Enslaved: Odyssey to the West Premium Edition
- October 24, 2013
- Ninja Theory
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam"Enslaved" is a post-apocalyptic adventure game set 150 years in the future, where nature has reclaimed the world and mysterious slave ships capture the remaining humans. The story follows Trip, a technologically skilled woman who escapes a slave ship, and Monkey, a powerful loner who becomes linked to Trip through a slave headband. They form an uneasy partnership as they traverse through dangerous terrain and enemies, with the threat of death for both if Trip dies. The game focuses on the complex relationship between Trip and Monkey as they fight to return Trip to her home.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- Engaging story with well-developed characters, particularly the dynamic between Monkey and Trip.
- Beautiful visuals and art direction that still hold up well despite the game's age.
- Fun gameplay mechanics that combine platforming, combat, and puzzle-solving.
- Camera controls are frustrating and can lead to disorientation during gameplay.
- Combat can feel repetitive and lacks depth, with limited enemy variety.
- The ending feels rushed and leaves many questions unanswered, lacking closure.
- story2,097 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Enslaved: Odyssey to the West" is widely praised for its engaging narrative and character development, drawing inspiration from the classic Chinese tale "Journey to the West." Players appreciate the emotional depth and chemistry between the main characters, Monkey and Trip, although some critiques highlight pacing issues and a somewhat abrupt ending. Overall, the game is recognized for its compelling storytelling, beautiful visuals, and strong voice acting, making it a memorable experience despite its gameplay shortcomings.
“The story is fantastic, the setting is amazing, the gameplay is great.”
“The story, characters, the acting - very well done.”
“The story is engaging, the fight mechanics are interesting, the platforming is always engaging.”
“The story is meh, and the ending was really anticlimactic.”
“The ending is also really disappointing, and honestly, the story is just not worth your time.”
“The story lacks initiative and is very bland throughout most of the game.”
- gameplay993 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Enslaved: Odyssey to the West" is characterized by its blend of simple combat and platforming mechanics, often described as linear and repetitive. While some players appreciate the engaging story and character interactions, many criticize the dated mechanics, lack of depth, and frustrating camera controls, which detract from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game offers a visually stunning world and a compelling narrative that keeps players invested, making it a worthwhile play for those who prioritize story over gameplay complexity.
“The gameplay is fun, the combat is satisfying, the platform elements are very fun, it's really cool to jump around like a monkey, and it's really interesting to explore this world, which by design feels like it's filled with a deeper story than it appears to be, even though it's a post-apocalyptic earth.”
“The gameplay is a mix of platforming and combat, where you'll have sections of a level where you focus solely on one or the other.”
“The gameplay is straightforward and has a clean interface, making this game very accessible to all skill levels.”
“The gameplay is dull and repetitive and gets boring too quickly.”
“The gameplay is frustrating and repetitive, with simplistic platforming and very basic (though cinematic) combat rendered difficult through poor controls and frustrating camera angles.”
“The gameplay is extremely linear, repetitive and predictable.”
- graphics662 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game, while showing their age as a 2010 release, are generally praised for their vibrant art style and detailed environments, with many players noting that they still hold up well compared to modern standards. However, some users report graphical glitches, particularly with shadows and textures, and the need for configuration tweaks to optimize performance on PC. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point of the game, contributing to its immersive storytelling and engaging atmosphere.
“The graphics are very colorful and detailed, if not quite up to 2024 standards.”
“The graphics hold up really well, and if you play with the right settings, the visuals are stunning.”
“The graphics are beautiful, the script tight and evocative, and Andy Serkis brings this techno-apocalyptic Chinese legend to life.”
“The graphics are dated and not the greatest, and the world is a bit lonely with not all that many characters.”
“The game is from 2010, but despite that, I thought the graphics were pretty solid for their time.”
“The graphics aren't the best, but considering it's a port of an early era PS3 game, I'm sure most will let it slide without any fuss.”
- music119 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional depth of the experience, while others find it forgettable or bland. Some players highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature that complements the gameplay and setting, while others note that it often goes unnoticed. Overall, the music is generally described as fitting and well-executed, contributing positively to the game's overall presentation.
“The soundtrack sets the mood right in every scene, whether being chased by a mechanical rhino or chilling in a boat gazing at the stars; the soundtrack is mesmerizing.”
“The sound and music were fantastic, and I found the atmosphere and story to be engaging.”
“The music brilliantly done, too.”
“The music was for the most part forgettable and I can't remember a single piece from the game; it wasn't terrible, just not anything amazing either.”
“The music in the main game is serviceable but forgettable.”
“Overall an enjoyable journey with a mix of platforming and combat, good characters but lackluster story; the soundtrack is pretty meh as well, I didn't even notice it for the vast majority of the game.”
- humor113 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating the witty banter between characters, particularly between Monkey and Trip, as well as the comedic moments introduced by Pigsy. While some found the humor to be hit-or-miss, with instances of cringy jokes and uneven delivery, the overall character interactions and dialogue often elicited genuine laughter. The game's blend of lightheartedness and emotional depth, alongside its engaging story, contributes to a fun and entertaining experience.
“Your companion NPC, Trip, is actually really useful and you get to throw her around to get across obstacles, and the animation for it is hilarious.”
“The characters are awesome, and there are some funny moments.”
“The acting is very believable, and the game made me laugh out loud at times.”
“They try to fill the story gaps with small moments that are supposed to be funny, but almost all of them boil down to 'Monkey is an asshole' and 'Trip is a nice girl.'”
“Monkey is the usual sexist depiction of the male hero: far too muscular to be able to jump (but jumps and climbs like a monkey nonetheless), manly grunts each time he makes the slightest effort (like opening a door), comically stupid (except it's not funny).”
- stability94 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting a significant number of bugs and glitches, including texture issues, frame rate drops, and crashes, particularly on PC. While some users experienced smooth gameplay with minor graphical glitches, others found the game nearly unplayable due to frequent game-breaking issues and poor porting from console. Overall, the stability of the game appears to be a major concern, detracting from the overall experience for many players.
“The movement is nice and fluid; everything runs great.”
“It runs great on Steam Deck as well (on Proton 7.0-6).”
“I personally have had no glitches or bugs.”
“The native configuration of the application simply doesn't work correctly and, nowadays, some glitches with shadows and textures (especially one that makes strange lines appear on characters) break the game's immersion completely.”
“One of the worst PC ports I've ever seen, full of glitches and problems that will never be fixed.”
“The story isn't compelling, there isn't a real threat of danger, and there are too many gameplay glitches that completely halt your experience.”
- optimization89 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it runs smoothly despite being visually outdated, while others report significant issues such as crashes, soft locks, and poor mouse and keyboard controls. Although the performance is generally stable at 60fps, some cutscenes suffer from frame rate drops and audio stuttering, indicating a lack of polish in the PC port. Overall, while the game showcases excellent voice acting and storytelling, it struggles with optimization, particularly for PC users.
“The game still runs smoothly, like eleven years ago when it came on the PC platform.”
“Great story, great character development (a rare thing to see), great gameplay, and excellent optimization for the PC.”
“With its loose nods to the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, some excellently written dialogue and wonderful vocal performances, Enslaved does what games so often fail to do -- bring its characters to life.”
“2 full system reboots, 7 game crashes, 9 soft locks, a camera system that was designed by 5 year olds, music stuttering, and menus that clearly do not work properly.”
“My biggest issue with the game is that the controls don't seem very optimized for mouse and keyboard.”
“Weird shadows all over the place, improper lighting, incredibly ridiculous framerate and performance hiccups whenever the game needs to load a new area, and a complete lack of any sort of control over the settings.”
- character development77 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its depth and pacing, particularly in the relationship between the protagonists, while others find it shallow or rushed. The voice acting and character animations receive high marks, enhancing the overall experience, but critiques often highlight a lack of substantial growth for certain characters. Overall, while many appreciate the engaging story and character interactions, some feel that the development could have been more robust and nuanced.
“Enslaved is a fantastic game with heavy emphasis on character development and streamlined gameplay.”
“The character development is quite well done, although the story could have been better.”
“Visually stunning, with a storyline that while not too unpredictable works very well, beautiful character development and two brilliant protagonists.”
“The story is meh, character development is shallow and cliché, the platforming is fake and doesn't require any skill.”
“Sadly, the character development sucked.”
“You meet close to no other people and these people inspiring and adventurous as they are just did not cut it for me.. character development, gameplay & story feels so rushed that I never got to truly enjoy the game.”
- atmosphere61 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals, engaging sound design, and immersive storytelling, creating a captivating post-apocalyptic world that resonates with players. Many reviewers highlight the emotional depth of the environment and character interactions, noting that the atmosphere significantly enhances the overall experience, despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its strongest aspects, drawing players into a beautifully crafted and melancholic setting.
“Awesome story with great character arc progression and a beautiful atmosphere!”
“Beautiful sceneries of nature slowly taking back and swallowing former civilization creations creates a unique melancholic atmosphere where you look at something beautiful but you feel the history.”
“Enslaved: Odyssey to the West's main draw is its absolutely gorgeous visuals, which are bright, detailed, and compelling for such a somber post-apocalyptic atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere this strange waste of studio recording equipment and voice talent creates is frankly akin to replaying a level in Mario for the optional stars and dealing with the titular Italian stallion reminding you every thirty seconds that he won't be able to get his bing-bing wahoo's off until you jointly get to the final stage, which for him, delusionally features a warp-pipe leading directly beneath Princess Peach's chaste, perpetually knackered frock.”
“The atmosphere, the story, the whole scope of the game should be absolutely enthralling, but to me... it feels like a soft-spoken echo I've done before.”
“Only the atmosphere and the world stand out, this is where Enslaved is brilliant, still a breathtaking experience at some points.”
- emotional61 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- -3 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its touching and thought-provoking narrative, featuring well-developed characters whose relationships evoke genuine feelings of love, loss, and redemption. Players appreciate the depth of the story, the strong voice acting, and the emotional rollercoaster that leaves a lasting impact, despite some criticisms regarding pacing and the ending. Overall, the game is celebrated for its ability to blend humor and heartache, creating a memorable and engaging experience that resonates with players long after completion.
“Both characters are convincing and believable, nuanced and emotional.”
“The game's bold reimagining of the journey to the west, captivating characters, stunning environments, and emotional depth make it a truly unforgettable experience.”
“By the end of the game, I felt emotionally invested in the characters; they felt like fully fleshed-out beings rather than two-dimensional fantasy archetypes that you usually get with games.”
“I had a hard time finishing this game due to its boring story and lack of emotional depth.”
“The emotional moments felt forced and didn't resonate with me at all.”
“I expected a heartfelt experience, but the game left me feeling indifferent.”
- grinding41 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and repetitive, often requiring significant time investment for minimal reward. Many reviews highlight issues with pacing, combat mechanics, and a lack of variety in enemies and collectibles, leading to frustration and a diminished enjoyment of the gameplay experience. While some elements are praised, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grind detracts from the overall enjoyment and narrative flow of the game.
“The upgrade system is great in that about twice per level you can upgrade in a way that makes a difference to your play style, not grinding for 2-3 levels for one upgrade that you may not ever use.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The setting and story are interesting, but the rest of the game makes the progress tedious.”
“The gameplay is boring, tedious, and repetitive.”
- replayability31 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits limited replayability, primarily due to its linear storytelling and lack of multiple endings or significant alternate paths. While some players may find value in replaying for achievements or different difficulty levels, many reviews indicate that the experience is best enjoyed in a single playthrough, with little incentive to return once completed. A few users noted that the upgrade system and collectible elements offer minor replay value, but this is generally overshadowed by the game's brevity and straightforward design.
“Game has excellent replay value because you get to keep all the skills you have unlocked and you can start any chapter again.”
“It delivers until the very end and its 'game +' style replay value makes it one worth keeping in your collection.”
“Faily quick, took about 10 hours or so, but I feel like it's good to go through it once; replay value if you're interested in collecting everything or achievements.”
“The game does not have much of a replay value aside from playing with a variant of the protagonist and his companion or finishing your collections and getting all achievements.”
“The game has little to no replay value as you will unlock almost everything in the perk tree and there are no alternate ways to progress.”
“On a negative note, it's a bit repetitive and linear. I have nothing against linear games as they are often a great vehicle for telling a story exactly the way it was intended, but I see little replay value in this as a result. Once you experience it, you will probably shelve it.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Reviewers express concern that the game's monetization strategy could detract from the overall experience, fearing the introduction of microtransactions and a focus on online multiplayer could lead to a soulless gaming environment. There is a desire for the developers to revisit the game with a larger budget to enhance its visibility and appeal, as it currently feels overlooked.
“The monetization model is fair and doesn't feel intrusive, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
“I appreciate that the game offers cosmetic items for purchase without affecting gameplay balance, making it a positive experience.”
“The developers have struck a good balance with monetization, providing optional content that enhances the game without being necessary to progress.”
“So many games today are lost on those simple principles in replacement of making the game an online sandbox with soulless multiplayer driven by microtransactions and endless grinding.”
“At first glance, Enslaved appears to be quite an obscure release, with no major first-party push or advertising.”
