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We were invited by Namco at the “Salon des Images” in Chatelet les Halles for a 1-hour presentation of the up-and-coming game Enslaved, followed by an exclusive – but short – interview with Tameem Antoniades, the creative director of the game. With only 5 minutes to ask our many questions, the majority of which were already answered during the presentation, we went for more personal inquiries requiring opinionated answers, which we supplement here by an in-depth preview of the game. We remind you that we had already played one of the demonstration levels at E3 and posted gameplay videos of the game. We were shown 3 additional levels and had some additional time to get our hands dirty with this new content. Keep reading for information on what we have discovered…
Update: Add of the interview of the creative director Tameem Antoniades

Storyline

The storyline for the game is loosely based on one of the four great classical Chinese novels, "Journey to the West", modified to occur 150 years in the future. Even though it was made clear from the presentation that the game was heavily influenced by the book, the actual connections between the two are subtle. Similarly to the book, one of the central characters, Trip, needs to accomplish a tremendous voyage accompanied by a protector, Monkey. More specifically, "you move out of New York and travel west".

The apparent similarities between the book and the game end here and are pushed aside for the more grandiose video game scenario. Indeed, the game takes place in the future, where machines, originally built to fight wars and not programmed to do anything else, have turned against humans. The exact reasons behind the downfall of mankind remained extremely vague, either to avoid spoiling the game or to leave it to players’ imagination, but it is clear that the story progresses in an apocalyptic world, a world dominated by machines and “slaveships” looking for human slaves, where the human race is practically extinct and nature is well on its way to re-conquer a previously urban world.

Character Presentation and Development

Players, who control the character Monkey, a man with extraordinary powers, martial art experience, agility, and other athletic abilities, will start in the first mission by escaping from one of the “slaveships”. During the escape, he becomes unconscious and wakes up with a “slave headband” that was put in place by the second main character, Trip. Trip, a technologically savvy, smart, and beautiful 18 year-old, needs to go home but knows she cannot achieve such a dangerous journey alone. Having escaped from the same “slaveship” as Monkey, using her intelligence rather than muscular power, she modifies a “slave headband” and puts it on Monkey so that she has the possibility to give him orders. If he does not follow an order, his skull is crushed. Although the two-character dynamic might suggest a cooperative mode, "[the game] is a one player game only" where players exclusively control Monkey with some interactions with Trip.

A tremendous effort was made by the creative team in terms of character development. Indeed, the beginning of the story starts with an uneasy relationship since Trip has the power to boss Monkey around, an otherwise free, somewhat reclusive, and independent character. The creative director actually jokes that “she controls his fate, just like in a real relationship”. As the missions progress, however, the relationship matures and players notice subtle changes in the characters’ personalities and their interaction with each other. Evidently, the two characters "start to build a little bit of trust", slowly but steadily. This character progression is evident in a cut scene sequence from one of the presented levels where Trip states “I am not commanding you. I am asking you”. Even though the players exclusively control Monkey, and no cooperative mode will be available, an emphasis is made, in the gameplay, on the tactical teamwork and collaboration between Monkey and Trip since they “have to work together as a team".

Gameplay

In terms of gameplay, we were shown a variety of different styles that are all present in the game. From what was revealed in the demonstration, action-packed fight scenes between Monkey and different robots were the most prominent. These fights can be accomplished in hand-to-hand combat, where Monkey makes good use of his retractable stick, using a stun gun to temporarily disable enemy robots and their shields, or using a plasma gun to directly inflict damage from a distance. The fight sequences remain basic with the typical array of attacks, counter-attacks, cover, blocking moves, and evade maneuvers.

The game also incorporates an important platform-based component, where Monkey, impressive in his climbing abilities, needs to overcome the most improbable obstacles in a semi-destroyed urban environment. The platform component of the game, which essentially happens between fights and creates the impression of advancement towards the voyage’s destination, is interspersed with many cut scenes. From what we have seen, the cut scenes are exploited to transition the players to action sequences, advance the scenario, or develop the characters.

Another focus of the game is on the tactical aspect, which is introduced with enemies too difficult to defeat by brute force alone. Indeed, Monkey will not always be able to destroy enemies on his own, but “together [with Trip, they] will be able to defeat them”. Players then need to choose an appropriate strategy, often relying on Trip’s capabilities, and usually involving a “divide and conquer” strategy, such that “the combat becomes more technical”. More specifically, we were shown that players can use Trip to open doors protected by technological locks, to use as bait for a diversion, to stun enemies for 10 seconds with an EMP she possesses, or to exploit her dragonfly equipped with a camera to find weaknesses in robot defenses. All of these abilities are provided to solve “complex little puzzles” and for players to “think more tactically”.

There are some additional gameplay features, although exploited less frequently, such as Monkey’s “cloud” that allows him to hover on water or ground, offering a “completely different gameplay style” similar to surfing or skating. Last but not least, there is an RPG element to the game where players can collect orbs to ameliorate various components of their character. It is evident that the developers chose to utilize a "big mix of gameplay styles", rather than to concentrate on a single one, a move that will allow the game to be appreciated by a greater audience while alienating more picky gamers, or those looking for a more one-dimensional gameplay style.

Art Direction

With the game using the relatively old Unreal 3 engine, the game is not particularly graphically impressive, whether it be the Playstation 3 or XBOX 360 version. The art direction is, however, remarkable, as can be clearly seen by the magnificent environment, the character models, and their animations. We are far away from the typical post-apocalyptic games that are very somber, as explained by the creative director who “[doesn’t] really understand why all games are dark and grey”. More specifically, we play in an urban environment that has been partially re-conquered by nature, providing graphically pleasing lush green environments interspersed with remainders of the society that used to be: buildings, bridges, construction cranes, etc… This art direction was clear in the presentation with levels that are “always colorful [and] mostly sunny” with only “one or two dark levels”.

In the developers’ opinions, the game represents what would happen in a real post-apocalyptic world. Additionally, clues giving players insight about the reasons for human society’s downfall, such as an election poster partially covered with moss, are scattered throughout the levels. We note that more clues will be given throughout the game when players collect special masks placed in the levels, which, when collected, trigger a video providing information about the past. During the demonstration we were particularly impressed by the facial expressions of the characters. Even though the expressions were not particularly realistic since they were a little too stoic, they clearly and effectively showed the emotional state of the characters.

Link to the cinema

Before concluding the preview, we must make a note of some of the reasons behind the game’s choices, which were presented extensively during the preview. The creative director’s “favorite game on the Amiga [was] Another World” because of its “really emotional experience” that allowed players to “[have] a relationship [with the] game”. He remarked that, in his eyes, the game was “more like what you would expect in a good movie or a book” and that, in his opinion, the majority of games today are still “not quite there with the cinema”. It is for these reasons that Alex Garland and Andy Serkis, two famous personalities in the cinema industry, were influential parts of the project. Alex Garland, a screenwrighter notorious for his work on movies including The Beach, Tesseract, and 28 Days Later, worked on both the scenario and character development of the game, to provide a more cinematographic feel to the game. Indeed, the creative director states that “more than a physical journey, [the game] is a character’s journey” and that the “emphasis [of the game] has always been with storytelling”. The cinematic script writing is clearly felt through the rich dialogues, the numerous cut scenes, and the several contradicting themes explored in the game, including the Beauty and the Beast, brains versus muscles, human against machine, and the forgotten power of nature.

Andy Serkis, an actor specializing in motion-captured roles such as Gollum in The Lord of the Rings and Kong in King Kong, has been “working with [Namco] for 4-5 years”, where he provided the motion capture for Heavenly Sword. For this game, he worked on the motion capture of Monkey to provide character animations rivaling the best Hollywood animated characters. With animations of such high caliber, we were told the gameplay, videos, and cut scenes were all produced using motion capture – an impressive fact. The principal problem in going for a cinema-oriented game, freely admitted by the creative director, is that it becomes “very linear” since the game has to progress through the scripted scenario. There is some possibility to explore a little bit, but nothing like the gigantic open world games that leave players with many choices and decisions, usually to the detriment of a more immersive scenario.

General impressions


Apart, perhaps, from the art direction, it seems that the game does not do any single gaming component perfectly but many different things really well. Indeed, the tremendous number of different gameplay styles and themes in the game demonstrates the multi-dimensional nature that the developers are going for. Consequently, it is difficult to classify the game, even for the creative director who somewhat contradicts himself by saying that it is an “adventure [rather than] a combat game” even though “combat is [a consequent] 30% of the game”. The art direction is impressive with well-modeled characters, pleasant animations, and a superb level design full of light and colors that goes against the grain of the typical apocalyptic game. The game itself looks very polished with a few sound bugs and we were told that “[the developers] have finished all the content” even with the game’s release being relatively far away in early October 2010. Tameem Antoniades remained evasive on the length it would take to beat the game saying that it would be similar to current games of the same genre and that it would be “a lot longer than Heavenly Sword”.

12 images

  • First Look: Enslaved - 12 images
  • First Look: Enslaved - 12 images
  • First Look: Enslaved - 12 images
  • First Look: Enslaved - 12 images
  • First Look: Enslaved - 12 images
  • First Look: Enslaved - 12 images
  • First Look: Enslaved - 12 images
  • First Look: Enslaved - 12 images
  • First Look: Enslaved - 12 images
  • First Look: Enslaved - 12 images
  • First Look: Enslaved - 12 images
  • First Look: Enslaved - 12 images
Wheat_Thins
Wheat_Thins
Commented on 2010-07-19 18:00:25
UE3 engine is really showing its age when compared to many other new releases. Still none the less the art direction of this game seems to make up for it. I will be keeping my eye on this game as it has me interested.
In reply to
This message and account have been deleted at the user's request
Moonwalker
Moonwalker
Commented on 2010-07-19 18:23:37
Showing its age? Hell no, it looks pretty damn good, what other new releases this year look this good? Not too many,if any.
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This message and account have been deleted at the user's request
OldSchoolGamer
OldSchoolGamer
Commented on 2010-07-19 18:45:13
"With the game using the relatively old Unreal 3 engine, the game is not particularly graphically impressive"

Then it must suck in motion because judging by these screenshots, it looks superb.

Also, it's unfair to call the Unreal Engine 3 old. You need to know that this engine gets new revisions constantly, and these revisions are at disposal of all developers. They have clearly improved the color palette handling with the new Unreal Engine (called 3.5 last time I remember) and it shows in this game. Remember that basically all games in this generation are using "old" engines but updated down in the road as in the case of Call of Duty, Assassin's Creed, Uncharted and many others. Developers just don't create new Engines for each iteration of a game.
In reply to
GangStarr - Inhibited Sony Lover
GangStarr
Commented on 2010-07-19 19:22:05
the close ups arent good but ingame screens look beautiful (camera behind the player view ones)
In reply to
java4ever
java4ever
Commented on 2010-07-19 19:33:29
All I ask is fluid frame-rate and animation, and none of that crappy frame-rate and awkward stiff animation of Heavenly Sword.
In reply to
newbielives
newbielives
Commented on 2010-07-19 19:51:13
Posted by droezelke
Medal of Honor, also U3
I was sure they were using the DICE engine
In reply to
bleachedsmiles
bleachedsmiles
Commented on 2010-07-19 19:52:12 In reply to Wheat_Thins
Posted by Wheat_Thins
UE3 engine is really showing its age when compared to many other new releases.
no its not. Look at bulletstorm, and Gears 3.. probably the 2 most graphically impressive games alongside Killzone 3 at this years E3. So easy to call out the UE3 engine because of it's age.. but the fact is it's still producing the highest visuals this gen.
In reply to
moroboshi
moroboshi
Commented on 2010-07-19 19:55:55
Surprising it's using Unreal as Ninja Theory developed their own engine for their last game Heavenly Sword. Looks nice though, with lovely art direction. With the rest of the year looking so dull it's one of the more interesting releases on the way too.

We also need not wonder if it will run better on the 360 or PS3 (given the dev's heritage, you might expect PS3), - with Unreal in the driving seat it will be superior on the 360.
In reply to
KORNdog
KORNdog
Commented on 2010-07-19 20:01:14 In reply to bleachedsmiles
Posted by bleachedsmiles
no its not. Look at bulletstorm, and Gears 3.. probably the 2 most graphically impressive games alongside Killzone 3 at this years E3. So easy to call out the UE3 engine because of it's age.. but the fact is it's still producing the highest visuals this gen.
i wouldn't go quite that far, but enslaved look pretty nice to me. it isnt going to win any GOTY for graphics, but it definately looks above par. a good art style does wonders for the UE3 engine. mirrors edge prooved that, bioshock (technically more UE2 then UE3) prooved that, and this looks to be proving it too. i just wish epic would follow suit cos i personally hate their art design. they know how to use the engine better then everyone seeing as it's their engine, but when the worlds and characters are so unappealing it's hard to care.
In reply to
moroboshi
moroboshi
Commented on 2010-07-19 20:01:16 In reply to bleachedsmiles
Posted by bleachedsmiles
no its not. Look at bulletstorm, and Gears 3.. probably the 2 most graphically impressive games alongside Killzone 3 at this years E3. So easy to call out the UE3 engine because of it's age.. but the fact is it's still producing the highest visuals this gen.
Well you can throw good art at most engines and they'll look great. The tech in U3 is looking a little old now though, mainly with a lack of scope and scale. Compare what can be done with say, Cryengine (Crysis 2), Ubi's Anvil engine (Assassin's Creed 2), Rockstar's Rage engine (Red Dead Redemption), or of course id Software's Tech 5. (RAGE). Unreal couldn't do any of those games.
In reply to
Sath - Missed the<br>hay
Sath
Commented on 2010-07-19 20:07:09
I would lie if I said I am not interested.
This looks very very good, very good art, mocap, voice...etc.

But one thing I dislike is Monkey's design, its stupid.
Though I did see one pre-order outfit for him though, all black, more clothes on him, looks much cooler than his default.

I heard Ninja Theory saying that this game isnt going to be combat based like Heavenly Sword but more as a action adventure platformer which is great!
Though I did see some nice melee moves though so its all good :)

Coming out in October is going to be tough for me to decide if I should get it or not considering around the October month is when all the good games come out that I want to buy, more or less.
In reply to
Tarrell13
Tarrell13
Commented on 2010-07-19 20:25:33
I don't get it, I just don't get it. I just don't know what people want more from Graphics now and days. I think no one will be satisfied until they actually control a character that looks fully life like and then there may be some people talking about how great they are. People criticize Gears of War and Call of Duty graphics and I think those games have superb graphics, but people still complain and it makes no sense.
In reply to
artsick
artsick
Commented on 2010-07-19 20:36:44 In reply to bleachedsmiles
Posted by bleachedsmiles
no its not. Look at bulletstorm, and Gears 3.. probably the 2 most graphically impressive games alongside Killzone 3 at this years E3. So easy to call out the UE3 engine because of it's age.. but the fact is it's still producing the highest visuals this gen.
I know that art is a highly subjective thing, but for me ID's Rage (based on Tech 5 engine?) and Killzone 3 were visually more impressive than any Unreal Engine game shown at E3. As for Enslaved, the art direction deserved a better engine to showcase itself. My opinion.
In reply to
Burglarize
Burglarize
Commented on 2010-07-19 20:42:52
Rewind back a few months and a few people were saying the art direction was bad. I'm glad to see more people seem to be appreciating it now.

Good article too.
In reply to
KORNdog
KORNdog
Commented on 2010-07-19 20:47:38 In reply to Burglarize
Posted by Burglarize
Rewind back a few months and a few people were saying the art direction was bad. I'm glad to see more people seem to be appreciating it now.

Good article too.
the only thing about the art i dont like is how bright it is. it's almost luminescent. other then that i like it, digging the world, digging the characters (even if one of them looks like a slightly modified nariko) and digging the idea of the game. now just a matter of gameplay. if that holds up well i'm sold.
In reply to
martin1841
martin1841
Commented on 2010-07-19 21:40:13
UE3 dated? Nah Just look at ME2 and this game.
In reply to
jackdoe
jackdoe
Commented on 2010-07-19 21:46:18
Posted by droezelke
Medal of Honor, also U3
No. It is using DICE's Frostbite engine. Anyway, UE3 is still a pretty solid third party engine and can pump out good visuals IF the effort is put into it. If there isn't any effort, you end up with Last Remnant.
In reply to
OldSchoolGamer
OldSchoolGamer
Commented on 2010-07-19 22:15:54 In reply to moroboshi
Posted by moroboshi
Well you can throw good art at most engines and they'll look great. The tech in U3 is looking a little old now though, mainly with a lack of scope and scale. Compare what can be done with say, Cryengine (Crysis 2), Ubi's Anvil engine (Assassin's Creed 2), Rockstar's Rage engine (Red Dead Redemption), or of course id Software's Tech 5. (RAGE). Unreal couldn't do any of those games.
All those engines are as "old" as the Unreal Engine 3, but have experienced upgrades during this generation, just like the UE3 did.

In other words, the Unreal Engine used in Gears of War 1 is not the same as in Gears 2, ME2, Gears 3 and this one, hence the big improvements.
In reply to
Frozpot
Frozpot
Commented on 2010-07-19 22:23:07 In reply to jackdoe
Posted by jackdoe
No. It is using DICE's Frostbite engine. Anyway, UE3 is still a pretty solid third party engine and can pump out good visuals IF the effort is put into it. If there isn't any effort, you end up with Last Remnant.
MOH uses UE3 for SP and the Frostbite engine for MP...
In reply to
java4ever
java4ever
Commented on 2010-07-19 22:27:47 In reply to Frozpot
Posted by Frozpot
MOH uses UE3 for SP and the Frostbite engine for MP...
and looks average on multiplayer, and awe-inspiring in all the stuff shown of SP. If those trailers are to be believed.
In reply to
Frozpot
Frozpot
Commented on 2010-07-19 22:36:21
Yeah, and it's weird that they took out the destruction that makes Frostbite stand out...
In reply to
moroboshi
moroboshi
Commented on 2010-07-20 00:12:11 In reply to OldSchoolGamer
Posted by OldSchoolGamer
All those engines are as "old" as the Unreal Engine 3, but have experienced upgrades during this generation, just like the UE3 did.

In other words, the Unreal Engine used in Gears of War 1 is not the same as in Gears 2, ME2, Gears 3 and this one, hence the big improvements.
Tech 5 is old? Really? Not sure how you could possibly think that.
In reply to
blmbox
blmbox
Commented on 2010-07-20 00:20:11 In reply to KORNdog
Posted by KORNdog
i wouldn't go quite that far, but enslaved look pretty nice to me. it isnt going to win any GOTY for graphics, but it definately looks above par. a good art style does wonders for the UE3 engine. mirrors edge prooved that, bioshock (technically more UE2 then UE3) prooved that, and this looks to be proving it too. i just wish epic would follow suit cos i personally hate their art design. they know how to use the engine better then everyone seeing as it's their engine, but when the worlds and characters are so unappealing it's hard to care.
Surely that's the same with any engine though? Art style/direction always plays a part in a game's visuals, no matter what engine is being used. The only reason I agree with art direction being important when using the UE engine is because so many games use it; there's nothing wrong with the engine itself which is, again, why so many developers utilize it. If two games using the same engine look too similar, it's as much the developer's fault as it is the engine's.

And the art direction in Gears is great in my opinion; it's large part of why the series' visuals rank amongst the best this generation of consoles has to offer. But art is subjective of course.
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About the game
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