With the magnificent setting providing the stage, Enslaved is a witty, engaging character piece built around Monkey and Trip’s taut relationship. Inspired by the Chinese classical novel Journey to the West, Enslaved’s tale is co-written by Ninja Theory’s creative director Tameem Antionades and novelist and screenwriter Alex Garland (The Beach, 28 Days Later). The upshot of all this is that Enslaved’s story - and story telling - is really rather good. So the reluctant pair head off on a pilgrimage to get the young girl back home. Unfortunately for Monkey, Trip –being a techy whizzkid- rudely attaches a slavers headband to his huge melon and programs it to explode if she dies. Monkey finds himself on one of these ships, but escapes with young girl Trip and crashes the ship into New York. Lethal mechs roam the streets, while slave ships patrol the skies, snapping up any survivors they find. It’s set 150 years into a future where humanity is all but wiped out from technological warfare. For the most part, it is a journey, and a fabulous one at that, as you squeeze yourself into the tight leather trousers of hunky wildman Monkey, travelling across the prettiest post-apocalyptic America you will ever see. Any game that starts with you selecting the menu option “NEW JOURNEY” can’t help but conjure visions of either ostentatious posturing or going on a road trip with a hemp shoulder bag stuffed with incense sticks.
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