An inventive RPG? Relax, there's no need to be Squared
If the title has your forehead all wrinkled in confusion, wait until you get into the actual game. Infinite Undiscovery is served to you fresh from the ideas kitchen of Yoshiharu ‘Tales Of Phantasia’ Gotanda - and it's like no Square RPG you've ever tasted before.
The story is comfortingly familiar role-play stuff, at least. You play an innocent flautist, mistaken by a girl called Aya for the heroic Sigmund The Liberator – and, reluctantly, you become enrolled in a big old battle to free the enchained moon. So it's walk, fight, destroy moon-chain, repeat several times, return to tranquil life of fluting.
Turned off
But here's shock number one: no takey-turney battles. When an angry sand-bear or enraged bat gives you the evils, a button-mashing real-time fight ensues. Massive swords, eight-man attacks, mega-hit combos: Infinite Undiscovery is more Devil May Cry than Dragon Quest.
You've little direct control over your combat chums, either. Instead, you mainly advise them (“Push forward!” or “Save your magic!”) or 'Connect' with them for temporary control of, say, Aya's bow and arrow - which provides some welcome variety.
Massive swords, eight-man attacks, mega-hit combos: it's more Devil May Cry than Dragon Quest.
Shock number one-and-a-half is: it works. With fast levelling up, battles that make your eyes do a little dance - witness the rolling waves of the Tsunami Boss fight - and a big red rideable war bear called Gustav, Infinite Undiscovery feels fresh and spry.
Variety isn't dead
And shock number two is: variety. Goodbye endless random dungeon battles, hello escort missions (such as heroically carrying Aya through a hail of fireballs), forest stealth missions, lever-based puzzles and more.
So while Infinite Undiscovery isn't necessarily the prettiest belle at the ball - both Lost Odyssey and Eternal Sonata are easier on the eye - it's got the more interesting personality. Different fighting techniques reward you with different stats; castle sieges spawn thumping catapult attack minigames - this game never sits still.
Infinite Undiscovery isn't necessarily the prettiest belle at the ball, but it's got the more interesting personality.
But. Shock number three is, perhaps, that all these ideas are allowed to dampen the game's depth. You can weld weapons, cook food, form specialist teams and more. But the chaotic battles insist you pay full attention to not dying horribly, so there's no time to fiddle - especially as enemies will continue to happily punch your ribs in when you're inside the menus. You'll settle for unsubtly barging through baddies - and the game lets you.
Intimacy issues
Those attracted to such an action-oriented RPG might be thrown off by the plot's sheer complexity, too. Characters are introduced quicker than Big Brother opening-night contestants, and the brisk 25-hour length isn't enough to get intimate with them and their stories.
But while Infinite Undiscovery is no Final Fantasy, it'll do very nicely while we wait for FF13 - and is a must-play for impatient types who have had enough of taking turns.
GAME's Verdict
- An RPG you stand a chance of finishing before your 75th birthday.
- Frenetic combat that's more suited to the God Of War crowd.
- Bravely turns Square RPGs on their head…
- …but loses the depth of a Final Fantasy or Lost Odyssey.
- Battles are occasionally too mad for their own good.
- Clunky dialogue that'll at least make you giggle.
Review by: Mark Scott
Version Tested: Xbox 360
Review Published: 01.10.08