| 17 November 2010
There's no denying that Ninja Theory has a knack for creating a story with compelling characters and luscious settings. Their 2008 debut Heavenly Sword showed their aptitude for a matured cinematic sensibility that was rare in the industry at the time. Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is an evolution of that paradigm; the game excels at telling an engaging story, but inevitably falls short in gameplay body. Whether that should prevent you from playing the game, that's your judgement call.
Enslaved puts me at a conundrum. What takes precedence: a well developed, dynamic and engrossing story or straightforward, if lacklustre, mechanics? Like Enslaved, this reviewer can't appeal to everyone. I won't deny that the platforming controls are often time clunky and the combat is nothing spectacular, but by the conclusion of the game, what sticks are not its shortcomings but the journey you've just made.
Based on the classic sixteenth century Chinese novel Journey to the West (cult 1970's TV show Monkey says hi), Enslaved bands together two unlikely heroes who have to learn how to rely on each other to survive a dangerous post-apocalyptic world. The setting may be cliche, but the game distances itself from the arid and lifeless environments we've come to expect. The world is overgrown with plant life and colour seeps through every corner.
You play as one half of the odd couple, aptly named Monkey. He's brutish and independent, except for the fact that he has a slave headband attached to him, controlling his every move. This is where Trip comes in; she's the one that has enslaved him in a desperate attempt to secure her survival. In terms of gameplay, Monkey does most of the grunt work, killing mechs to clear the path for Trip. With his staff, Monkey is able to combine close range combo attacks with long range firing. The combat doesn't expand much beyond that and in most cases, it doesn't need to.
Trip is proficient in technology, using holographic decoys to distract enemies as well as identify other threats. While their interplay does create some interesting combat scenarios, the bulk of their relationship evolves through the deft storytelling.
Thanks to Alex Garland's (The Beach, 28 Days Later, Sunshine) writing and performances by Andy Serkis and Lindsey Shaw, Enslaved fulfils in crafting an enthralling experience. The story is perfectly capsulised, focusing on Monkey and Tripp's personal struggles, and their evolving relationship. It remains grounded, even when the world around them gets complicated.
If you choose to look at the game at a micro level, you'll find one long escort mission with plenty of pitfalls to nitpick about. Step back and you'll discover Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is a remarkable and focused gaming experience that you'll not only remember, but will also be grateful for.
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