Review: Enslaved (PS3/360)

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is a bold 3D adventure that not only dares to give you great gameplay, but also an enthralling story. However, does the lack of replay value make you want to sit this journey out?

Enslaved follows the story of two unlikely partners trying to survive in post-apocalyptic America. Trip is the unwilling captor of Monkey, a man with incredible strength and the power she needs to make a safe journey back home. The story is gripping, but the thing that will truly make you want to find out what happens next is the incredible emotion the characters display. The legendary motion capture work of Andy Circus pays off in dividends for Ninja Theory, as the subtle facial movements and body language these characters exhibit instantly sells you on their humanity, and it makes the game stand out, even when compared to other top-shelf games.

Gameplay-wise, Enslaved does just as good a job. Jumping from platform to platform as Monkey is as easy as it comes, without the fear that a misguided button press or the fact that you were mistakenly holding the wrong direction on the analog stick will send you helplessly hurdling into the nearest bottomless pit. Combat, on the other hand, is a love-it or hate-it system. Players weaned on combo-heavy action games like Devil May Cry and God of War may scoff at the simple light-attack-or-heavy-attack formula offered here, but there is no denying the charm of a system that’s as easy to pick up instantly and enjoy as it is difficult to master. Puzzles also play a part, being sprinkled throughout the world in a thoughtful, caring manner that doesn’t feel out of place. While basic, these sequences provide a nice contrast to the combat, and with the two being balanced so well, neither element gets boring very quickly.

What may stay your wallet, though, is an altogether waste of potential. Enslaved is a real treat the first time around, and without giving anything away, the ending WILL blow your mind, but once you’ve seen the credits roll, you realize there’s not much to come back to. Sure, you can scour levels for the collectibles you missed the first time, but this is only really appealing to trophy hounds. Another missed opportunity is Trip, herself, who despite having the ability to distract enemies and help in solving certain puzzles really feels rather useless. She’s certainly a step up from Ashley from Resident Evil 4, but you still can’t shake the nagging feeling that she could have brought a lot more to the table.

Enslaved is a whirlwind experience in a setting that manages to feel fresh and new (no doubt thanks to the addition of colors other than gray and brown). If you own a PS3 or 360, be it a rental or a buy, you need to play this game. The fresh takes on old gameplay standards make Enslaved stand out, and Ninja Theory deserves every dollar they can make for this effort.

Submitted By: WhatTheFnu (customer)

Review: Nier (PS3/360)

Nier is an action RPG developed by Cavia and published by Square Enix. It was honestly one of the best gaming experiences that I've had with a "modern RPG" in a long time. Many of the role playing games released nowadays seem repetitive and short to me, so this was really a pleasant surprise. The combat system, though not intuitive, is very enjoyable and easy to use once you learn it. The same can also be said for the magic system, which allows you to have up to four spells equipped at one time, one to each of the shoulder buttons. It's a very simplistic system, but it can be said that the limitations imposed upon you add to the strategy you have to employ in battle.

The world in which the game takes place is almost 'sandbox' in nature, as in addition to being able to roam freely, many quests are able to be completed at any time during the main story, at your leisure. These quests are plentiful and rewarding, with most giving you huge cash rewards that you can then use to upgrade your armor and weapons. The land itself is fairly expansive, paying tribute to games like Legend of Zelda, where you travel from place to place through connected plains and fields. However, it is not so expansive that it takes more than a few minutes to get from place to place, which in my mind makes it the perfect blend between expansive and manageable.

Graphically it's not the prettiest game in the world. The textures throughout the game are pretty bland for the most part, and the character designs for all the random villagers and people are heartbreakingly boring. This is especially obvious when compared to the uniqueness of the main characters. Nier, who shares his name with the game, is an incredibly hideous man. While this would ordinarily not be much of a recommendation, he is a nice change from the 'pretty boys' usually populating Japanese RPGs. His sidekicks, Kaine and Emille, are also refreshingly unique, both in design and personality.

The music throughout the game is also very well done, both haunting and relaxing at the same time. I found it to be just amazing, and it's one of the few soundtracks that I made it a point to go out and buy afterwards. The voice acting is also top notch, and the only thing that stops this score from being absolutely perfect is that the sound effects are rather repetitive and bland.

As far as stories are concerned, it's one of the best I have seen in a long time, and it blew the pants off of Final Fantasy 13 in my opinion. It starts out as a simple 'father seeks daughter' story, but by the end, all the twists and turns change it into a much more epic and resonating tale of revenge and betrayal.

Overall, this was one of the most enjoyable RPGs that I've played in a long time. It kept my interest throughout the hours I played it, and it actually turned out to be a bit of a challenge as well. Too many times I have sat back after playing a game that was entirely too easy, and been left feeling empty, as if I had wasted the time I put into it. I did not feel that way at all after Nier; it was just challenging enough to make me feel as if I had accomplished something by the end, and even make me want run through it another time. I highly recommend this game to anyone who is looking for an RPG of moderate length, who wants something different and fresh from what has come before it. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Submitted By: Tom Ferko (Employee)

Import Review: Last Window The Secret of Cape West (DS)

Three years ago Nintendo released “Hotel Dusk: Room 215”, an incredibly atmospheric 'point-and-click' style adventure-mystery game and probably my hands down favorite game for the DS. I am absolutely thrilled that a sequel has been released, called “Last Window: The Secret of Cape West.” Unfortunately, for reasons that only make sense to executives at Nintendo, the game is not being released outside of Europe. But fear not, the DS's lack of region lock-out and the fact that “Last Window” is entirely in English, make this game 100% import friendly!

“Last Window” is set in Los Angeles during 1980, and takes place one year after the events in “Hotel Dusk.” However, it does not require knowledge of the previous game to be enjoyed, as the game stands completely on it's own. The storyline once again follows the investigation of Kyle Hyde, a former New York detective, this time as he attempts to solve the mystery of Cape West: a former hotel which has been converted into the apartments in which Kyle now lives. Eventually the story also entangles you in a mystery involving the murder of Kyle's father and his secretive past, both of which are somehow tied to the mystery of Cape West.

Just like “Hotel Dusk”, the player holds the DS vertically, like a storybook. Using the stylus, you engage in conversations with the residents, interact with environments, and solve puzzles. The conversations you have with the various residents can take many twists and turns, so beware: one misstep in a conversation can result in your failure to solve the mystery of Cape West. Thankfully, the game uses a very liberal system of check points so you won't be in too much of a bind when this happens to you, as it will, guaranteed. The game's puzzles also make full use of the DS features, including the microphone, as well as a wonderful puzzle involving the sleep function of the DS.

One of the great additions to “Last Window” is that every time you complete a chapter of the game, that chapter is then adapted into a novel, which can be read at anytime. This means that you not only get to enjoy the captivating gameplay, but a great novel at the same time too. The novel also acts as a hint section, directing players to certain characters should they have missed a certain clue or conversation.

This game just oozes atmosphere thanks to its film noir feeling and great mystery storyline, which is enhanced by beautifully animated character sketches and an excellent jazz soundtrack. It's no wonder that it is so easy to lose yourself in this story. If you find yourself longing for a great mystery adventure game, track down a copy of “Last Window” and enjoy it for yourself.

Submitted By: Aaron McKeever (Employee)

Preview: Assassin's Creed Brotherhood (PS3/360)

"Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" is going to be coming out in two weeks, and to be honest, I'm actually pretty hyped about it. When it was first announced, I admit I had lukewarm feelings about it. However, as time went on and more info was released about the things you can do and the changes to the gameplay, I started to look forward to its release. Part of the reason for my initial underwhelming interest was that I was not a fan of the first Assassin's Creed. To me, it was unfortunately very repetitive, which eventually made it outright boring. I never even gave the second one a chance, I was so disappointed in the first one. Apparently that was a mistake, as word has it that it was significantly better than its predecessor. Needless to say, if my excitement about "Brotherhood" is any indication, I'll be picking up the second game soon.

In any case, "Brotherhood" picks up right where Assassin's Creed 2 left off, with Ezio enjoying his status and place of power in the assassin's guild. Unfortunately, that power is taken away almost immediately, so you will have to start from scratch. Much of the game seems to center on rebuilding a 'brotherhood' of assassins to reclaim Rome. The gameplay mechanics are essentially the same as the previous game, but now you are no longer alone: the biggest change to the gameplay is the ability to use the assassin's you have gathered in your missions. It's a welcome change in my opinion, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how using multiple assassins effects the mood of the game.

Also new to this game, and in fact the whole Assassin's Creed series, is a complete multiplayer experience. This was what peaked my interest the most in this title. If done right, I truly believe that this could turn out to be one of the deepest and most tactical online multiplayer experiences on the market. Sneaking around, blending in with crowds, trying to assassinate other people, all while they are trying to do the same to you sounds like an absolute blast to me. Apparently this game will also be built from the ground up simultaneously for both the 360 and the Playstation 3, so hopefully the sound and graphics quality will be equal on both systems, unlike the previous two games. Ubisoft has stated that this is their largest game to date, with the most number of preorders, so you might want to do likewise. I know I'm going to put in my preorder for "Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" at Level Up Video Games today, just as soon as I finish writing this.

Submitted By: Tom Ferko (Employee)