Enslaved
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Enslaved intrigued me from the first time it was revealed. Ninja Theory, the studio behind Heavenly Sword, knows how to make characters, and it looked like their style was fully intact in this game. After following Monkey and Trip on their journey west, I can comfortably say that this game lived up to my expectations.
Just as in Heavenly Sword, Ninja Theory has spent a lot of time crafting unique characters that behave realistically and bring the story to life. You are Monkey, a slave that is inadvertently released when the slave ship you’re on is destroyed. In the opening section of gameplay, you’ll learn the basics and meet your companion, trip. Technically, you are Trip’s captive. She has outfitted you with a helmet that allows her to control you. If she dies, you die. She’s vulnerable and she needs you, and now you’ve got a reason to protect her. The premise sets the stage for some hilarious and believable scenarios. By the end of the journey, you’ll feel for these characters, no small feat for a game.
Monkey is incredibly agile, and you’ll find yourself traversing the environments vertically frequently. The climbing is reminiscent of Uncharted. Monkey needs only the tiniest hand hold in order to propel himself to the top of a building or cliff. The climbing is fast and fun and making it to high ground reveals some amazing views. You’re eventually given a hover board that makes traversal a breeze. Several levels are built around the hover board and are thrown in to add variety.
On the ground, your enemies consist of a variety of robots. You’re armed with a staff that allows you to hack away at them and which can be upgraded to fire bolts of energy and stun your enemies. The upgrade system is fun and allows you to become progressively better at killing your foes. Fights are usually fast and furious, with the occasionally boss thrown in. The combat gets a bit repetitive, but upgrading your staff and abilities helps to make you feel like you’re getting more powerful.
The world of Enslaved is beautiful. Skyscrapers and cars are overtaken by vegetation and it’s obvious that nature has had time to run rampant. Everything is destroyed. Buildings are reduced to rubble and a chunk of the game takes place in a vast wasteland. The objects and environments are colorful, yet worn. It looks like this world has seen better days. The textures do occasionally pop in, which can be annoying, and it looks like the game could have used a bit more polish, but overall, the graphics are solid.
Another month or two in development would have eliminated most of the minor issues found in Enslaved, but even with the somewhat repetitive combat and visual blemishes, the game manages to pull you in and make you crave more. The story is brought to life by some excellent characters and beauty can be found in the destroyed environments. Enslaved will definitely leave you feeling satisfied when you reach the conclusion and discover what makes this world such a messed up place.
Just as in Heavenly Sword, Ninja Theory has spent a lot of time crafting unique characters that behave realistically and bring the story to life. You are Monkey, a slave that is inadvertently released when the slave ship you’re on is destroyed. In the opening section of gameplay, you’ll learn the basics and meet your companion, trip. Technically, you are Trip’s captive. She has outfitted you with a helmet that allows her to control you. If she dies, you die. She’s vulnerable and she needs you, and now you’ve got a reason to protect her. The premise sets the stage for some hilarious and believable scenarios. By the end of the journey, you’ll feel for these characters, no small feat for a game.
Monkey is incredibly agile, and you’ll find yourself traversing the environments vertically frequently. The climbing is reminiscent of Uncharted. Monkey needs only the tiniest hand hold in order to propel himself to the top of a building or cliff. The climbing is fast and fun and making it to high ground reveals some amazing views. You’re eventually given a hover board that makes traversal a breeze. Several levels are built around the hover board and are thrown in to add variety.
On the ground, your enemies consist of a variety of robots. You’re armed with a staff that allows you to hack away at them and which can be upgraded to fire bolts of energy and stun your enemies. The upgrade system is fun and allows you to become progressively better at killing your foes. Fights are usually fast and furious, with the occasionally boss thrown in. The combat gets a bit repetitive, but upgrading your staff and abilities helps to make you feel like you’re getting more powerful.
The world of Enslaved is beautiful. Skyscrapers and cars are overtaken by vegetation and it’s obvious that nature has had time to run rampant. Everything is destroyed. Buildings are reduced to rubble and a chunk of the game takes place in a vast wasteland. The objects and environments are colorful, yet worn. It looks like this world has seen better days. The textures do occasionally pop in, which can be annoying, and it looks like the game could have used a bit more polish, but overall, the graphics are solid.
Another month or two in development would have eliminated most of the minor issues found in Enslaved, but even with the somewhat repetitive combat and visual blemishes, the game manages to pull you in and make you crave more. The story is brought to life by some excellent characters and beauty can be found in the destroyed environments. Enslaved will definitely leave you feeling satisfied when you reach the conclusion and discover what makes this world such a messed up place.
