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Incentives Announced for Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
Company: BANDAI NAMCO Games America, Inc.
Product: Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
Namco Bandai recently announced purchase incentives for customers who pick up a copy of Ninja Theory's Enslaved: Odyssey to the West. This action/stealth/platformer hybrid made quite a splash at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, and the publisher is hoping it will make an even bigger splash when it releases this October. Post-launch downloadable content has been announced, but it isn't being detailed at the moment. However, there are quite a few details on the retailer-exclusive bonuses; specifically, we're talking about launch day DLC and special retail bundles.

The most common incentive type currently being offered by retailers is the launch DLC, which is comprised entirely of costumes for protagonists Monkey and Trip. However, these aren't being billed as costumes; rather, they're using the term "alternate versions" due to the fact that they actually serve an in-game purpose.

Those who purchase Enslaved at GameStop and EB Games Canada will receive a code to unlock "Ninja Monkey." With this downloadable content, players will obtain an infinite supply of stun and plasma staff blast ammo, giving him a deadly edge over his robotic foes. Gamers who purchase the game from Walmart will receive a code for the red-and-gold clad "Classic Monkey." This is in homage to Enslaved's primary source of inspiration: the Chinese novel Journey to the West. However, the costume isn't just there to look pretty; "Classic Monkey" can deal twice as much melee damage as regular Monkey. Best Buy's approach to the alternate characters is a bit different; they are offering "Sexy Robot Trip." With this alternate character, all of the game's stun attacks are doubled in duration. This includes Trip's EMP blasts.


Amazon, Target, and Future Shop Canada are all offering limited retail bundle packs for Enslaved. These come packaged with a copy of the game and a bonus item. Amazon is offering exclusive access to the game's official soundtrack. Since the game's score is the work of international composer Nitin Sawhney, this may be the edge for more musically-inclined gamers. However, Target and Future Shop Canada have a potential ace up their sleeves, as well. Comic fans will be thrilled to know that these two retailers are offering a 40-page mini-comic published by Marvel. Gamers who love to invest themselves in the world of the game may end up going with this one; the book delves deep into the backgrounds of the two leads -- something the game does not do.

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West had me sold at E3; these purchase incentives seem to be the icing on an already delicious-looking cake. Check out our E3 2010 coverage of Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, and stay tuned for more updates on the promising title.


-FenixDown, GameVortex Communications
AKA Jon Carlos
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