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Latest Enslaved screenshots
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PreviousEnslaved Interview
Xbox 360 PlayStation 3 Interview by Robert Purchese
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Enslaved may be published by Namco Bandai rather than Sony, and may be on Xbox 360 as well as PlayStation 3, but Ninja Theory's latest still has a lot in common with its PS3 exclusive, Heavenly Sword - Gollum Serkis is returning to wax lyrical in his own inimitable, rubber-faced way, and there's the familiar promise of a vast, cinematic story brought to life by a convincing cast of characters. One of the lead characters, Trip, also bears a striking resemblance to Nariko.
But there is, of course, plenty that separates the two. Enslaved tells the tale of two characters, most notably, and there's Alex Garland, him of The Beach fame, writing the story, with gameplay built around the unlikely duo of Monkey (Serkis) and Trip working together, against one of their wills, in a post-apocalyptic world of killer robots.
With the game due out next year, there are still a lot of unanswered questions, so we tracked down Ninja Theory co-founder Tameem Antoniades to find out more.
Eurogamer: How did Enslaved come about?
Tameem Antoniades: I liked the relationship between Kai and Nariko in Heavenly Sword, and many people mailed us telling us how very deeply they were moved by their story. They talked about them as if they were real people or old friends. So beyond fear, anger and sadness, how much further could we push player empathy? Can you feel all the kinds of feelings you would do in a real relationship? Protection, disappointment, comfort, derision and so on?
This is Trip, Monkey's companion-slash-oppressor.
About two years ago, I read Journey to the West while I was researching the Wuxia genre for Heavenly Sword. It's an epic, breathtaking fantasy on par with Lord of the Rings in my opinion. I really like the character setup with Monkey's master, Tripitaka, being completely vulnerable yet having complete power over him. So this became the basis of Enslaved, which is only loosely based on this epic novel.
However, we didn't want to do another Wuxia-themed game. I knew that sci-fi was an area a lot of people in the studio were interested in. What if we replace the demons with near-future military machines and the magic with technology? Everyone in the studio dug it so we went full steam ahead on that basis and, after a few close shaves, Namco Bandai signed it up and we were in business.
Eurogamer: What was it like changing from a PS3-exclusive studio to a multiformat one?
Tameem Antoniades: We have an intimate low-level knowledge of hardware and this goes way back to Kung Fu Chaos, which was an Xbox exclusive. So we are applying this knowledge in the areas that will make our games shine for all platforms: combat, facial technology, audio and animation.
When you are exclusive, sometimes the pressure to demonstrate technology can override other aspects of game development. Being involved in one side of a format war as if it's the machines that make great games can also be draining. You get a lot of attention as an exclusive developer which is great, but on the flip-side there was a lot of anti-Sony feeling going on which I felt was unfairly being directed at our team.
Our focus is now on building as compelling a game as we can and I am more comfortable with that.
This is Monkey, voiced by Andy Serkis, in pain caused by the circlet Trip put on his head. Hardly the strongest foundations for a relationship.
Eurogamer: Are there any online plans for the game?
Tameem Antoniades: Enslaved is meant to be a story-driven, single-player experience so we do not have plans for online multiplayer type functionality in the game. However, we do have plans for DLC, which we'll be discussing more in the future.
Eurogamer: Monkey and Trip start on a slave ship. Will they spend much time there or is the escape out of our hands and the story already begun?
Tameem Antoniades: Without giving away too much, you start the game trapped in an egg-shaped cell on the slave ship. Trip is another prisoner in there. She escapes and, in doing so, shorts the entire ship, freeing Monkey. It also causes the ship to lose power and crash through the skyscrapers in New York City. You get to play through this whole sequence.
Are you excited about Enslaved on PlayStation 3/Xbox 360?
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Latest News
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Ninja Theory: exclusivity is "draining" [42]
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Namco Bandai officially unveils Enslaved [6]
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Ninja Theory's Enslaved detailed [20]
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Ninja Theory finally reveals Enslaved [25]
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Ninja Theory signs up with Namco [12]
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30 September, 2009 [17]
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Comments: 1-21 of 21 in total
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0
Sounds rather interesting but I have to admit that I would probably rather have seen a sequel to HS, a sequel that tried to do more things right.
Though I guess this really is that game, only set in a 'different' world and with a different cast but with a similar style of gameplay, only because Sony may not have wanted to fund a sequel. |
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+2
I really enjoyed this interview. It was informative and funny, but it wasn't so facetious as to interfere with the interview itself. I remember some older interviews which were entertaining but contained little information because the interviewer was preoccupied with trying to be funny.
Great interview. |
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wile_coyote
19/11/09 @ 13:34
-7
Based on the screen shots, they need to up their game atleast 50% more, as it looks dated.
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darkmorgado
19/11/09 @ 13:41
0
Dear all videogame developers:
You all seem to be obsessed recently by conveying story and mood via facial expression. This is absolutely fine, but please realise that there are a massive number of people with Asperger's Syndrome out there who are very avid gamers. Relying on facial expressions to convey narrative and atmosphere might harm our enjoyment of the game as we don't pick up very well on things like that (if at all). Please consider the use of "emotional subtitles" if you are determined to lessen the reliance on script and dialogue and rely more on facial animation. Thanks |
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Vertical Stand
19/11/09 @ 15:12
0
Looks and sounds interesting, but then I thought that about Heavenly Sword, the early artwork in Edge looked amazing, the game, well I only played the demo as the gameplay was uninspiring, will have to see about renting it one day to see if it improves later on. Still, fingers crossed they can get both to fit together with Enslaved into a satisfying whole.
BTW after running down its own series with diminishing returns the line up from Namco Bandai in 2010 looks far more promising. Fragile, Sky Breakers coming out here (though I think Rising Star is putting those out on its behalf) and publishing this as well as a title from Game Republic, shame about not getting along with the Mark of Kri team mind.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 19/11/09 @ 15:14
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+2
@Disc
Few people actually want a heavenly sword sequel. The game was simply too flawed. It was all shirt and no trousers so to speak. The worry here is that they have once again focused on the visuals wthout sorting out the story and gameplay. Edit: Incidentally there would have been a lot more gameplay scope if they had stuck to the original time period that Monkey should have been set in. Why? I hear you ask. Well if you've ever read the monkey story then you'll know that it's about Monkey and not tripitaka at all. It tells the tale of his creation, how he get's the wishing staff, the 101 transformations, how he becomes indestructable and immortal etc. etc. Now we get killer robots and a girl called trip to protect....really...why?
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 19/11/09 @ 19:11
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freakzilla
19/11/09 @ 21:38
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I'd have preferred a straight wuxia game instead of wuxia-robot thing. But since I really don't know what the game will be like I guess I should just wait and see.
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Vertical Stand
19/11/09 @ 21:49
+2
@penhalion and freakzilla you both make a good point, would be cool to see a straight up game about Monkey...the tv series!
*sings theme song*
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 19/11/09 @ 22:01
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Lee_Morris
20/11/09 @ 08:25
+1
Heavenly Sword didn't need a sequel. The stoyline was wrapped up in that game. I personally would love to see more games with Heavenly Sword's level of detail in performance even if they have average gameplay. I'm glad Andy Serkis is only playing one character this time round as I found it a little strange when he was playing multiple characters last time round.
One complaint though, why does it always have to be set in America. I can't wait for the day when this industry is big enough that a game can be set in the UK and can sell enough to be successful. Imagine a game based on the Red Riding novels. |
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hiddenranbir
20/11/09 @ 10:18
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I want a game based more tightly on the novel. So many "loose" bases :(
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penhalion: I genuinely enjoyed the combat of HS and played through it twice just to get the challenge of the more difficult difficulty level, that one made the game better.
Though to have to play through the game on a difficulty level that is a bit too easy before you get to play it the more enjoyable way, well that's another design mistake. |
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+1
I'm intrigued by this. I enjoyed Heavenly Sword and to this date, I have not seen better lip sync or facial animations in any other game. That game was maybe a little shallow, and the game world could certainly have been larger and perhaps free-roaming.
Hoping this game will be like that. Screenshots look nice. |
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hiddenranbir
20/11/09 @ 14:17
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@penhalion
Not to mention the huge battle which had the entire Army of Heaven siege Wukong's mountain! That's why I am not too astounded by once again, something else "inspired" by the novel. Lip service, that's all it is. |
Comments: 1-21 of 21 in total
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