Enslaved struggles in a few key areas, but its story and atmosphere rank up there with the best.
The Bad: A few visual glitches; camera is occasionally clunky; short, with very limited replay value; movement controls feel a bit too sensitive; fighting mechanics feel too simple at times.
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, loosely based on the ancient Chinese novel Journey to the West, doesn't stray far from the norm in terms of combat and platforming, yet it breaks storytelling boundaries in ways that I, personally, never expected. And this is where Enslaved really separates itself from the pack. The few characters in this game are given such emotion, and produced and animated in the most realistic ways that it makes it a lot easier to look past the game's numerous shortcomings.
Enslaved is set one hundred and fifty years in the future, and needless to say, things aren't looking too good. You play as Monkey, a slave to mysterious captors who use giant, hulking mechs to do their talking. In fact, your captors appear to have control of most of the known world. Mechs wander dilapidated streets of seemingly empty cities, enslaving humans and killing anything stupid enough to take on a seven foot robot with a machine gun for an arm. After escaping a slave ship, Monkey finds himself enslaved…again…by a fellow escapee named Trip, who fits him with a high-tech headband that allows her to control his actions with simple voice commands. After feeling the crippling sting of the headband when he disobeys his master, Monkey learns that Trip needs him to escort her through the mech infested streets of New York in order for her to reach her village where she promises to remove his headband. If at any point Trip is killed, the headband will release a lethal dose, killing Monkey immediately.
As you'd expect, the relationship between the unlikely pair grows as the journey progresses. The chemistry between the two characters is undeniable and very realistic, resulting in some very believable facial animations as well as incredible voice acting…but we'll get to that later. A third character is eventually thrown into the mix, but his presence is mostly a hindrance, and detracts from the original pair. Nevertheless, the characters make the story very engaging, and the final cutscene will change your perspective on the game in its entirety.
As previously mentioned, Enslaved is all about combat and platforming. At times, you'll be required to do a little of both, and this is when the gameplay design really shines. The first thing you'll notice about Enslaved is the controls, which feel a bit loose. Giving Monkey a bit of momentum would've gone a long way, but it's not that big of an issue at all. Platforming is incredibly straightforward, and the game literally shows you exactly what you can climb on by cloaking certain objects in a dim glow. However, that's not to say that it isn't enjoyable. Fighting is also pretty straightforward. You have a number of combos that you can mix together to take down anything stupid enough to get in your way, and you can even use your battle staff to fire projectiles at far away enemies. Once you've damaged an enemy enough, Monkey can pull off a God of War-esque finisher or use one of the mech's weapons against them. All of these skills can eventually be upgraded, giving you access to new combos and stronger projectiles.
Monkey also has access to a hover disc known as the Cloud, though it can only be activated under certain conditions. Its appropriately loose controls coupled with its ability to move effortlessly over land and sea make the Cloud incredibly fun to navigate, and though these moments are rare, using the Cloud offers a nice change of pace.
Though you'll have to take care of yourself in combat, your main concern in some situations will be Trip. After all, if she dies, then so do you. If she's ever cornered, Trip can activate an EMP burst that temporarily stuns all mechs with its radius. However, after that, she'll be defenseless. It's all about keeping her safe. If there's ever an enemy that you need to get a bit closer to, you can order Trip to distract them with a hologram while she remains safe behind cover. Consequently, Monkey can provide distractions for Trip in order for her to reach certain areas without her falling prey to a barrage of bullets. If Trip can't reach an area or simply needs to be walked through an area, you can carry her on your back. From there, you can vault her up to unreachable ledges or throw her across large expanses.
Though Trip may seem like extra baggage at first, she quickly proves herself to be a capable companion. Early on, she gains access to a robotic dragonfly. With it, she can pinpoint the location of hidden mines, scan enemies and determine their weakness, and even guide Monkey through some tough areas. Though she can seem a bit helpless, you'll have to rely on Trip frequently in order to progress through the beautiful, but deadly environments.
Unlike Fallout's version of the apocalypse, the environments in Enslaved are comprised of tall buildings that have crumbled to some degree, but still stand. Plants and trees still grow and radiation isn't an issue. The environments are incredibly detailed and actually show the remains of human life, though some of the later environments that take place in swamp-like areas are much less appealing, and really make you wish that you could go back to the destroyed, but colorful city.
Enslaved has a fantastic art style that sports some of the best facial animations in the business. Most of the platforming animations look great, but there are a few glitches in the game. However, they're pretty rare, and even when you do spot them, they're pretty easy to ignore. Environments are also incredibly detailed and a joy to traverse. The music is beautifully orchestrated, and incredibly fun to listen to as you turn mechs into scrap metal. Overall, the presentation is fantastic, marred only by a few glitches and occasionally awkward platforming transitions.
The voice acting in Enslaved will make you question whether you're playing a game or watching a movie. Andy Serkis and Lindsey Shaw do a fantastic job bringing Monkey and Trip to life, and their numerous conversations show great chemistry between the two of them. Couple that with a great script that involves stuttering and yelling in certain situations, and you have two completely believable characters that are surprisingly easy to relate to.
Enslaved only lasts about eight hours on the recommended difficulty, and though it's one exciting ride, I strongly recommend a rent. Once you beat the game, there's really nothing left for you to do. Despite its length, Enslaved is an incredibly unique game. Sure, the combat and platforming are a bit too simple at times, and there are a few glitches here and there, but the story alone is reason enough to give this game a try. Take my word for it, and go rent Enslaved. You won't be disappointed.