Ep.267 – Monkey Business: The Struggle to Develop Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
Ep.267 – Monkey Business: The Struggle to Develop Enslaved: Odyssey to the WestDescription
In 2010, Ninja Theory released Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, a post-apocalyptic reimagining of the Chinese epic Journey to the West. We trace Tameem Antoniades’ turbulent path from Kung Fu Chaos and Heavenly Sword to founding Ninja Theory and building Enslaved on a shoestring budget. The episode highlights the extraordinary creative lineup—Andy Serkis shaping Monkey, Alex Garland embedding with the team as co-designer, and Nitin Sawhney composing its score. Our conversation explores its lush environments, groundbreaking performance capture, and the dynamic between Monkey and Trip that critics compared to ICO and Prince of Persia. While sales fell short of expectations, expansions like Pigsy’s Perfect 10 and cult acclaim cemented its legacy. Join us as we climb, fight, and journey west through Enslaved on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.
United States
