Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is an action adventure game developed by Ninja Theory and published by Namco-Bandai. A very loose retelling of "Journey to the West," Enslaved follows the story of Monkey and Trip as they attempt to cross a post-apocalyptic Planet Earth.
I've been watching a few of the video game reviews for Enslaved on the various sights and noticed that a good majority of them say that despite being a linear experience, with nothing outside the main game, that it is a wonderfully crafted game, a beautifully realized world, and a human element not usually found in games. To me this screams a game that should be played, but won't simply because of the number of sequels yet to come out (Fallout, Call of Duty, Gran Turismo), and its hard to find the extra 60 dollars lying around for something unfamiliar. I know that this game is entirely different in tone from Psychonauts, but I believe it has similarities due to the tone of the response of the reviewers. What are your thoughts about Enslaved? Do you think it will be a critics darling and have poor sales? Will you end up picking it up? I'm hoping to at some point.
I'll end up getting it cheap. I don't like how automated the game is (from the demo of course but that hasn't seemed to change in the full version) and how simple the combat is either.
I know several people who work at retail websites and supposedly its hasn't been doing amazingly sales wise, but that might change over the next few weeks, who knows?
I personally didn't like the gameplay that much when I played the demo, however as someone who watched the TV series Monkey and researched and wrote about Journey to the West for a project years ago I am already interested in the fiction. Don't know whether that is enough to pull me in though, I'll have to re-download the demo and try it again I guess. I might end up just reading the Journey To The West novels I have instead.
It won't sell, no matter how amazing the story, world and characters are, it doesn't have multiplayer and the gameplay isn't deep enough. Which is exaclty my kind of game so I'm really looking forward to it, but the average CoD player, will try the demo, call it boring and go teabag someone online.
This. I don't have the disposable income to afford a game that I'm only half-interested in and have absolutely no problem waiting for an inevitable price cut.
" It won't sell, no matter how amazing the story, world and characters are, it doesn't have multiplayer and the gameplay isn't deep enough. Which is exaclty my kind of game so I'm really looking forward to it, but the average CoD player, will try the demo, call it boring and go teabag someone online. "
Haha this is funny considering my post and avatar :P
@Espada12: lol, no offense meant, but it's a new IP from a developer who hasn't really proven themselves, people will be skeptical. It seems more of a Brad game than a Jeff game, put it that way.
" @Espada12: lol, no offense meant, but it's a new IP from a developer who hasn't really proven themselves, people will be skeptical. It seems more of a Brad game than a Jeff game, put it that way. "
None taken, I just thought it was hilarious! I like games like these, but they normally aren't worth the full price tag for me, so I will skip it for now.
I bought it (PS3) and while I haven't played much, I'm really enjoying it. Really great voice/mocap work and the story and character interaction is really good.
I don't know, I'm not really buying all the hype. I get the feeling that if I end up buying it for the story (really the only thing that interests me about it) I'll end up getting dissapointed.
Maybe it's as good as the reviews say, but somehow I doubt it.
It's shipping in from Gamefly. I love the concept, the story, the art-design, and the tone, but given its brevity, and the relative shallowness of the game-play, I couldn't justify paying full price for it.
I did pick up Castlevania: LOS though, which is pretty damn good so far. Screams GoW, but in a good way.
I loved the cinematic aspect of Heavenly Sword, which instantly made me a fan of Ninja Theory. I'll be getting Enslaved, because ever since Devil May Cry the 3D action genre has been one of my favorites.
@vasylkoB317: Where Psychonauts grabbed from the very beginning with its great art style and concept, along with its pedigree of who was behind it. Enslaved really did the opposite on all those things, Brad was saying how unique it was and all I could think about was how many times have I seen a city overgrown with plants in the far future...with robots. I give the most apathetic shrugs to the fact that Ninja Theory worked on it so I'm not impressed there either.
@Doctorchimp: Really? Most post-apocalyptic settings I encounter in games are all about brown, dark colors and desert-like surroundings. Basically following in Mad Max's footsteps. I'm quite enjoying the look of Enslaved by comparison. It's post-apocalyptic, but it's still extremely alive as far as its flora and really colorful looking.
I know my single little experience doesn't account for it's overall sales, but it was sold out for the 360 at the first store I stopped by to pick it up today. I'm pretty much expecting this game to not do well from a sales perspective, but a great demo and good reviews might actually give it a bounce that people weren't expecting. Unless people want to start comparing it to the likes of the other big-name holiday releases. It's hard to get a new IP off the ground these days :/
I've been enjoying it, even though mechanically it's a pretty bare-bones. I think the recent DMC snafu has made everyone kinda raise their expectations on the combat front of things, but it's clear that Enslaved isn't even close to a comparison so such perceptions and expectations are slightly skewed. But it still runs in the back of your mind no matter how well the presentation side of things is put together, which so far has been quite excellent.
@Fjordson: Again I was simply saying that the overgrown city look isn't unique to me, just cause it's on a post-apocalyptic planet in a game as oppose to a post-apocalyptic game isn't the point.
I just watched the gametrailers review, the dude didn't have a single complaint and it also says a lot of good things about it, amazing graphics, good combat, great story, etc but it ended up giving it a 8.2 so yes, reviewers are ruining this game sales a lot, having an incredible high metacritic score is very important for the first week sales, it makes your decide if you want to spend 60 bucks to play it NOW or wait till it gets a price cut or get it used later, but we all know that they make more money if we succumb to it now.
Although I love games with a good story, I cannot get over the fact that the dude's name is "Monkey" and that the combat is simplistic. However, I will likely play this at some point when it's $15.
@vidiot: If you went to a Gamestop to try and find it, it wouldn't take much for it to be sold out... I know my store only got 3 copies for the 360 and 4 four the PS3 :/ I've been trying to get people to pick up the game, but it's really hard to pitch a single-player only new IP when a slew of established sequels are right in the pipe (especially what we "affectionately" refer to as 'dat Duty is looming in the distance). The sales figures for this game are probably going to be a bummer :(
" It won't sell, no matter how amazing the story, world and characters are, it doesn't have multiplayer and the gameplay isn't deep enough. Which is exaclty my kind of game so I'm really looking forward to it, but the average CoD player, will try the demo, call it boring and go teabag someone online. "
" It won't sell, no matter how amazing the story, world and characters are, it doesn't have multiplayer and the gameplay isn't deep enough. Which is exaclty my kind of game so I'm really looking forward to it, but the average CoD player, will try the demo, call it boring and go teabag someone online. "
"
We'll see..
I think it'll do better than expected. I plan to buy it but i'm not sure when I can, money is a bit tight.
This game is fucking brilliant! And it's such a shame it's not selling too well. Ninja Theory deserves it, because they have made a fantastic, emotional story, with some great characters that you really care for. You really hope that they will succeed. The best part is, that I'm not even half-way through it yet, and I'm already loving it, and the story it wants to tell.
I wouldn't say it is, simply because I have yet to see evidence of Enslaved being hyped to Hell and back before crashing and burning in the sales charts.
I don't think it's gonna sell super well, it's a new IP and there's a lot of competition. Which is disappointing, games like this deserve to sell. That being said i don't know if it's gonna resonate like Psychonauts but time will tell i guess.
Ive got to say i think this is going to be a title that in 5 years time will be on the "great games nobody played" lists and il be the nerd going "ITS GREAT EVERYONE PLAY IT!" for the intervening time.
This game should have come out before September or held off till December - theres too many games coming out right now or in the next couple of weeks for it to really make the impact some people think it deserves.
Honestly, the demo had some really cool moments, but I've generally been pretty turned off by most of what I've seen of this game. Once this game is in the $20-30 range (which I'm guessing will be pretty soon because I don't think this game has a very good chance of selling well), I may purchase it.
" Enslaved is definitely no Psychonauts. Honestly, the demo had some really cool moments, but I've generally been pretty turned off by most of what I've seen of this game. Once this game is in the $20-30 range (which I'm guessing will be pretty soon because I don't think this game has a very good chance of selling well), I may purchase it. "
The QL and the demo turned me off but a friend picked it up in the end and hooooly hell am i glad he did. Its brilliant so dont judge it by the coverage so far like i did
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