Originally released in October 2010, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is often regarded as a “hidden gem” by those fortunate enough to have experienced it upon its initial release. I recently decided to revisit this classic by playing it on my Steam Deck, and I wasn’t disappointed. The game runs smoothly and remains visually stunning, with its great art style and impressive motion capture for its time. Andy Serkis, known for his roles as Caesar in Planet of the Apes and Gollum in The Lord of the Rings, delivers a standout performance, along with the rest of the voice acting crew, who bring real emotional depth to the characters.

Enslaved is a reimagining of the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, set in a post-apocalyptic future. The story follows Monkey and Trip, two unlikely companions forced to work together as they navigate a dangerous landscape filled with remnants of a long-lost civilization.

The world created for the game seems to have influenced later titles such as The Last of Us and Horizon Zero Dawn. While Enslaved doesn’t feature the same large-scale environments as these titles, it offers a great “light” version of those experiences, with linear levels that are tightly designed and easy to navigate.

In terms of gameplay, Enslaved is not overly challenging, but it offers a pleasant mix of mechanics. The combat is entertaining, and the game includes some light platforming and puzzle-solving elements. For those who enjoy a bit of limited exploration, there are collectibles to seek out, adding some extra content for completionists. The main campaign lasts around eight hours, and upon completion, players can unlock additional content, such as a damage-boosting skin for the protagonist. There’s also an additional side story featuring the character Pigsy, offering more to explore beyond the main storyline.

During my playthrough, I encountered only one crash and a few minor graphical glitches, particularly with shadows during cutscenes. On the Steam Deck, the game ran smoothly after adjusting a few settings (disabling motion blur and keeping other settings on high). There’s a slightly awkward window that pops up at the game’s startup on the Steam Deck, but once dismissed, the game performs flawlessly.

In summary, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is still a delightful and engaging experience, especially for those looking for a well-crafted narrative with strong performances and enjoyable gameplay. If you haven’t played it before or are considering a revisit, it’s well worth your time.

OH, I didn't write a review for this game? I played it like what, last year? I didn't have any hope of it being good, but was surprised. It was actually fun to play, and though it doesn't have much replay value, I'd definitely suggest you get it for the ride. The voice acting was actually decent, too!? I got the game for free from a friend, not as a promo.

When Elon Musks robots take over

CLASSIC! They need to make a remake or a sequel! Love it

Good old fashioned video game. It was pretty fun.
Dealing with the camera wasn't easy, but other than that, no complaints.
It's weird to think that this game was once kinda average, but with the AAA industry today, it may as well be a masterpiece.

Well the truth it, it's a fairly old game with older style fighting mechanics, but it was an enjoyable.....Trip (pun intended).

Pros:
- Likeable characters
- Decent world building
- Wrecking mechs is quite satisfying

Cons:
- Camera angles can be really bad at times
- It kinda has 2 acts, and at the start of act 2 it is a bit slow and underwhelming.

If you're into a decent story action-adventure this is quite the bargain (especially when on sale). The irony is that I'm playing this Journey To The West inspired game right around the time Black Myth Wukong was released. I guess Enslaved: Odyssey to the West walked so Black Myth Wukong could run.