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Indivisible (video game)

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Indivisible
Developer(s)Lab Zero Games[a]
Publisher(s)505 Games
Director(s)
  • Mike Zaimont
  • Mariel Kinuko Cartwright
Producer(s)Francesca Esquenazi
Designer(s)Mike Zaimont
Programmer(s)
  • Chris Matthews
  • Robert Thomas
  • Mike Zaimont
Artist(s)Mariel Kinuko Cartwright
Writer(s)
  • Mariel Kinuko Cartwright
  • Brandon Sheffield
Composer(s)Hiroki Kikuta
Platform(s)
ReleaseLinux, macOS, Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Nintendo Switch
  • WW: April 28, 2020
Genre(s)Action role-playing, platform
Mode(s)Single-player

Indivisible is an action role-playing platform game developed by the now-defunct[3] Lab Zero Games and published by 505 Games.[4] The game was initially released in October 2019 for Linux, macOS, Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One and on April 28, 2020 for Nintendo Switch.[5] It was released in Japan on July 16, 2020.[6] A version for Amazon Luna was released on October 20, 2020,[7] despite Lab Zero Games going defunct 11 days prior, thus discontinuing all additional content for the game.

Gameplay

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Indivisible is an action RPG that combines platform-style exploration with combat mechanics inspired by Valkyrie Profile. The game features two distinct gameplay styles. In the overworld, players control Ajna, the main character, in a 2D action platformer format. Ajna can move left, right, and jump. As the game progresses, she learns new abilities and moves, allowing her to explore further and faster.

When encountering enemies in the overworld, the game seamlessly transitions to action RPG combat. Each character in the party is controlled using a specific button. Pressing a button moves the character toward the enemy for an attack. The order of button presses determines attack combos, and players can modify attacks by holding up or down on the analog stick or D-pad. Upgrades enable characters to attack multiple times.

Defensive options include blocking enemy attacks using the attack button for a specific character or blocking with the entire party. Additionally, a meter fills during battle, allowing players to unleash super attacks with their characters when it’s full.

Plot

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The game begins with a battle between a group of warriors led by Indr (voiced by Keith Silverstein) and the malevolent goddess Kala (voiced by Anjali Bhimani). The battle ends with Kala being defeated and sealed on Mount Sumeru while Indr finds an abandoned baby they call Ajna (voiced by Tania Gunadi) and raises her as his own daughter.

16 years later, Ajna lives with her father in the village of Ashwat until it comes under attack by an army led by Dhar (voiced by Benjamin Diskin), who kills her father. After defeating Dhar, Ajna unexpectedly awakens a power in her that absorbs him into her mind, which houses a pocket dimension, and so she forces him to take her to his leader, the warlord Ravannavar (voiced by Michael Dorn), who ordered the attack. While gaining more companions and absorbing them into her mind, Ajna eventually confronts and chases Ravannavar to Mount Sumeru where she kills him, unaware that Ravannavar's intention was to use her power to unseal Kala, as she is revealed to be part of her body, so that the goddess can destroy and recreate the world. Dhar deflects to Ajna's side after learning that Ravannavar lied to him about wanting to create world peace.

After being cast out of Sumeru, Ajna and her companions are rescued by the Deva Thorani (voiced by Zehra Fazal), who guides her to the nearby port, where she meets Angwu (voiced by Laura Patalano) a former member of Indr's party who instructs Ajna to look for three chakra gates around the world and activate them so that she can increase her power in preparation to face Kala in battle. Throughout her journey, she encounters various foes who threaten the lands with the chakra gates. After doing so, Ajna returns to Sumeru despite being warned by her friends that she might not be ready yet due to her earlier reckless actions, and while facing Kala, she loses herself to anger, becoming a monster that causes massive destruction. With her friends unable to get through to her, Dhar sacrifices himself to stop her.

One week later, Ajna recovers and, after seeing the error of her ways (actually revealed to have been caused by Kala's influence on her), becomes determined to atone for her mistakes. She travels the world again to regroup with some of her friends, while helping to solve some problems she unwillingly caused during her previous journey and learns that her former foes have also been influenced by Kala, and returns to Sumeru for a final battle with Kala. In the occasion, Ajna bids farewell to her companions and convinces Kala to give up on destroying the world; the two merging together and disappearing.

In the post credits, an image of a merged Ajna and Kala is seen in an unknown location, living a new life.

Development

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Indivisible was developed by Lab Zero Games, which consisted of members best known for the 2012 fighting game Skullgirls. Lab Zero Games announced Indivisible during their Skullgirls panel at the Anime Expo on July 2, 2015.[8] According to the developer, the game's storyline was influenced by southeast Asian mythology and other cultures.[9] It also features 2D hand-drawn animation by Lab Zero Games' artists.[10] Composer Hiroki Kikuta, best known for his work on Secret of Mana, scored the game's soundtrack.[8] The game features animation by Japanese anime studio Trigger and American animation studio Titmouse, Inc., with the opening animation directed by Yoh Yoshinari of Little Witch Academia.[11]

Lab Zero Games launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo on October 5, 2015, with a goal of US$1,500,000.[12] A playable prototype of the game was released in tandem with the launch.[12] If Lab Zero Games met or exceeded their goal, publisher 505 Games would contribute their remaining development budget.[13] The campaign's initial 40-day contribution period faced relatively sluggish fundraising, earning approximately $764,000 by November 8, 2015.[14] However, on November 13, 2015, the campaign was extended for an additional 20 days after the game received roughly US$963,000 in pledges, above Indiegogo's required 60% threshold.[14][15] Following the extension, the goal was eventually reached on December 2, 2015.[16] The game was released on October 8, 2019 in North America and released three days later in Europe.[17]

The game was surprise-released on Nintendo Switch on April 28, 2020, without any input from Lab Zero Games. The Switch version was launched missing features that were added through updates, such as co-operative play and New Game+ mode.[5] This was due to the game accidentally being launched on its original planned release date, rather than being delayed to early May 2020 as was intended.[18]

On October 9, 2020, 505 Games announced the cancellation of all future updates and content for Indivisible following the dissolution of Lab Zero Games.[19] The final update for the Nintendo Switch version was released on October 13, 2020,[20] with an Amazon Luna port of the game being released on the 20th.

Animated series adaptation

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On July 17, 2020, it was announced that an animated adaptation of Indivisible was in development for the Peacock streaming service, with Meg LeFauve and Jonathan Fernandez as writers and executive producers.[21] The series was to be produced by DJ2 Entertainment and Legendary Television. The status of the series is currently unknown due to the closure of Lab Zero Games.

Reception

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Indivisible received "generally favorable reviews" according to Metacritic.[22][23][24][25]

Joe Juba of Game Informer praised the game's art style, animation, music and combat but criticized the backtracking and some other issues with the combat.[34]

Accolades

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The game was nominated for "Character Design" and "Game, Original Role Playing" at the NAVGTR Awards.[35]

Notes

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  1. ^ Dragon's Lake Entertainment co-developed the Switch version.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Indivisible launches October 8 in North America, October 11 in Europe for PS4, Xbox One, and PC; later in 2019 for Switch". Gematsu. August 8, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  2. ^ "505 Games and Lab Zero's "Indivisible" to Launch in October". Impulse Gamer. September 12, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  3. ^ "Official 505 Games Statement Regarding Lab Zero Games". 505 Games. October 9, 2020. Archived from the original on November 9, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  4. ^ Bartholow, Peter (July 28, 2015). "Lab Zero and 505 Games Bring You Indivisible". 505 Games. Archived from the original on July 30, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  5. ^ a b McFerran, Damien (28 April 2020). "Indivisible Is Out Now On Nintendo Switch, But The Developer Isn't Happy". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  6. ^ "インディヴィジブル 闇を祓う魂たち". Nintendo Japan. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  7. ^ Gartenberg, Chaim (2020-10-20). "Hands-on with Amazon's Luna game streaming service". The Verge. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  8. ^ a b MacGregor, Kyle (July 3, 2015). "Skullgirls dev making RPG with Mana composer". Destructoid. Archived from the original on July 4, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  9. ^ Rajala, Arttu (July 3, 2015). "Skullgirls developer unveils Indivisible". Gamereactor. Archived from the original on July 4, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  10. ^ Romano, Sal (July 3, 2015). "Skullgirls dev announces action RPG Indivisible". Gematsu. Archived from the original on July 3, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  11. ^ Mateo, Alex (2019-09-20). "Studio Trigger's Full Animated Opening Movie for Indivisible Game Unveiled". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2019-09-21.
  12. ^ a b McWhertor, Michael (October 5, 2015). "Skullgirls team launches crowdfunding campaign and playable prototype for new RPG". Polygon. Archived from the original on December 10, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  13. ^ McWhertor, Michael (July 28, 2015). "Skullgirls developer to crowdfund its new role-playing game, Indivisible". Polygon. Archived from the original on December 4, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  14. ^ a b McDonell, Jeffrey (November 8, 2015). "Indivisible Could Still Get Made if It Reaches 60% Funding Thanks to Indiegogo". Gamnesia. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  15. ^ Saed, Sherif (November 13, 2015). "Indivisible funding campaign extended". VG247. Archived from the original on November 20, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  16. ^ Strom, Steven (December 2, 2015). "Skullgirls Dev's Indivisible Reaches Its $1.5 Million Crowdfunding Goal". IGN. Archived from the original on December 5, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  17. ^ Fingas, Jon (8 August 2019). "Hand-drawn RPG 'Indivisible' finally arrives October 8th". Engadget. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  18. ^ "Early Release Update". Indivisible. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  19. ^ Romano, Sal (9 October 2020). "Indivisible – all future updates, DLC cancelled". Gematsu. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  20. ^ "Official 505 Games Statement Regarding Lab Zero Games". 9 October 2020. Archived from the original on 2022-05-22.
  21. ^ "RPG 'Indivisible' in Development for Peacock Animated Series". Animation Magazine. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
  22. ^ a b "Indivisible for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  23. ^ a b "Indivisible for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  24. ^ a b "Indivisible for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  25. ^ a b "Indivisible for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  26. ^ Hilhorst, Willem (May 12, 2020). "Indivisible (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  27. ^ Vogel, Mitch (May 9, 2020). "Indivisible Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  28. ^ Moyse, Chris (12 October 2019). "Review: Indivisible". Destructoid. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  29. ^ Campbell, Kyle (October 7, 2019). "Indivisible Review". IGN. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  30. ^ L'avis de Izokay (May 12, 2020). "Test Indivisible : L'association d'idées qui fait mouche". Jeuxvideo.com. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  31. ^ Morton, Lauren (October 10, 2019). "Indivisible review". PC Gamer. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  32. ^ Higham, Michael (October 11, 2019). "Indivisible Review - Moving Mountains". GameSpot. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  33. ^ Oxford, Nadia (October 7, 2019). "Indivisible Review: A Journey Worthy of Your Undivided Attention". USgamer. Archived from the original on June 18, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  34. ^ Juba, Joe (2019-10-07). "Indivisible Review – Merging Good And Evil". Game Informer. Archived from the original on October 8, 2019.
  35. ^ "2019 Nominees". National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers. 2020-01-13. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
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