7. Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
If You Like... Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Children of Men He doesn't know his own name - only that he survives in a desolate future ravaged by a war fought long ago. The earth is a desolate wasteland and nature has begun to reclaim the planet. There is, however, a remaining threat left by the war: mechanical soldiers that still operate under their programming to kill. "Monkey" - as he is known to those he has met in wastelands - is taken aboard an airship to be delivered to slavers. The airship malfunctions and crashes in the ruins of a city. Monkey survives, only to be found and given a slave band by Trip, a woman who caused the ship to crash in the first place. The band on Monkey's head forces him to accompany Trip on a journey back to her home, where she wishes to reunite with her family. Along the way, he slave band upon Monkey's head begins to bring back memories of a forgotten life. What makes Enslaved shine above most games is the relationship built between the two main characters. Trip forces the slave band onto Monkey because to her he seems wild and unpredictable. She doesn't trust him and needs a protector to help her on her way home. Throughout the game, the two bond together and unite towards a common goal. They learn each other's fears and hope for a better world. Both Monkey and trip have well-developed characters and they are voice acted by seasoned professionals. Making their partnership even more involving is the gameplay in which both characters perform different tasks to protect the other. Monkey, of course, lives up to his name: he can climb, jump and explore the environment as well as combat any baddies that crop up along the way. Trip, on the other hand, handles technology and helps by open locks and mapping out paths for Monkey to explore. Another unique aspect of the game is the world itself, which is post-apocalyptic but is presented in bright colors as nature has taken over cityscapes, growing lush foliage over every surface. The art direction in the game is amazing on the whole - it feels as if you are exploring a modern day city taken over by a jungle much like ancient Aztec ruins. This gives Enslaved a feel not seen in other genre films or games. The only short coming to Enslaved is the ending, which feels rushed and incomplete - a shame for such a great game.