I think 2010 was an interesting transitional era for western game design, as studios that wanted to develop more "cinematic" works still felt compelled to base their design on what worked in the PS2 era, I'm talking about games like Prince of Persia and God of War. Modern cinematic design wouldn't really find its footing until The Last of Us in 2013, and I think if Enslaved came out now, it would 100% be a behind the back style action game like those new God of War games.
This is all preface to say that Enslaved is a very pretty game, but with all of the gameplay simplified to a point of feeling like its there out of expectation, rather than do anything interesting with it. Automated platforming, simple combat, and puzzle rooms are underscored with dynamic camera zooms and Uncharted-esque set-pieces. It feels stuck in-between two eras, which is appropriate considering it came out right in the middle of the 7th gen.
I think it's an interesting experience, but it feels "Enslaved" to what was conventional at the time. A shame really, I think if it came out a few years into the 8th gen, with the aforementioned behind the back style, it might've done better.
This is all preface to say that Enslaved is a very pretty game, but with all of the gameplay simplified to a point of feeling like its there out of expectation, rather than do anything interesting with it. Automated platforming, simple combat, and puzzle rooms are underscored with dynamic camera zooms and Uncharted-esque set-pieces. It feels stuck in-between two eras, which is appropriate considering it came out right in the middle of the 7th gen.
I think it's an interesting experience, but it feels "Enslaved" to what was conventional at the time. A shame really, I think if it came out a few years into the 8th gen, with the aforementioned behind the back style, it might've done better.