Enslaved: Odyssey To the West is a game that's been on my radar since it was released last fall. With a recent price drop and a handy gift card to Gamestop (thanks to Davin & Nicole) I finally had a chance to pick it up. Now, don't take my criticisms too harshly, as Enslaved really is a good game. There are problems for sure, but what game doesn't have them and Enslaved is definitely a journey that shouldn't be missed.
"In Enslaved you take on the role of Monkey a strong, brutish loner who has been captured on a mysterious slave ship 150 years into the future. War and destruction has left the world in ruins and you are one of only a few humans left. On the slave ship you encounter Trip; a beautiful, tech savvy young woman who is also at the mercy of her captors. Trip is anxious to escape so she can make her way back home, but she knows she can't do it alone. She has the brains, but not the brawn; you, as Monkey are her ticket to freedom. You soon become enslaved by Trip; bonded together by a slave headband. If you stray, you will be paralyzed by excruciating pain. If you stay, your fate is in her hands. In both cases, your freedom is no longer your own..."The first thing I noticed was just how beautiful the game is to look at. The setting may be a post-apocalyptic world, but everything is colorful, covered in vegetation, with a bright sun and blue skies. This is not your typical backdrop for this kind of world and it's a refreshing take on the genre.
The characters and the story are Enslaved'a strongest asset. Ninja Theory has produced real, emotional relationships between it's protagonists. It's easy to understand the situation they're in, their actions, and how the story builds around their feelings for each other. It could easily be misconstrued as a love story, but after finishing the game and reflecting on how the developers chose to end it, I see more as a story of friendship and respect.
The rest of the game, in terms of quality and design, is more of a gray area. The combat is satisfying enough to keep the game fun, but the camera and controls are slightly on the sloppy side, making some of the more intense moments harder than they should be. There were moments, especially in the later half of the game, where I died or failed an objective simply because I couldn't keep up with the action.
Enemy variation is few and far between in Enslaved. Unless I'm mistaken, there are only 4 enemy types in this game and 3 boss types. This can make for some repetitive gameplay once you know the patterns and techniques for dispatching your foes.
The most glaring fault of Enslaved, however, is how epic the game WANTS to be. When you start the game and begin your progress, it has all the makings of a large scale adventure game; something akin to the Legend of Zelda series. Sadly, Enslaved is anything but. It is a linear game; a point "A" to "B" action title. And while there's nothing wrong with that, the entire experience feels like it wants to be more. As the player, I wanted to explore this world; I wanted to backtrack and find hidden items and upgrades for my weapons.
Even with these flaws, Enslaved still manages to be a fun and engaging title. The characters and story are memorable, the combat is fun, though repetitive, and it's a beauty to look at. Perhaps a sequel will come along one day and build upon the groundwork, giving the player that TRUE epic experience that Enslaved so wants to be.
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