Analysing
Games
The image above is the screenshot which i am analysing
Its from the game Enslaved Odyssey to The West
Recording
the details
Designer/Team: Ninja Theory
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Title of work: Enslaved: Odyssey to the west
Date it was made/published: 2010
Genre: action-adventure
Target audience: 13+
Formal
Elements
Composition
Focal point: The main focus of the image is on
the main character, Monkey. As he’s in the foreground and different colours
have been used for Monkey contrasting him with the background.
Geometrical shapes: There aren't very many clear
shapes in the screenshot. It includes an arc which forms the foundation for a
part of the bridge in the background. Rectangles are used to form the
skyscrapers which reside in the very background.
Symmetry/Asymmetry: The screenshot isn’t
symmetrical or asymmetrical, the character is placed slightly to the left of
the centre of the image and the background features are different on each half
of the picture. (E.g. there are buildings on the right hand side, forming a
city and further forward to the left there is a bridge.
Methods used to lead the eye around the
work/scene/gamescape: Very bold and bright colours have been used to lead the
eye to the main character that is standing on a lit up blue coloured disk. The
water also draws attention as it’s creating a trail behind the character which
is relatively high.
Space/Depth
Effects created (to create a sense of
naturalism, to give an illusion of great distance, to limit picture space):
There is a lot of space around the character to create a sense of distance and
naturalism as the main character is in the foreground therefore the large space
which has been used for sky places the character closer to the audience.
Colour
Main colours used: The main colours which have
been used are blue, white and green.
Cool and warm colours: Mainly cool colours have
been used, with the main block of colour used for the sky. It creates a very
fresh and open atmosphere.
Effects colour creates: The light blue colour
creates a very uplifting feeling as it brightens up the image, the use of
lilac, light blue, white and green creates a very effective water texture.
Light
Chiaroscuro (contrasts of light and shadow) or
even lighting: A contrast of black, white, blue and purple creates a realistic
water texture.
Atmospheric light (what mood is created): The
bright lighting used for the sky creates a feeling of awe and contentment.
There is very little dark lighting used in the image.
Style
Realism/Expressive/Minimal: The screenshot is
realistic as the graphics are highly polished and the most of the physics in
the picture are possible, for example although the bridge is damaged there is
enough of a foundation to hold it up. However, one physic which has been broken
is the fact that the main character is on a floating disk, but the game is set
in the future so therefore this could still be possible.
Influences and Context
Other
designers/periods/genres/mediums/historical influences: The story which the
game follows is based on a novel called Journey to The West by Wu Cheng'en; in
China it is renowned for being one of the four great classical novels. Two
characters, Monkey and Tripitaka, which coincidentally are the same names as
the game characters have to travel across a landscape, the novel was written in
the 16th Century and therefore it is an important part of Chinese
culture. The fictional novel has influenced Chinese religious beliefs, as it
tells the story of a Buddhist monk called Xuanzang whom goes on a pilgrimage to
India in search of sacred texts. The game follows a similar plot in that the main characters are both on a journey in search for answers. Monkeys' character design is also based on the Monkey king from the novel as he shares similar features.
Subject,
Theme and Meanings
Describe the subject (what is obvious in/about
the game?): What is obvious about the picture is that the main character is
trying to escape from something as he’s coming towards the audience and away
from the city scape behind him.
Characters (how are they represented?): There’s
only one character shown in the image, whereas in the game itself there are
actually 2 main characters. The character in the image is portrayed as having a
physical strength; this is shown by his muscular physique. He also appears to
be the type of character whom travels a lot and keeps on the move as he is
standing on a disk which allows him to travel on water. The main character also
radiates a sense of loneliness and isolation as he’s the only one in the image
and there are no other signs of life. His expression seems to depict a sense of
anger and determination, he has a purpose and objective so he’s going to fight
for it.
Setting: The fact that there is water
surrounding the main character and very little land implies that some sort of
event has caused the world around him to fall apart. This is also shown by the
bridge which has growth on it and the sheets of metal which have been put
together to try and keep the bridge together.
Mise en scene (character, costume, make-up and
hair): The character is the screenshot is dressed in some tight brown trousers, red
coloured gloves, golden boots, wears a metal headband and no shirt. His costume
suggests that he doesn’t come from the environment which he now inhabits in the
image as his outfit looks like it’s been improvised. His trousers suggest that
he’s athletic as the skin tight material provides the ability for a larger
range of motion and the brown colour implies that his main environment is in a
forest or woodland area as this is where they would blend in to provide camouflage.
The boots and gloves appear to be made out of some sort of metal which is a
very tough material used for protection and definitely not something which
would be used for comfort, so he’s more than likely a soldier, warrior or
someone equivalent to this type of persona. His hair is white and all spiked up
to a single point which makes him look imposing.
Describe the content (what is it ‘about’?): The
fact that he’s moving away from a scene of abandoned structures and ruins gives
the impression that he’s making a bid for freedom and possibly attempting to
suppress certain memories of a previous way of life. The post-apocalyptic landscape in the
background gives the impression his future survival is going to be extremely
challenging and his journey ahead, perilous.
Explain any ideas that the work is expressing
(historical, political, social, and cultural): The image appears to express
that whatever political system they had in place no longer exists, due to the
city ruins (bridge) and the freedom which the main character has. It gives the
impression that an almost state of anarchy prevails throughout the image.
Personal
Responses
What feelings does it provide? : The picture
makes me feel free and provides me with a sensation of happiness and
contentment as there’s a lot of open space surrounding the central character.
It also delivers a feeling of sympathy for the character as he’s the only one
in the image and therefore must be lonely, but also the ruined landscape
suggests that his way of life has now completely changed and he can’t turn back
because there’s nothing to turn back too.