Review: Enslaved: Odyssey to the West

It's not every day that a game like Enslaved comes around. It's rather difficult to pinpoint where it falls in the ranks of the modern torrent of gaming. It bills itself as an 'epic adventure,' boasts quality writing and acting, and attempts to mix in a number of different gameplay mechanics under one roof. While it definitely has some technical issues -- some that are downright disappointing in a big budget release -- Enslaved still managed to win me over with its charms somehow.

A loose retelling and original interpretation of the classic Chinese story Journey to the West, Enslaved is set in a future on earth where (surprise!) robots have basically taken over. Humanity seems to have been ravaged by war, and the only humans who still exist cling to life on the edge of extinction, or have been enslaved by an entity known as "Pyramid." The protagonist, a man raised in the wild who was given the nickname "Monkey," is a brutally strong being who finds himself stuck with a hacker girl named Trip. Essentially, Trip has fitted the same technology Pyramid uses to control people onto Monkey - a headband that has been programmed to kill him should he disobey her or let her die. It's a nice plot device that ties together an original story where the tropes of video games make sense within the narrative - digital displays, being physically required to perform certain tasks or protect someone, etc. It also creates a certain type of tension between the two lead characters that most duos in video games don't express.

The storytelling is, as a whole, more lively than most games out there. Motion capture and facial animation as a whole looks great and there are plenty of little moments where a simple look tells you what a character is thinking. By and large the writing and voice acting comes across as very natural and the plot, even when it's predictable, is still engaging. The plot isn't so complex that you get lost -- it's actually very simple, with a few bends in the road to spice things up -- but it's got just enough mystery to leave you wondering, and the gameplay, while rough at points, flows pretty quickly, constantly pushing the player forward and oftentimes requiring the player to do something different from what they just did.

Enslaved's gameplay can probably be compared to Uncharted in that there is a lot of climbing and environment navigation that has been pretty much pre-planned and laid out for you in a line, but is enjoyable nonetheless, with bouts of combat and a few extra elements mixed in to keep things fresh. There are hardly any puzzles, though there are a few that last just long enough to make you slow down for a moment and work through them without grinding everything to a halt.

Combat is basic but offers enough options to allow for some variety in approach - though it likely won't matter unless you're playing on a harder difficulty. Fighting can admittedly get stale, especially early on, but as your combat options open up, the game will throw a few curve balls around to keep you on your toes as best as it can, despite the sparse enemy variety. Larger battles are entertaining and often require some fast environment navigation. The shooting mechanics (Monkey can blast plasma from his staff) are definitely shoddy, especially compared to other third person shooters. They get the job done, but expect to miss shots now and again that you would think would hit their mark. Since shooting is certainly not a key element of the game, this doesn't mar the experience very much, but it can be frustrating at times.

While Enslaved might sound like one giant escort mission, it definitely doesn't play like one. Monkey needs Trip's assistance for things like hacking objects, setting up a holographic distraction, and a few other tasks, not to mention helping him oversee each situation. There are times when Trip might have to be carried but Monkey is in no way encumbered during these situations. There are some vehicle-type sections, and parts where Monkey must ride his 'Cloud' to avoid a boss, chase something, or traverse water. There are also plenty of doodads to collect for the observant explorer, and these offer extra experience points so as to upgrade Monkey's skills.

The orchestrated music, distinct visual style (which throws in just enough variety in the environments to prevent monotony), detailed expression of characters, and incorporation of video game elements into the plot itself in a way that makes sense all come together to form an experience that is greater than the sum of its parts. There are noticeable issues with Enslaved - audio would lag behind the visuals in some cutscenes, Monkey would outright be invisible in others, and in general the game does admittedly feel a bit loose or disjointed, but it's still a very worthwhile experience.

Enslaved has something most commercially made video games do not: heart. It's difficult to explain it, but the game just has an earnest kind of humanity behind it that video games generally don't possess, and it's the passion that clearly went into this project that shines through its blemishes and makes it a memorable and enjoyable ride.