Enslaved: Odyssey To The West
Monday, December 20, 2010 at 1:26PM  |
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| Available on: Xbox 360 & PS3 Genre: Action Adventure Published by: Namco Developed by: Ninja Theory |
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This game starts off with a harsh gameplay mechanics and literally unappealing looks. Honestly, the first level was a struggle to make it through. You play as this English man with Goku hair who was a captured human of a Mech infested world. He was given the name "Monkey" because he grew up alone in the woods during the invasion of the mechs. When you enter the game, you're withheld in a chamber on a ship that is crashing downward towards earth. Thankfully, you make your way to an escape pod and woken up with a mad headache with some random girl staring at you. She is this tech savvy gal named Trip who just wants to return back to her family's village with protection so she puts this device on your head which enslaved you to her who can command you at will to do anything.
(Hence the name Enslaved.)
She agreed to release you once she makes it safely home. He can't say no because if she dies, his slave device wipe trigger a deadly electric pulse that will kill you! You'd think that was just a mind trick to keep them from disobeying but in the first level they made it obvious by killing a slaved solider the same way. So, clearly, it works. On, Monkey!
The way they had Trip come across as on their journey was a sweet "sorry I'm making you do this" kind of girl. She isn't completely a crutch because she has abilities that can help you move from point A to point B such as a hologram which acts as a decoy for a few seconds helping you attack from behind. Later on you gain the ability to carry health packs that she holds for you. I can't help but wonder - why no co-op? For a game that seems based around two players cooperating it seems like this would be a no-brainer.
I'm really enjoying the story line here. Throughout the game there are hints of emotion between to two. I was craving that moment they would just kiss... I'm not letting you know though if they ever did. The tension is certainly there, however, in a Ross and Rachel sort of way. But with Mechs.
Game play has nothing ground breaking new. Basically you enter a new room which is filled with enemies then you have to plan a way to destroy them. You have 4 types of power ups in the game; Combat, Health, Shield, and Staff. Around every corner there are orange orbs in which you collect to upgrade your character's abilities. Just killing enemies won't help you fully upgrade. It's a bit of tidies work wondering around for them.
Each level reminds me as if I'm playing a Tomb Raider game for each room is a puzzle to defeat. The enemies consists of mechs, mines, & turrets. Occasionally if you don't kill a mech in time they will call for assistance which only makes the game much harder. I'm so grateful for Ninja Theory adding boss fights. Some games get away with not adding them in like Halo Reach... Really? Those are my favorite parts of games!
Bring it!
If you have free time & can make it through learning how go ignore the annoying camera angles/controls then it's a pretty fun find. The game finally picks up steam at Chapter 3 (out of 15). The game's fighting style is mostly crafted around melée, but they do offer ranged weapons. Still, I'm amazed that the game doesn't have co-op or multiplayer of any kind, especially in this age of used games and rentals.
Reader Comments (7)
The characters did eventually grow on me, but I've gotta say that I agree with you on the game mechanics. I was not happy with the way the combat "flow" went, if there was any. Especially at later stages of the game, the whole entire camera felt like a complete afterthought. Based on how you feel about this game, stay away from Castlevania Lords of Shadow.
I can not fathom why developers allow the cameras to be used like so. It's frustrating as a player IMO... It constantly brings my mind out of the game's story because I'm concentrating on rotating the dang thing to look at a certain point. Small pet-peeve of mine. Can't wait to see what happens with the story in the end!
I just bought Castlevania:LoS! Uh oh. (I'm still going to give it a go though.)
I think the reason that there was no co-op is that Trip acts more like temporary support. She only has a couple of abilities and most of the time, she stays away until Monkey clears an area of mechs. Her abilities are also limited. I only used the hologram through the combat sequences and never needed the health she carries, as there is usually a health kit somewhere nearby.
I think Enslaved could have been designed with co-op in mind, but it would take much more work to do so, which I think is a valid issue for Ninja Theory, as this is their first game using the Unreal Engine and making a multiplatform game.
I agree that the camera could have been better, but it only ever became an issue in hectic fights with a lot of mechs.
polyorpheus, I just finished the game a few days ago and I too never used the temp health she carried. I'd still like Enslaved 2 (if they are making it) to be co-op.. Hope Ninja Theory can figure out how to tweak Trip or whoever to allow her to be another player.
I'm debating if I want to go back and replay all the levels to collect the missed orbs and masks for the achievements.
I pre-ordered this game (probably one of the only people to do so). I still have not completed this game. I feel the characters are played well, I became more happy to play as Monkey as the game progressed, but I didn't feel the connection I felt with Drake in Uncharted 2. The camera wasn't as much of a problem for me as I first thought, I just looked round it. I generally like this game, not the best, but one of them.
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