For those unfamiliar with the term “going gold,†in the game industry it pretty much means that the game is officially done. Developer Ninja Theory has sent a finished version of Enslaved: Odyssey to the West to the publishers to be copied hundreds of thousands of times, so that we can eventually spend $60 on it. Once the disc is in the mail, the creative director then ceremoniously swims around in a giant vault filled with gold coins, Scrooge McDuck style. Back at home base when people say, “Hey, where is that one guy (or gal) who was the creative director?” everyone unanimously responds, “She (or he) went gold!”
I’m not entirely sure about those last few details, considering especially that they are entirely made up, but it sounds right.
The real news here, other than the game being entirely and completely finished, (other than downloadable updates) is that Enslaved: Oddysey to the West won’t be facing any delays, which is good news. Enslaved comes from Ninja Theory, the developers of Heavenly Sword. Heavenly Sword got hot hit hard in the review and finance department because of it’s length. It cannot be denied that the game was incredibly short, but that does not make it bad. It makes it a game in dire need of trophies so that I can go unlock a bunch in a few short hours.
Here we see Monkey upset at the critical response to Heavenly Sword
Heavenly Sword did a lot of things well, and it’s exciting to see what Ninja Theory has done with more time. Heavenly Sword was released very early in the Playsation 3’s life cycle, and was likely hurt by a rushed schedule.
Enslaved is a post-apocalyptic tale, but you wouldn’t be able to tell by looking at the screenshots. The game is bright and beautiful. It looks like the destruction of mankind had less to do with nuclear catastrophe, and more to do with self-aware robots who love nature. Mysterious slave ships are roaming the leafy countryside randomly scooping folks up and taking them to the west to work without pay or benefits.
Enslaved tells the story of computer savvy Trip, and her begrudgingly employed bodyguard, Monkey. Trip and Monkey were apparently both grabbed by one of these slave ships, and Trip breaks herself free, and gets Monkey out too, in exchange for his help. With her super duper matrix powers, she hacks Monkey’s slave headband to create a scenario where if Trip dies, Monkey dies. You get to play as Monkey, the one who beats the crap out of stuff with a staff.
The game is heavenly influenced by the highly regarded Chinese story, Journey to the West. Journey to the West also influenced the anime Dragon Ball, and Dragon Ball Z. I only tell you this so that when you see a guy named Monkey flying around on a cloud, and beating up dudes with a staff, you realize that Ninja Theory is referencing a Chinese fable from the 1590’s, and not a children’s cartoon show.
The Enslaved: Odyssey to the West game disc will be available to insert in your Playstation 3 or your Xbox 360, it’s entirely up to you, on October 5th.
