The concept of Ninja Theory's Enslaved: Odyssey to the West has been turning heads ever since it was announced: it's an action-adventure game based on an old Chinese folktale. The tale tells of a monkey and a sage tasked with finding wisdom in the course of their journey. The game updates that story to a woman and a brute, Trip and Monkey, wandering a post-apocalyptic New York. The twist: the player-controlled Monkey is under the influence of a slaver's headband, re-appropriated by the clever Trip.

While Enslaved's platforming and action definitely seem serviceable, the game's real depth comes from its characters and story. Not only is its world full of beauty and spectacle, but there's a solid literary foundation underneath.