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)