Plot: The story is a re-imagining of the ancient Chinese story Journey to the West by Wu Cheng’en, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of China. Unlike the original story that was set in a fantastical version of ancient China, the game is set 150 years in a future post-apocalyptic world following a global war, with only remnants of humanity left, along with the still active war machines left over from the conflict. Like the original story however, the plot revolves around someone who forces the help and protection of a warrior, with many characters sharing the same names and roles. The game’s story was written by Alex Garland, with voice talent and motion capture from Andy Serkis and Lindsey Shaw.
Quick Thoughts: The only thing pulling me through this is the character interaction and development and the slight story. Ninja Theory does a fantastic job with characters, it’s like what they do. However the gameplay is barely average. Movement is clunky and the camera is jarring. The platforming system is automatic, meaning all you do is press a button and move the analog stick in the direction of the next glowing set piece in the level you need to climb to.
The overall level design is pretty boring, areas which are linear in path but have areas where you collect orbs and you wonder what these orbs are doing there to begin with. It’s just dumb. Like why am I collecting these orbs which are hidden or placed in obscure places. It makes no sense. The setting is a post-apocalyptic America and really the story is what happened to Earth. I don’t know if I’ll get this answer at the end of the game, but the antagonists are mechs that are seemingly enslaving mankind or what’s left of it. Why they’re doing this? I don’t know. Yet another answer may or may not be revealed at the end. If I had to guess, probably a misunderstanding. The mechs were probably designed to help humans survive a giant disaster and place the humans in stasis while the disaster passed. I don’t know, maybe not even that complicated.
It’s another one of those games where you upgrade your abilities and I don’t like that, especially with how the orbs you collect are placed throughout the levels. The game does feel like a journey as you are venturing through a barren city. Not done with it yet, I’m on Chapter 4 now out of a possible 14.
