the right place. The head band Trip/Cleavage put on you also occasional decides to kill you if you weren’t meant to go off in one direction when Trip/Cleavage is waiting for you to do something for her, though that particular pain disappears later in the game.

Speaking of which, the entire game’s plot ultimately revolves around what Trip/Cleavage wants to do or does to get herself in trouble. You really have no choice in the matter and the fact you die if she does due to the head band at least gives you a good reason to stick with her, rather than throw her in the nearest ravine (there are sections where you have to throw her across gaps, but you can only throw her directly at whatever she needs to get to, much like normal jumping). Throughout the adventure you do warm up to both her and Monkey and Pigsy when he’s introduced later in the game and they are all well characterised  voiced and animated and help bring the post-apocalyptic world to life. Even simple things such as what they call things help make you realize that they can’t quite cope with the scope of what used to exist. While there are plenty of cut-scenes (some of which are awkwardly right after checkpoints so you have to re-watch or skip them if you die), the game never goes nuts on its exposition as the now silent, overgrown landscapes convey enough of the story and if they do need to talk, there’s plenty of times when Monkey and Trip/Cleavage just converse while traversing the world.

As you progress, you’ll have the opportunity to upgrade Monkey’s abilities, though they mostly consist of slightly more damage, health and shields with only a few additional attacks and the game’s difficulty can practically be broken if you upgrade your health regeneration to max as soon as possible. Along with these extra abilities, Trip/Cleavage comes in use to solve puzzles or distract enemies with a hologram so you can get in closer to deliver a killer blow if they’re pinning you down with gun fire. These semi-stealth sections are among the game’s best moments as they’re quick, frantic and easy to play with Monkey automatically taking cover if near something that can provide it, though it can be blasted apart if you don't hurry.

Sadly, Enslaved does have plenty of faults, such as the already mentioned visible walls and occasionally awkward level geometry, but there’s also the camera which draws in too close during combat so you can’t keep an eye on enemies that might be circling you and even glitches out completely sometimes and remains in a place where you can’t see yourself. Combat isn’t exactly perfect and the shooting can be a little clumsy, but these faults can be overlooked to a degree thanks to the story and characters.

If it’s a good action game you’re looking for however, you’re better off looking elsewhere as the combat, as well as many other aspects of the game such as the shooting, are completely lacking in any polish. Story wise, Enslaved is worth playing as it’s a good example of it in gaming.

Verdict: Rent it

Image Credits: nerd appropriate, Monster Vine, Heavenly Nariko, the NextLevel